My cat has heart disease

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lam36

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Hi, I just took my 5 year old cat to the vet. Even though he weighed close to 10 lbs I still thought he felt too thin being able to feel his bones. After a 4 hour wait the vet asked if he could get his blood tested. I later found out my five year old cat had a heart disease developed since birth. My cat also has a blood clot and lost movement in his back left paw.

I had never noticed considering he is so fluffy and has never been particularly active that his paw was limp. I don't know what to do, this is an incurable disease with no form of medication to slow the process. The vet said to just make him comfortable, that he could live a long life or a few more days. Just to bring him in when he loses his appetite or if he loses feeling in his whole leg or even his other leg.

I'm dying right now, I watched this cat being born and now this. His 6th bday is 3 months away and I'm terrified he isn't going to make it. I thought about putting him down but the vet said since he isnt in pain and his leg still works, it's just the bottom paw itself that is immobile that my cat could live a while more. I don't want to put my cat down, he's so young and I love him so much. Any advice or words of wisdom would really help. Thanks.
 
Primula

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Listen to what the vet said. He said "he could live a long life". Don't make yourself unhappy over something that hasn't happened. Enjoy your cat & every day with him. He wouldn't want you to be worried.
 
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lam36

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Thank you for the hope. He is only drinking canned tuna right now, I'm trying to be positive and one hour at a time. Any tricks to increasing a cats appetite?
 
basschick

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we had a cat with a rare heart condition and currently have a cat with kidney disease, which affects appetite.  what i did/do to get more calories into them is i got a huge variety of flavors of fancy feast including grilled and gravy lovers and some classic flavors.  i try with each feeding to get some of the classic into the cat, just offering it on a plate.  then i mix some of the gravy thoroughly with the classic to make a thin gruel, and when the cat licks up the gruel, some of the classic food gets licked up, too.  and last, i offer some lovers or grilled food, and usually if the flavor was right, the cat would lick it up.

cats with low appetites, in my experience, are super picky eaters.  HK's favorite flavor yesterday might be a flavor he absolutely won't eat today, so there's a lot of thrown away cans of cat food in my life.  it's become my mission in life to get food into him, and it can take patience, which i find is always tinged with fear on my part as i don't want to push him, so when a flavor doesn't suit or a mix, i give him some time, then try again.

a lot of people have good luck with meat baby foods, as well.  neither of our cats with appetite trouble would eat them - we tried all flavors - but lots of people here have gotten food into their cat using baby food.

since he licks up tuna juice, you could try a fancy feast flavor with tuna mixed with the tuna juic.

btw, have you taken your cat to a cardiologist for a second opinion?   our vet referred us to a pet multi-specialty group with several cardiologists, and they had several options the regular vet knew nothing about.  our heart patient (jeep) lived longer because they tried a dog heart medication for him - his heart condition is almost never seen in cats, so the regular vet thought it was untreatable.  the meds (jeep was placed on a regime) helped him so he was engaged and happy. 

my wishes and prayers go out to you and your cat...
 
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lam36

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Thank you. Yes I thought about a cardiologist and even got in touch with one. She was extremely friendly she asked about some symptoms, looked over my cat and with out even seeing him told me that he was a sick baby. His once pink nose is white, his gums are pale, I have started soringe feeding him water and gravy, and his breathing is severely rapid. I love my baby and would try anything for him, the cardiologist gave me hope that there maybe treatment if he can survive the week of testing but I can't put him through that.

I'm grateful for the time God has given me with my baby and I think I'm just going to take it one day at a time. If his appetite doesn't increase, if he continues to be distant and starts vomiting I'm going to be there with him when he goes peacefully and without oain. He has given me a lifetime of love and the best thing I can do is make sure he knows how perfect and loved he is.
Thank you for the suggestion, I will try everyone of them. As for your cat u will pray for a miracle and peace for if it doesn't come quick enough. Good luck!
 
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lam36

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I will pray for the miracle*
 
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lam36 said:
Hi, I just took my 5 year old cat to the vet. Even though he weighed close to 10 lbs I still thought he felt too thin being able to feel his bones. After a 4 hour wait the vet asked if he could get his blood tested. I later found out my five year old cat had a heart disease developed since birth. My cat also has a blood clot and lost movement in his back left paw.

I had never noticed considering he is so fluffy and has never been particularly active that his paw was limp. I don't know what to do, this is an incurable disease with no form of medication to slow the process. The vet said to just make him comfortable, that he could live a long life or a few more days. Just to bring him in when he loses his appetite or if he loses feeling in his whole leg or even his other leg.

I'm dying right now, I watched this cat being born and now this. His 6th bday is 3 months away and I'm terrified he isn't going to make it. I thought about putting him down but the vet said since he isnt in pain and his leg still works, it's  I don't know what to do, this is an incurable disease with no form of medication to slow the process.just the bottom paw itself that is immobile that my cat could live a while more. I don't want to put my cat down, he's so young and I love him so much. Any advice or words of wisdom would really help. Thanks.
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I am a human doctor, not a cat doctor and any advice that I give you about your cat should be checked with your vet.   I do not believe that clot formation is an incurable condition with no means of slowing the disease as anticoagulant therapy can prevent further embolism (the passage of a clot in the blood stream). If your cat has had a clot, then it would be very reasonable to give him an anticoagulant; the vet would advise which one is most suitable.

The underlying conditions will also require treatment and the reference to pale gums suggests that she is anaemic.  The blood tests taken by your vet should include haematology which may help in the diagnosis.  I would suggest that you discuss the anticoagulant therapy with your feline cardiologist who will also consider treatment for the heart.

With all best wishes,

Geoffrey
 
oldgloryrags88

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I am so very sorry you're going through this! I believe I am uniquely qualified to chim in as I've had not one but two cats with heart disease. Mine were both males. The first one was 5 years old, he had HCM ( a type of heart disease, like yours, mine was genetic too) he went from healthy to ill in less than 12 hours. On the second day of the diagnose, I had him put to sleep. He became paralyzed in both of his back legs, (feline saddle trombus) and he had fluid in his lungs. My second was 4 months old, his was genetic too (he was a half nephew to the cat above), he was put to sleep the first day of diagnose. They died almost 3 months apart. This happened 2 years ago. These cats were Ragdolls. 30% of Ragdolls have or carry genetic HCM. I still have their sister/aunt and hope to life she will not develop what killed her brother and nephew.

What type of heart disease did your vet say your cat has?


I am so sorry I had nothing but bad news to offer you, but I do have experience with this subject. Not trying to alarm you with my two boys, but your vet is right - cats can live a while with heart disease.


Again, I am so very sorry on your boy. I know what it's like. . .if I could box up a hug and send it to you, I would.
 
basschick

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when his main cardiologist became concerned that our heart patient cat could develop a clot, she put him on a tiny every-other-day part of a baby aspirin. 

what week of testing?  jeep was treated in a specialty clinic, had chest congestion from his heart and had a rare condition, and they did all the tests they needed in maybe an hour.  maybe call another cariologist.  honestly i would rather deal with a cardiologist who would insist on seeing your cat rather than drawing conclusions that may be based in part by your regular vet's diagnoses as you relayed them, especially considering that your regular vet didn't refer you to a cardiologist. 
 
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lam36

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Thank you for all of your thoughts and well wishes. My Fluffy was taken to the vet and he has had HCM from birth and 5 1/2 years later had a heart attack and survived. When I found out I asked about anticoagulants and my cat would have required more testing to slow down the process. I decided to not put him through more testing. I brought him home and decided to make memories with him while I could.

I found out he had the heart attack 4 months before I took him into the vet. His weight loss was the only sign for concern which I guess was rare. But within 2 weeks of finding this out, going to a specialist and readjusting to his new diet we sadly had to put him down this morning. He had an appetite and was acting normally up until 36 hours ago when he drastically lost movement in his back and front right paw and stopped eating or drinking. When I took him to get put down this morning I found out his kidneys were failing causing a yellow coloration in his gums.

I know it was the right thing to do, I never wanted for him to be in pain and he went peacefully with me right by his side, telling him I loved him. I wish and pray for all of your pets. Thank you for your kindness and medical advice. This was a terrifying and fast acting heart disease but I got 2 weeks to say goodbye, and capture amazing memories with my baby and that is something I will always cherish.
 
oldgloryrags88

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I am so sorry for your loss @Iam36 .
Fluffy will always be with you...even if you can't see him. :hugs:

Please feel free to PM me if you need someone to talk to. I went through this twice with my 5 year old and my 4 month old. I know your pain, I feel your pain. Peace...
 
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Primula

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oldgloryrags88 said:
I am so sorry for your loss @Iam36 .
Fluffy will always be with you...even if you can't see him. :hugs:

Please feel free to PM me if you need someone to talk to. I went through this twice with my 5 year old and my 4 month old. I know your pain, I feel your pain. Peace...
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