A psychiatrist once told me that she absolutely believes that many
animals are angels in disguise that are sent to us.
I believe that is true because Beau was an angel to us.
Sunday was a normal day for my young little angel kitty.
He woke me up with his little kisses to my nose then bit the tip – HARD.
He ate with vigor and enthusiasm played with the kitten chased Kip
the other male that he liked to tease and followed me everywhere.
Beau was an in-your-face kind of kitty. This day was no different.
He was the first to greet our visitors that day sat on top of the Sunday
newspaper while I read it helped me with the bills and kept all the
other kitties and the dogs on their toes as he mischievously started trouble.
Sunday evening he went into respiratory arrest and died quickly in
my daughter’s arms as we rushed him to the emergency medical clinic.
My moan of horror and pain exceeded the one he would have let out – if he could.
I absolutely could not believe my young healthy little mischievous
angel kitty was dead.
Beau lived life as a friendly neighborhood stray until he got a paw up in life.
He picked me out and adopted me at the shelter only a year ago.
He received the best and most attentive medical care.
He was now enjoying life as an indoor kitty.
All his vaccinations were up to date and he had just had his first annual
checkup complete with blood work and a tooth cleaning.
He was a glowing healthy kitty.
The vets and I were perplexed why he would die so
suddenly and so young.
A necropsy revealed the problem.
Beau had a very heavy infestation of heart worms.
They were in his lungs and heart.
The infestation would have dated back long before I ever adopted him.
The amazing thing is how he lived this long.
Yes I said heart worms.
As my beloved Beau attests cats can and DO get heart worms.
Unfortunately because of their small size and their physical composition,
there is NO TREATMENT available for cats.
The best that can be offered is to keep them on a heart worm
preventative to manage the infestation.
However Beau’s infestation was so mature and so heavy
even this would not have helped him.
In the span of three months our vet did FIVE necropsies on
cats that disclosed heart worms.
Cats are getting this disease much more frequently.
And many of those infestations are like my Beau indoor only kitties.
Two of them had been indoor kitties all their lives.
Heart worms are transmitted by mosquito bites.
Heart worms infest the host’s heart.
The mature worms break off from the heart and travel to the lungs.
This caused Beau’s respiratory arrest and subsequent heart attack.
This is the common path of heart worms. Heart worms are not selective.
They will kill dogs cats indoor animals and outdoor animals alike.
Protect your pets. It was too late for my BEAU before he even found me.
However it is NOT TOO LATE for your cat.
Be vigilant in keeping ALL YOUR cats and dogs indoor and outdoor
alike on heart worm preventative. Test your animals for heart worms every
six months the first year you adopt them then annually after.
Please do this for Beau and I.
And as your kitty wakes you up on Monday morning for breakfast,
thank Beau that your kitty is safe
from heart worms.
Maureen
| Maureen |