Any ideas as to why an apparently healthy, cared for cat should suddenly be found dead with no sign of trauma?

Question

She was about 2 years old, her body was found in a garden a little way from her home. She was much loved.

Lesley D - she was missing overnight and was found the following late afternoon

Answer 1

Oh dear, I'm sorry. Sudden death in young, apparently healthy animals is very often due to a heart problem. Heart defects are many and varied, and can otherwise go undetected until they suddenly die. I've seen it in two very young dogs so far. One was a year old boxer just last weekend actually - collapsed when on a walk with owners. Heart problems are common in boxers tho. My own cat in fact died suddenly when she hadn't been ill, although she was 18 and did have a slight heart murmur, so I assumed it had been a heart attack.

A vet could do a post-mortem for you, but it would be costly. I think if you asked for reasons, heart failure would be first on the list.

Chalice

If the cat was poisoned I think there would have been some signs, like bleeding. It is a possibility tho I suppose. I don't think it was very nice of that poster to suggest that 'cared for' cats stay inside! What nonsense.

Answer 2

That is so sad! I am very, very sorry for your loss.
If it was poisoning, the vet might be able to detect traces in a post-mortem.
From my experience, these things are often easier said than done, and it will cost you a lot.
I suspect your cat was involved in a car accident. Sometimes there is no outer sign, and because cats are capable of producing enormous amounts of endorphins in their brain, they often manage to slink away from the scene and die later. It all depends where the cat was hit, and at what speed. Usually a hit to the head will cause immediate thrashing and then only a drop of blood from the lips ...
So hard to know.
All so horrible. When my cat Rolly was killed by a car, there was a tyre smudge across his side; other than that, he looked asleep. I have found other cats on the road who have no signs of trauma at all.
My answer won't make you feel better, and I am sorry for being blunt. But you asked for opinions and I think it was a car-related death.
God Bless your cat!

Answer 3

I am so sorry for your lost .. it must have been an awful shock to find your poor cat dead and not know what has happened to him/ her.

you do not say whether the cat had been missing for a while .. or the length of time between you last seeing him and finding him dead..

cats can die of poisoning pretty quickly.. then with rat poison there would be blood around the teeth and gums..

just because there was no outward sign of trauma doesn't mean that the cat hadn't been hit by a car.. shock can kill.

the only definetly way to find out would be to take the cat to the vets for an autopsy.

Answer 4

Could be any reason for this the most common causes are poisoning or trauma. Sometimes you can have a cat that looks fine on the outside but is badly damaged on the inside. Signs of a road traffic accidents are scuffed nails, thats the easiest way to tell. It may be that he had an underlying health condition that you didn't know about. The only definate way to tell would be to have a post-mortem done but these can be very expensive. If you still have his body then ask your vet for their expert opinion.

Answer 5

It's quite possible that the cat ate something in the garden, or elsewhere while traveling that was poisonous to cats. The Feline Advisory Bureau has a comprehensive list of plants that are toxic to cats, and breaks them down between house and garden plants. If you use the source I've listed and scroll about half way down the page, you'll see that list.

I'm sorry for the loss of your cat, it's always hard.

Answer 6

I work in a vet and often cats who have worms die unexpectedly. Althogh they often have respiratoy problems as well, but not always. So with out actually having an autopsy, it's hard to say if it was the worms or poison, which is quite possible. If you have other cats make sure you get them on a preventative. There are some good ones out there.

Answer 7

I'm so sorry.

In the case of my cat, age 8, it was heart disease. She had no symptoms. She was playing, jumped up and ran about 2 feet and fell over dead.

It could be anything previously mentioned..poison, she could have been hit by a car (and shock could have killed her), heart disease (even that young), or the bite from a poisonous animal (snake or spider).

You can have a necropsy done if you want to know for certain by a veterinarian. Honestly, to me what matters is you've lost someone dear to you...I'm very sorry!!

Answer 8

Hi,
If there are no signs of trauma or road accident, the chances are high that somewhere in your area, somebody lives who keeps birds or race pigeons who have a dislike to cats. I strongly suspect poisening. I used to work for the Belgian equivaledge of the rspca for 8 years, and 8 out of 10 autopsies told us this. The other two reasons would be stroke or heart attack, but taken the age into consideration, I really doubt that. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Take care
Kristel

Answer 9

I am so sorry for your loss. Your vet can perform a procedure called a necropsy that will give you the answer you need. If your cat has companions this may be crucial.
You found your poor baby in your garden? Could she have come in contact with pesticides? Could a neighbor have put out poison? I lost a healthy young male when a neighbor put out poison for a possum who was ransacking his garden.
Nothing can prepare you for the shock of finding a beloved pet dead. My heart goes out to you..

Answer 10

Awe! I'm so sorry you lost your cat. Its really terrible to lose a pet you love!


there are a lot of possiblities of what could have killed your cat, but i wonder, do you really want to know? My cat died last year, he was 16, and had cancer, we didnt know he was sick, and the guilt was unbelievable.

Search around where you found your kitty for anything that could have poisoned it, if you find something, than you would want to remove it before you get a new kitten.
And again, im sorry you lost your pet!