Question about the health of my cat...

Question

My cat is 12 years old, and she is my baby. She has always been incredibly tiny, which they said was normal seeing as how she was abused before we got her. But her last visit at the vet they said she was 7 lbs 10 ounces, and today they said she was 6 lbs 6 ounces. Something to be worried about. They heard a heart murmur...and they took blood to see if she might have a kidney disease.

Does she have to be put to sleep? Can she survive a few more years with this?

Is it normal to worry like I am. She was my first pet, and everyone is telling me I am overreacting about her being put to sleep, basically they think I shouldn't be this upset about her being put down. I don't know how to react.

Answer 1

Frequently, a cat who has been small all her life was the "runt" of the litter.  Unfortunately, if this is the case, she may have more health problems than her siblings.  However, it's also natural for cats to lose weight as they get older.  You didn't say how long it's been between vet visits.

Our cat was abandoned by his mother at birth, and we hand raised him.  He was diagnosed with kidney disease when he was 11 years old.  While he did continue to lose weight slowly, he lived another 3 years before he got sick enough to need euthanasia.  You want to talk about over-reacting?  My hubby cried like a baby!  Your feelings for your pet are genuine and you have a right to be upset -- but it may not be time just yet.

Follow your vet's instructions to make the best of her health, and let your pet be your guide as to when it's time to let her go.  Until then, enjoy every day you have with her.

Good luck, hope this helps!     : )

Answer 2

We found out my cat had a heart murmour at 6 months old..she lived to 16!

Unfortunatly my cat got thin and didnt groom herself anymore, she became incontinent and they suspected she had kidney disease so they put her to sleep..she was a sweetie.  

Answer 3

Yes, it is normal to worry like you are because you love your baby.  I would wait and see what the vet says about putting her down, but the decision is up to you considering her quality of life and all.  They may just give you medication for her heart murmur and they might not, don't know.  Speaking on a human level, my sister was born with a murmur and never has had anything medically done about it.  Keep us posted on how she does and what the vet says.

Answer 4

It depends on how bad the kidney disease is. I've known at least one cat out of the 3 I can think of who went through kidney failure

& pulled through. This cat later relasped & had tok be put down. It lasted a few more months. Use your own judgement. Give her a chance to improve if you have th funds. If she doesn't improve in a week or so, I would put her down. You should be upset about it, most people are. To them, it's just a silly cat. You've known that cat more than some people! I'm sure she's lived a good long life.  

Answer 5

You are a dear to worry about the well being of your friend.You vet can answer your questions the best. If you have to make the choice of letting her go then just remember all of the happy times you two have had and make the humane decision to end her suffering. After all, you wouldn't want you little friend to suffer. Yes it will hurt but the pain will pass and you will smile and be able to love another kitty.No, you are not over reacting. Hopefully your kitty can be helped.

Answer 6

As long as your cat is happy; able to move around, purr, eat, potty - she would'nt need to be put to sleep.  I had a cat that lost sight in one eye from an infection and then much later developed an infection in the other eye so that she lost that sight too.  The vet said 'put her to sleep', but I didn't.  She continued to purr and act like her old self.  She even still caught a few lizards on the back porch!