Experience with heart murmur in kitten?

[luvavacation]

I am so sad. My family and I were supposed to bring home a rescue kitten on Friday, and it was at the rescue's vet this morning and we learned that, at 9 weeks of age, it has a heart murmur. This is a pure-bred kitten, but from a bad situation, and no one knows if the parents had heart problems. Five of the other 6 kittens in the litter also have the heart murmur.

I called my vet, whom I have trusted with the care of my pets for the last 12 years, for her opinion. She said that with a pure-bred kitten, odds are 50/50 that the heart murmur could heal itself, or perhaps be the cause of an early, sudden death. In a couple of months, we could do a cardiology exam and EKG with ultrasound to see how the heart is. This will cost $520.

For my pets that I already own, I would spend this in an instant to help them. Not sure how I feel about doing this for a kitten that I don't own yet, but already care for after meeting it twice. I worry most about falling in love, as I do with my pets, and then being told in two months that this kitten will die at any moment with no warning. How would we all react to this, if it happened?

The rescue said I don't have to take the kitten. I don't know what to do.

Has anyone here had any experience with kittens or cats with a heart murmur? What should I expect of the future? Is it as much of a doom and gloom sentence as my vet makes it sound?

I don't know what will happen with the kitten if we don't take it. This means, of course, that we probably will take it, and have it join our home with our runt Maine Coon and our unsocialized GSD (that is now wonderful, after much hard work). Someday, I would like a perfectly healthy pet, instead of these needy animals that seem to find us.

So tell me, shall I prepare myself for loving a kitten for short time, then finding it dead one morning from a heart problem? Or will it all be ok?

 

[Clio]

My Angora cat had a heart murmur her whole life and it never slowed her down. She lived to be almost 20 years old. It got a little better as she grew up but never completely went away. She got into more trouble as a kitten than any other cat I've ever had.
Liz

 

[debg]

I am so sad. My family and I were supposed to bring home a rescue kitten on Friday, and it was at the rescue's vet this morning and we learned that, at 9 weeks of age, it has a heart murmur. This is a pure-bred kitten, but from a bad situation, and no one knows if the parents had heart problems. Five of the other 6 kittens in the litter also have the heart murmur.

I called my vet, whom I have trusted with the care of my pets for the last 12 years, for her opinion. She said that with a pure-bred kitten, odds are 50/50 that the heart murmur could heal itself, or perhaps be the cause of an early, sudden death. In a couple of months, we could do a cardiology exam and EKG with ultrasound to see how the heart is. This will cost $520.

For my pets that I already own, I would spend this in an instant to help them. Not sure how I feel about doing this for a kitten that I don't own yet, but already care for after meeting it twice. I worry most about falling in love, as I do with my pets, and then being told in two months that this kitten will die at any moment with no warning. How would we all react to this, if it happened?

The rescue said I don't have to take the kitten. I don't know what to do.

Has anyone here had any experience with kittens or cats with a heart murmur? What should I expect of the future? Is it as much of a doom and gloom sentence as my vet makes it sound?

I don't know what will happen with the kitten if we don't take it. This means, of course, that we probably will take it, and have it join our home with our runt Maine Coon and our unsocialized GSD (that is now wonderful, after much hard work). Someday, I would like a perfectly healthy pet, instead of these needy animals that seem to find us.

So tell me, shall I prepare myself for loving a kitten for short time, then finding it dead one morning from a heart problem? Or will it all be ok?

Ok... no experience with a kitten. But, a whole lot of experience with needy sick animals. I know how it feels... sad, but yet knowing we're 'saving' them makes it ok.

We did rescue a 6-year old Maine Coon who lived to be 17. He had a fairly serious murmur - stage 4. Anyway, a couple of things - he had the EKG and exam and it cost $250 plus the accompanying vet consult. Yours sounds high, but I realize it all depends on where you're located. This was two years ago.

Secondly, though he died at age 17, and had many many problems, including being diabetic, his heart never gave out.

Thirdly, and so sorry to tell you this, we were told by the vet doing the EKG that heart murmurs are quite common in Maine Coons, so you may be facing this with down the road with your little runt.

Our experience was that the murmur didn't stop him. Didn't slow him down. He did take a pill every day. Other than that, the heart didn't impact him or us, except for the worrying about him. But you know what, he was my best cat, my best pet ever. Don't be afraid... take him and love him for as long as he's with you. I know... costs are important and it will really hurt if he doesn't make it... but you never know - you might still have this guy 17-18-20 years from now.

Hope that helps a bit. I know the decision is hard.

debg

 

[luvavacation]

Thank you so much, Clio and debg.

I know my vet was just giving me the facts, but it is so good to hear from others that have experienced this that it can be ok.

debg, we do live in an area that is more expensive, plus our vet's office was bought out years ago by a big national company, and prices skyrocketed. There are now numerous vets at the office, along with a cancer center, heart center, therapy center, etc. I believe it is all nicer than my local human hospital! But I trust my vet, so despite the high cost, we still go to her. If she ever leaves the practice, we will follow her. And while I appreciate her honesty and forthrightness, I do welcome hearing the real life experiences from others!

Thanks again for the helpful words.

 

[Tozzie]

I am so sad. My family and I were supposed to bring home a rescue kitten on Friday, and it was at the rescue's vet this morning and we learned that, at 9 weeks of age, it has a heart murmur. This is a pure-bred kitten, but from a bad situation, and no one knows if the parents had heart problems. Five of the other 6 kittens in the litter also have the heart murmur.

I called my vet, whom I have trusted with the care of my pets for the last 12 years, for her opinion. She said that with a pure-bred kitten, odds are 50/50 that the heart murmur could heal itself, or perhaps be the cause of an early, sudden death. In a couple of months, we could do a cardiology exam and EKG with ultrasound to see how the heart is. This will cost $520.

For my pets that I already own, I would spend this in an instant to help them. Not sure how I feel about doing this for a kitten that I don't own yet, but already care for after meeting it twice. I worry most about falling in love, as I do with my pets, and then being told in two months that this kitten will die at any moment with no warning. How would we all react to this, if it happened?

The rescue said I don't have to take the kitten. I don't know what to do.

Has anyone here had any experience with kittens or cats with a heart murmur? What should I expect of the future? Is it as much of a doom and gloom sentence as my vet makes it sound?

I don't know what will happen with the kitten if we don't take it. This means, of course, that we probably will take it, and have it join our home with our runt Maine Coon and our unsocialized GSD (that is now wonderful, after much hard work). Someday, I would like a perfectly healthy pet, instead of these needy animals that seem to find us.

So tell me, shall I prepare myself for loving a kitten for short time, then finding it dead one morning from a heart problem? Or will it all be ok?

I just adopted a 6 year old cat who has that, and he didn't have it as a kitten or a 2 year old cat. He has been stable and is on a inexpensive medication that there is debate about how well it works. He is a sweet angel and I love him, I look at it this way, if his heart gives out, so be it, but I gave him a loving home for as long as he lives with me.

As to weather he will be okay depends on the severity of the heart disease, the rescue I adopted my cat from has a kitten/young adult cat that has severe heart disease and they don't expect him to live long and due to the severity of the disease, he wouldn't survive surgery or the rescue would have him have surgery. My cat is active when he feels like it ( you know a basic cat attitude) the cat at the rescue that has the severe disease is quiet and sleeps most of the time. Is the kitten acting like a kitten or does it sleep and rest alot?

The cat is young and has a great chance, but it is up to you, I adopted my cat knowing before even applying that he had heart disease and a plate and screw in his leg from being hit by a car ( yes the rescue I adopted from goes above and beyond for the cats they take in) but it also felt right.

 

[castmemberb4]

I come with a whole different perspective.
We adopted a beautiful orange and white kitten with a big wonderful personality. I swear he ran down the steps to greet me every time I walked in the house and always had a "smile" on his face!
He was not our only cat but I thought he was the love of my life (still is)
One day I came home to find him sleeping in his usual place under
the dinning room table. He was dead at 9 months. He had been fine at 11:30
when DH left for work and gone at 5:30. We don't know why he died and I was devistated for a while.
In my grief and looking back now I'm so happy he spent his last months happy with us. I would not have wanted that beautiful happy boy to spend his last months at the rescue.
After we lost Aubie we started to foster for the rescue we had adopted he
and his 'brother' from we fostered 20 kittens in 9 months and now have 4
of our own. I've also donated many needed items to the rescue in his name.
Again I love and miss him but his legacy lives on in many ways and most
important he was so loved in his last 5 months. I would not take anything
for his time with us.

 

[Gigi22]

We lost our big, beautiful, dark brown tabby last July. He had a heart murmur which gradually worsened, and he developed kidney issues. He had a fairly sedentary life for the last year or so, required medication for 6 months, and gradually developed breathing problems. I took him in to the emergency vet clinic on a Sun. morning, and by Mon. night he was gone. He was just over 9 years old.
I have never, ever, regretted adopting him from the Humane Society. He was a perfect cat. Every day I had with him was a pleasure.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We had a cat with a heart murmur. It was no big deal at first, but it got larger, so we took him to a kitty cardiologist an hour away for an EKG. I believe he was on meds, but no other issues.

He lived to be 12--not too shabby. He was a very sedentary cat, but that may have nothing to do with his heart--just his personality. He was an absolute great cat, a real snuggler, and he was fabulous with babies. They could twist his fur, tug on his ears, chew his tail--if he got annoyed, he'd just leave, but he never, ever hissed or swiped at them. He was a wonderful addition to our family.

I can't tell you what to do, but I do agree with the PP who mentioned her kitten dying--you could give this kitty a great life, for as long as that is. None of us know how that will turn out.

BTW, nothing to do with anything, but my youngest child was born with a heart murmur. It went away. I'm not sorry I kept HIM, either.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I had a cat with a heart murmur who lived to be 15. They listened to it closely at her well visits, but it was never an issue.

 

[kacaju]

Do you have children? If you have children, personally I would not take a *sick* pet knowing that they could die suddenly. Sure things happen..but I don't think i could do that to my kids.

 

[avgeek81]

My cat had a heart murmur. They found it when he was 7 or 8. He had not been to the vet for a few years before that so i dont know how long he had it. The vet said not to worry about it.

The cat ended up getting diabetes that became very severe and they eventually found a tumor so we had to put him down.

My mom may adopt a cat from the vet that actually has to wear a heart monitor. The lady who has him can not take care of him. The vet said they would take care of all the medical bills if my mom takes him and they will board him if she goes on vacation

 

[Bilberry]

As an alternative treatment you might give your cat some vitamin D3 to see if that helps the murmur. I have a cat, but he doesn't have a heart problem. (As ornery as he is I do sometimes wonder if he has a heart at all!) I recall reading recently of a vet. that treated his cat with high vitamin D3 levels for an infection, successfully.

And of late I've been reading of humans reversing their murmurs with vitamin D3.

Supplementing with D3 in oil form might be worth a shot if nothing seems to work.

Here is an article of a fellow that reserves his murmur with vitamin D3. Good luck to the kitten!

"Another case of aortic valve disease reduced with vitamin D"

http://www.trackyourplaque.com/blog...tic-valve-disease-reduced-with-vitamin-d.html

 

[Handbag Lady]

Our kitty doesn't have a heart murmur but she does have a chronic URI that cannot be cured.

We love her so much and thinking that she stayed in a cattery for 3 years waiting for someone to adopt her just breaks my heart. I wish I knew her as a kitten.

Anyway, she has brought much joy into our lives and is a very spoiled cat now. We give her medicine every day (mixed in with her food as she won't be pilled) and it just works for us. We tolerate the sneezes and just end up cleaning a whole lot more than we did before we had her.

I would make the same choice to adopt her even if I knew in advance how much effort she would take. She is SO worth it.

 

[pixiewings71]

Do you have children? If you have children, personally I would not take a *sick* pet knowing that they could die suddenly. Sure things happen..but I don't think i could do that to my kids.

I would......why? Because I know my girls would love that fur baby to within an inch of his life and while he was with us he would know happiness, love and security. And because I know my girls would love him as much as they would a healthy fur baby. I would also sit down with them and discuss this in depth, as I did with Ninja (Tigger's sister) when she was so sick. We only had Ninja for 2 days but they loved her insanely, luckily Tigger was healthy enough and he made it (Ninja and Tigger were found mama-less at the age of 4 weeks old) and he's the love of all of our lives, he's in charge of our house and we all know it, even the dog and the other cats. lol

OP good luck with your fur baby, if you decide to bring him home please share photos.

 

[luvavacation]

Thank you all for the information and experiences you have posted. And the information on vitamin D3 is something I will certainly look into!

Ugh, I had more to say, but my cat stepped on the keyboard and erased stuff!

But thank you again! We are definitely going to take a chance on loving this little kitten, and hoping that he has a long, healthy, happy life in our home.

 

[castmemberb4]

Thank you all for the information and experiences you have posted. And the information on vitamin D3 is something I will certainly look into!

Ugh, I had more to say, but my cat stepped on the keyboard and erased stuff!

But thank you again! We are definitely going to take a chance on loving this little kitten, and hoping that he has a long, healthy, happy life in our home.

I'm so glad you made this decision