heart problem

[georgie]

does any one know about kittens with enlarged heart (heart murmur) and the outcome of survival ect.

[Sus]

Hello Georgie - and welcome to Pet Talk! I hope you'll enjoy it here!

By the sound of it what you really need is to talk to a vet? I am fairly new to PT myself and so I don't know if there are any vets on PT. Anyway, I think you need to explain a little more about the situation! Is this your kitten or kittens? How old is it/are they? Etc.

Good luck!

Love,
Sus and Bella

[georgie]

Thanx Sus
The kitten is a Cornish Rex 8 week old female. It is a kitten I was going to buy but the breeder phoned to tell me this news. It has an enlarged heart and heart murmur.

I was hoping someone may know a little about the problem and if there is something that can be done.

I guess I'm a bit of a sook and feel now she is part of the family even though I don't have her yet (& probably won't unless she gets better). I have had a lot to do with the breeder and lots of photos etc. and it is strange to just have to not think about her.

anyway still hoping someone may have experienced the same or knows something about the problem.

georgie

[Sus]

Hello again!

Just saw your new post and felt I had to reply once more! I do understand your predicament. I guess you have been looking very much forward to getting a kitten? And such a special breed, too!

I can only advise you from my personal experience since I'm not a vet, but I feel I must say this: Don't do it. Don't buy it. It is my personal belief that the prognosis is very bad. Save yourself of a lot of heartache. Think about it: If you feel sorry now - how sorry will you be if you have had the kitten for some months and it then dies?

I actually do have some experience in the field of cat's heart trouble. I owned a wonderful orange cat - Pepper - some years ago, and he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart at the age of 3. For one year I gave him pills every day (Lasix) to drain off water from the lungs, and then he became worse. He died at the age of 4, and I was devastated - I loved him so much.

Besides - what sort of a life will a sick kitten have? A bad heart will seriously affect the its quality of life. My Pepper couldn't really play with his brother Chili, because of shortness of breath and fatique.

Now, I don't know if there is a chance, that the kitten will outgrow its problems - you'll have to consult a vet on that. I also don't know whether it is possible to operate when - and if - it gets older. But I really don't think it is a good idea to think along those lines. it'll cost you a bunch, and you'll be nervous and sad most of the time, and the outcome will probably not match the effort.

There a so many lovely kittens in the world. Healthy ones! Be patient, and wait for one of those. It'll find you before you know it!

Lots of love,
Sus and Bella