Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

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charlotteparkin
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Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by charlotteparkin »

This is my first post, as my friend recommended I joined this forum. Here goes, as it's been a really really tough week.

Our darling Harpo is a 3 year old Maine Coon. He's one of triplets who are called the Marx Brothers - Harpo, Chico and Groucho. They are really close - playing together, eating together and sleeping together. It's been a privilege to have had them.

This week Harpo was rushed to the vets and has been diagnosed with HCM (Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) or an enlarged heart and is in heart failure. He came home yesterday after 3 days at the vets. He's on a load of medication but it' mainly palliative care. He's very slow and tired, not the cat that we had before who played with his brothers. To say we're heartbroken is an understatement.

The problem we have got is Groucho won't accept him - he's hissed at him loads and won't go near him.As he's so big the vets put him in the dog cages, so I'm guessing he must smell of vets and dogs and smell really strange. Chico on the other hand has groomed him and sits with him. What can I do to help Groucho accept his brother. Groucho seems quite withdrawn and sad.

I don't know how to manage this with his brothers either - I'm guessing they will know that he's dying won't they?

Thanks in advance
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Lilith
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by Lilith »

Hi Charlotte and welcome, though sorry to have to welcome you under such sad circumstances.

I feel Groucho will come round once the vet/dog smell has worn off Harpo. This is quite a common problem in multi-cat households. A lot of good advice is given about scent-swapping ie blankets, just as if introducing the cats for the first time, but luckily Chico is doing this for you if he's washing Harpo and then being around Groucho, so I'd give it a few days and hopefully you might see the situation calming down. Also Groucho may be more affected by the 'vibes' at this very sad time - all cats react in different ways. I would 'special' him a little (although you've got your hands full) and keep telling him what a good boy he is, that sort of thing (though I'm sure you're doing all this already.)

So very sorry to hear about poor Harpo - and the rest of you, facing this. Please give them all a love from me. Is Harpo the one in your avatar? He's a breathtakingly beautiful cat.

Hopefully there will be other people along soon with more advice, but hope this helps for now, please keep in touch; this is a very supportive forum and I'm glad you've found us, all the very best, hugs, Lil x
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by elastu »

I am so sorry your first post is not on a more positive situation and so sorry to learn of Harpo's condition. As previously advised this is quite a common occurrence and should soon pass. Take care.
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charlotteparkin
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by charlotteparkin »

Thanks for that. Yes, that's Harpo as my avatar. He's such as handsome chap and a real character.

The diuretic is making him drink excessively - is that normal?

We've fed them together tonight and Groucho tolerated being in the same room without growling which is a step forward. He is a sensitive soul so I do think he's picking up on vibes and perhaps he is feeling a littler excluded too. So I'll make sure we make a fuss of him too.
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by Lilith »

Hi, I'm not an expert but I reckon he will drink more as the diuretic will make him wee a lot - I imagine with the object of keeping his system flushed through/preventing any toxins from building up?

He is a fabulous lad - I have a soft spot for gingers :) I seem to have lived with a ginger or two since the 70s, and then in 2002 my avatar cat, Emily, who was a feral, brought me her 5 kittens. All ginger. Then two toms moved in, one ginger, one white and ginger. And a few years back I was persuaded to adopt a local 'devil kitten', my Molly. Ginger, of course.

What are Harpo's brothers like? Glad Groucho seems to be coming round a bit :)
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by LittlePenBigHeart »

I'm so sorry to hear about Harpo. We had a maine coon who passed away in February 2016 from heart failure. Unfortunately, HCM is extremely common in maine coons (something I didn't realise until Bubbles was diagnosed). Sadly, by the time discovered anything was wrong, his HCM was very advanced and he was in late-stage heart failure. We had a number of panicked rushes to the cardiologist with him where I was sure we were going to lose him. But we kept him going, happily, for 9 months after diagnosis. He really was a much more relaxed, happier cat in his last months (he was a pretty aggressive cat, being a rescue from an abusive home). Far more affectionate and laid back, which means we have some lovely memories of him.

The diuretics will make him drink a lot more. Monitor his urination, because the medication puts strain on the kidneys. If you can, find a food that supports urinary function, such as More. It won't fix the strain on the kidneys but it will help them cope with the strain a little more easily.

Have you been monitoring his breathing? It was one of the instructions we were given when Bubsy was bad. Because of the condition, the breaths per minute (BPM), which should be around 20 in a healthy cat, were closer to 40. We were warned that we needed to seek medical help for him if he got above 55, roughly.

As far as getting your other cat to accept his presence again, I'm afraid you have to allow some time for that. When a cat has had treatment at a vet/animal hospital, they no longer smell like themselves, and it's harder for their usual companions to recognise them properly. The best thing you can do is some scent transference, and treat Harpo completely normally, so that Groucho doesn't see any reason to think there's something strange about him. Gizzy was the same with Bubbles when he first went in for emergency treatment but after a day or so they were back to normal.

I hope that helps but if you have any other questions, just ask.
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charlotteparkin
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by charlotteparkin »

Thank you all for your comments. They've really helped. Yesterday was a break through when Groucho head bumped Harpo. Not the usual warm brotherly love they share but it was a big change and a positive one. No more hissing or growling.

As for Harpo, HCM too is very advanced. We''ve had 3 days at home now, which is more than I could have dreamt of on Monday when he was at deaths door. I'll look out urinary support food for him, which is a good idea. Yesterday he over did it and have a little racing heart but it very quickly slowed down. Today we've been a lot stricter with him, and he's picked up.

Any recommendations on administering pills? There's one which is horrible - are pill pockets any good?

It's a real rollercoaster and not one I was ready for. But we're coping. xx
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by LittlePenBigHeart »

The one that's really difficult, is it Metoclopromide, by any chance? What we resorted to doing in the end was buying gastro-resistant, animal-safe gelatine capsules that we could cut the pill up and shove into. Then we hid the capsule in his food and he was great about taking it. The others were all fine but that one tasted really bad and that was the only way he would take it!
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charlotteparkin
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by charlotteparkin »

Sad to say Harpo gained his angel wings and passed away yesterday evening. What a fighter, right to the end. Thanks for all your help.
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by Lilith »

So very sorry to hear but glad he managed to come home and be with you and his brothers and that Groucho came round to him. Sleep tight, beautiful Harpo. Hugs to you all, Lil x
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by LittlePenBigHeart »

charlotteparkin wrote:Sad to say Harpo gained his angel wings and passed away yesterday evening. What a fighter, right to the end. Thanks for all your help.
Oh goodness, I am so, so sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is. :( Thinking of you and sending my warmest wishes.
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by Mayday21 »

Hi I'm so sorry to read your post. RIP you beautiful boy Harpo & enjoy the 'Bridge'. Sadly since I've been involved with Little Paws Kitten Rescue I've become aware of heart failure in Main Coons - and aren't they majestic!! Deb, the president, lost her Rama at 6yrs - broke her heart. Recently a carer lost a young un unexpectedly. So sad. Deb organised through a friend of hers who, breeds Main Coons, to take her 2 (Naples & Chirpy) & 2 from another carer (Oscar & Apache) to the Animal Specialist Centre for heart scans - all came back ok. Apache has moved in to his furever home with the carer who lost the young un. You'll receive heaps of support through this forum. Take care. Vivian
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Re: Cat back from vet and 1 of his brothers hisses at him

Post by alanc »

Very sorry to hear of your loss of Harpo. Maine Coons are special and it is very hard to lose them young as I know only to well, having lost my Maine Coon Badger to cancer at 5 years 2.5 years ago.
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