Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment for Cats with Cystitis

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Atlcdn (Whiteland, Indiana, Usa) on 03/18/2013
★★★☆☆

My male tabby is running to his litter box constantly with very little output. [few days] I started him on organic ACV yesterday.. 3 times and once today, so far. I have a baby medicine dropper that holds 5ml. I use a bit less than 1/2 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar and the other 1/2 tsp is filtered water. Getting this down a 25 lb cat by yourself is almost impossible so he only gets perhaps half of it. He wheezes afterward [he has asthma that nothing helps] and then he foams at the mouth for a minute. He will not eat canned food and I am at my wits' end trying to figure out if his Blue Buffalo dry food is hurting him now. I can't afford vet fees and don't trust their treatment for this anyway. [from reading other posts] Did anyone find that it took a long time for the ACV to work? There is a tiny bit of urine [which takes forever] in his litter when he goes. Any other ideas? or just wait and give it time... I'll keep trying to get Apple Cider Vinegar down him 3 times in a 24 hour period. [maybe it's too strong]I wish he would eat canned food.. And no, he won't eat tuna, or fish [people food].. no people food at all...

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Adora Libertad (Carolina, Puerto Rico) on 03/10/2013
★★★★★

Like many of you I'm trully gratefull I found this site. My 8 year old neutered male cat, Otis has been sufering from UTI since june 2012. I started noticing he was urinating in certain places around the house. He had never done this before. At that time we saw it as a behavior problem since another cat had hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) and was getting extra atention with forced feeding, and a lot of tlc. If you have ever had a cat with fatty liver you now how time consuming it is. If not I hope you never have to deal with this. It is horrible. Sadlly, we lost our beloved Tashy after a 4 month battle. We are still recuperating. So you can imagine how I felt when a few weeks after Tashy passed away I found bloody urine on my floor. I can't loose Otis too. After all we went through for Tashy, I lost my faith in vets. If I would have had internet at the time I would have probably started alternative remedies on time. But the vets didn't give us much hope. Anyway...

In October Otis went through numerous test and left the vets with antibiotics and a large bill. The bloody urine happend off and on until last tuesday, march 5, I noticed him in pain and picked up more anibiotics. But on wednesday he was totally blocked, he was straining with no urine passing, he would cry and go to every corner to try to urinate. I had to find some remedy because I wasn't going to submit him to more test that lead to nothing. Found this site and quickly went to pick up a bottle of ACV and a couple of cans of friskies special diet for urinary track heath. Not my food of choice but it was the best available. Honestly I was a bit scared cause I read that male cats can die from a blockage within hours, but with vets letting my Tashy to die I wasn't going to give them one more cent. Started at about 11 am with half a can mixed with water and 1/2 tsp of acv. He ate it all up. In two hours he passed urine aparently in a burst because it was all over the place and he was all wet. After that he rested for a couple of hours then gave him more food. The next morning he was totally blocked again. Repeated the Apple Cider Vinegar for another day and went to buy cranberry juice and Cantaris on friday. Followed the recipe for cranberry, lemon and water mix I found from a reply on this site. Otis didn't like it at all but after giving him some water with a syringe to wash the juice down he seemed to be ok. I gave him the juice every 3 hours and the cantharis avery 1/2hour until he was unblocked. Today, sunday, is day three of the combination of the 3 remedies and for the first time in a while Otis asked to go outside to the balcony. He went to his litter no problem and seems to be happy and comfortable. I'm happy to see results but I know we are not in the clear just yet. I know this is a lot to read but I wanted to share my story and wanted to that all of you people that told yours. I can see how much you all love your cats. Just because we look for alternatives doesn't mean we are irresponsible or are not willing to spend the money on our cats. But as I lost my faith in doctors and pediatritians I found options for my family and we are healthier than ever and my daughters havent had to visit the pediatritian in over a year. I hope I can provide my pets with the same healthy lifestyle. Good day to all!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Kerri (Darwin, Nt, Australia) on 03/01/2013
★★★★★

Excellent advice regarding ACV for UTI in cats. My cat was distressed, running about scratching the floor & peeing in the bathtub. I put half a teaspoon of ACV, mixed with water with her canned food & the vey next morning she was back to normal!! I continued adding AVC to her canned food morning & night just to be sure & cut out all dry food. Worked an absolute treat!

Thank you! Love, love, love this site!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Isis (Houston, Tx) on 02/26/2013

Does it have to be the organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar or does the regular apple cider vinegar work, too?

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Karen (Key Largo, Florida) on 02/23/2013
★★★★★

I am very happy to have found this site and all the posts about cats that have been helped (very sorry to hear about the one that was too sick to be helped). Matter cleaning the litter boxes after work , like most every night I realized Sassy Ass'es box was dryer than normal. Watched her for a bit & she was straining to do "nothing" . I have had many many cats over the years and knew it was a cystitis or infection. Vets closed so I start doing Internet search and end up here. The lack of fluids & ACV made sense to me. After an entire night mostly sleepless and the better part of the day, Sassy Ass is again peeing extremely well. I was jumping up and down like a cheerleader moments ago!!!!

Goes to show, if you are aware of your pets actions and catch an issue quickly there can be a positive outcome. Minus my own lack of sleep all as well.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Madi (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) on 02/22/2013
★★★★★

About: Apple Cider Vinegar for bladder problems, male cat. After repeated visits to a Vet over a period of three years, and many hundreds of dollars in cost, I finally realized there had to be a better way. My six year old male cat Peppi had another flare-up only two weeks after the previous, and it became obvious that the anti-inflammatory injections and pain medication the Vet was prescribing was not a solution. I have two cats in the house, the other is a female rescue cat, she's been with us for three years and they tolerate each other.

I separated them, gave the male two litter boxes of his own, and watched his movements. Three days ago he urinated at least a dozen times, some quite normal in quantity, others just a few drops, and towards the end of the day, although his urine was still clear and he was using the litter-box, he was in pain and began to howl.

I had stopped giving him any dry food even in the small quantities he was being given as a treat, and was on the verge of taking him to the Vet again when he started to howl, as I had been told he would need various blood tests and an Xray or MRI.

That very same day, we had taken him to the Vet who did a quick in-house blood test for diabetes - using the same little meter I use at home, because I have recently been diagnosed with Type 2. For that test, which took all of three minutes in and out, we paid over $90.

I came across this website feeling somewhat desperate, it was either find something natural rather quick (like a miracle?) or deliver him to the Vet next morning, and leave him there for tests and a cost of at least $500/$600. (And no guarantee that any further procedure would be effective! )

There was bottle of organic (with the mother) apple cider vinegar in my kitchen... I had bought it for myself, and had not yet started using it...

After reading page after page of the comments here on this website about ACV, I mixed about a half-teaspoon of it into some canned wet cat food, and he ate it with enjoyment. A couple of hours later, I gave him some more with another dash of ACV.

He spend the night on the bed, and in the morning, urinated quite normally - his morning feed again included a dash of ACV and by the middle of the day, I knew we were on top of it. He was comfortable, obviously had no more urinary arritation, and I am so happy to say that the Vet missed out on his fat fee, because Peppi is now totally back to normal. How long will it last? I don't know, but he's going to be getting his little dose of ACV at least once a day from now on.

PEPPI AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW RELIEVED AND HAPPY WE ARE!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Tony (San Diego, Ca) on 11/14/2012

You can now get some kits to test for UTI before even going to the VET so you can know for sure.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ellie (Stga Spgs, Ny) on 11/13/2012

So impressive if ACV really worked for cat with serious bladder problem. I adopted a new cat from someone that wouldn't keep him. He had just been treated with a flee product. He had a soft stool and he had a serious bladder infection. He was scratching infected my other cat with flees and was so on the move or irratable that I was almost on my wits end and considering giving him away; exept not to the former owner. After ten days of an anti-biotic and a shampoo he is so calm and so other than he was when he had his problems. (Including avoiding the litterbox for no. 1and no. 2). Please, be careful with any products, cats have a very sensitive bladder and the first thing they will do is avoid the (pain) litterbox. Ellie

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Tracie (Williamsport, Pa) on 11/05/2012
★★★★★

About a month ago, the vet me my male cat (Grecco, 3 yr) had cystitis. He was peeing blood (little spots) in the bathtub and sink and not at all in the litter box. The first time I took him to the vet he was blocked... Hello $500 vet bill. The next time (about a week later) he was peeing blood again so back to the vets he went and they just flushed him out... $230. Each time they gave me antibiotics and pain meds, clearly that wasn't helping. I asked if anything would help and the Dr said no, and then I asked about switching to wet food and he said it was better for them but wouldn't necessarily help. Then this past weekend it happened again, this is all within less than a month! I can't afford another vet bill and I feel like taking to the vet isn't even helping anyway.

So off to the internet I went and found this site. Last night I started the ACV giving it to him in his dinner, he wasn't having that so then I had to do it with a syringe (2ml Apple Cider Vinegar 5ml water), nothing changed between last night and this morning. I gave it to him again this morning before I fed him (wet food with a little water to make it like a gravy, I no longer use dry food because it seems to make the cystitis act up). I went home on my lunch break and saw a nice spot in the litter box ( by the size and way it looked I am pretty sure it was his and not my female kitten) and then when I went to pick him up and take him into the kitchen to do another dose an awesome thing happened, he peed all over me and the kitchen floor! Sounds weird but I was so happy! There wasn't any blood at all! I am going to keep giving the ACV and probably continue even after it has cleared, just use a smaller dosage like 1/2 tsp instead of a little over 1 tsp. Not sure if that will hurt the stomach with all that acid. Hopefully it continues to work.

Thank you everyone for posting, I believe that this may save his life.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Alex (All Places Cats Are, Texas) on 08/06/2012
★☆☆☆☆

My heart goes out to Paul in Los Angeles who lost his kitten after making the incredibly difficult decision to try a home ACV remedy when forced, by finances, to forego veterinary treatment. I have very restricted finances (SSI) and have great compassion for his predicament, and for his bravery in writing to this forum. Here is info I found out in my situation:

Urinary problems in cats have very different causes: inactivity, stress, less frequent feeding, bacteria, fungus, parasites, viruses, stones or urethral plugs (crystals or other material), and most often the cause is "idiopathic" (no traceable cause). Typically, when a cat is stressed the muscles around the urinary tract tighten; fear keeps them less mobile; they urinate less; toxins/debris concentrate in the urine, breed bacteria, irritate and inflame the bladder lining and urethra and cause a UTI. The extra attention and frequent small feedings of wet food required to treat it with the ACV may be all a stressed cat needs. It relaxes, receives more fluids in smaller more acidic feedings, and urinates. A few good streams of urine might relieve the problem. To paraphrase Dr. Earl Mindell, MD, ACV is considered "a system tonic. It can discourage and inhibit the growth of bacteria and PREVENT urinary infections", but it is not an antibiotic; by creating more acidic urine it can PREVENT the formation of urethral obstructions, but would take much time to dissolve one. Female cats, due to their very short urethra, are not generally put in a life threatening situation from UTIs or urethral obstructions, but male cats have only hours once a complete obstruction is formed. With complete blackage the kidneys are no longer able to remove toxins from the blood and maintain proper fluids and electrolytes in the body. If the obstruction is not relieved, the cat will eventually lose consciousness and die. Death comes often from heart failure due to electrolyte imbalance, but the suffering prior to death is great.

My cat, Xander, showed no pain or stress. I took him to the vet to find out what kind of problem the blood in his urine was and if it was treatable at home - cost $60 (2AM Emergency Vet) He was completely blocked. Death from the blockage was imminent. Had I not taken him in it would have meant a quiet (he was always quiet) but excruciating death in hours.

IF YOUR MALE CAT HAS UTI TROUBLE there is no time to try home remedies, take him to the vet. It will cost you an office visit. If it is treatable, you can use ACV, or get antibiotics/antifungals (fish antibiotics /fungals - ask your vet to help you with amounts), or just about anything else online, BUT if it is an obstruction you will need to choose between euthanasia or surgery (which often does not have a terrific outcome). You will suffer - the loss of your pet, or the loss of money, but your beloved pet will be spared further suffering and go to whatever lay ahead as quietly as his little cat feet used to bring him to you. (and you will know that you did absolutely everything that you could)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Astrid (Stroudsburg, Pa) on 03/21/2012

"this website is fantastic for some things and horrifying for others. People who cannot afford to take a sick pet to the vet SHOULD NOT HAVE PETS!!! "

Pleeeease! Yes, only rich people should have everything? We're not talking about a $100 vet bill here. I currently owe my vet over a thousand dollars. Last spring I took my sick cat to the vet for a UTI and he wanted $700 up front for a catheter. I did not have this and turned to herbal remedies (including cranberry and ACV) and he improved. He's still with me and recovered but is sick again now. This is a chronic problem for him. Do people like you know how many animals are put down in shelters? Why shouldn't low income people be able to take these unwanted pets in and give them good homes as well as the wealthy? I have four cats and three of them have had very few, if any, health problems and I have given them good lives without tons of money. I also tried to get health insurance for the one cat who has chronic UTI problems and was turned down due to the "pre-existing condition" clause so the one cat that needs the help the most is the one that gets turned away from ASPCA insurance which is an organization that claims to care the most about pets but ends up basically being all about business.

I've had some success with ACV but have to dillute it in water in a dropper and then give the cat another dropper (or two) of water right after to wash the bad taste out of his mouth. It's more successful giving it to him this way as cats generally don't like the taste of it (understandably).

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Heidi (Basel, Switzerland) on 03/13/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

So, sooo impressed with ACV... Here's what happened:

I noticed one morning my Somalian cat had difficulty urinating and would try to go several times with traces of blood increasing as she kept trying. I then noticed there were droplets of blood on the floor as she walked around the house though no signs of her peeing outside her litter tray. I tried the following steps:

- Wet food only (in this case, she eats canned tuna)

- 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar spread over the day mixed well into her meals (and a little in her water on day 1 & 2)...

(Note. After getting the ACV I tried the dropper approach others have used and as I suspected, she hated it and is now afraid of the dropper and the noise it makes when it releases liquid...)

Day 1 when I noticed the blood she had 1/4 teaspoon in 4 different mini meals (she usually eats twice per day so fed her early and more frequently to get the ACV working and ensure she ate it).

Day 2 (i. E. About 18 hours later) she was able to pee fully in one go. I couldn't see any blood (so there might have been a little) though there definitely wasn't any blood on the floor again.

Day 3 again she was able to pee fully though I noticed she had constipation from the meat only diet so in the evening I gave her dry food.

Day 4 she was able to pee fully and the constipation had gone and I'd returned to 2 normal sized meals with the 1/2 a teaspoon of ACV in each meal mixed in well.

On about day 6 I started to reduce the dosage of ACV to 1 teaspoon one day, 1/2 teaspoon the following day. It's now day 8 and I'm still giving her 1/2 teaspoon per day and I'll do this for perhaps 2 or 3 more days. I'm so pleased - My cat Lily & I thank everyone who posted!

Note of caution: A few times I didn't mix the ACV in well enough to her food and she had a coughing fit as she inhaled the smell or couldn't handle the flavour. Thankfully when it was mixed in well, she ate all her food like normal.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Shavano (Santa Fe, Nm) on 03/11/2012

this website is fantastic for some things and horrifying for others. People who cannot afford to take a sick pet to the vet SHOULD NOT HAVE PETS!!! Letting a poor sick kitten (15 months old) die a painful death when it could have been a simple uti, and probably would have cost less than $100, is disgusting!!! It is NOT the "circle of life."

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Nora (Jamaica Plain, Ma) on 02/17/2012
★☆☆☆☆

My male cat has gotten cystitis a few times. ACV didn't help. I found that while he is suffering from cystitis, just putting a small amount of CranActin Syrup, made by Solaray, on his lips eased the condition--I purchased the CranActin Syrup via Amazon.com. I think I only had to apply this to him lips once--he licks it and ingests it. Then feeding him nutritious canned cat food that has liquid gravy twice a day has kept him well for the past year. I feed him Nature's Variety's Homestyle by Prairie, Duck Chicken Stew or Turkey Liver Stew (I put a few drops of cold pressed olive oil in that food) mornings and then in the evening, I give him Weruva Chicken in Gravy. I get both brands via Amazon.com. I think that he gets enough liquid that way plus the distilled water I give him in his water bowl. I have found that I can then give him a small amount of dry food, about 1/16 of a cup as a snack daily--I give him Taste of the Wild, Canyon River Feline Formula with Trout & Smoked Salmon flavor. I buy this at a small supermarket, Pemberton Farms, in Cambridge, MA. It is processed with purified water. So far he is doing well. I also give him four vitamins daily--Nu-Cat Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplement. I buy this via Amazon.com.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Matwood (Carmichael, Ca) on 02/15/2012
★☆☆☆☆

Remembered this thread as I was sitting here going through old pics of my Cat. In may of 2011 he had a horrible urinary tract infection.. Found this site and thread and read all the great stories about ACV. We bought some immediately and started giving it to him. After a few days he seemed better, started going in the litter box and seemed like his old self. We were so happy but sadly... The ACV didn't work. He ended up getting a complete blockage and we lost him last May.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Tyty (Mougins, France) on 01/31/2012
★★★★★

THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE!!!!!!! My parents just moved country and flew their cat over for us to look after. The flight was clearly stressful and I noticed a few days after that she was straining to pee and leaving pee/blood drops in the corners of rooms. I couldn't take her to the vet and did'nt want to put her back ito the box that she is now terrified of so I began google searching what the problem is and found this site. Last night I gave her her ACV and soft food and found a big pee this morning and a happy cat! THANK YOU soooooo much!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Dahlia1 (Athens, Ga, United States) on 01/29/2012
★★★★★

I have 2 cats and a dog. Ezzie has been with me when she showed up at my doorstep screaming her head off, at 5 weeks old... Should have known then that any feral kitty that wasn't afraid of humans and would actually "knock" on my door because the whole outside thing just wasn't working for her I was going to have a hand full. Well, 6 years later, let me just say, no one is safe... Especially the dog. Anyways, I rescued an abused barn cat when I lived in North Carolina about 2 and a half years ago. It took 6 months for her to allow me near her but I kept putting out food and water and she crept closer and closer eventually I was able to make her a heated kitty house and pick her up.

She showed up one day with a huge gaping wound on her neck and by this time I had broken my neck, had surgery, and then was fired from my job... Long story, needless to say I had no money, let alone for the vet so I called my vet's office and they knew my situation so they only charged me $40 for the visit (she was a new patient) along with the antibotics to give her. It was an interesing game of take the pill for a week. But she healed up and that is how I found out she was a she and that she was estimated to be around 16 years old. So she went from Chairman Meow to Ingrid Birdman. Well, I now live in GA and she now lives inside... She spends most of her time in her "room", the utility room where I put her litter box, food on an elavated platform my step-dad made her, with her kitty bed underneath. Ezzie is a snot so Ingrid likes to be in her safe place. Yesterday, she started going to the cat box and back to the platform (which is white and the floor is white also), like she was doing wind sprints. She was leaving little droplets of peepee tinged with blood once in a while. I freaked, I have no money left of my own and am living off of my mom and she is retired... Vet bills aren't in the cards, and I don't have a vet here that will do me any favors like the nice vet in NC. I found this website and forum, after having read other stuff here and there about the ACV, but nothing specific enough, so I immediately put on socks and shoes and went to the grocery in my jammies (sweatpants and a long ugly t-shirt) and bought the ACV.

Ingrid stopped doing the wind sprints almost instantly after eating the soft food with the ACV in it, last night I put it in her water bowl and she drank that all up. No peepee droplets this morning, I am so thrilled! I hate stressing her out and car rides, vets, etc. Scare her... She's been abused horribly in her lifetime and now she is finally happy and comfortable and because of this forum she is already better and soon will be ALL better. Thanks so much everybody, you are lifesavers!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Paul (Rock Island, Il) on 01/07/2012
★★★★★

The apple cider vinegar remedy worked great for our cat!

We added one teaspoonful to a small can of catfood. She ate half of that the first day. Gave her the other half the second day. By the evening of Day 2, she was fine.

(Her prior symptoms were frequent attempts to urinate not just in the litter box, but also other places around the house, which is not like her. This had gone on for over a week.)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ashley (Fort Mcmurray, Alberta, Canada) on 12/25/2011
★★★★★

This site saved my cat's life. He was recently in for a urinary tract blockage, which cost me over $2500.00 to treat. He was home for two days and blocked up again - no urine what so ever. It was a holiday, nowhere was open, and I was contemplating having him put down. The vet agreed to see him without charging me the $500.00 emergency fee, and tried to catheterize him and couldn't. I was beyond hope.

I found this site with information about ACV for cystitis, and tried the apple cider vinegar, and I kid you not he peed within 20 minutes. I kept giving him small doses by mouth (in a 1 ml syringe) every 30 minutes for 2 hours. He was up peeing all night, and filled the litter box. I am so gratefull!! Thanks!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Marina (Brooklyn, Ny) on 12/24/2011
★☆☆☆☆

I tried this cure for four days. My cat died yesterday.

He started with blood in his urine, which cleared up after day one. He was urinating painfully, but seemed to be in much better spirits days 2-3. Yesterday, he clearly had a blockage and was suffering terribly. I rushed him to the vet, they voided his bladder. It seemed to go well until he had a heart attack while they were sewing the catheter in. The exact reason is unknown, but being in so much pain for so long certainly taxed his system. He could not be revived.

I believe if I had treated his problem as an emergency in the beginning instead of trying to care for him at home before taking him in, he would have had the strength to survive. I made a decision that cost him his precious life.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Laura (Racine, Wi-us) on 12/19/2011
★★★★★

Holy smokes- A Christmas Miracle! We were having the terrible discussion about having to put our 5 year old cat down the week of Christmas because we could not swing another $350 vet bill like we did last week for Buddy's cystitis. I read this website, went to the store at 11:00 at night to buy a $1.19 bottle of generic apple cider vinegar. I put it in canned cat food and a touch of milk- he ate a tiny bit, I tried it with just cat food, he again, just ate a bit, so I thought I was unsuccesful, but at 1 am he followed me down to the litter box and squatted and succesfully urinated. He bound up the stairs playfully and nearly knocked down the Christmas tree in his enthusiasm!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ida (Woonsocket, Ri) on 12/18/2011

Many an infection can come as a result of a lack of drinking enough, esp in cold months....... For these cats... So invest in a water fountain... I found the best one in cleansiness and functionality and price is the Catit round one.... I got it from Petsmart and get the filters from Amazon. It has helped 100% in my Persians health I am happy and they drink from it mostly even though I have steel bowls of fresh water in 2 other areas of my home.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Paul (Los Angeles, Ca, Usa) on 12/12/2011
★☆☆☆☆

Just some feedback on my experience. Sat afternoon my cat who is a year and a half, showed me he was having trouble peeing. I started researching on the net, was seeing the prices involved in catheters, etc... Seemed 800.00 was a common number, and that frequently the number moved into the thousands as the operation was needed again and again. I called a 24/7 vet here in LA but they would not quote any sort of general price range for the procedure, till I came in and paid 125.00 for an exam. I think they know if they say a large number over the phone that they will scare away business. But if you are there and have already committed to 125.00 and your pet's big eyes are staring at you in front of them they can make more of a sale. But I just don't have that type of money. I love the little guy, but I don't have insurance for myself. So, I thought I'd try the apple cider vinegar since there seemed nothing to lose. He didn't like it much. It didn't seem to do anything as fas as I can tell except make him unhappy. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible on Sunday otherwise, he wanted to be with me and so I kept him near me most of the day. He became increasingly lethargic. Lots of tears. I knew I was making a rational choice but emotionally it was tough. Critters die... Cycle of life... Sometimes you have to let them go. I took him to bed with me at midnight and noticed around 3AM he had left the bed. At 4:30AM I went to check on him and he was dead on the floor in the living room.

He had a good life with me and he was a good little buddy for 15 months. He had playmates with neighbor kitties, good food, and a person who loved him. He knew it. It was a very affectionate and close bond. I know it sounds terrible and heartless to some, but is it less heartless than numerous operations with strange people in strange places. He had a day and a half of increasing discomfort and I imagine was in a great deal of pain at the end- but every surgery would have left him in pain for a while too. It is easy to be frightened of death and I think we take it too far. There are times to let loved ones go. But I am also sharing my experience as a word of caution to those who are attached to their pets. The ACV might or might not work. Just be aware of that if you choose that course. My cat was fine on Friday evening and dead on Monday before sun up.