Cat Heart Disease: What You Need to Know

Heart disease in cats can be life threatening. Knowing more about feline heart disease, as well as early warning signs and actions you can take, can help your cat get past the threat and go on to live a long, comfortable life.

Types of heart disease in cats

Heart disease in cats falls into two categories:

• Congenital diseases are fairly rare in cats, but do occur. These are conditions that a kitten is born with and that may be connected to their genetics, such as a hole in the heart or other malformations.
• Acquired diseases are those that a cat develops during her life, such as an enlarged heart, damaged heart muscle (known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or hcm in cats) and congestive heart failure. Acquired heart disease could be caused by lifestyle factors (such as diet, activity level and weight), an inherited problem that isn't evident until the cat matures, injury, infection, another health issue, heart defects, or simple wear and tear.

Symptoms of heart disease in cats

Unfortunately, symptoms of heart disease in cats can be subtle and may not be noticed until the disease is advanced. If you spot any of these signs of heart disease in cats, consider taking your cat to the vet for an exam:

• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing
• Gray or purple gums
• Trouble walking or jumping, or general weakness in the hind legs
• Loss of energy and playfulness
• Unusual behavior, such as hiding or increased sleep
• Poor fur quality due to lack of self-grooming
• Difficulty eating or decreased appetite
• Vomiting

Diagnosing and treating heart disease in cats

To determine whether your cat has a heart condition, your veterinarian will start with a complete physical exam. From there, additional diagnostics will depend on what your veterinarian finds and may include X-rays, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram (testing the heart's electrical activity) and echocardiogram (heart ultrasound).

If the diagnosis comes back positive for heart disease, don't despair. If found early, most heart conditions in cats can be treated and managed to give your cat a quality life. In more advanced cases of feline heart disease, your cat might need to be hospitalized, require surgery or need procedures to drain fluid buildup or provide oxygen.

Ongoing treatment of heart issues could include:

• Changes in your cat's diet, such as reduced-sodium foods, vitamin E supplements or ensuring your cat eats sufficient levels of the essential amino acid taurine
• Vasodilators or ACE inhibitors, which help improve blood flow
• Diuretics to help remove excess fluid and prevent damaging buildup
• Positive inotropes, which help the heart pump harder
• Beta blockers to help lower your cat's blood pressure
• Aspirin or other medication to prevent blood clots

Ultimately, the specific treatment your veterinarian recommends will be based on the actual heart condition your cat has, the severity of the problem and other factors such as your cat's age and overall health. Working together, you can create a plan that gives your cat the best chance of living a long and happy life.

Remember that your CareCredit credit card can help you pay for the cost of veterinary care, including exams, diagnostics and treatment.* To find a participating veterinary practice near you, use the CareCredit Acceptance Locator or Mobile App.