Living with congestive heart failure HMC : please help

Hello everyone, I am a newbie and wondered if anyone that has been through a situation similar to my beautiful ragdoll, Levi.

Levi is 2 1/2 years old and the joy of my life. I don't have children so you could say he is my forever baby This last week has been the worst of my life.

On Monday I took him to the vet for weight loss and breathing heavy. To cut a long story short a pleural effusion was identified and enlarged heart. 80% of the fluid was removed and on Wednesday I took him to see a specialist for echocardiography, doppler echocardiography and ECG. The diagnosis was congestive heart failure secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The findings show severe underlying heart disease.

He has been on medication for 5 days. This is Frusemide (10mg), benazepril (2.5 mg), aspirin 1/2 75mg every three day and clopidogrel 1/4 75mg.

He seems to be doing well. Eating lots (more than he ever has), grooming, sleeping in the bed with us - he even had a little play earlier. However I am a nervous wreck, worrying about his breathing constantly. His breathing is between 32 - 36 per minute over the last 5 days. Is it normal for his breathing to continue to be laboured or should the meds be doing more? He is due back to the vet on wednesday for a check up and specialist in 3 weeks.

How have you coped in this situation?

I don't have any cats with this, but know there are some folks whose cats have or had HMC.  At least one of those folks is on vacation this week so will only be sporatically, but I'm sure she will check in once in awhile. 

In the meantime, on Monday morning you could call your Vet and just ask them about the breaths per minute.

As far as how you cope...you just do the best you can.  You give the meds daily, you give them all the love you can, and you go on.    I currently have a cat with kidney disease, so even though it isn't the same thing, it's still a disease with no cure, which will only get worse as time goes on.  I worry and fret every single day, and hover over her until I drive us both crazy   You also learn everything you can about his condition and what you can do to help it...special foods, ways to better give pills, etc.  Ask you Vet, ask here, google stuff, then come back here and ask opinions, etc.

That's why I do, and with my girl, this is the not even the first furbaby we've had to get kidney disease .  I'm still reading about it EVERY DAY !

Thank you for your reply, two weeks later and Levi and I are doing better, he almost seems quite normal except getting tired very easily when playing but at least he is playing

P.s how long has your kitty had kidney problems?

kel1985 said:

P.s how long has your kitty had kidney problems?

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This kitty got diagnosed with kidney problems in April.  Her "brother" had kidney disease for 3 years before he died last year .  I learned in the meantime how bad kibble is for cats, (IMO) and switched everyone to canned, then raw, but perhaps it was too late for my little girl, as she had been on kibble for 12 years already.  Hopefully the switch will save my boys from getting it , as they are currently only 4 , and have been on raw now for 1 1/2 years.

So, are you having any problems giving Levi his pills?  I think as long as he gets his meds, he should do ok, isn't that so?

Glad he is doing ok

The medications really helped my mother's cat that had HCM. She lived for 1-1/2 years after going into congestive heart failure and being diagnosed. .

He is taking meds well and eating which is good, he is a lovely boy so just glad to have the opportunity to make his life as good as we can. I have read a lot of stories where it has been left too late so trying to look on the bright side.

My best wishes to you and Levi. Perhaps you should notify the breeder of this development. At 2 1/2 years that is a long time outside of the standard one year health contract, but I think it would be good for the breeder to know of this development.*

There is a genetic test for susceptibility to this condition in Ragdolls, and the breeder I got my guy from said that both parents are free of it. That may be the case for you too.... but a small percentage of cases are still listed as unknown causes.

So, that much being said, I feel so sorry that you are having to deal with this, but be thankful that you had symptoms that pointed to it and medications that can extend the quality of life. The first symptom a friend of mine had for her Ragdoll was, no pretty way to say it, the sudden death of the young cat.

You and Levi are in my thoughts and prayers. Just love 'em and give them the best possible life. Be thankful for the time together and that you have the opportunity to have that relationship.

*Because if your contract didn't include that the parents were free of the genetic defect, the breeder should really know!

It's good to hear he's doing better.

Our Jamie was first diagnosed with HCM as a senior and lived with it for a couple of years, despite several bouts of congestive heart failure. The number of medications was increased over the years. You might want to look into the Yahoo HCM group for specific advice and discussions: Support Groups for Feline Hearts HCM