Expert: Norman Auspitz - 10/9/2010

Question
Thank you for considering my question. I had a 13 year old  male cat seemingly healthy although a little plump at 17lbs. I was spending more and more time away from home so I thought a playmate may be appropriate. I based that decision on the fact that although he was extremely affectionate with me and my significant other, at times he appeared bored. He'd cry sometimes for no reason if we were upstairs as if he forgot we were home. We caught him another cat just gazing at each other through the screen door. Both lying on their side peacefully looking at each other, he inside and the other outside. We got a cat of similar temperament(female# 3 year old, a third of his size, who deferred to her older brother whenever she'd walk in the room. She is so sweet and demure. However, Tigger balked at first, growled often and hissed at her for about 3 weeks. She for the first time hissed back in week four and it was if it was a game changer. He, over the next week or two would playfully chase her #although it this point she wasn't sure# and would even cry for her when she ran upstairs. We thought he just didn't want to intrude on her upstairs still being abit scared of her so he'd stay put. By week five, he was actually purring on the floor while his new sister lay just a couple of feet above him on the ottoman. Minutes later, he couldn't move his hind legs, winced in pain and had to be put down. The vet said he threw a clot into his hind legs and was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy #HCM). Question: do you think the stress of the new cat could have contributed to the blood clot? Sorry for the detail but I have one chance at this and I thought I'd give you as much info as I can. Thanks.

Answer
Mark,

I am sorry for your loss!

Remember, I am not a vet. At age 13, your male was quite geriatric and it would not be unusual to throw a blood clot. Also, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is much more prevalent in cats than most peoople know.  At age 13, it is one of those diagnoses to which I would say: "So what!". Your cat lived to 13 which is a good age for any cat.  As to whether Tigger's new playmate caused him additional stress, I would suggest it was neither severe enough nor prolonged enough to have contributed to throwing the clot. It sounds to me that Tigger and the new arrival were getting along just fine!

You got 13 good years from Tigger, but it was just his time.

Sad regards... Norm.