What is the most common heart disease in cats?
The most common heart disease in cats would be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM for short.
What are the signs and symptoms of this disease in cats?
Typically, it is not what we call asymptomatic; there are no symptoms seen until it's very advanced and when we can't really do anything with the cat. Also, a lot of times, these cats might pass away suddenly or throw clots to their back legs or to their lungs, in which there's really nothing we can do at that point due to the underlying heart disease of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
How is this heart disease diagnosed in cats?
It can be hard to diagnose as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy means the heart wall—the heart muscle—thickens, but it thickens towards the inside of the heart. So, when you take X-rays, a lot of times the heart will look like a normal size. The heart doesn't get bigger; the chambers get smaller because the heart muscle thickens. We now have a test with our blood work that we run on all of our pets called Cardio ProBNP. Cardio ProBNP tests for the stretch of the heart muscle, and when it's over a specific number on this test for cats, then we're suspicious that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy might be going on and that's when we start looking into it a little bit more. Before we had this test, besides an ultrasound of the heart, it was really hard to diagnose.
What types of tests are used to evaluate my cat's heart health?
One, an annual physical exam with your veterinarian, looking at the heart rate, respiratory rate, is an indicator. But also annual blood work once a year that includes the Cardio ProBNP, and all of our panels include the Cardio ProBNP. For certain cat breeds like purebred cats such as Persians, British Shorthairs, Sphynx, any purebred cat, they're at higher risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We recommend that they start seeing a cardiologist between one and two years of age to get a baseline echocardiogram and then go off the recommendations of the cardiologist annually, as those cats—purebred cats—typically have a higher incidence of cardiomyopathy.
How can I tell if my cat is at risk for heart disease?
All cats are at risk, but typically purebred cats are at much higher risk than non-purebred cats.
What treatments are available for cats with heart disease?
There are medications we can put them on that will help the heart out in the long run. It helps the heart, helps the blood pressure, helps the kidneys. Ultimately, once a cat develops hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, there's not a whole lot we can do to stop it, but medicines can be given to help the heart out to allow it to last longer. There are other issues a cat can develop with a heart like a murmur, and in those, an ultrasound will help determine which valve is involved, what might be causing it, and then we can get medication specifically for that type of murmur for the cat.
Is heart disease lifelong, or can it be cured?
Typically, they're lifelong. If we have a kitten that has a murmur at a very young age, sometimes those can resolve on their own. But if a cat is over six months of age and has a heart murmur, most likely there is an underlying condition that needs to be addressed with medication, a workup with seeing a cardiologist, an ultrasound, an echocardiogram, and medications will be given, and it's lifelong.
How can I manage my cat's heart disease at home?
By talking to your veterinarian, getting them on the appropriate medications and appropriate settings in the house. Some cats might need a low-stress environment. Some cats, typically heart cats, don't do well at boarding facilities. We recommend that you have somebody watch them in their home, that kind of thing.
Are there any dietary changes I should consider for my cat with heart disease?
Depends on the heart disease. There are some heart-friendly diets out there that are prescription and are good for cats. Ultimately, we want the cat to eat and enjoy their life, but there are some heart diets out there depending on what condition your pet has.
Are there any medications my cat will need to take for disease?
Yes, there are several medications out there. More and more of them are being made now into a liquid form, which is easier to give cats. But if we can't get it in a liquid form, we can get it compounded, which is sent to a special pharmacy. They make the medication in the appropriate dose in a liquid form for the cat so we can medicate them.
How often should my cat have checkups if they have heart disease?
At least once a year. We highly recommend twice a year. We also recommend at least an annual checkup with the cardiologist. We recommend that they have blood work once a year, if not twice a year, and then also a minimum of a chest X-ray once a year.
What lifestyle changes can help my cat with heart disease?
Keeping them indoors, limiting their stressors, and just allowing the cat to do what it wants to do. Cats are very good at limiting their activity and resting when they should.
How can I recognize an emergency situation with a cat related to my cat's heart condition?
If your cat is having an issue with their heart, they're going to be very lethargic. They'll probably open-mouth breathe—not pant, but breathe with their mouth open. Their color, their mucous membranes, their gums might not be bubble gum pink; it might be more of a light pink bluish color. They might not be able to lay down. Those are emergency conditions.
Are certain breeds more prone to heart disease?
Yes, like I said before, purebred cats.
What is a long-term prognosis and quality of life for a cat with heart disease?
If caught early, the long-term prognosis is good. Ultimately, any kind of heart disease, whether it's in humans, dogs, or cats, can ultimately shorten the lifespan. But by giving medications and treating it early and catching it, we can prolong the pet's lifespan had we not intervened early.
Are there any recognizable heart attack symptoms in cats?
Cats don't typically have heart attacks per se. That's a clotting issue in the human field. But when a cat is having a high respiratory rate, high heart rate, open mouth breathing, that's when we need to see a veterinarian right away.
What is a normal cat heart rate and what should I do if my cat's heart rate is elevated?
A normal heart rate should be in the 130s to 140s at rest. If we're getting above 160 to 180, that's very elevated, especially in a calm situation. If the cat's heart rate is elevated, try and calm the cat, get it in a situation where you can lower it as best possible, and call your veterinarian.
Is heart disease a reason for putting my cat down?
Ultimately, if your cat has advanced disease and is suffering, yes. But if caught early and put on medications, we can treat and prolong the pet's life and allow them to live a happy, healthy life as opposed to putting them down with just the diagnosis.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (704) 827-0616, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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