Awful news

[chemenger]

Just came back from the vet. When we took little boy cat in for his vaccinations they noticed a heart murmur that hadn't shown up before. Turns out that he has Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy and he is likely to go into heart failure within a year. Not much can be done. Just unbearably sad. Literally one minute he was our mad little boy and the next we know he will probably die before he is four. He can bring mice into my bed as often as he likes now.

[GRW]

I am so sorry to hear this. It must be hard to accept in a young cat and especially as he looks so well. I hope he will surprise you and remain in good health for a long time.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

I'm very sorry to hear that....if it's any consolation, a friend of a friend's cat had the same diagnosis when she was young. The vet thought she would live a year, maybe two. That cat lived like a queen until she went peacefully in her sleep at 9 and a half. We will cross all paws and fingers that you have more time with him x

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I'm so sorry. Treasure every moment (and mouse) that you have with him

[MidnightVelvetthe4th]

I'm so sorry the poor little chap

[pilates]

Oh how shockingly sad for you

[roundandroundthehouses]

So sorry to hear that. I hope your bed is filled with mice for a long time to come.

[Sleepingtom]

I am so sorry to hear that Heartbreaking. Glad he has some cuddle time left.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The good news is that cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy do really well on medication and can live happy active lives once their heart failure is stabilised. I have a considerable number of patients taking their daily tablet and otherwise living normal lives.

[chemenger]

He's certainly living life to the full at the moment, he came in with a mouth full of some other cat's fur last night. At the moment he is on anti-clotting medication (pills, always fun) and will go back for another scan next month to see how it is progressing (the worry is that it seems to be going quite fast, I think). We are monitoring his respiration rate daily and being scientists we are plotting a graph of that.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

There are several apps that automatically plot graphs for you and then email them to your vets.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Even with heart failure they can keep going for ages. Out cat had this for about 6 years

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

He had HCM. The medication kept heart failure at bay for years. He didn't die of heart failure either, he died of kidney cancer at 14.

[MsMims]

for you OP

One of my lovely cats was diagnosed with HCM earlier this year. Unfortunately, by the time it became apparent he was already in congestive heart failure. It is such a cruel condition - so many unknowns and you just have to enjoy every day with them. I treat every day since his diagnosis as a bonus.

[hiddenhome2]

I'm sorry for this news. He'll be appreciating all your love and care though and he'll be happy in the moment.

[Pipestheghost]

How sad for you all
Hopefully he'll defy the odds and live longer with the medical input.

[PeasOnEarth]

How very sad.
Graphs can be great coping mechanisms! I hope you enjoy every day of him - sounds like he enjoys every day with you.