UPDATED: Bad news..I think Ivy is going to the whitecoats :(

[buttercup132]

I've noticed since I got him that he acts like he has a hairball which could very well be true from grooming the other cats. But he also has a very weird purr that sounds like he's screetching and makes a crackling noise. He can't manage to purr without having his mouth open too.
I attached a video of his purr.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/rockee12331/Ducky/th_MVI_1196.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v713/rockee12331/Ducky/?action=view&current=MVI_1196.flv)

[caffeitina]

Poor Ivy! I hope it's nothing serious. Although it could just be he has an unusually loud purr. Ever since my Luna learned how to purr, she's made sort of a coo-ing sound along with her regular purr (sometimes she's so loud you can hear her from the next room). The V-E-T said there's nothing wrong--it's just how she purrs. I hope it's the same diagnosis for Ivy and there's nothing the matter with him.

Keep us posted on what happens.

[Pawla]

Prayers are with you and Ivy. I hope he's okay. My Himalayan would "coo" and open his mouth sometimes, but I don't blame you for having him checked. Keep us posted!

[jennielynn1970]

Oh geez! I hope it's nothing serious, and just how he purrs! I'd be alarmed too!

[animal_rescue]

Lily has an odd purr too from when she was hit by a car a few years back. Now if she's upset or excited breathes loudly as well. The vet said she'll always be like that but it's not bothering her at all.

[shais_mom]

any update?

[buttercup132]

I brought him to work for my boss to listen to but he was pretty scared so all she could hear was his heart (without a stethascope (sp?)). She said give him some hairball rem. and see if that helps if not I'll bring him when I go to work at the vet in a couple weeks.
Then my mom was talking to a lady who is friends with everyone at my work and she works in a pet supply store (no animals) and she works with some rescues. I think she was a vet tech too or something along those lines. She seems to think he has URI but he doesn't really show any signs of it. The breeder said maybe URI but it doesnt sound like it and she said it's very weird he purrs like that and she's never herd/seen anything like it.
So I have alot of people trying to figure what it is. The vet who owns the vet office I work at is going to be talking to my boss I think a little later this week so she said she'll ask him his opinion too.
So for now it's hairball treatment for the next week then we'll see from there.
I'm also going to e mail the lady I got him from to get the vet's name she took him to and ask them for his history there. I asked ehr about it and all she said was he definatly has a unique purr..kind of avoiding my other questions about him:rolleyes: This lady seems a little weird.

[cassiesmom]

crossing fingers and paws that is just an unusual purr, and not something more serious.

[catmandu]

That Is An Unique Purr And We Are Praying That That Is All That It Is As Well. I Will Never Forget The First Time I Heard The Moose Flock Of Pigeons Finding A Loaf Of Bread Purrrr!
Hes Such A Little Sweet Guy!!!

[Kalei]

Oh no, that is such an odd sound, never heard that coming out of a kitty before. I really hope that Ivy is okay and that its nothing serious :confused:

Please keep us updated on what you find out.

[Medusa]

It does sound weird. I hope all will be well.

[buttercup132]

So we went to the vet thinking ok this is probly just a URI..yea...far from it. I didn't really know what she was saying because she was speaking in vet mumbo jumbo (lovley how they do that) and she said he might have a polup(sp?), he has a severe heart murmor, he has clamitia (which great can be passed to us). He's currently on Antibiotics to clear the clamitia and she said if he has a URI it will clear that too but she doesn't think he dose. And now because of this sever heart murmor we have to do all these test, figure:rolleyes: .
So she wants to do the following.

Hospitalization (1/2 day) $64.00
Radiography-set up $76.00
Radiography/plate 2 of them $94
In hospital collection services $27
CBC (cell blood count) $56
Full panel $93
T4 w/panel $47
Cystocentesis $46
Urinalysis-complete $59
Ultrasound-Cardiac with dropper $401.00
DNA test $148
Tax $57.78

That is all for heart murmor test...

Then for his throat she wants him to see a specialist which is to have more test done.

The first thing she asked before she told us about the possible things to do for him was do I want to keep him:eek: She said because it's going to be very costly. I was like um you are joking right? Of course I want to keep him!
So I'm not doing anything right now. I'm giving my boss the paper with the estimate on it and I think when I go to work at my vet we will bring him there and see what he says. The guy who owns the vet has been a friend of my boss and her mom for many years before the vet even got out of school so we know he won't jerk us around and make us do stupid test that are irrelevent.

All in all I'm pretty ticked at the lady who sold him to me who said oh there's nothing at all wrong with him (mean while on his medical record from her it says heart murmor suspected). I'll be e mailing her wanting a explanation and I will be e mailing the breeder that he's from and the breeder who owns the cat who sired him. The vet said the breeder should have known about this.

I'll probly add more later there was alot of information.

[jazzcat]

Oh no, I'm so sorry. Poor Ivy.

I do think the breeder/seller should have some explaining to do since they weren't up front about his murmur. Poor little guy.

[Catlady711]

Sorry to hear about your kitty.

Not all heart murmers are bad, Dusty has had one since at least 1997 that we know of and most probably since birth. She's now almost 17 and only this winter was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and put on meds for it.

The choices they are giving you with tests are the top end of possible care for your kitty. If you can afford it that's great, but not all people can. A second opinion for things that are going to be costly or things you just don't know for sure about is always a good option. After all, the cost of a second office call may save you money or give you another set of options to work with.

This is certainly not a professional opinion but only my own here. I think (if it were my kitty) some of that is prudent to do (CBC, T4, Full blood panel, X-rays-that's what I did for Dusty). That should be enough to evaluate whether she has any major organ failure, tumors or any other underlying problems. I don't know what doing a urinalysis would do for them given what you describe for symptoms, and even though an ultrasound is the best way to find out what's going on in the heart function, it seems a bit overboard for my own personal budget as well as the specialist. I repeat that as my own personal opinion.

[Pawla]

That's probably why the breeder said he wasn't good for breeding purposes. (Hope I have the right one??? :confused: ) Anyway prayers are with you and Ivy. I just LOVE both you hairless critters!

[buttercup132]

Thanks, my boss said most likley half of it won't need to be done. I hate how vets try and make it sound like if you dont get it done they will die. Thanks catlady for the advice I'll see what the other vet says to do.

Jazzcat yes I do too but my mom said there's nothing really she would have been able to say because she only brought the cat to the vet once which was Oct.3.05 and they said he has a heart murmor grade 1 now it's grade 3. Which also obvioulsy means he's not up to date in shots if he's only been there once and it was a year ago (or 2). I belive she told me he was up to date in shots. I guess it's not like I can do anything though other then get a apology..my mom said get her to take him back and get my money back but no way am I letting him go back.
I forgot to mention also I have to pay for all of this with my part time job. Which makes it even more stressfull.


That's probably why the breeder said he wasn't good for breeding purposes. :confused: No he was fine for that, he was oringinally lined up for a show home but the people backed out. The only reason he was nutered is because the person who bought him bought him as a pet. I don't think any Sphynx breeder will let their kittens go un altered unless they sign a breeding contract with them and show them.

[Pawla]

Sorry. I did have the wrong one. I wouldn't want to give him up either! You have to be attached! I'm attached to him and Ducky, and I've never met them! I hope that things won't be as bad, and as costly as this one vet told you. Please keep us posted!

[Catty1]

Ask your vet if they think the breeder is liable for any costs...

[shais_mom]

I'm really sorry to hear this :(
Kylie had Chalymydia and my vet told me it WASN'T contractable to humans. :confused:
This is a small suggestion - but I was talking to someone a few weeks ago and she has a friend who works for a vet office and doesn't work for the money - she works for services rendered. She has like 3-4 Great danes so the bills are big and probably frequent. Her check just gets deposited right directly into an acct set up at the vet and when she needs vet care- they take it out of that. She had about $3000 accumulated in her account when the person I was talking to needed many expensive tests on one of her danes and she had her bring the dane to her - and she donated the services to her. This is just a thought that maybe if you start working for the vet that you could deposit some of the earnings into an acct to help pay for Ivy's bill.
Heck, I thought about doing this for one of my 2 vets - even giving dogs a BATH! It'd be something! (for me)
Good luck to you and Ivy! I think he found the right home.

[rg_girlca]

Oh gosh, I am so sorry to hear about Ivy.

That is one weird purr that's for sure.

Prayers and positive thoughts on the way.

[Kalei]

Oh my, you are one brave girl, if I heard all of those costs for my cat I would faint, and maybe not come back to life. I think that vet is making you do some things that don't need to be done. I hope so anyway, cause that is soo much for one girl to have to pay for.

Many prayers for Ivy and you!

[moosmom]

BC123,

I'm floored!! Poor Ivy. I would definitely find out who sired Ivy and notify the other breeder.

"Do you want to keep him??" What the hell kind of question is that? I'd be pissed if a vet's staff asked me that.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and you and Ivy in my prayers. A heart murmur doesn't necessarily mean a death sentence. I would DEFINITELY question the breeder's ethics. Ivy had to have had Chlamydia when you got him and I'm sure she knew it.

When I got Lexi June, Joe (breeder) gave me all of her papers and the vet's phone number in case I had any questions.

If you give me the breeder's name, location and cattery name, I can look into it for you. I've got alot of friends who are cat show judges (and breeders) and if there's something amiss with this woman, I'll find out. I'd also file a complaint.

I also believe the breeder should compensate you for the vet bill. She lied to you by omission.

Please keep us posted on Ivy's condition.

[buttercup132]

Donna here is the cattery where he was born and the place who has his mom http://www.defuzzld.com/ her name is Karen I don't know if I should be giving her last name out over the net though.
And here is the place that has the sire http://groups.msn.com/AngelicSphynx

Defuzzl'd doesn't breed anymore she rescues but Angelic still breeds with Ivy's dad so if I'm letting her know too incase it's something genetic.

Stacey I would do that but I already have a job that takes up most of my time. I work from 9 usually till 2/3 I know it's not a long shift but I do have friends,a boy friend and family to make time for. And due to a insident with my boyfriend he can only be out till 9 and doesnt get off work till 6. So I really have no time for another job. I'd really love to but I can't.

Catty I'm going to. I havn't e mailed the breeder just yet but I will be. She SEEMS really understanding and nice. She knows he's been through all these homes so also maybe if I explain I'm the only one so far who hasn't gave up on him and tossed him to another home she will be more understanding and willing to help.

[Medusa]

I'm no expert but I can tell you this about polyps, at least if it's an ear polyp that has grown down into the throat: my Yodie Yodie had one and it grew in both directions, out her ear and down into her throat and it was strangling her. My vet lasered it and out of pure instinct, gave it a little tug. Later he read in one of his vet medical journals that that's what they're telling them to do now. And it's been over two years and the polyp has never grown back, which is unusual because they usually start to grow back immediately. As he expressed it "You have to get the head, not just the tail" meaning, of course, not that it's alive but that it will continue to grow unless you get the entire polyp out. If left untreated, a polyp can grow into the brain or behind the eye, down into the throat, wherever. Sometimes a bulaosteotomy is called for, where the vet opens the jaw and scrapes out the polyp. And still there's no guarantee that it won't grow back. (I told my vet 'no' to that one because Yodie was so thin and weak and the recovery is worse than the surgery.) I look at it this way: Yodie has had two good years and she's still going strong. If the polyp does grow back, I'll have it lasered again since it will have taken so long to show itself again. She lost so much weight that you could see all of her bones even in her face. By the time I rescued her, I was afraid it was a lost cause. But now she's actually chubby. And she can meow; she couldn't do that before. She loves the sound of her own voice and she meows when walking down the stairs. It's hilarious! I'm not trying to scare you, just hoping to prepare you for what you might face. It sounds scary but a polyp can be handled if done early on.

[buttercup132]

I'm no expert but I can tell you this about polyps, at least if it's an ear polyp that has grown down into the throat: my Yodie Yodie had one and it grew in both directions, out her ear and down into her throat and it was strangling her. My vet lasered it and out of pure instinct, gave it a little tug. Later he read in one of his vet medical journals that that's what they're telling them to do now. And it's been over two years and the polyp has never grown back, which is unusual because they usually start to grow back immediately. As he expressed it "You have to get the head, not just the tail" meaning, of course, not that it's alive but that it will continue to grow unless you get the entire polyp out. If left untreated, a polyp can grow into the brain or behind the eye, down into the throat, wherever. Sometimes a bulaosteotomy is called for, where the vet opens the jaw and scrapes out the polyp. And still there's no guarantee that it won't grow back. (I told my vet 'no' to that one because Yodie was so thin and weak and the recovery is worse than the surgery.) I look at it this way: Yodie has had two good years and she's still going strong. If the polyp does grow back, I'll have it lasered again since it will have taken so long to show itself again. She lost so much weight that you could see all of her bones even in her face. By the time I rescued her, I was afraid it was a lost cause. But now she's actually chubby. And she can meow; she couldn't do that before. She loves the sound of her own voice and she meows when walking down the stairs. It's hilarious! I'm not trying to scare you, just hoping to prepare you for what you might face. It sounds scary but a polyp can be handled if done early on.:eek: Wow. I think she had it worse then Ivy (as he only has it from one ear to the throat) but still if it keeps growing. I think if it's that then it will be first to check off on the list of things for him. That's really scary. I don't think he can go in for surgury either because he can't handle the anestetic because his mermor os bad.


I'm just so mad I was never imformed this by anyone! I've talked to the breeder, the sire's breeder, the previous owner I got him from and I was going to talk to the original owner but I never got her e mail adress. I tried looking her up but couldn't find her.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear about Ivy.:( I sure hope that he'll be okay. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[Medusa]

By the time Yodie's polyp was removed, the part that was in her throat was the size of a silver dollar. My vet told me that he doesn't know how she lived as long as she did. He said "I couldn't breathe with something that big in my throat, could you?" Again, not trying to scare you, just prepare you because polyps can grow large and quickly. Special prayers being sent out and also that the breeder takes responsibility. She had to have known.

[Freedom]

I'm just catching up on this thread. Prayers for you and Ivy!

[jennielynn1970]

I would be so upset with the person you bought Ivy from! How deceitful can one person be?! Not just that they don't tell you, but the fact that the poor thing hasn't had proper vet care until he came to you! I'd be wondering what the other animals are like that are there?!

With the cattery, if they sold him with those issues, are they liable for anything? Also, as breeders and doing sales, are they are part of the Better Business Bureau?? If so, you can file a complain there as well I believe. If any of them sold a cat knowingly sick, or that had problems, and didn't impart that knowledge to the buyer, that is fraudulent. I'd do something so that they would not be able to endanger any more animals with poor vet care, and also not take advantage of other people who are buying their pets.

Poor Ivy. I just want to give that sweet boy a big hug! Thank goodness he has you and your family to take care of him and that you have his best interests at heart. You probably saved his life.