Heart Failure in Cats

 Heart Failure in Cats

Cats can develop heart problems over the course of their lives and, just like with people, it can be a “silent killer.”  Although less common in cats than in dogs, cats can suffer from heart problems from a hereditary condition, an injury to the heart, or hypertension.  The most commonly diagnosed heart condition, which accounts for two-thirds of heart conditions vets see in cats, is adult-onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  This translates to an enlargement or thickening of the heart walls that can lead to blood clots and congestive heart failure.  We recently lost both Jewell and Lovey to heart failure.

Exactly what causes this adult-onset condition isn’t clear but cardiomyopathy can be related to a different condition that the cat may be diagnosed with, such as thyroid disease, high blood pressure, or anemia.  A cat’s weight, level of activity, and diet can also be factors. Heart disease can also happen more frequently in certain cat breeds.

According to the Veterinary Centers of America (VCA), feline heart disease impacts:

• the heart muscle which pumps the blood around the body
• the heart valves which act to prevent the blood from going in the wrong direction
• the pericardium is a tough membrane surrounding and protecting the heart
• the electrical conducting system which acts to initiate and transfer electrical impulses around the heart allowing it to contract or beat in a systematic and coordinated fashion

Advanced heart disease may result in congestive heart failure when a cat’s heart can’t pump enough blood around the body and fluid backs up into the lungs.  At this stage, cats will experience difficulty in breathing because of the fluid.

We know that cats are masters at hiding their pain or discomfort. It can be tough for cat owners to see the signs of heart disease since cats sleep a lot, and their activities during a day aren’t like a dog’s, which can include regular daily walks, running and playing with their owners for extended periods of time.  Regular wellness checkups with your vet are key to monitoring your cat’s heart health

The VCA lists these as the most common signs of feline heart disease:

• poor appetite
• weight loss
• lethargy
• increased respiratory rate and effort
• sudden collapse
• sudden hind leg paralysis accompanied by pain due to thromboembolism (blood clots), which may be referred to as a ‘saddle thrombus’
• stunted growth (kittens)

Other signs to watch for are vomiting, depression, restlessness, poor circulation (if the footpads are cold and the gums and tongue are grayish and not pink), a swollen belly, retaining fluid in the legs or sudden weight gain from fluid retention.

If you see signs in your adult cat, see your vet right away.  It’s critical to determine exactly what is going on with your cat’s heart and how advanced the condition.  There are medications that can help treat heart disease, like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and diuretics.  To regulate blood clotting, the vet might recommend clopidogrel.  Your cat’s diet might need to be adjusted, too.  It’s worth saying again that regular annual wellness checkups are critical in monitoring your cat’s overall health as well as his heart.

CLICK HERE for a clinical look at feline heart disease.
CLICK HERE for an overview of the causes and symptoms of heart disease.