The cough is most likely due to fluid accumulation in her lungs.  This can
be managed medically.  (Of course it could be hairballs too, can't ever rule
that out.)
Although CHF (congestive heart failure) can not be cured it can be treated
medically and the prognosis for life expectancy depends upon the underlying
cause.  Most of the medications can be bought from internet sites (Canada
usually) at a huge discount too.

I have a cat with cardiomyopathy also.  He has HCM Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy which means his heart is becoming so muscular that there is
hardly any volume left in the chambers of his heart to collect blood for
circulation around his little furry body.  He gets 1/4 each of 2 pills every
morning (total cost is $9.00/month, that's retail, not discount price).
And, its not that traumatic as some may believe.  He's used to me pilling
him now.  I sit him in my lap, hold his head with one hand, open his mouth
with fingers from my other hand and drop the pills in.  Any vet or vet
tech/assistant should be able to show you how to do it.  There are also cat
pilling devices if your cat tend to nibble on fingers.  Sometimes if my boy
spits one out, I'll just crush it up and put it in a small amount of canned
cat food.  Since he's on special dry cat food, canned is a huge treat and he
eats it up!

This same cat has also had a very rare adrenal tumor found only in 2 other
cats ever!  Figures.... we vets usually get the pets with the odd diseases.
Anyway, its been 1 year since he was first diagnosed with the heart
condition and 6 months since his surgery to remove his tumor.  At 14 years
of age (indoor only cat), he is none the worse for wear and active as he has
always been.

Dr. Carla, DVM

----- Original Message -----
From: "Barb" <avonlea@pnc.com.au>
Newsgroups: alt.pets.cats
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 5:07 AM
Subject: Congestive heart failure