Very poorly Digby

I am so very sorry Phoenix, x

So sorry to hear this, phoenix. It's horrible when our pets suddenly become ill and there is very little we can do to help them.

Hope Digby has good quality of life for the time he has left.
He has a special place in your heart.

I am so sorry. My Clootie Dumpling too had a bad heart condition and i lost her at 9 years. I miss her still.

I'm so sorry to read this phoenix, what a horrible turn of events for you all. Seven is no age for a cat. Cram as many happy memories in as you can in his remaining time with you

Poor Digby.

Fwiw, our previous rescue kitten came to us with massive congenital heart problems. We still took her on, despite knowing that we might only have her for six months or a year.

She was symptom-free for quite a while but eventually needed medication. We managed that pretty well and in the end we had her for five and a half happy years - much longer than originally predicted. She was a darling little cat, so feisty and fun!

I hope Digby's meds help him live a long and happy life.

Oh Phoenix, my heart truly goes out to Darling Digby, Yourself and Mr P. xxx's and thoughts to you all.

I'm so sorry to hear this phoenix!

Oh phoenix I’m so sorry to hear this, but Digby will still have a lovely life with you, Mr P and Oliver Sprout. ?

So sorry to hear this Phoenix. Such a young cat too.

Thank you all so much for the good wishes, they are very much appreciated.

So sorry to hear this Phoenix. Our pets bring us such happiness but it’s heartbreaking when something like this happens to such a young cat. Enjoy every minute with him.

Awww, so sorry to hear that Phoenix. Love to you both and wishing Digby a speedy recovery. My son and daughter in law's kitten was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition and seems fine so far but we all worry for her.

Oh poor Digby. Hope he gets on okay on the pills. My little dog made it to 18 years with a quite pronounced heart murmur. I was told this every time we visited the Vet.

Thanks again to you all

When we went to collect him, the vet took the time to actually show us Digby's heart scan, and explain the various problems.

Unfortunately it is way beyond a murmur, parts of his heart are enlarged, other bits are underfunctioning.

He is on heart tabs twice a day, diuretics twice a day, and aspirin (as a blood thinner) every other day.

He has always been very difficult to get tablets into,( unlike the dear departed Maurice, who would take anything if accompanied by cheese, especially Stilton) but I managed to get them into him tonight.

Mr P is supposed to do tomorrow morning, as the meds have to be an hour before food, and Mr P does get up at an ungodly hour.

I'm not holding my breath, as Mr P isn't exactly the best at being firm when it comes to dealing with Digby .

Fully expecting a call for help at stupid o clock, ie around 5am.

I`m so sorry Phoenix, 7 is no age for a cat is it? My Mia is almost 7, and nearly 2 years ago the vet said she had a heart murmur, but not to worry unless it gave her problems, which it hasn`t so far, touch wood.

Aw - sorry to hear this Phoenix.

Again, thanks to all.

Callgirl one of the things that the vet told me is that serious heart conditions in cats can be very hard to spot until they become very serious.

That sounds very similar to the regime our cat was on, Phoenix. They made a remarkable difference in a very short space of time. The diuretic made her wee everywhere at first, poor mite, and she looked so bewildered as she woke up in a puddle!

Within a few days, though, she regained her usual bounciness - I do hope it's the same for Digby.

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news Phoenix. Do you know how long it should take for the pills to kick in and see an improvement?

Sorry about your wee cat Phoenix.

How is Digby today?

Very sorry to hear this. Poor Digby. Poor you phoenix

Digby still less than tickety boo, but his breathing is better. (In addition to various tablets, we have to count his breaths per minute twice a day).

As suspected, when I got up, found a note on the kitchen table from Mr P "Had a go, but he kept spitting them out"

He WILL have to get the hang of i!

The note went on to say "Perhaps try with the smoked salmon in the fridge?" Well, if that is such a good idea, why didn't you try it?

Unfortunately/fortunately Digby isn't that struck, in fact it's had to find anything that he will regularly take as a treat".

When I come down at 7.20, the chaps expect their brekkers! Can't feed Oliver Sprout on his own, so he ends up going off in a huff to investigate what might be on the menu in the great outdoors.

Anyway, I managed to get the tablets down, 1 heart, half a diuretic, both this morning and when I came in from work. Tomorrow we have the same, plus a quarter of an aspirin.

Poor Digby, his appetite isn't what it was (but I suppose it's early days) and the vet said we must watch out for weight loss.

When we collected him last night, we couldn't access the bill as it was after 6pm and their "system" apparently has an automatic lock down.

I phoned this morning to start paying it, have a guess how much?