# Best Cat Ever has died. R.I.P. Vienna **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043 "2022-03-14T17:35:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/1 "2022-03-14T17:35:26Z")
[Here is Vienna last September, on her 15th birthday.](https://imgur.com/vAYNYlw) She was a part-Maine Coon, and you can barely see her bushy black tail. We adopted Vienna when she was about 1 year old, and she’d been given the name Anna, which we knew wasn’t her true name. Shortly thereafter, she found her way behind some books in one of our book cases, and she pushed one of the books out onto the floor. It was a guidebook to the city of Vienna. That’s how she told us her name. The 20yo cat we had at the time finally died, so we adopted a 7yo black cat who we renamed Paris. Paris was a wonderful cat in every way except one: he was very dominant, and a bully toward Vienna. She withdrew, and never interacted with us in any way. Except purring. She loved to purr, especially in bed. After several years, Paris died. That’s when Vienna began to come alive, eventually becoming the most affectionate and playful cat we ever had. Everyone who met her described her with one word: Sweet. She also turned out to be a great mouser, in spite of the fact that she’d been de-clawed. About a week ago, we noticed her slightly limping. We thought it was something temporary, but kept an eye on her. Then on Saturday afternoon, she collapsed in the kitchen on her way to the litter box, and pee’d and defecated on the floor. It was apparently a stroke. We called the vet and made an appointment for Monday morning. We carried her, mostly paralyzed except for her head, to her favorite place on the couch. For the rest of the weekend, we sat with her and comforted her (and each other). At first she could still purr, but never closed her eyes. We managed to get small amounts of food and water into her, but not much. Sometime Sunday she was still breathing but no longer purred. Early Monday morning, a few hours before her vet appointment, she breathed her last breath. We’ve been through this so many times in the past, but it never gets easy. We are heartbroken. Goodbye, sweet Vienna. You will always be loved and missed. Best. Cat. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/2 "2022-03-14T17:45:55Z")
What a gorgeous kitty. I’m sure it was a comfort to her to be with you at the end. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/3 "2022-03-14T17:56:34Z")
I’ll be holding all of you in the light. 🕯 She was a dearly loved cat, in the bosom of a family that deserved The.Best.Cat.Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/4 "2022-03-14T18:16:47Z")
What you did for her on her last weekend is truly compassionate. I wish you serenity for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/5 "2022-03-14T18:27:13Z")
Condolences on your loss. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/6 "2022-03-14T18:30:25Z")
Sorry for your loss, dude. Vienna had a good life and enriched yours. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/7 "2022-03-14T18:33:23Z")
So sorry, I know it is devastating ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/8 "2022-03-14T18:49:09Z")
Aww. Sorry for your little friend. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/9 "2022-03-14T18:55:29Z")
My condolences to you both. She sounds like a wonderful kitty, who had a wonderful life with you. May her memories be a blessing. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/10 "2022-03-14T18:56:55Z")
**{{{panache45}}}** After eight months, we still miss our 17 ½ year old Tonka. I know what you’re going through. My sincere condolences. 😿 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/11 "2022-03-14T18:57:39Z")
My sympathies. She had gorgeous eyes. I’m sure she passed with much less difficulty with you there by her side. It’s always very hard to feel the life go out of them. Big hugs. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/12 "2022-03-14T22:32:32Z")
I am so sorry that she’s gone. I’m glad she had you by her side – in her last days, and for all of those years. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/13 "2022-03-15T03:13:30Z")
I am sorry for your loss, **Panache**. You posted about Vienna many times, telling us about the joy that she brought you, and letting those of us who had also lost an animal friend know that you would tell her. If she looks around this side of the Rainbow Bridge, she will eventually find some of my old friends. I am sure that they will welcome her into the group, and will keep her company until you meet with her again. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/14 "2022-03-15T03:15:47Z")
I’m sorry. It’s so hard. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/15 "2022-03-15T04:27:46Z")
Thanks so much, guys, for all your kind words. They help. Vienna will be buried in the backyard with all the other animals. My family has lived here since 1958, and there have been many dogs, birds and cats sharing their lives with us. I have buried cats in a special secluded area, to isolate them from the dogs and birds. The entire yard is a veritable pet cemetery. Future owners of the house are in for some surprises when they start digging. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/16 "2022-03-15T11:07:54Z")
Very sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/17 "2022-03-15T18:54:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Goodbye, sweet Vienna. Awww. Very sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/18 "2022-03-15T19:01:07Z")
The cats and I send our condolences. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/19 "2022-03-16T01:01:56Z")
What a beautiful kitty. I’m so sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043/20 "2022-03-16T02:47:22Z")
In my mind, I return to losing our dog about a year ago. I’m so sorry for your loss! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043.md?page=2)