Cat Heart Problems

Cats are either born with heart problems (congenital) or develop them during their life (acquired), and most are the result of one of three types of cardiomyopathy, conditions in which the cat's heart becomes enlarged and doesn't pump or fill properly. Most cats show no symptoms until the disease progresses to a late stage, and heart failure may occur. With a proper diagnosis, medication and loving care at home, a cat with heart problems can live a fairly long life depending on the severity of the problem.

  1. Types

    • There are three types of cardiomypathy in cats: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Congenital heart problems in cats include mitral valve malformation, tricuspid valve malformation and ventricular septal defects. Acquired heart problems in cats include arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, hyperthyroidism and systemic atrial thromboembolism.

    Symptoms

    • Most cats hide their symptoms early on, so it's often difficult to know that they're suffering from a heart problem until the disease is too advanced. The most common symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting, coughing, fainting, opening the mouth when breathing and having an extended abdomen and blue lips, gums or tongue. Some cats with severe heart malformations may become paralyzed in the rear limbs, and they can die suddenly.

    Causes

    • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is caused by a genetic mutation in the cat's heart muscle, which keeps it from pumping blood properly. Sometimes if a cat is afflicted with hyperthyroidism, hypertension or chronic kidney or liver disease, he can develop heart problems. If the underlying condition is successfully treated, heart problems sometimes go away.

    Diagnosis

    • A veterinarian will give a cat a complete physical examination and listen to his heart. He may also do blood tests to rule out other conditions and diseases, order X-rays or an ultrasound to view the cat's heart for any abnormalities and perform an EKG to measure his heart rate and to determine if the heart is working properly. Blood tests may also be done to check for liver or kidney disease, since these conditions sometimes result in heart problems.

    Treatment

    • Heart problems in cats are incurable but can be controlled with medications and a low-salt diet. Diuretics are prescribed to decrease fluid buildup in the lungs, and dilators help to pump blood more easily. ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, antiarrhythmic therapy, antiplatelet drugs (aspirin) and taurine supplements are used to treat many cat heart problems. Some cats with severe heart disease may need oxygen therapy.

    Prognosis

    • A cat with a heart problem that's diagnosed early may live quite a long time with proper medication. If he shows no symptoms when the problem is diagnosed, he can live as long as five years, but a cat showing signs of heart failure may live only about 3 months. The prognosis for a cat suffering from thrown blood clots may be only 6 months. A cat with blood clots and pulmonary edema can live about 2 years if given proper medication.