Causes of Heart Failure in Cats

Congestive heart failure causes a cat's heart walls to thicken. As a result, blood doesn't pump efficiently, and the body doesn't get the necessary amount of oxygen. Symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fever, coughing and vomiting. Causes of feline heart failure range from birth defects to parasites, according to vetinfo.com.

  1. Parasites

    • Parasites such as heartworms can be transmitted into a cat through mosquito bites. The heartworm larvae can migrate to a cat's heart, causing heart failure. According to petsandparasites.org, heartworms can be prevented with treatment from a veterinarian.

    Other Heart Problems

    • Heart problems such as cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia can also lead to feline heart failure. Fabcats.org states that cardiomyopathy is a diseased heart muscle that causes the heart to be enlarged. Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. If the heart beats too slowly or too quickly, it affects the amount of blood being pumped, according to petmd.com.

    Birth Defects

    • Heart failure in some cats is due to heart defects that they are born with. Some heart problems are genetic and cannot be helped, according to vetinfo.com.

    Degeneration of Heart Valves

    • Heart failure in older cats is usually caused by degeneration of the heart valves. Over the years the wear and tear on the heart causes it to stop working as well. Vetinfo.com states that the degeneration can cause a blocked valve, which leads to heart failure.