Adoption information
About Gilbert
Meet Gilbert! 🐈⬛✨
Gilbert (AKA Gillie) is a stunning, large, fluffy black cat who is ready to expertly ingrain himself right into your heart and home. Born in July 2025, this handsome 1-year-old boy is the perfect mix of youthful confidence and mature calm.
If you are looking for a loyal companion who wants to be part of your daily routine, Gilbert is your boy!
Gilbert is the ultimate gentleman and ticks absolutely all the boxes:
🖤 Confident & Relaxed: New environments don't phase him. He prefers a peaceful lifestyle.
🥰 Deeply Affectionate: He loves being close to his humans and sharing quiet moments.
🧐 Curious & Well-Behaved: He enjoys exploring his surroundings but respects home boundaries perfectly.
🛋️ The Perfect Low-Energy Buddy: Gilbert isn't a high-energy whirlwind. He prefers gentle play and long, luxurious naps.
Perfect for the Whole Family
Gilbert is a highly adaptable young cat who would fit beautifully into many types of homes.
🐾 Other Cats: His relaxed nature means he would do fine sharing a home with another friendly feline companion.
🧒 Older Children: Because he loves a calm, respectful environment, he would be a wonderful match for families with older kids.
We are looking for an indoor only home for this lovely guy.
A Note on His Golden Heart
Gilbert has a medium-sized heart murmur caused by a congenital condition called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). While that sounds a bit technical, it doesn't slow him down one bit!
Right now, his heart is coping wonderfully, and he does not require any daily medications.
Because Gilbert is naturally a low-energy, relaxed kind of guy, his peaceful lifestyle actually suits his heart perfectly!
His medical care is currently very straightforward:
Routine Scans: A regular heart ultrasound with a vet every 12 months to make sure everything stays stable.
At-Home Chill Time: His future family just needs to track his breathing rate while he is sound asleep once a week- the perfect excuse to sit and admire him!
Gilbert has a "fair" long-term prognosis. While his heart condition means he will likely need medical management later in life and may have a shorter lifespan than an average cat, he is currently happy, healthy, and completely asymptomatic.
He is looking for a special adopter who is happy to partner with a vet to keep him thriving.
In return, Gilbert promises to fill your home with endless affection, quiet companionship, and plenty of fluffy purrs.
Apply to meet Gilbert (Gillie) via the link below👇
Medical notes
Gilbert has a grade 4 heart murmur caused by Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). VSD is genetic condition and is able to be managed but not cured.
The prognosis for a VSD in cats depends mostly on the size of the hole, featuring outcomes categorised into small restrictive defects, large non-restrictive defects, and congestive heart failure. The size of Gilbert's hole is considered medium.
For a medium-sized ventricular septal defect (VSD), the prognosis is generally fair, This means that he is most likely able to live a comfortable, stable life for several years, but the condition will likely impact his overall lifespan and eventually require medical treatment. Currently he is not any any medication but should his condition worsen, this may be required.
Path into the Future: What to Expect
Heart Changes: Because the right side of the heart and the lungs have to handle extra, unintended blood volume, a medium VSD typically causes gradual heart enlargement (volume overload) and high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
Life Expectancy: Many cats with a medium VSD can live comfortably for several years, but their overall lifespan is usually reduced compared to a healthy cat. The exact timeline depends entirely on how quickly the heart chambers enlarge.
Symptom Onset: Unlike small defects that stay completely hidden, medium VSDs frequently cause noticeable physical symptoms as the cat matures, including exercise intolerance and rapid or open-mouthed breathing.
Management Plan
Because a medium VSD sits right on the edge of causing clinical issues, management is highly focused on delaying the onset of heart failure:
Regular Echocardiograms: recommend an ultrasound of the heart every 12 months. This tracks exactly how much the heart is stretching and measures the pressure changes.
Medication Introduction: While small defects don't require medication, a medium VSD may require daily life-long drugs (such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or mild diuretics) once the heart shows signs of structural strain. These medications help lower blood pressure and reduce the heart's workload.
Resting Respiratory Rate (RRR): This is your most powerful at-home monitoring tool. Count a cat's breaths for one minute while they are sound asleep. A normal rate is under 30 breaths per minute. A consistent rise above this threshold is a major red flag that fluid may be building up.
Watch videos of Gilbert
Adoption details
All adoptions incld 1 Free Vet Appointment at Mont Albert Vet or Canterbury Vet (Valued at $155) and or 50% off Dental Procedure *only if needed*
(Voucher Required -Please Ask for This once you have successfully adopted a pet from us)
We have a mandatory house inspection
Shortlisted adopters will be contacted to arrange a meet & greet with the animal. **Depending on our foster's availability
We do follow-ups throughout the life of the animal
In the event that you are unable to care for the animal anymore, you must contact us to seek verbal advice
Some animals will require mandatory enrollment to professional training/behaviorist - this will be noted on the animal's profile & adoption agreement, we will require proof of enrollment before we are able to complete the adoption process/transfer of ownership