Laura ~ Please don't worry so. Even with a heart murmur Giz can live for many, many years. Pepper's murmur is a 6 -- the worst possible. Nothing can be done to repair it. No medicine will help. How does this impact Pepper?

  • Well, she's the only cat we've ever had that leaps from our balcony to the roof.

  • She jumped down from the 2nd story balcony to the roof of our van and then ran into the back yard (twice!).

  • She walks the top of the neighbor's 10-foot chain length fence.

  • She climbs towels hanging on the bars and leaps to the top of the shower curtain rod or to the top of any available door.

  • She fearlessly protected 'her' yard when Princess (the very un-Princess-like kitty from across the street) came to visit. Princess is about 20 pounds. Pepper is 6. She cleaned her clock! and Princess hasn't wandered across the street since!


She is almost 4 years old now. I do notice that she sleeps harder now. You know? Like little kids? They play and play and play and then can just drop and be in a deep sleep. But, about 20 minutes later, she's up and running full speed again. So, don't worry so much. Take a lesson from a cat. They don't seem to worry too much (we do it all for them)!