My moms cat passed away today from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopothy, or HCM. Basically its like a heart attack. Last month, before I left for NYC, my moms cat had an episode involving loud wailing and the sudden but temporary loss of the use of her hind legs. The vet couldnt figure out (Its usually hard to diagnose), so he sent her home with anti-biotics for what he thought was a bladder infection. Sad to think my poor nieve mom thought it was a flea biting her. She doesnt ha- didnt have fleas! Well...today mom noticed that Scarletts breathing was heavy. We had to go out but we came back and checked up on her at lunch. When we came home for the day, her breathing was still the same. She had been hiding too in the same spot. She finally came out and went under the kitchen table and when dad tried to go look at her she got upset and hid behind the chair again. Then Scarlett started wailing and her breathing was still hard. (Like it got progressively worse). I said "GET THE CARRIER NOW! SHE HAS TO GO TO THE VET!" Dad went for it and mom grabbed the phone and called. Our regular vet couldnt take her so they gave us a number to a emergency only clinic. Dad brought in the carrier and I grabbed Scarlett and she wailed. She started to freak out and try to run away but I pinned her down as gently as I could. She squirmed and then seemed to gag a couple times. I thought she was trying to vomit. I put her in the carrier and they took off.

That was the last time I saw Scarlett. Maybe an hour later mom and dad came home and said the vet thought it was Hypertrophic Cardiomyopothy, but he didnt know for sure. They put her in an oxygen chamber and gave her tranquilizer and pain meds. Then they came home and about 10 minutes or less later the vet called and said he knew what was wrong and asked them to come in. About another hour later mom and dad came home and Scarlett had passed. In fact, at the time the vet called she had already passed on her own. But at least she had pain meds and tranqs to keep her calm and in less pain. So she passed away peacefully on her own at the vet clinic today.

This is a heart condition known to take people of all ages, not just older people. Yes, people get it too! There have been a lot of famous people, particularly athletes who died of sudden heart failure. Like literally they drop dead. Its sad.

And now it claimed our cat.

RIP Scarlett.