"Organs rupture from the impact of a jump." The terror of amyloidosis, a rare feline disease I learned about from a veterinarian.

Do you know about a cat disease called "amyloidosis"? Unlike common illnesses like cat flu or kidney disease, it's not well-known, so you probably haven't heard of it much.

However, having this knowledge in mind might help you protect your beloved cat's life and comfortable living in an emergency.

My beloved cat, Jiji, had what looked like a tumor in her intestines and abdominal bleeding, and the veterinarian told me there was "a possibility of amyloidosis." That was when I first felt that amyloidosis was "my problem" and keenly realized how frightening this disease is and how difficult it is to provide a comfortable life for a cat that has developed it.

The Terror of Amyloidosis: When a Jump Can Be Fatal

Amyloidosis is a disease that occurs when a type of protein accumulates in the spaces between cells and tissues. In cats, amyloid is often deposited in the kidneys and liver, but my regular veterinarian told me that "symptoms can appear in other areas as well."

Amyloidosis is also said to be hereditary, but the exact cause is still unknown, and there seems to be much we don't understand.

The explanation I received from my vet was very clear: organs where amyloid has accumulated become hard like a cookie and can break with even a small impact.

That's why I was told that the impact of a "jump" could damage organs and even be fatal.

Amyloidosis is said to have a low incidence, but it is difficult to reach a definitive diagnosis, so it is often discovered after death through examination to determine the cause of death.

There are mainly two reasons why it's difficult to get a definitive diagnosis while the cat is alive:

1. It requires taking a tissue sample from an organ for examination at a "secondary hospital" with well-equipped facilities like a university hospital.
2. Taking a tissue sample from an organ where amyloid has accumulated is inherently high-risk.

When I was told that my cat might have amyloidosis, the anxiety I felt was about how to change her living environment.

The cat steps and cat walks I installed, hoping she would enjoy a cat-like life to the fullest, could now potentially be fatal... I seriously pondered how I should modify my home.

How to Adjust Your Living Environment If Your Cat Has Amyloidosis

"There's a possibility of amyloidosis, so please try to prevent her from jumping until the exploratory laparotomy (opening the abdomen when the disease is unknown)."

My veterinarian told me that, so for several days until the surgery, Jiji mostly stayed in a pet playpen, and I only let her walk around the room a little when I could keep an eye on her.

Living like that, I keenly realized my regret for having built our home on the premise of good health.

The cat litter box area, sunken like a horigotatsu to prevent litter from scattering, was convenient for humans, but with the possibility of my cat having amyloidosis, the step felt terrifying.

Wanting to remove even the slightest danger, I installed a pet step in the gap, but my cats were wary and wouldn't use it. In the end, every time Jiji went to the litter box, I would follow her, pick her up, and help her in and out of the litter box.

Jiji must have been very stressed during those days. I'm truly sorry.

Not just the litter box, but the cat steps installed around the living room also became a source of concern.

(※Photo taken before the illness developed)

Since Jiji is a bit clumsy, we had placed the cat steps closer together than the typical standard. However, I regretted not having chosen removable cat steps or those with adjustable heights if jumping was a risk.

However, having a pet playpen in addition to a cage at home was helpful. Cat cages have steps, which can make it difficult to restrict a cat's movement, and placing a litter box in them makes the space narrow. But a pet playpen allowed for a certain amount of space even with a litter box, and her movements could be restricted.

If movement restrictions were still necessary, I thought about getting two pet playpens, connecting them with a cat toy tunnel, and making her as comfortable as possible when I couldn't watch her.

The days leading up to the exploratory laparotomy, grappling with such worries, were hellishly difficult.

Homes Shared with Cats: Adaptable to Illnesses

Based on my own experience, I realized the importance of building a home that can adapt to different diseases.

It is certainly necessary to devise ways to accommodate the idea that "cats need high places." However, I believe that if you also consider whether your cat can live comfortably even if something happens to its body, you can create a cat-friendly home that you won't regret later.

Fortunately, even if they stay healthy, such a home would allow your beloved cat to live safely even in old age. I hope those who are planning to build a house will keep this in mind.

Also, because homes shared with cats are gaining attention now, I would be happy if house builders and pet manufacturers would consider "ways to build homes where cats can still enjoy their lives to the fullest, even if something happens." Because some aspects of home building are difficult to solve on one's own.

Currently, the results of Jiji's pathology examination are not yet available, but after the exploratory laparotomy, the veterinarian told me that "there were no abnormalities in organs other than the intestines, and there was no multiple organ failure, so amyloidosis is likely not the cause." I feel a little relieved now.

However, this incident was a huge learning experience for me. I hope that knowledge about amyloidosis will spread, and more cats with the disease will be able to live comfortably.

Finally, one thing. If you live with a cat with amyloidosis, please share your story. When I was struggling, it was difficult to find information, so I want to share my experience as an owner, including how the illness was discovered and the adjustments we made to our lives. I would be happy to hear from you.