Feline hypotrophic cardiomiopathy

[Littlemissindependent]

Bit of a long shot but does anyone have any experience of a cat diagnosed with this? Diagnosed today and I'm in absolute bits as I know it can't be cured.

[isadorable]

First off, I'm really sorry this is happening to you and your lovely cat... Tell us more...

[ladyballs]

Huge hugs and for you, I remember how scared I was.

I had a beautiful tom, Oscar, with feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was 17 at diagnosis.He was put on liquid atenolol (iirc) which wasn't officially licensed for cats. I used to put it on his food daily.

Oscar had two great years after diagnosis, apart from being old and having epilepsy (diagnosed at same time, daily pills)! He went into heart failure at 19 and was put to sleep.

[Leax]

You poor thing. How old is your cat, what is the vet's plan? You will feel better in a bit once the news has sunk in and there's a plan in place.
My cat was diagnosed with this a year or so ago after having an echocardiogram. She is is 14.5 now.
She was put on beta blockers to improve the efficiency of her cardiac output, and a blood thinner to reduce the likelihood of a clot developing in the enlarged heart chamber and travelling through her body obstructing blood flow in other areas (usually to the lower extremeties).
Anyway. I was devastated too. Couldn't wrap my head initially around the fact that it wasn't reversible. I was panicked thinking that something could go wrong at any moment. I felt upset looking at her thinking of what was not working right inside her.
It's just hard hearing everything is not all well; we love them so much.

I think everything you are feeling is normal. You will normalise the news and be ok.
In our case our cat is not having distressing symptoms, what is the case with your cat?
As she's happy in herself I've realised that although she's slowed up she is happy as a lark and oblivious to the cardiac condition. She does all the things she loves, gets her meds, and I know that the condition is being managed as well as it can be. To be honest, I don't even think about it apart in an ongoing way, as she is just herself and it is what it is.

[jemimapuddleducks]

My cat was diagnosed a few weeks after her arrival, she was about a year old. She would flop to her side after walking or running and need to rest before she carried on.
We've got a great vet and he scans / ultrasounds whenever she has a check up. There has only been very minor further thickening of the ventricle wall and she's nearly 4 now. We've been lucky so far and she hasn't needed any medication.
Hopefully there will be a way to manage it so your lovely cat can maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible. My vet said that some cases can stay quite stable for years. Really crossing fingers for you both.

[Littlemissindependent]

Willow is 3 and a half. Vet is waiting for blood results, hopefully back early next week to decide on a course of action. Best case scenario a couple of years, worst case scenario couple of weeks :( her heart rate is incredibly high and didn't even slow when sedated. At the moment she's just laying on the bed, same as she has pretty much constantly for the past few weeks. She's eating and drinking but I had to take the litter tray to her for her to use it and her back legs seem very shaky this morning. Not sure if this is down to yesterdays sedation or whether it's a further deterioration. I just don't know what to do for the best for her. Vet reluctant to start on meds until she's 100% certain what she's dealing with, but looking at her this morning just breaks my heart. She's only a baby and up until 6 weeks ago was so healthy and full of energy. Now she has no quality of life

[ladyballs]

I'm so sorry LittleMiss, your poor little kitty. I hope the vet finds a regimen that works for her soon.

[Littlemissindependent]

Heartbroken. The emergency vet has just come and put my poor baby to sleep. Her back legs collapsed very suddenly and she couldn't move. Don't understand how we gor here so fast. Utterly utterly broken

[TroysMammy]

I'm so sorry, I really feel for you and know how devastated you are. I had a cat called Troy who was diagnosed with this in January but he was already in heart failure. He died suddenly but not unexpectedly 6 months ago yesterday. He was exactly 2 months shy of his 6th Birthday. Lots of for you.

[MsMims]

Oh littlemiss I am so, so sorry. How awful. It will be little comfort to you now but I think you've done the right thing, my own vet advised that if my cat with HCM had a blood clot in his back legs we would have to let him go. Thinking of you

[ladyballs]

So sorry to hear that.

[ghostyslovesheets]

I'm so sorry :(

[fuzzywuzzy]

Our five year old was diagnosed with this shortly after being neutered, he was neutered late at about three years old.

He's on HyperCard three times a day, we hide the pill in stick treats and he eats them fine. He does some times decide he doesn't want those treats, or just plays but we pill him religiously.

He has had no symptoms since being on the treatment and is feisty and naughty and cheeky as ever. It was very scary when he first got it as he stopped eating and drinking and ran a temperature and went downhill fast.

He's seen by the vets every three months and the vets are very happy with him. You can tell from looking at him he's a sick little baby.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Oh I'm so sorry I didn't RTFT. So very sorry

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'm so sorry, there's no sense or reasoning to these things.

[Vinorosso74]

I'm so sorry, that is so sad. RIP Willow

[Potentialmadcatlady]

Oh I'm so sorry for your loss..I have two with cardiac conditions who are classed as life limited...I'm so so sorry...

[timtam23]

Littlemiss I am so sorry to hear about Willow

[lottieandmia]

Oh how sad - I'm so sorry for your loss. I understand how much we all love our cats. Xx

[Leax]

So sorry to read your update