I think Ivy is going back to his breeder or original owner.

[Catty1]

Okay, just remind me - is the vet sure that the coughing and breathing problems are because of the murmur?

[Freedom]

If you haven't already, I think you should speak with the breeder.

Do you know if the breeder has a website?

I ask because I found this contract on line from ONE sphynx breeder. http://www.doggydayscatnapacres.com/sphynxcontract.html It specifically states that no kitten will be sold with even a slight heart murmur. So if nothing else, the breeder will want to KNOW that one kitten in one litter developed such a condition.

The breeder may actually have some suggestions which none of us will; depending upon how much experience the breeder has.

I do think you are right to return to the cat to one of them and get your money back. This cat is currently not only with a heart murmur but also with many symptoms. This should have been disclosed to you before you even put down a deposit!

What a difficult situation.

[buttercup132]

They are pretty positive. They can't know for sure unless there are test done. They think he could have too much fluids in his heart which would be shown on a ultrasound and he would have to be on meds for life to keep that under control.
They thought maybe a poylups but the other vet didn't see anything and the second vet said he highly doubts it a poylups.
He went on antibiotics for a URI because she said it could be that but it's also unlikley and they didn't help him.

Do you guys think I should just leave him then and say no to all these test? I was thinking about that the other day but then again he does cough and have trouble breathing so maybe that wouldn't be a good idea.

EDIT: Sorry Freedom I never saw your post .
Yes the breeder has a site. I don't think she breeds anymore and if so not often at all because she is into rescuing now.
http://www.defuzzld.com/
I have emailed her I said almost exactly what I said on here (just different wording because I can't copy paste) and asked her what she thinks I should do. I also told her I have been advised by a few people (which means the people on PT and my family and boss) to contact her and see if she will take him back.

The thing I am scared of with giving Ivy back to the person I got him from is I don't think she will give him the proper vet care (being as she failed to before) or that she will re sell him to someone and not say he has a heart murrmor again and then they obvioulsy too will not give him the care he needs or they will go to the vet and find out the same thing I did.

When the breeder replies to my e mail I will ask her if she has a copy of the contract she is always helpful like that and always offers to give me previous vet papers she has and she offered to give me another copy of his pedigree papers (if the very very original owner even signed a contract). I also don't know if it would apply to me because I'm not the person who bought him and signed the contract.

I Probably Would Return Ivy And Buy A Healthy Cat.

That's what my boss said. But I don't know if thats right..I don't know if I would even want another one after Ivy. In all honesty I got him because he had be up for sale in the classified ads for so long and I felt bad for him or else I don't think I would have got another cat. But I'm also worried about Duck if Ivy dose go. I don't know if another cat for him to bond to would be better for him or not.
Either way if I did sent Ivy back and decided I want another one it wouldn't be for a long time. I'd like to do it properly this time and go through a good breeder who has a good contract.

[catmandu]

We Are Certainly Not Going To Pass Judgement As I Do Not Know What I Would Do If I Had A Cat Whoses Tests Would Start At 2000 Especially If I Was Starting Out.
I Probably Would Return Ivy And Buy A Healthy Cat.
We Are Praying That That Sweet Dear Little Cat Will Be All Right And Our Prayers Go Out To You.

[jenluckenbach]

Well, if he is having symptoms with breathing etc, than this murmur is very likely causing him distress. As I said, mine do not, but I am soppose to look for things like troubled breathing.

[buttercup132]

His breeder just e mailed me back saying this

Hi Alicia,

Please do not give him back to this previous owner who obviously never cared for him and actually physically disfigured him from what you have said. You can send him back to me at anytime if you'd like. On the otherhand, like what I've said before - often all the testing in the world really does nothing for the cat. Even if something is diagnosed, not much changes for the cat's life expectancy. If he's happy and in no stages of heart failure there is no reason not to just let him live happily as a pet. He could live his life with no problems, or he could at some point advance to heart disease. Its really unknown when you have no idea what has caused the heart murmur or whether it will ever progress, etc.... But quite honestly even with all the testing in the world the outcome won't change much. So its really a question of just giving him a happy life.

But PLEASE if you do not want to keep him return him to me, not to an owner who only had him for a short time, got him no routine vet care, and gave him up already. I think you care more about him than to do that. If you want to send him back to me we'd have to have him shipped, Continental is the only airline that ships in total temperature control and this time of year that would be needed. I would have to pick him up in Minneapolis on a weekend and we'd have to work out the plan for that because I travel a lot for business so we'd have to get it scheduled in.

I will be e mailing her back telling her about his coughing and breathing and see what she says about that.
Oh and what she means by disfigured is his tail because it has so many kinks. The person I got him from said her sister ran over his tail with a chair.

[Catty1]

The person I got him from said her sister ran over his tail with a chair.

OMG.....

Poor wittle Ivy...

I am glad the breeder is being so good...are you far away from her? It's a time when a lot of people are on holidays...is she close enough for a friend to drive Ivy there?

I am glad you are asking about the breathing thing. It might not be connected, in this case, though I realize it often is. Just make sure.

I know it's summer...but do you have some Vicks and a vaporizer?

Also - I don't know what it is called, but there is a liquid that clears sinuses - maybe he's got some kind of post nasal drip. Vets have it. You can either put drops up his nose (yeah, mine too - NOT! lol) or put it on a little 'mask' and just hold it over his muzzle for 6-7 breaths.

[buttercup132]

No he would have to be shipped she's in the U.S.
I think I have Vicks but what do I do with it/what will it do?

[Sevaede]

I'm so sorry Buttercup.

I found out earlier this year that my Little Dog had a grade 3 murmur but the vet said it was nothing really to worry about. However, she did end up passing away a few months later. She did have a coughing problem and seizure problem that the vet attributed towards the murmur. We had thought she had a collapsing trachea all along (that's one of the reasons she went to the vet and found out about that, I was getting ready for her to have surgery on the trachea)!

I'm confused about that and am curious to see what else your vet says about them!

[moosmom]

The things you need to ask yourself are these:

Is he suffering?
Is he using the litterbox?
Is he eating?

If not, then JennLibrarian is right...

If she would not keep him but have him PTS, I think I'd keep him!

AS LONG AS HE'S NOT SUFFERING. That is what's in Ivy's best interest.

There's your answer.

[mrspunkysmom]

Another option is to keep him and ask the breeder for a refund to pay for medical expenses. She knowingly sold you a cat in poor health while representing him as good health.

Just my take.

[jennielynn1970]

Another option is to keep him and ask the breeder for a refund to pay for medical expenses. She knowingly sold you a cat in poor health while representing him as good health.

Just my take.

She didn't get Ivy from the breeder. She got Ivy from the 2nd owner from what I understand. The first owner bought from the breeder, then that owner sold him to a 2nd owner, who then sold him to Alicia.

I have no idea who she'd get a "refund" from... unless she filed a claim in small claims court, to recapture the money she has spent on a "healthy" cat, only to find out she was taken advantage of. That way maybe she could bet reimbursed for the expenses, and keep Ivy and have more money in the end to help with his health?? Not sure how small claims courts work in her state.

I'd just be worried what a breeder would do with what they would declare a "defective" cat. It's usually not a happy ending.

[buttercup132]

I re assure you she will NOT put Ivy to sleep as long as he is in no pain.
Why would a breeder do that anyways?

Maybe you can talk to your vet, the one who is a friend of the family. Ask if you can work out a payment plan to cover the bills for Ivy's testing and treatment. I'm certain he would be open to the idea...couldn't hurt to ask.

I couldn't do that anyways they can't do anything for him at that vet. He needs to see a specialist he said. So he would have no control over it.