Our Cajun Boy is Gone....

[catfamily]

Just so everyone understands.Winston had an ENLARGED heart.
I was told when a young cat gets this they die fairly quick becuse it progressess faster.The meds helped the heart stay stable for a little extra time but the meds can't work forever.
I dated a guy a long time ago that had just had a heart transplant.He was 26 years old and we met 2 months after his procedure.He also had an ENLARGED heart(before his heart transplant).The disease ran in his family.His nephew has it now.His mothers brother had it.But I know a lot about enlarged hearts just from going out with him.
The only other option was heart transplant for Winston.I would never ever put that cajun boy through that.He was too tired.I know all of you agree.
When an older cat gets an enlarged heart the progress of enlarging is much slower and they can get a few more years of life than a younger one would with the same diagnosis.In most cases.So a younger cat getting this is much worse than an older cat getting this.The progress of the heart failing is faster in a younger cat.
Winston could of developed this from the disease he got when he was found in Louisianna.(Haemobartonellosis).A very bad disease.Fleas and ticks get it and pass it on.Same with Bartonnella.Which they both had when they came to me.(Not as serious as Haemobartonellosis)But serious enough to get it treated.Which of course I did.
Or it may have been in his gene pool.Or a number of other things could of caused his heart to enlarge.

Now...my Lucy has a heart problem but it's a leaky valve.She will live a long normal life.A leaky valve is not to dangerous in most cases.

Bartonnella is all over the country and I advise all cats to be tested for it.Like I said,it's not as serious as Winston's original disease but Bartonnella was in their system too which causes upper respiratory problems,Gum disease,Broncitis,some organ problems too if left untreated.It can cause ALL kinds of things to happen later down the road to make them not feel good.(even without showing it).Coughing too.Herpes of the eyes and much more.