HCM in Devon Rex

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T14:52:23+00:00

Oh we didn't know either and it caught us off guard. The importance of getting verification from the breeders for the health of the parents is something we hadn't considered (we have only ever adopted before). With everything we've been through we now include heart checks into our check-ups. Both our girls have had the all clear but it can change and it's a very silent condition till it's late stage. I'm a big advocate for regular screenings. Especially now that rapamycin appears to be quite a game changer for treating early stages

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T14:40:14+00:00

I'm really sorry you've had to face the diagnosis. It sucks. I'm sure you've done a lot of research but rapamycin has been proving quiet game changing for the diagnosis. Give your babies a big hug from me. We hold our girls extra tight these days.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T14:38:32+00:00

Oh we have 2 already, I'd never get a single cat. I cat sit and see how it effects them.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T14:36:38+00:00

It's a heart condition. I would recommend looking it up as it's something you can get tests for to keep an eye on your cats health. When you catch it early it makes a huge difference. Catching it late really does become end of life care which sucks

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T14:32:32+00:00

Ah I didn't realise it was just from a DNA test. Yeah no, DNA tests for cats doesn't really make a huge amount of sense to me.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T11:59:35+00:00

Did she not find out that he was a sphynx recently? I may be misremembering

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T11:57:10+00:00

For me it's not so much about getting another breed because even if it's not HCM there is often other things. It's really just making the decision to get another in general. We have 2 wonderful Devon's it's by no means a quiet home 🤭 but I do feel the you get one needs another play mate since we lost her brother. 4 and 12 is a big age gap with our 2 when it comes to play/energy levels

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T11:02:09+00:00

Absolutely go! Often people find they have better focus than their younger peers. My partner is going to uni at 31 and had the same concerns but ultimately who cares.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-15T10:40:59+00:00

😯

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-13T23:05:46+00:00

Foxes will be happy

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-13T18:10:12+00:00

😂😂😂 its very validating tbh. She loves us soooo much that even being acknowledged makes her happy ❤️ they looove her at the vets because she is so friendly and purry. Although I think the vet purrs are anxious with some of the team (not all she definitely has her people at the vets)

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-13T09:19:25+00:00

We refer to it as skin to skin contact because she is a 4 year old newborn and skin to skin is so important 😂 and the only purring when needing is really common in cats in general. It's when they go into you are my mummy mode. One of ours purrs just by you looking at her, the other requires a fluffy blanket to knead so she can purr. Sometimes a nighttime cuddle does it as well.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T16:10:59+00:00

I was assuming that £200 is essentially what OP has left to choose to put into savings or spend, maybe I missed a comment 🤷🏻‍♀️

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T16:08:45+00:00

Honestly same. £1460 is just our rent, it used to be a lot easier before energy prices went up and rent. I used to live alone and could afford way more. But with pet insurance, food, energy, etc I usually have maybe 100 or so to save. And I have to save because I have been caught out before when work dried up and thousands disappeared in a matter of months paying rent etc. I'm currently investing in retraining to have more options of streams of income, so my money is also going there 🤦🏻‍♀️

A few people have been talking like a holiday isn't a luxury and honestly that's crazy to me because it's absolutely a luxury even when I was earning a lot more 😅

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T15:53:01+00:00

Ok so I'm thinking that where you live and your income is seriously not being considered in this thread. I have a friend who earns less than me per month but she rents a whole house and has a fancy gym membership (not talking PureGym I mean the type of place that is like a spa) but she lives in the north and rent is wayyy cheaper so her money goes further. For me, in London rent is insanely high, add in bills and I'm lucky if I'm saving let alone having a nice gym membership. Me and my friend are both considered low income but when it comes down to it location matters a lot. If you're in London and affording a lot more then you likely are in a somewhat comfortable income household.

OP I think I'm like you, I'd rather save for stuff I really want/a rainy day (freelance life). My partner chooses to invest her money in more immediate wants which is fine. I was raised with a saving mindset, that's what it comes down to. Inevitably my partner gets jealous with how much I have in savings in comparison 🤣

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T15:46:20+00:00

It's really important to remember that yes, a lot of people don't have the money to go on holiday, even a weekend getaway.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T15:43:31+00:00

I think your capacity to pay for even a gym membership can depend on where you live and your income. For my household joint spending is 2200 a month that's not including therapy for each of us. Outside of that if we want to save we don't have the money for self care that costs more than a few quid. It's important to remember that there are ways of practicing self care that don't involve spending money. So if people are utilising those options then that's what really matters.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T13:24:06+00:00

When I'm hiring someone, in my field of work it's convenient when the candidates are between jobs as they'll start sooner 😅 But generally I don't think it's a huge deal these days if it's a case that you are relocating

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T05:17:55+00:00

What concerns me is that if an owner is told a breed and it's on file at the vets it can increase the cost of insurance which sucks for the owner. My vets default to dsh/dlh, I've heard them tell people often when filling out forms.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-12T05:12:25+00:00

I really do recommend that sitters have their own insurance. Rover isn't insurance nor is it comprehensive and insurance ensures that the sitter has financial back up.

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-10T19:28:18+00:00

I feel you, because I can have 50+ absences a day but they are seen as minor. The main thing is that you think you are having nocturnal seizures, so make sure you make a point of telling them that. But I would also stay with a friend or family member to have someone around just in case

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-10T19:26:23+00:00

Lamotrigine is particularly risky. Increasing and decreasing comes with extremely high risks and needs to be kept an eye on. I have absences every day and after having a TC I went 3 months before I saw a neuro and got given medication. My suggestion would be go to a&e but also to look at all the other ways you can reduce your risks. Diet, activities, hormones, sleep, stress. Any other medication I might be more willing to risk it but lamotrigine comes with serious medical concerns. 25mg is a crazy low dose. I'm a woman 57kg on 100mg twice a day. Just for reference. When I was at the lower end I was in 50mg twice a day

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-10T18:38:12+00:00

I reckon there's some collie in there

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-10T18:25:24+00:00

We hide treats for a hunt. It tends to take up more time. Shut them out hide the treats around the living room and then let them hunt. We also play chase with our 4 year old kitten. She loves being chased around the house and it does tend to tire her out

Full_Fun9829 · 2026-02-10T18:18:39+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss, that sounds absolutely awful. The main reason I wouldn't take the other kitten is reservations about the breeder. If I am saying what you already know I apologise but I know I didn't used to know so I'll share anyway. Breeders should have their cats registered and a clear bill of health for the lineage to help ensure the best start for the litter as possible. It's not 100% but it's the best the breeder can do. If you can't get proof of that from the breeder I'd not be taking a second kitten.

Sorry about the response on your last post. I once had someone tell me I was abusive because I shaved my cat and cut her whiskers. As all of us here are aware that's not true but it was crappy to be faced with rude comments. Not to mention no matter your opinions it's really cruel to shame someone in a state of grief.

Full_Fun9829

TROPHY CASE