What is the most common heart disease in cats?
The most common heart disease in cats is cardiomyopathy, whether that be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or other types of cardiomyopathy. Cats tend to get heart muscle disease, not heart valve disease, which is more commonly seen in dogs. Cats can also get feline heartworm disease, so it is very important to keep cats on heartworm preventative as well.
What are the signs and symptoms of heart disease in cats?
The most common signs and symptoms of heart disease in cats are lethargy, weakness, increased respiratory effort, increased respiratory rate, and even extreme pain, weakness, collapse, or paralysis of the hind limbs, which we see with aortic thromboembolism.
What types of tests are used to evaluate a cat's heart health?
There are several different types of testing that we use for cat cardiology. One of them is a blood test for pets that checks for biomarkers of muscle damage to the heart called a cardiac proBNP, which is a good screening test for heart disease in cats.
If we do suspect heart disease, we can also do tests like an electrocardiogram to look at the waveforms or function of the heart, checking for arrhythmias. We can also do radiology to look at the lungs for signs of heart failure, and we can also do an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart, to determine the underlying type of cardiomyopathy or disease present in the heart.
What treatments are available for cats with heart disease?
Cats with heart disease in the past have not really had many treatments for preclinical heart failure. Currently, there is a new medication that can be used for cats with preclinical cardiomyopathy that is just in the beginning stages of use. We are waiting for more data on this medication moving forward before we start prescribing it here at Crosslake Veterinary Hospital, but it does have promise for use in cats with preclinical cardiomyopathy.
Once cats go into heart failure or have clinical symptoms of cardiomyopathy, there are various other medications that can be used to help manage symptoms and treat the sequelae of the heart disease.
How can I recognize an emergency situation related to my cat's heart condition?
Most commonly, we are seeing cats emergently for heart disease when they are in respiratory distress, which means they are struggling to breathe with increased respiratory effort, increased respiratory rate, and sometimes coughing. They're usually hiding, lethargic, and won't eat or drink. Those are emergent cases.
The other common emergency that we see is cats with aortic thromboembolism, which is when a clot lodges in the cat's back legs from their heart disease, which can cause severe pain due to lack of blood flow to the hind limbs. One thing that we see is cats crying out in severe pain without use of their hind limbs. Those are emergencies. We can also see cats with heart disease have clot issues that can cause sudden death as well.
Are certain cat breeds more prone to cat heart disease?
There are certain breeds that can be more prone to cat heart disease. Some of the breeds, off the top of my head, are Maine Coon, Sphynx cats, Burmese cats, and a lot of the purebred cats. If you do have a purebred cat or have concerns that your type of cat may have heart disease, you need to contact Crosslake Veterinary Hospital, and we can help you determine whether your breed is at risk.
What is the long-term prognosis and quality of life for a cat with heart disease?
Long-term prognosis depends on several things. Cats with nonclinical heart disease that are diagnosed with cardiomyopathy—nonclinical meaning they don't have clinical signs—can have a very good prognosis because the progression of heart disease can be very variable in cats.
Cats that are in heart failure or have had a thromboembolism tend to have a much worse prognosis and a much shorter duration of life after diagnosis. It can be very variable and needs further follow-up and monitoring by your veterinarian to determine what type of heart disease there is and to give you a better understanding of how well your cat is going to do with heart disease.
At Crosslake Veterinary Hospital, Your Pet is Our Priority
We are here to walk with your pet at every stage of their life. Our team is here to offer support, guidance, and a space where you can feel safe and supported. Connect with our staff by calling us at (218) 692-4400.