An unusual health case for 2 cats in our care.. Heart issues

[Desley (booktigger)]

Such a tricky situation, getting someone to take on two youngsters knowing one is so poorly is going to be tricky, and it is going to be hard on the healthy cat the longer they are together.

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

The NCC vets are feline specialists (obviously!) and they all have certain specialities within the feline world. So yes, they will have a heart specialist there who will have seen similar cases before  and also they have strong links to the major vet colleges. If they feel they can help a cat more so than our local vets, or if treatment is going to be astronomically expensive, or if the case is rare enough, they would ask us to transfer puss to them. Or sometimes they 'review' the treatment our local vets have offered. We don't often bother them as many of our cases are routine but for anything out of the ordinary they encourage us to consult. 

I agree. It's amazing she's still with us... usually these kinds of problems are still born or die soon after. 

[Millys Mum]

Shes done well to get out of kitten hood by sounds of it! Are the NCC vets 'normal' vets or specialise in certain fields? Its quite amazing what they can do at these clinics now

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Well, MM, her case has been reviewed by head vets at the National Cat Centre and all opinions agree. We can't do anything for her medically as it's way too risky. I think that fact that she can't be medicated makes life a little easier to a potential adopter, but not nice knowing she could go so suddenly.  Still, sometimes they have this condition and the owners never know. We do hear of cases of animals suddenly dying due to genetic faults. Always a shock... 

We just have to hope someone really, really dedicated steps forward who is prepared to take them on. 

[Millys Mum]

If funds could be raised maybe a specialist could shed some light?
If they are bonded and already been indoor all their lives why split them up so one can go out? Get whoever promoted Silky on the case and see who takes pity on a nice kitty with a poorly sister!

[Fire Fox]

Bless her, she is lucky to have found such a good rescue.

Maybe she could live in a modern flat? There are so many fire doors needed nowadays that a cat would keep getting 'trapped' if they managed to slip out the front door. Then it's just windows to consider.

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

I have just had to call our welfare officer, Carloline, on another matter and we spoke about this cat. 

The problem is that coupled with a grade 5 murmur, she also has LOW blood pressure. Therefore she cannot tolerate any kind of sedation and cannot be given any form of medication to support the heart as they all have the effect of lowering BP, which would certainly kill her. She's a ticking time bomb sadly. Certainly comparable to the stories in the press of humans dying suddenly after simple routine flu vaccines. Vets believe it's a genetic birth defect and nothing can be done medically.

We can rehome her as an indoor cat HQ say. But her new owners will have to accept she may not make old bones and be rigid at keeping her in - a pregnancy would kill her as well. 

[Fire Fox]

Can't cats have hormonal treatment to avoid getting PG much as we can? Would this mean the poorly kitty could go out or at least not be a nightmare whilst in season? Would this be safe with the heart condition?

[madamcat (Edd)]

Hi Sharon

When I was in rescue, we rehomed 2 brothers around 3-4 months old. One of the boys had a severe heart murmur but a very nice lady adopted the pair in the full knowledge of that. Both boys was neutered at 6 months by the owner but of course it was a castration rather than a spey so a simple procedure. Seem to remember the vet saying "one day he will just go"

That was back in 2006 and we rehomed on the basis of a pre-existing condition and the branch would meet any vet costs relating the heart murmur. No claim ever made by the lovely lady nor have we heard any more from her after our follow up visit.

We have also rehomed older cats with severe heart murmurs and again on a pre-existing condition basis - so owners fully aware and had back up in the future if needed.

[Dawn F]

what a sad situation

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Well in rehoming terms the healthy puss cat will be disadvantaged against the poorly one! And also that means they both have to be indoor cats. However.. they are close and so i supose we may have to see. We sadly do not live in an ideal world...
Very interesting story about George.thanks Lesley

[LesleyW]

George came with his brother when there about 8 weeks old and after having feline cowpox did not get vaccinated until they were about 12 weeks old.  At the time it was discovered about George's heart condition (tetralogy of fallot - 4 major heart issues) and, although a home had been found for them both, I decided that George would stay here, as it was thought that his lifespan would be short.  The family that were taking both George and his brother were made aware of his medical condition but I thought it unfair to expect them to take on a cat whose medical costs could be astronomical for a short life span.  I also thought it better that they be separated early so that Dave (George's brother - the family gave him that name) would not become reliance on his brother for companionship and then suffer if something had happened to George early in his life.

He has been on medication all his life, which  luckily he takes very well. George suffers from high blood pressure and I was told by the cardiologist that he produces too many red blood cells and it was thought that if his blood pressure got too bad he would have to be "bled" to ease the pressure!!.  Apparently, he would have been a very good blood donor cat if this had been necessary.

He was castrated at approximately 8 months, but it was done under a light sedation and took about 3 minutes!!  The Vet, the Nurse and myself were all worried stiff but he was put in an oxygen tent before the op and back in it after.  However, after his funny episode a couple of years ago, when he was quite poorly but got very stressed going to the vet, he does not have vaccinations anymore under the advice of my vet and his life is kept as quiet as possible, although no one has actually told him he is ill. 

George is now 4 1/2 years old.  I have not heard of any other tetralogy of fallot cat living this long but then again it is a rare condition so there could well be others out there.  George was feral when he arrived which made him quite difficult to treat for anything but as he has matured, he has calmed down quite a bit and for the first time ever, he actually jumped onto my lap the other night, reduced me to tears.

I suppose if there are no huge medical bills to be paid, due to no actual treatment and the person wishing to rehome her is fully aware of her condition, and the possible shortness of her life, there is no reason the right home could not be found for her, but would they definitely have to be re-homed together.

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

We have had on list of cats to come in 2 tabby sisters of around 1yr old. Having to be rehomed due to moving and have been indoor cats due to living nr the railway line.

When i first took the call we went through their history and character and it emerged that one had a heart condition, probably born with it.. The cats had seen a vet and were recommended to go on meds, but for one reason or another this did not happen.

They came into our care a few days ago, neither has been spayed.. Both are close and very friendly lovely cats. The heart mumour is Grade 5 near enough the worse you can get, various ins and out and talks with vets  and CP veterinary department, have come to the conclusion that she would probably not surive being spayed. Even not much point going on tablets as she has low blood pressure. This means that his cat will be rhomed as a indoor cat only as she would not survive being pregnant either. At the moment we are assessing things as the other puss cat is fine and lovely. She is being spayed Monday and has no issues.

So of course in time we may be looking to find a home for 2 cats of which may not be around very long, as the heart issue is so bad.  Such homes are hard to find!

I just wonder if any other rescue has had  such a case in rehoming terms. And wonder if anyone has successfully rehomed a case such as this.. There is no further treatment for the one with the heart condition just keep her going as long as she is able. She is very active and the fact that she may of been an inside cat and hence was not able to get pregnant (or stressed) has saved her life. You would not know that one was unwell and had this condition.. I have not seen them but i am told they are lovely looking cats and very friendly..

This is the first case like this we have had.. Having a cat myself with heart issues (but she is a senior cat) its something that in rescue terms you rarely see in young animals..