Cat with heart failure

[JoeyCreek]

Looking for advice really from any cat owners who’ve experienced this or advice generally really.

My much loved cat Daisy who is 14 and has never been ill a day in her life suddenly collapsed on Saturday. I found her weak in the garden, very lethargic and not eating. She had problems with her back legs that kept giving way.

She would walk to her water bowl for eg then collapse with no energy to move. Took her to vet who said she looked anaemic. She had full blood test which came back clear. Vet gave her a tablet to get her to eat which Daisy did ever so slightly.

Vet said she thinks Daisy has a heart issue and needs a specialist heart blood test for £300. If it shows a heart problem then Daisy would be on medication for the rest of her life.

Daisy is currently lying on my bed, very lethargic. It’s like she can move her head biyt not her body. She is not eating. Normally she would be out in the garden by now having a little walk around.

I have googled heart problems in cats and it seems to me there is no coming back for Daisy and she is too far gone. It is devastating for us. I think the best thing we can do is put her to sleep.

My DH and teenage sons disagree. They have booked Daisy in for this blood test tomorrow. Depending on results she would need medication which the vet said could be tablets up to 3 times a day. Daisy can’t even tolerate her flea and worming treatment I though getting so upset she froths at the mouth.

Just don’t know what to do for the best. Seeing her so lethargic is awful.

My 18 Yr old cat developed heart issues requiring 2 tablets daily and blood tests regularly. He was really good at tablet taking and with high value treats got even better to the point he came and found me at tablet time. He got an extra couple of yrs
But my previous cat wouldn't have tolerated this regime in any shape or form and I couldn't have put him through any of this .Crikey worming was a 2 person , towel wrapping motorcycle glove process . The vet couldn't get a tablet down his throat.
I wouldn't have put this cat through treatment.
I would be asking your family how they are going to give the tablets not leaving it to you to cope .
I would do the blood test to have a clear picture of what you are dealing with .
Horrible for you all including your poor cat

Sorry to hear you have this challenge, poor Daisy.

If you post this in The Litter Tray you will find lots of experienced cat owners who can add their thoughts. 🤗😸

(PS just paid about £400 for my cat's ECG. I know).

I think you should listen to have the vet says rather than google. I would get the blood test done, see how she tolerates the medication and then decide on what is the best pathway for her.

Well I think the vet will suggest every possible test there is plus a heart monitor has been suggested, an ECG and of course medication. Unfortunately our insurance won’t cover this.

We will find the money but the vet is a business and I think as Daisy’s owner it is up to me to do what is best for her. She is still not eating, unable to move from the bed and looks miserable, her eyes are so sad. She had the blood test tomorrow then it is the weekend so no results til early next week. Meantime she is not eating.

I know no one can tell me what to do for the best just thinking out loud really.

I'm so sorry.
My instinct would be to let Daisy go.
She's very unwell and you can see how lethargic she is.
I had a similar issue with a cat who was 12.
The vet thought that all the treatment and visits to the surgery would be very stressful, and wouldn't improve her quality of life.

Our vet is very kind, and realistic. We decided to have our cat pts. We held her as she slipped away. It was the right thing to do. We need to be brave enough not to let our dear pets suffer.

It wasn't a question of money. It was the cat's sudden illness and poor quality of life that decided us.

I'm really sorry you're facing this with your Daisy.

@JoeyCreek can I suggest that you report your OP and ask for it to be moved to The Litter Tray board.
You'll find all the cat owners there.

I’m sorry that’s the experience of your vet. My old cat has a growth on his face and the vet said we made the right decision to not explore what it is and to just monitor his over all health because he is an old, although healthy cat who has always hated travelling and the vets.

My cat had this when he was 10 and he lived 3 happy years on the medication before he declined again and we had him put to sleep

he was a very easy going cat and took the tablet out of my hand every day no issues at all - it wouldn’t have worked if he was a bad medication taker

Very sorry to hear. My view has always been if they are suffering too much then they will kind of tell you and it sounds like Daisy has reached that point.

Can you get one of the home euthanasia vets to come over to avoid the stress of another vet visit?