Poor cat has lost use of front leg

[Butterbur]

Vet says most likely a blood clot (he has a congenital heart murmur. There is a small chance of him regaining use of the leg, and also a chance - I couldn't bear to ask how large, that the clot will break up and lodge somewhere even worse.

Oh, so sorry.
What will they do? Is there a possibility that they could/will amputate? If the leg is not going to work then surely it would get in the way IYSWIM. It sounds a bit uncertain so you must be worried sick

My mum's dog had cancer and had to have one of her front legs off. She adjusted really well and lived happily for years afterwards.

Fingers crossed for you.

The vet said that if the leg is a "happy leg" ie presumably the circulation is sufficient to keep it alive, they probably wouldn't amputate.

I'm more worried about the prospect of losing him. He's a lovely cat, and only 3. But we've known since he was a kitten that he had the heart defect.

If they don't have to operate, then surely that will be less stress on his heart.
It's so hard when pets are ill, and non pet owners rarely understand the attachment.
Hope things improve.

Can you get a second opinion? Is he insured - if so ask for a referral to a medical specialist. Blood clots in the front legs would be very very unusual, but not so unusual affecting the hind legs. What is the vet doing to treat at present? Is the heart being looked at.

He is a little better in himself this morning - had a bit to eat, and has been grooming himself. But there is no improvement in his leg.

He is on aspirin now, but only every three days, as it's toxic to cats. We don't have medical insurance, as we're long term cat owners, and over the years it has worked out cheaper not to have it.

Can they do anything to a cat's heart, beautifulgirls? I assumed not, as vets have never mentioned it.

I have a follow up appointment tomorrow, so I will ask about pursuing more aggressive solutions.

might be best to wait and see - ask vet.
one of mine has/had a heart problem and lives a quiet life but has improved a lot over the years (was originally given a v poor prognosis as a kitten) and is now off all tablets and doing well.
don't want to raise yr hopes too much but cats can be v tough.good luck.

Thanks Sharbie. Apparently it's only a minor murmur - easy to miss with a stethoscope.

I never told the children he had a heart condition, as I didn't want to worry them. TBH I was expecting him to live, say, ten years or so. He's only three. Now I wonder if I was wrong to do this, and maybe they wouldn't have let themselves love him if they'd known. Should I prepare them them for the worst? (They are 16, 14 and 12).

I don't think it would have made any difference to the way they felt about him- it hasn't for you. If anything they may have felt more attached.

I wouldn't tell them too much for now, as sharbie says, cats are quite resilient and you may have may more happy years with him (fingers crossed).

Sorry only just come back to the thread. It would depend a lot on what is causing the murmur. Many murmurs are totally innocent and never cause a clinical problem. If your vet thinks this is a blood clot and is caused by a heart problem then I'm sorry to say the prognosis here for the longer term is probably very poor as usually these cases are associated with advance heart problems. However having said that the presentation you have described is totally atypical for blood clots and that is why I am questioning if this is a correct diagnosis that the vet has suggested - so am suggesting referral to try and get the diagnosis either confirmed and then treatment as best can be given for the problems, or to find out what has caused this if not heart/blood clot. Obviously though your vet has examined the cat, I have not so I can not say that your vet is wrong or right either way. Hope that helps you.