Buster died today

I am so broken up. He developed abdominal swelling over the past few days which became apparent today. My vet had me bring him right in this am. It felt like ascites - his belly felt tight & was obvious in spite of his big pelt. Poor guy had feline infectious peritonitis & the ascites I felt was compressing his lungs. Totally untreatable & probably contracted in utero. Apparently age 5 is when decompensation occurs - Buster was five, maybe this month.
So we said our farewells this am & I had him euthanized. I am so grateful the vet did not refer me to a kitty "hospice" but told me my decision was not only logical but humane.
Poor Buster. I already miss him so. I love that soul. Thankfully I have a household to comfort me.

Oh, honey. I am so sorry.
You did the right thing and, more to your credit, did it even as it ripped your heart into shreds.
{{{{{hugs}}}}}

Oh I am so sorry!!! It's so terrible to lose a beloved fur baby, and I wish I could give you a big hug and help your pain go away.

I'm very sorry ~

So sorry for your loss, so hard to lose a furry member of our family.

Hope the sun shines for you very soon. Your vet did you all a great service by that suggestion.

Hugs!

I'm so sorry I know how much it hurts. ~~~~hugs~~~~ And I'll be thinking of you

Thank you all. Sitting here thinking about it I realize there were probably a few hints. Buster never had the same muscle mass in his neck & shoulders that my other cats have had. I had always attributed that to getting him neutered immediately at first vet visit when I had hime tested for fline leukemia virus (before taking him in with the other cats), He had put up such a fight (remarkable when you think he did not weigh 4 lbs then) that they had to sedate him to clean the mites & junk out of his ears so I just went ahead & had him neutered then, He came home with his baby fuzz plastered down with greasy stuff on his head & water from washing of the povidone from his rear - mighty pitiful, esp. given he was sedated. But he recovered fast & had that plume of a tail held high by the next day, exploring & establishing his dominion over all. This past year he had become more of a "watcher" rather than a doer - another hint things subtly not being right but could've been simply maturing. He was always a hairball puker - so much so I wondered if he was related to an owl - but I think that was a function of his coat (man he hated Petromalt & any other hairball aid - why is it the ones who need that stuff hate it so?). He was/is my good friend.

I'm so sorry. That's so hard. They definitley do leave their little foot prints on our heart when they go. I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is to let them go. Hugs to you.

I am so sorry. I know he meant a lot to you.

I'm so sorry its like losing a family member, know that at least he will not suffer

I'm so very sorry...

So very sorry about your Buster. Peace to you and Buster.
Hugs

Oh!! I am so sorry to hear this news. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have 3 house cats and 2 outside cats. I don't know what I would do without them.
(((( HUGS))))