A question for cat experts out here

[BrianR]

Time to tap the Cellar knowledge base again.

For cat experts only!

My wife's cat ,a 5-6 year old (dunno the breed, it was orange and white) dropped dead last night. It was fine eight hours before. No obvious symptoms such as choking.

The cat was in the care of my SIL, who loves cats but is hopeless in a crisis. She was hysterical and couldn't pass on information in a coherent way so vital time was lost reminding her that she is a nurse-in-training. Her stethoscope revealed no breathing but a heartbeat so the cat was rushed to the emergency vet but was DOA.

According to the vet, there was no airway obstruction as a tube was passed into the lungs. No frank blood or unexplained lumps which might indicate a cancer. Just dead.

We're wondering what might have caused this death. Internet searches point to a stroke or embolus either in the brain or heart/lungs. No necropsy will be done.

Any ideas?