I was wondering if this was thrombosis?

Karen

<< I lost a wonderful cat to an abdominal aneurysm last night.  He became
paralyzed in his legs.  Has anyone else had this tragedy happen?  It happens
so suddenly. >>

I'm very sorry about your loss.  I'm sure your poor kitty had a wonderful life
with you.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other
than human."  (Loren Eisely)

My guess is your cat suffered a thromboembolus -- lodged at the terminal
abdominal aorta (the aortic trifurcation).  This type of thromboembolus
usually extends down the external iliac arteries, giving it the appearance
of a "saddle" -- hence the name: saddle thromboemboli  or "saddle thrombus".
Thromboembolism of the terminal aorta produces acute rear limb
paresis/paralysis and pain, and a loss of the femoral pulses and pale or
cyanotic pads. Some cats have smaller thromboemboli that lodge in one
femoral artery so only one limb is affected, or in a brachial artery, or in
another smaller artery.  In other cats, a very large thromboembolus lodges
in the mitral valve orifice, the left ventricle, or the proximal aorta at
the region of the brachiocephalic trunk, causing sudden death.  But saddle
thrombi are the most common.

Regardless of the final destination, thrombus formation in cats usually
occurs in some region of the left heart - probably in an enlarged left
atrium -- and more than likely in the left auricle.  IOW, your cat probably
had undiagnosed heart disease - hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy in particular.
Saddle thrombus is one of the most devastating complications associated with
myocardial diseases in cats.
.

Too many times.  The screams of agonizing pain still haunt me to this day.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

Phil.