Loving a special needs kitty

Missy has been with us since she was 8 weeks old.  She came from the local high kill pound with her brother and sister.  Her brother was adopted long ago, and her sister, Toodles, is still with us.  (See Toodles’ webpage on our main site)

Someone went to get the kittens from the pound for me because I had a cat who had had a mastectomy and was having to get her dressing changed at the vet every day.  I still remember the first time we saw each other, Missy and I.  She knew I was her mom, and so did I!

Unfortunately, Missy has a congenital heart defect.  The particular defect she has is a complete endocardial cushion defect, which is rare in cats.  She sees the cardiologist at Texas A&M University, and only a few have been seen there.    Feline cardiology isn’t as advanced as human cardiology, or even canine cardiology, and surgical repair is not possible.  She takes heart meds every day and gets lots and lots and lots of love - we’re trying to pack a lifetime into a few years.

Missy is the queen of the house, and she knows it!  She likes to sit on my shoulder, be held upside down like a baby, and sleep on my head or curled around my neck.  She loves company, because of course they all come to see her.

Missy does not like medicine - she says yuck!  She does love kitty treats.  She is very smart and has a quizzical look that always makes me laugh.

She recently got upper respiratory infection and went to the vet.  She had her nasal passages flushed - the vet said she did really well and I did moderately well:).  She’s on antibiotics and feeling much better.

Every day she’s with us is a good day.  Love her so much.

It makes me understand why many people say “I just want a healthy kitten.”  Missy wasn’t diagnosed until about 6 months, though.  You just never know what might happen.   And I wouldn’t have missed loving Missy for anything.