Cat Health Heart Murmur Concerns

If a vet listens to a cat’s heartbeat and hears any unusual sounds, they may require further testing, but usually make the diagnosis of a heart murmur. The vet listens to the heartbeat, heart rate, and heart sounds to determine if the heart has any irregularities. The health of the cat determines if there is any concern for this heart condition.

Types of Heart Murmurs Related to Cat Health
Two types are physiological and pathological conditions. Physiologic murmur occurs when there is fever or anemia. Pathologic murmur occurs when a condition affects the cat’s valves and heart muscle. The researchers conducted tests to learn more about heart murmurs related to the health of cats.

A Boston animal hospital tested one hundred cats and found that twenty-one percent of the cats had a heart murmur. Of the twenty-one percent, seven cats had an echocardiogram, and six cats actually had a heart problem called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The result of the study showed that healthy cats can show signs of a heart murmur, but without proper testing, the result and diagnosis are inconclusive.

Heart murmurs are measured by degrees. There are six different types of grades from I to VI, with grade VI being the most severe and grade I mild. Veterinarians grade the heart murmur, but a grade VI murmur does not make it the worst heart murmur a cat can have.

Cat Health Heart Murmur Problems
Some kittens are born with heart murmurs that go away by the time they reach six months. Incidental heart murmurs occur in cats that appear healthy, but may show signs of weakness and discoloration of the skin and tongue. A cat showing signs of poor health may also experience heart murmurs. The only way to determine if a heart murmur is present is to do tests.

The only way to determine the severity of a heart murmur is by ultrasound. If your cat needs to be spayed or neutered, a veterinarian may insist on an X-ray or ultrasound to determine how serious the heart murmur is before performing the operation. The cat born with a heart murmur is usually given a lower grade type, rather than an older cat who develops a heart murmur later in life.

For the most part, heart murmurs in cats don’t need any type of treatment unless they become severe or cause other health problems. Cats have the potential for congestive heart failure, although rare, this may lead your vet to order tests for your cat if she has a heart murmur. If you suspect your cat has a heart murmur, all you need to do is get an exam to determine the degree of the murmur, and then follow your veterinarian’s advice on the care and treatment of your cat. The cat needs a healthy and happy life and only you know the personality and activities of your cat.