How to Find a Feline's Heartbeat

Regularly examining your cat can accustom you to what is normal in the event of an emergency. Although you can read a feline's heartbeat from two spots, just above the heart in the chest and at the femoral artery in the groin, a femoral artery reading will be more accurate. Because cats come in many shapes and sizes and have different metabolisms, a normal heart rate can differ from cat to cat. In adult cats, this can range from 140 to 220 beats per minute, and in kittens, this can range from 160 to 240 beats per minute.

Things You'll Need

  • Friend (optional)
  • Watch with second hand
  • Stethoscope (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Femoral Artery

    • 1

      Lay your cat down on her left side. You may wish to enlist the help of a friend to restrain or occupy the cat as you perform your examination.

    • 2

      Place your index and middle fingers on the inside of the cat's left leg.

    • 3

      Slide your fingers upward until they reach the junction of the leg and abdomen.

    • 4

      Gently palpate, or feel around, the area until you pinpoint a spot where you can feel a pulsing sensation. This is the site of the femoral artery, a major blood passageway in the body.

    • 5

      Count the number of pulses, or beats, per 15 seconds using a watch with a second hand. Multiply this number by four to get the number of heartbeats per minute.

    Chest

    • 6

      Lay the cat on her left side. Enlist the help of a friend to restrain or distract the cat as you perform your examination.

    • 7

      Place your index and middle fingers at the junction of the upper left leg and the chest at a spot between the third and sixth rib of the cat.

    • 8

      Use a stethoscope to listen for a heartbeat if you are having trouble finding the correct spot with your fingers.

    • 9

      Count the number of beats in a 15-second period, and multiply that number by four to get the number of heartbeats per minute.