My cat was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

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tigeruk

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Here's my story, apologies it might be fairly long.

About 3 months ago this beautiful Tom kept coming into our back garden. He was in fairly bad shape, think, dirty etc... I started feeding him however he wouldn't let me get too close. The feeding became regular, in fact it was twice a day and he was always out there waiting at the same times every day. Each day he let me get closer and closer to the point where he would let me stroke his head. This went on for about 2 months. Then one morning I went out and he was limping and couldn't put one of his paws on the ground. It was at this point I contact the RSPCA (UK Animal Charity) who swiftly sent an inspector out. The poor cat ran off before he turned up so we left it that when he came back I would try and capture him now that I could get close enough to stroke him. That even he did return still limping. I managed to pick him up and bring him inside although he didn't like it. The RSPCA inspector return about half hour later and took him off to the vets where he said he would most likely spend the night and then go to the animal shelter. We were of course want to adopt him so were advised to contact them the next morning. Anyway, about an hour passed and we received a call from the inspector telling his that the vet said there was nothing wrong with his leg so they are going to bring him back and let him loose. We were pretty shocked at this decision consider he wasn't even nurtured. So we told the inspector to bring him back to ours where we will look after him while they provided the support etc...

So he came back and took about a week to get him settled into his room away from our other 3 cats. He settled down and so we booked him in with the RSPCA vet to be nurtured. A couple of days later he was done and returned home. Over the next couple of days I noticed that his breathing was very fast and deep so I insisted that my partner took him back to the RSPCA Vet to be checked over. They did check him and said there was something there but they didn't have an x-ray machine and wouldn't for a couple of weeks. In fact our whole dealings with the RSPCA have been shocking and I would go into more detail but then my story here would be a novel so I have left out all the other details about that. Anyway not happy with that we decided to take him to our own vets who were amazing, they x-rayed him and said he had a collapsed lung and a lot of fluid around it. They removed some of the fluid and sent it off for testing. We had to wait 2 days for the results and when we got them back our vets said they had to refer him to a specialist as they were unsure what was causing this.

So, we took him to the specialist vets last week and on arrival they immediately hospitalised him as they were concerned that his breathing was too fast, the put him on oxygen and said they wanted to keep him over night. The next day they called and said that he had Advanced Heart Failure - in fact the actual term used was Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. They want to keep him in for a couple of days to monitor him and his medication intake. He stay in for a total of 3 nights. When went to pick him up yesterday and were told that he must take 3 different types of medication twice daily and we must monitor his breathing when he's asleep.

Like the first poster here I am so anxious that I keep counting his breaths.

As he's in the advanced stages of this horrible decease his prognosis is not good and while I keep telling myself that at least he's not having to deal with this alone outside, in the rain i am still finding it difficult. He's such a beautiful cat (picture posted below) and it's such a shame. I have spent the last few months building a bond with this guy that I am completely devastated that he is having to go through this.

I am trying to make him as comfortable as possible, giving him a lot of love and affection. We are feeding whatever he wants and letting him play and roll around on the floor.

We have found that buying some salmon or chicken paste (just regular stuff from the supermarkets like a sandwich filler) and putting the tablet inside it is the easiest way to get him to take 3 tablets. He eats fine without issues.

It's so hard dealing with this and while I feel it's selfish of my to be upset and anxious I do feel for those that are going through the same thing.

 
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tigeruk

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Sorry just read my post back and there was a lot of mistakes!

Also I forgot to add that at no point throughout this pool fella's ordeal has he lost his appetite lol he eats and eats and eats which is a good sign I know. If you could see him now asleep in his bed behind me your heart would melt. He's adorable.
 

geojlc

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Gentle hugs to you and scritches to your new guy.  It sounds like you've been having a rough couple of months!  I'm so very sorry about your problems getting help from the RSPCA people and that, on top of that, you are now dealing with HCM and CHF.  Any of those things would be hard to deal with on their own.  I am glad you got him in for diagnosis and treatment though.  All of this is awful, but I would think it would be worse out in the wilds and without meds to help keep things under control and help him be as comfortable as possible.  And I think you are amazing for helping him out even though he came to you sick.  My baby is very much in the moment and not really afraid, but I can also tell he is happy to have me around for comfort.  

While the journey and process is different for every cat, I found this to be an amazing place for me to talk (sometimes babble) about the good times and the hard times and unfairness and the everything else with other people who have been there and understand.

A nurse friend of mine reminded me to take time to take care of me as well as be a care taker for my baby as he goes through HCM and CHF.  I needed that reminder.  

May your boy respond well to meds and have tolerant kidneys for maximum amounts of good times with him!
 
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tigeruk

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So I thought I would write an update....

It's been six months since my first message and Mister is still with us, although he is in the final stages of heart failure now and it has been touch and go.

For quite a few months he was doing well and has really come out of his shell since bringing him in from outside. He lays of the sofa beside me most evenings, follows me around the house constantly and occasionally purrs which he never did before.

However, the last couple weeks have been very touch and go with two visits to the kitty hospital for a couple of days each time. The first time was because his breathing had increased quite a bit it was up to about 60 breaths per minute, we were told that should be below 30 in his condition. They adjusted his medication and added a new one and his breathing went back down. Then a week later I noticed he wasn't walking quite right, he wasnt applying pressure to one of his back legs and was lying down a lot. I rushed him into the hospital and it turns out he had a blood clot which was affecting his back legs. Luckily I got him there just in time any later and it could have been much worse. He spent a couple of days in during which I was going mad with worry, the thought of loosing this guy makes me feel sick. Much to everyones surprise the blood clot cleared and after a couple of days he returned home again with another tablet added to his daily intake which has now gone up to about 6 different types 4 times a day. This routing is difficult but we've made it this far... He seems ok in himself although he's not really the same. He's quite docile which I guess he would be with the amount of meds in his body. I think anyone including us would be the same. We use pill pockets which have been my saviour although there has been occasions where he just wont take them and we've had to either wait an hour or so or try and force him (which I hate doing).

I'm now very paranoid about his legs going again which is highly likely and so I am checking at every opportunity. Sometimes it looks like he's struggling but then others hes absolutely fine.

I never knew how much a cat could change my life and become my life. I am getting up at 7am everyday including weekends to medicate him, I'm watching him constantly and worrying about him every day....it's very stressful but the time I have with him beats any of this. He's such a lovely cat and it's such a shame...I really wish it could be different. I am just glad we managed to take him from outside before it was too late. I am pretty confident that if we didnt he would be dead by now.

The last time he went into hospital I asked the specialists that when they think the time has come to let him go they need to tell us as we do not want to prolong his life if he's uncomfortable in anyway. They advised that now is not that time. They have always given me the option to send him to sleep but have also always told me they have to offer that option.

My partner and I have decided that the next time something significant happens that warrants him going into hospital again we will have to let him go as we do not feel it's fair on him to fill his little body with more and more medication and keep stressing him out by taking him in. I know I will be distraught when that time comes but I feel it's right for him and the last couple of months have been stressful but most of all they have been a pleasure having him in my life.

I have told myself time and time again that I cannot watch him 24/7, I work full-time and what will be will be, in the meantime I am giving him lots of love and affection, warmth and food and making his final days as comfortable as I possibly can.

As he's now an indoor cat which must be very difficult for him considering he was a stray and lived outside, we have decided to grow several pots of cat grass which he loves. He has several beds throughout the house (even if most of the time he choose the door mat).

Anyway - if anyone out there is experiencing the same I would love to hear your experiences. It makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one.

Thanks guys

x
 

Columbine

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Just :hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs:

I lost a cat to CHF a couple of years ago now, and currently have a dog with the same condition. I know its not HCM, but end stage heart failure - whatever the cause - is always difficult to deal with.

I've never (yet) had to deal with blood clots, but I know only too well how your life suddenly seems to revolve around medication times, long drawn out mealtimes, constant watchfulness and worry, and rapidly being on first name terms with every staff member at the veterinary surgery. At one point, we were taking Cali to the vet every 48 hours for furosemide and steroid injections (the daft old boy preferred a vet visit to a pill :rolleyes: ). Then we discovered that he'd tolerate liquid meds better (thanks to a different vet at the same practice), and the syringing routine began. His asthmatic symptoms became worse, so we introduced steroid inhalers with an AeroKat. That made a difference for a while, but nothing was going to last forever. I used to spend hours feeding him by hand, shred by shred, as it was the only way he'd eat. He finally went into respiratory distress whilst I was doing his evening meds, and passed by the time we got him to the vet (5 mins away). Ultimately, we waited too long - he was my mother's cat, and she was unable to let go :(

I've no idea if any of that will help you, but I do understand how emotional and draining end stage care can be.

I really respect your decision to say goodbye the next time something big happens with Mister. I hope he has a way to go yet :vibes: Know that you've given him a great life, and that you're giving him truly wonderful care through this final stage. I'm sure your greatest hope (as mine is for my dog) is that he just passes peacefully in his sleep when its time - no more clots, no pain, just a peaceful end. You are giving Mister every bit as much pleasure as he is giving you.

Hang in there. He's lucky to have you :hugs: :vibes:
 

loveourcat

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Hi TigerUK,

Sorry to hear. We're in the same boat with you.  Our 10 year old Toby was diagnosed with HCM last week after referral to the cardiologist from our regular vet who discovered a murmur when Toby failed to eat  one morning (highly unlike him so we knew something was wrong).  He was experiencing Congestive Heart Failure (fluid around lungs). He has responded well to Lasix and is now on that and a couple other meds including Plavix to reduce the chance of blood clots.  

We are terrified of the dreaded saddle thrombus and are constantly checking on him. We have his cat carrier handy and know exactly where to go in the event the emergency happens. We are mentally prepared that it will probably be a humane euthanasia event. I guess we are fortunate in that unlike many others who first learn about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy due to a saddle thrombus event, we have had time to process some of the possibilities, plan for the emergency itself, and not be completely surprised if we are told euthanasia is the only option. 

For whatever reason the gravity of what the cardiologist was saying at the visit didn't sink in initially and it wasn't until I came home and researched it all that it became clear just how serious this is and how bleak the prognosis can be.  I think the cardiologist was sugar coating things a bit to help ease us into the bad news. So after coming home reading about it in depth and breaking down and crying a lot we have an action plan to give Toby the best possible remaining life.  It's all we can really do and we will treat every day with him like it could be our last.  We're also worried about our other cat which has known Toby's 10 years and they are pretty close. We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there. Best of luck to you and anyone else having to learn about HCM and all the kitties out there suffering from it.
 

stephenq

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I'm sorry for everyone and every cat who has had HCM and CHF.  My cat felix battled this and every cat is different, but its a balancing act that eventually loses its balance, and knowing when to say goodbye is as important as doing your best for them before that day comes.

My Felix:

 

donutte

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I've not had experience specifically with HCT, but I have with a cat that has a terminal end-stage condition. It's hard, and eventually, as stephenq stephenq stated, there comes a point where you have to weigh the quality of life vs quantity. It's so hard to gauge when you are emotional, and sometimes you need an objective person to help with perspective.

It sounds like you've had a few good months with him. I know you'll always treasure them.
 
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tigeruk

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Hello everyone

Thanks for the messages, I feel for everyone who goes through this with their kitty.

Unfortunately things turned for the worse yesterday morning and we had to send Mister to sleep.

The day start as every other day - I got up at 7:30am to give him is medication. He took it and then ate his breakfast. I was going to London for the night so was getting ready. I had made sure my friend (who has given his medication in the past) was aware of his increased condition. I then heard this noise under the bed and it was Mister being sick which is unusual for him but what came next was horrific. He has lost the use of back legs completely and was dragging himself along the floor while being sick constantly. My partner and I swiftly got him into his carrier and off to the vets. The entire journey was the worst experience of my life. I was sat in the back with him and so I opened the carrier door and tried to turn himself around and then pulled himself half out and onto my lap. He wasn't making a sound and looked so confused. 

Once we got him there the vets explained he had a big blood clot and was going into respiratory failure and it's unlikely they would be able to get him out of it. We agree there and then that we did not want to prolong his life any further and so they brought him into the room, his little face as he looked at me was heartbreaking and they gave him the injection. He put his head straight down and within seconds he had stopped breathing. He was now at peace. Although it was the right decision and the right time it does not make it any easier. We made a decision that was probably one of the most difficult I have ever had to make but it was the right one for him, he could not have continued after that and it wouldn't have been fair on him.

I'm now feeling numb and just don't know what to do with myself. The pill times (which were 4 times a day) and now just strange, I keep expecting him to walk into the room which his big beautiful eyes. It's going to take a long time for me to move on.

I have to take comfort in knowing that we gave this boy the best possible life, if we hadn't had brought him in from outside all those months ago I am certain he would have died months ago and by himself in the cold. At least he had a lot of love, warmth and food before his journey ended. From the shy, scared stray that would not come near anyone he transformed with a bit of love to a confident people loving kitty and that in its self is an achievement I am proud of.

Goodbye Mister - you'll be missed and always in our hearts.

We've decided to have him singly cremated and returned to us in an casket where he will join one of our other kitties that suddenly and quickly passed away a few months ago until we've decided what to do with them. We rent so we didnt want to burry them in the garden.

Anyway thanks again for the messages.
 

Columbine

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:hugs: I'm so, so sorry. Mister did indeed have a wonderful life with you.

:rbheart: Rest in peace, Mister, you gorgeous boy :rbheart:
:angel: [emoji]128062[/emoji] :heart3: [emoji]127801[/emoji] :rbheart: [emoji]127801[/emoji] :heart3: [emoji]128062[/emoji] :angel:
 

AbbysMom

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I have to take comfort in knowing that we gave this boy the best possible life, if we hadn't had brought him in from outside all those months ago I am certain he would have died months ago and by himself in the cold. At least he had a lot of love, warmth and food before his journey ended. From the shy, scared stray that would not come near anyone he transformed with a bit of love to a confident people loving kitty and that in its self is an achievement I am proud of.
...and you should be proud of that. :hugs: I'm so sorry for your loss. :hugs:

Threads are locked after someone has suffered such a loss, as a sign of respect. We invite you to place a tribute at http://www.thecatsite.com/f/19/crossing-the-bridge as an enduring testimony to Mister, when you feel able.

Rest in peace, Mister. :rbheart:
 
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