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Post by manicrose on Feb 18, 2015 21:06:36 GMT
Hi. Am new to this forum and after soon advice. My husband and I visited our local cats protection branch a few days ago and reserved two cats for adoption. We planned to pick them up Sunday and have everything ready for them. However today I received a message from the branch that both cats have a heart murmur and are going to have further checks at the vets. The branch says I now won't be able to pick them up Sunday.
Has any one else got experience with heart murmurs in cats? What treatment does it typically require and how much does it cost? Will I be able to get treatment covered on pet insurance?
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Post by cia on Feb 19, 2015 10:08:59 GMT
Hello there and welcome to the forum. I would recommend you ask a qualified vet as to what a heart murmur actually entails. It can be a life threatening and costly condition. Having said that some murmurs can be managed with regular scans and check ups. As for insurance - and heres the bad news - if the cat already has the condition - as youve said - then before the insurance in due to commence - it is classed as an existing condition and therefore you cannot claim against it. So when you take out the policy you will have state if its existing or not, and if another vet has detected one then its on the records as a underlying condition already. I hope this helps - its better to know the facts before hand, then there will no hidden financial and emotional surprises.
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Post by lotsofcats on Feb 19, 2015 10:22:03 GMT
Hi and welcome to the forum. I've not come across a cat with a heart murmur. Great that you are having 2 rescue cats. I think you should phone and ask the Cats Protection if they are going to pay for any treatment now and in the future that these 2 cats may need to have. They may suggest you choose 2 other cats which will be sad as you have already set your heart on the ones you chose. Like cia says, you won't be covered by insurance as it will be classed as an existing condition. Ask if the Cats Protection have an insurance policy in place that you could carry on with - it's worth asking.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
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Post by manicrose on Feb 19, 2015 20:42:06 GMT
Like cia says, you won't be covered by insurance as it will be classed as an existing condition. Ask if the Cats Protection have an insurance policy in place that you could carry on with - it's worth asking. Good luck and let us know how you get on. They did mention that we get four weeks free insurance with them which we could continue if we wanted. I will have to check to see if this insurance would cover the cost of any treatment needed for this condition. They are being taken to a specialist next week to see how serious the condition is before the cats protection will rehome them.
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Post by pixiepops on Feb 19, 2015 23:57:20 GMT
Hello manicrose my wee boy has a heart murmur. He has had this since he was a kitten and at the time we were told there was a chance he could grow out of it as most kittens do. After many check ups we were told this wasnt going to be the case. He still has his murmur and was graded as a 5 at first. After a scan we found that the murmur was due to the left ventrical wall being thicker than normal so the murmur (which is just a word used to describe the sound that is heard) was fine and was graded as a 2 and medication would not be needed for years yet. It really depends on what tests/scans the rescue does to determine what type of heart condition the cats have. Murmurs can be brought on in later life in cats through stress (such as being moved into a rescue) and can settle again once the cat is relaxed, monitored by a vet and given time to settle in a new home. It would be best to find out what they have done and if no scan/ultrasound has been done I would advise this is one of the first steps you look at taking to help give yourself a better understanding of what to expect. As for insurance. You can still insure both cats, however, as the heart murmurs are pre-existing conditions you will not be covered for health problems relating directly to this. Therefore, if another health problem arises and your vet can link it to the heart murmur, you will not be covered. Your insurance will cover you for all other medical problems (per the agreement you sign) that is not linked/directly caused by the heart murmur. I have a small leaflet on heart murmurs that I can look out and type up for you in a private mail if you feel it may help? EDIT: I have typed out the leaflet and sent it in mail to you along with a couple of links to sites that may help
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Post by manicrose on Feb 20, 2015 6:09:28 GMT
Thank you. The cats protect branch are taking them to a specialist on Wednesday so will have more information about how serious it is then. Really have my fingers crossed it's only a minor thing. My husband and I have been so excited about bringing these cats home.
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Post by lotsofcats on Feb 20, 2015 9:35:49 GMT
Good luck for Wednesday - I hope it's good news for you.
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Post by cia on Feb 20, 2015 11:04:27 GMT
Same here - fingers crossed.
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Post by manicrose on Feb 20, 2015 16:24:42 GMT
Thank you both. I'm going to see the cats again this weekend. Gives them chance to get used to me before, hopefully, bringing them home the following Sunday.
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Post by scallywag on Feb 20, 2015 16:56:30 GMT
Good Luck. Hope all goes well
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Post by tonib on Feb 22, 2015 1:09:40 GMT
I can't give any more advice than has already been given manicrose, but hope all goes well with the visit this weekend & the specialist next week. Well done in planning to take 2 rescue cats (I have 4 ) Do keeps us informed how it goes.
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Post by manicrose on Feb 22, 2015 14:35:10 GMT
Back from a visit to the boys. Was talking to one of the women at the centre. Apparently the heart murmurs are thought to be a grade 2 for one cat and a grade 3 for the other but they will know a definite rating once they have seen the specialist. She says they are in good health otherwise.
Was lovely to see them again today. One let me pick him up for a cuddle, the other seemed a bit more timid so didn't try to pick him up. Just gave him plenty of fuss. Really have my fingers crossed the specialist doesn't rate the murmurs any higher. All being well they will be coming home next Sunday.
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Post by tonib on Feb 23, 2015 1:31:17 GMT
That does sound promising - Fingers crossed for Sunday manicrose
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Post by lotsofcats on Feb 23, 2015 9:27:57 GMT
I really hope that you can take them home Sunday. What colour are they? How old? Have you named them?
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Post by manicrose on Feb 23, 2015 10:44:17 GMT
They are about 3 years old, both black (my husband really wanted black cats). Have decided to rename them as thought new start, new names. Have gone with Dexter and Ryan (after characters from two tv series we like). Dexter is slightly bigger than Ryan and Ryan has a small white spot under his chin, that's the only ways I've found of telling them apart.
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