Heart Disease in Cats: Types, Symptoms & Treatments

This is the right article if you like to learn about the heart disease in cats? Types, symptoms and treatments. Similar to aged people, many cats get cardiac problems as they age. Every organ and muscle in their body might get affected by a cardiac condition.

Although it's unsettling to consider your animal buddy getting heart disease, your kitten may still lead a happy life with early detection and treatment. To assist you in providing your cat with the care they require, this article discusses the signs, causes, and kinds of cardiac disease in cats.

Being masters of disguise, cats often manage to conceal their diseases very successfully. Although receiving a sudden heart disease diagnosis might be frightening, pet owners shouldn't give up.

Dr. Eldredge asserts that heart illness need not result in your cat's rapid demise. Many felines with cardiac problems can be handled and kept under control for a while. Maintaining physical fitness and activity can also help your healthy cat ward against cardiac issues. Bring your cat to the doctor straight away if they see any heart disease symptoms so they can get the treatment they require.

Symptoms of Heart Disease in Cats

Cats' heart disease symptoms might be difficult to identify. Cats with heart disease sometimes look healthy in the beginning and may not exhibit warning signals until their condition has progressed.

Early diagnosis is crucial, according to Dr. Debra Eldredge, a veterinarian at Cat World and the author of "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook." She says you could notice your cat sleeping more, hiding from you, and breathing through its mouth more frequently.

Even while not all cats with early-onset heart disease show the symptoms listed below, they are the most typical ones:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Inability to tolerate exercise or exertion
• Fainting/collapse
• Lethargy or inactivity
• Weak pulse
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Short or rough breathing sounds

Bring your cat to your veterinarian right away if they see any of the aforementioned signs in them or if they appear to be in trouble. Early detection of cardiac disease can lead to therapy and management that allows your cat to live a relatively normal life. Additionally, it can stop or decrease the deterioration of secondary issues like renal failure or high blood pressure as well as the advancement of heart damage.

Causes of Heart Disease in Cats

Cats can either be born with heart disease or develop it over time. While acquired problems emerge during a cat's lifespan, congenital disorders are apparent from birth and include flaws like heart holes and heart valve abnormalities. Cardiomyopathy, which is the most prevalent cause of congestive heart failure in cats, is any condition in which the heart is harmed. 

Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the left ventricle's muscle thickens to the point that the heart can no longer effectively pump blood throughout the body of the cat. Cardiomyopathy can be of three primary types:

• When the tissue of the left ventricle thickens and is unable to perform its usual activities, it develops hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Additionally, this is the main contributor to feline cardiac disease.
• A development of scar tissue on the heart's inner lining, known as restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), lowers the heart's capacity to fill and pump blood.
  
• The condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) develops when the muscle walls are too thin, causing the heart to enlarge and lose its ability to pump effectively.
• Despite the fact that the precise etiology of cardiac disease in cats is unknown, vets think that a cat's genetics, way of life, weight, level of physical activity, and nutrition all have a significant influence. Heart anatomical changes that might occasionally occur with aging can lead to heart disease. 
• Sometimes conditions like hyperthyroidism, hypertension, high blood pressure, anemia, and even heartworm illness cause heart disease to arise as a secondary issue. Cats' hearts murmur due to congestive heart failure, however not all heart murmurs are caused by heart disease. Cats' occasional heart murmurs, which often occur when stress causes their heart rate to rise, have no negative effects on their health.

Heart disease is more likely to strike breeds like Maine Coons, Persians, Ragdolls, and American Shorthairs. Heart disease is often more common in middle-aged and older cats, however susceptible cats can exhibit symptoms as early as three months of age.

Diagnosis of Heart Disease in Cats

A physical examination is often the only method to identify your cat as having heart disease in its early stages. A number of tests are used to do this, including:

Blood tests: These examine the thyroid and kidneys as well as the majority of other organs.

Ultrasounds: Also known as an echocardiogram, this procedure enables the veterinarian to diagnose the heart murmurs and assess the heart's efficiency.

Electrocardiogram: An electrocardiogram examines the electrical currents in a cat's heart muscle to detect any irregularities in cardiac rhythm.

Chest x-rays: These examine the state of the lungs, the amount of fluid in the body, and the size of the heart.

Blood pressure checks: By ensuring that your cat doesn't have hypertension, which is strongly associated to heart disease, this check assures that no treatment is necessary.

The aforementioned tests are all non-invasive and painless. Depending on the age and comfort level of your cat, they might need to be sedated for these examinations. Other testing could be suggested if your veterinarian believes the heart murmur could be connected to another illness. Following a diagnosis, your vet will recommend a course of action based on the particular requirements of your cat.

Treatment of Heart Disease in Cats

The kind of cardiac disease, the stage at which it has developed, and the age of your cat all influence the treatment possibilities. Your veterinarian will prescribe medicine when your cat is identified as having heart disease to help lower the possibility of congestive heart failure. These drugs will lessen the burden on the heart and aid in cardiac muscle relaxation.

Your cat will require frequent follow-up examinations and extra testing if they have been identified as having congestive heart failure. A low-sodium diet may also be advised by your vet in order to maintain your cat's blood pressure. Keep in mind that the course of congestive heart failure and other cardiac disorders changes with time, much as their treatment regimen. While the majority of cats with heart failure may recover, they frequently need ongoing care.

Prevention of Heart Disease in Cats

Giving your cat a healthy lifestyle and taking them to the vet for regular examinations are the greatest ways to keep their hearts as strong as they can be. Here are some methods to guarantee the highest quality of life for your cat:

Regular checks: To make sure your adult cat or kitten is up to date on all vaccines, examinations, and dental cleanings, you should bring them in for routine checkups and wellness visits at least twice a year. In order to identify any early indications of cardiac illness, your veterinarian will pay close attention to your cat's heart during a stethoscope examination.

Ensure comfortability: Cats need to feel at ease in their surroundings, so make sure your pet's life is as stress-free as you can. This includes the places they eat, sleep, and use the restroom. Make sure your cat has a private space with comfortable pillows or blankets to relax on, away from any other pets or young children who may be there.

Proper nutrition and activity: Your cat's general health is greatly influenced by the food they consume and how frequently they exercise. A diet strong in protein and low in salt is part of having a healthy heart because it helps the heart pump effectively. A small amount of time each day spent chasing a toy or scaling a cat tree can do a lot to stave against future cardiac issues.

How to behave at the veterinary clinic

When heart illness is discussed, veterinarians are there to help you feel better and to answer any concerns you may have since they are aware of how frightening it is for cats and their parents. 

Your veterinarian will start by checking your cat's blood pressure and collecting blood and urine samples to look for anemia and thyroid problems since identifying any underlying health concerns can assist manage heart disease. They'll use a stethoscope to listen to your cat's heart and listen for heart murmurs, irregular heartbeats, and irregular cardiac rhythms.

Final thought

Even though your cat may not initially display any indications of pain, heart illness can make cats uncomfortable if it is not addressed. The quality of life of your cat may be negatively impacted by the condition as it advances. 

Heart disease in cats cannot currently be cured, despite the fact that it can be treated and controlled for a while. The majority of drugs assist lower the risk of congestive heart failure while reducing discomfort associated with heart disease.