I completely feel your pain. In fact, the day that you posted your message (Oct. 30) was exactly one day after I had to put my 5 month old kitten down for what we suspected was FIP. It's been a little over two weeks now, and I'm starting to feel better now. I was an absolute wreck initially-- honestly (and I know it sounds ridiculous) this is one of the saddest things that has ever happened to me in my life.

It all happened so suddenly. Thursday night I came home and noticed him breathing oddly- rapid shallow breaths that looked forced. Concerned, my boyfriend and I took him to the emergency vet. I thought that most likely it was a URI, which he had initially been treated for when we had first brought him home 4 months earlier. I considered the x-rays a necessary (expensive) measure to buy peace of mind and rule out anything serious. Honestly, I expected to be given an antibiotic and be on my way.

We were absolutely blindsided with the news that he was in extremely critical condition and that he had barely any lung space visible on the xray due to fluid or some sort of huge mass in his chest. Either way, he needed to be hospitalized overnight and tests were ordered.

The next morning I was informed that they had ruled out anything treatable, and the only feasible scenarios left were 1) FIP or 2) Cancer. Either way, he wasn't going to make it. I had to put him down less than 24 hours after taking him to the vet for what I assumed was nothing more serious than a cold. Like your cat, he died in my arms. Purring. It was absolutely gut wrenching and heartbreaking- and somewhat traumatizing. I can't get the images out of my mind. He was the sweetest cat I've ever seen, and the thought of his short life having been spent in pain that I was unaware of is absolutely devastating to me. Like I said, it's starting to get easier, but I don't think this is something that I will ever get over completely.

I offer you my sincerest condolences.

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