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One thing regarding this condition that I read about yesterday is that a TAURINE deficiency could be a precursor. For cats, the nutrient taurine is essential for good health and may be lacking in cheaper cat foods, dog food (which dogs don't need since they make their own, but if cats snarf up goggie food mostly they'll not get it) and also home-made pet foods (i.e., raw foods, homeopathic, etc.). There's some good reading online if you do a search for "saddle thrombosis":

You did the right thing getting Rocket to a Vet ASAP. I'm so sorry it didn't work out for him. In time that acute pain of loss will heal and, though he isn't there in person, he is in spirit. I hope you will be able to open your hearts again one day for there are many needy kittehs who would love a family and they DO help heal our hearts. You guys sound like the best parents a kitteh could ask for!

Wow, that’s a lot of good info. After all the cats I’ve been around in my days I am surprised I’ve never heard of this condition. I’ll bet a lot of cats who suffered over the years simply died and nobody really knew why.

It is still too early to think about any new pets. Our cats always find us, or come from shelters. I have this stray who lives by my side porch, I trapped him and took him to the vet a couple of weeks ago for some medical attention and to get fixed. But he is wild and I’ve only been able to touch him a couple of times. Good kid, but roams the neighborhood and belongs to no one.

I’m trying to determine if the remaining animals have missed Rocket or even wonder where he is.

Oh yeah, Taurine is a biggie. As cats are carnivores (not herbivores or omnivores), they need a steady supply of meat.
I used to get Cat Fancy magazine (I said I liked kittehs) and you would always see letters about some vegan or vegetarian wanting to do the same to their cat and they would always respond with the Taurine issue.

That saddle thrombosis sounds like some nasty stuff.

One thing Cat Fancy did have was recipes for homemade kitteh food and they were easy enough that I could do them. Unfortunately it’s even easier to get the good wet and dry cat food at Bel Air.

Much like maintenance on your car (or anything for that matter) cheaping out, costs more in the long run.

Look at the ingredients and ensure it’s #1 ingredient isn’t a filler. I use the 9-Lives wet and you can tell it’s all meat and gravy and the cats love it. We use the Purina complete for dry so they have something to nibble on all day. Unfortunately I taught one kitteh to meow on command. It was cute until he started stalking me in the morning and as soon as he saw me move, he started meowing for his food. I’m using a squirt gun to modify his behavior.

You also need to see if your kitteh has food allergies. I can’t buy any fish or turkey based food as the kittehs started urping it up soon after eating it.

Don’t forget the petromalt for hair balls. I don’t know why but the kittehs seem to think it’s best to eliminate hairballs around midnight and make the most disgusting sounds as they bring them up. If we’re not quick enough, the dog eats it. Nasty. Most cats will lick an inch worth of Petromalt off of your finger; if they don’t, put it on their paw and they’ll lick it off from there.