Sudden death in cats

Q: I'd like to pose a question about our cat, Mookie, who up and died while we were petting him this past Sunday. I've searched the web and all pet sites about SUDDEN DEATH and have found this "affliction" only in the context of heartworm. I wonder if you have other ideas on this? Mookie was a healthy active 11-year-old Manx. All shots up to date. No lethargy or appetite suppression. He was purring one moment and the next he let out a blood-curdling scream, then died.

A: Lisa-

Real "sudden death" is an unusual occurrence. As you noted, it can happen in cats infected with heartworms. It is also reported to occur in

cats as the result of cardiomyopathy. This disorder can be very insidious and may not be detected prior to death. Cats probably get aneurysms that rupture, although I have only seen one report on these. Anything that causes thromboembolism can cause sudden death -- this can be seen as the result of cancers, blood clotting disorders, cardiomyopathy, trauma and other disorders. Low serum potassium can lead to sudden death, as can high serum potassium -- but usually there are other signs of illness making the process seem a lot less sudden in retrospect.

I am sorry to hear about Mookie. It is unfortunate but without a necrospy (autopsy) exam it is not possible to tell you what might have happened. It is hard when things like this can't be resolved.