Sorry for your loss, DG.
Two years ago the veterinarian discovered a benign tumor which blocked my cat's urinary tract. When this happens, the feline's urine ends up in the blood stream, which causes extreme distress as the released toxins causes a reaction that slowly poisons them to death.
Initially the veterinarian diagnosed it as bladder grit, which is common among felines of both genders. Was told a urinary tract rinse and a full genital removal would solve the immediate problem. One week post-surgery
Mittens still showed the same symptoms. Turns out his condition was misdiagnosed and the surgery was completely redundant. (Poor guy...)
Decided to go to another veterinarian for his treatment and was told a complex and expensive (€ 2000) surgery, follow-up treatment and diet could potentially save him. Whilst it was a hefty amount of money, it was still a no-brainer.
Half a year later he had fully recovered and looked very much again like his old, quirky self. Then, out of nowhere, he suffered an (unrelated) thromboembolism which immediately paralysed his back legs and caused him to be in serious distress. The only option to help him was to let the veterinarian put him out of his misery. It just wasn't ment to be.
Pets really can be soul mates (hence
"him", instead of "
it") and it's heart-wrenching when you have to say farewell.