Expert: Jessica - 2/8/2010

Question
Hi!

I had two cats, both two years old, male, black, (neutered) and a female, black & white, (speyed). The female had a very noticeable heart murmur, but despite it, she lived life to the full and was very, very active. Is 2 years a normal life span for cats with this health problem?

The male is very friendly, active and docile, Should I replace the dead female, with another cat of similar age, immediately? Where problems might I expect. (My wife and I are both retired and are both at home quite a lot. We have a large garden.)

Best Regards
Roy Moore

Answer
Hi Roy.  Very sorry to hear of your loss.  Unfortunately, two years old is not an unreasonably early age to lose a cat when they have a serious heart murmur, which can indicate heart disease.  In fact, heart disease is a leading cause of death in cats of this age.  Some cats who develop heart disease later in life live until they are older, but the average age of death for cats born with heart defects is only 2-4 years old.

As to when you should add another kitty to your household, this is up to when you feel comfortable, and up to how you feel your male is behaving.  If his behavior seems completely normal, now may be as good a time as any to introduce a new kitty.  However, if he seems depressed, evidenced by a lack of activity, hygiene or appetite, you should hold off for a while.  Try to get him through his depression by encouraging play and stimulating appetite with a selection of special foods.  Many cats do go through a grieving process for a month or two, and any added stress during this time can delay their healing.  Once he's back to normal, you should be okay to introduce a new cat.  But always do so slowly to avoid getting off to a bad start.  

I recommend keeping the cats in separate rooms for the first few days, switching their areas a few times a day so they can sniff out each other's spaces.  Then, try introducing them face-to-face using short visits, no more than 15 minutes long.  Once hissing and growling have subsided, you can lengthen the visits until they're comfortable with each other.

Best wishes.

Jessica