The importance of your cat's YEARLY vet visit

you can't blame yourself for that.. you are one of the most conscientous(I know I misspelled that) cat owners I know of. just be glad the vet found it now, grade 3, what is that? is it mild or serious?
how old is willow?

these things happen, it is not your fault. now that you know about it I'm sure willow will get the best of care. he is lucky to have you as his"mom"!

about the yearly vet visits, I will take your advice... the vet told me that after the cats are older, one year + they only need to get their shots every 3 years... but I think I will take them for a physical every year regardless.

so what is being done about Willow now? please let me know.

Willow is fine. Since heart murmurs are graded 1 to 6 then I'd say 3 is just below "middle of the road". They will not actually DO anything for him right now. I am just suppose to be aware of any possible symptoms that suggest cardiomyopathy. What they will do, is year to year they will COMPARE what they hear.

I realize the vets may or may not have heard it last year, but my concern is "what if it were something more serious" Something where a year could have made the differnce between life and death. THAT was my point. After all, last year was the first year I ever skipped my cats yearly physical, and I did it with 4 of the others, too. :( I said to my self "They are young and healthy, they can get away with every other year" I never even considered skipping with my older cats, the ones much more likely to actually NEED to be checked.

So I just wanted to spare anyone else from wishing they had not cut corners.

I take Bastet twice a year. The reason is she is a purebred and doesn't have a strong immunity compared to mutt cats (don't take that offensively please).

She is also a companion pet so as part o fme having her she needs to have regular vet checkups. I agree with you Jen though but I also understand the financial considerations of pet care. I went and did a first aid course for cats a while back and it has been a life saver on a couple of occasions (not with Bastet mind you but with friend's cats).

Maybe that is the way to go. See if your vet or a local vet offers these kind of courses?

well you can't upset yourself over what ifs... at least they know the problem now... I am also trying to not take my cats to the vet if it can be helped... so you did nothing wrong. but I know your point was to get them the yearly vet visit. just wanted to tell you that. it is natural to think that with young cats , they don't need as much check ups.

Im really thinking about Cassie, I don't want to run there at the drop of a hat, but then toehr times I think well maybe..but she was checked not long ago..

Jen, how's Willow?

Willow is perfectly fine, Thanks for asking. The only way we will really DO anything is if he shows symptoms, but he is GOOD.