Well, that sucks.

[apocalypsos]

My mom took the kitten to the vet the other day to be neutered, but after checking his heartbeat, they hesitated to do the surgery because the heart murmur he had during his first check-up -- which the vet had said lots of kittens have and grow out of -- was still there. So they did a bunch of tests and an echocardiogram and it turns out Riley has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. According to that, you know when young athletes drop dead of a heart attack all of a sudden? That's usually why.

They can still neuter him in a month, but he's got to go on heart medication twice daily and he's probably got five or six years. It's entirely possible they're just going to come home one day and he'll have just dropped dead of a heart attack.

So, you know, that's depressing.

(The good news is that they said he'd do better in a stress-free environment. If there's any environment less stressful for a cat than my parents' house I'd love to know. When I die, I want to come back as one of my mom's cats and be spoiled rotten. :))

Comments

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm pretty sure that's what our eldest cat has (it's definitely some form of cardiomyopathy). If it's a consolation, she's *counts* 14 1/2 and despite us being told over the summer that she probably only had a couple of months left to live has been healthy (if not very active, but then, she is 14!) since going on medication. Is of course sucky, but doesn't have to put a constant damper on things as I thought it would. *hugs her kitty from 150 mile distance*

[thebitterguy]

I'm sorry to hear that. We've lost one of our kittens when he was very young as well.

I'm sure they'll love him for however long they have with him.

[janissa11.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I am so, so very sorry. This is only my sixth day with Mei Mei in my life, and already I can't imagine what it would be like if she were taken away. Please give my fondest thoughts to your mom, okay? and many, many skritches to Riley.

[wolfshark]

:(

Having lost one of my furbabies to what the vet says was a heart attack, I feel for you. *hugs you and your mom*

[elbiesee.livejournal.com]

I think my mom's dog (miniature Schnauzer that's mildly mental) has the same thing. He takes pills twice a day, but other than that you can't hardly tell he has a heart condition. He's spoiled rotten. :-)

They say that Buddy has several good years (he's ten years old), so maybe Riley will show those silly vets a thing or three...

[scary-being-me.livejournal.com]

That sucks. I'm sorry to hear it. Hopefully, he'll live a long time.

[j2daily.livejournal.com]

Enjoy the kitty for as long as you all can. I am a cat person, myself. I love my kitty to death. We took him to the vet and he had to have urinary tract surgery for $$$. But he's s trooper and he's already back to normal.

[fyrdrakken]

Well, crap. But at least your parents are going to be able to give him a very happy life, for however long or short it may be.

(The guy in my posting icon turned out to be positive for FIV a few years back. They told me he could have another ten years in him. So far, so good.)

[gamiila.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear that. But I'm sure your parents will give him the happiest of lives, and that's worth a lot.

[pushingyouaway.livejournal.com]

i'm sure kitty will be fine *hugs and cookies*

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor kitty. Eh, sappy, but it sounds like your parents are perfect people to care for a kitten like that. They'll take good care of him, and whatever life he has will be a happy one.

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor kitten. It's somewhat good news that there are medictions available, though.