Replies

Apparently, Rocket did have heart problems, but they never showed up until the catastrophic event late Saturday or early Sunday.

All 3 vets told me the same thing, it is almost impossible to detect in felines. No cough, no murmur, just a sudden and usually fatal event. I have to hand it to all three, Dr. Triplett at the Emergency Clinic, our Dr. Carter at Springhill Vet Clinic and Dr. Thompson at the Center for Veterinary Specialty Care. Each was very sensitive to our feelings but steadfastly realistic about what we were likely facing. Each was professional and caring, and sorry there was not more to be done.

Rumor has it there may be some experimental testing in the near future that would have shown Rocket’s heart disease, but for now it hides in a very effective manner. If I was a rich man, I’d find a university somewhere interested in researching this and give them an endowment, but that is not the reality.

Doc Carter says he has seen this sort of trauma in about one percent of cats he comes in contact with. That may sound like a small number but that is a lot of animals. Susan and I are sad, we are faced with the fact Rocket is dead. Not sleeping, not missing, he is no longer here and won’t be back.

That is harsh, but that is the life of an animal lover.

One thing regarding this condition that I read about yesterday is that a TAURINE deficiency could be a precursor. For cats, the nutrient taurine is essential for good health and may be lacking in cheaper cat foods, dog food (which dogs don't need since they make their own, but if cats snarf up goggie food mostly they'll not get it) and also home-made pet foods (i.e., raw foods, homeopathic, etc.). There's some good reading online if you do a search for "saddle thrombosis":

http://www.helium.com/items/1312265-saddle-thrombus-cats

http://web-dvm.net/saddlethrombus.html

http://blog.embracepetinsurance.com/2006/10/saddle_thrombus.html

http://www.petco.com/Content/Article.aspx?id=176&redirecturl=%2FShop%2FSearchResults.aspx%3FNav%3D1%26sm%3DArticle%26N%3D0

You did the right thing getting Rocket to a Vet ASAP. I'm so sorry it didn't work out for him. In time that acute pain of loss will heal and, though he isn't there in person, he is in spirit. I hope you will be able to open your hearts again one day for there are many needy kittehs who would love a family and they DO help heal our hearts. You guys sound like the best parents a kitteh could ask for!