How Serious Is A Heart Murmur In A Cat

If you have a cat, you are probably already aware of the sound that it makes when it meows. But did you know that there are other kinds of sounds your cat may make? A heart murmur is one example. It’s not uncommon for cats to have heart murmurs, but do not panic if your furry friend exhibits this symptom – as long as it does not appear suddenly or consistently then chances are nothing serious is going on with their heart health. Still, if your cat has a murmur it’s important to get them checked out by a vet as soon as possible so they can determine what the underlying cause might be (and whether treatment is needed).

What is a heart murmur

A heart murmur is a sound that is heard when blood flows through the heart. A heart murmur can be caused by a defect in the heart muscle or valves, and it’s usually heard with a stethoscope when you listen to your cat’s chest.

A heart murmur might be caused by an abnormal valve (such as an aortic or mitral valve) that doesn’t open or close properly, which allows some blood to leak backward through it when your cat’s heart beats. Heart murmurs also may occur if there is extra tissue growing where the valves should be, which keeps them from closing completely during each heartbeat.

The most common type of congenital (present from birth) heart disease in cats is pulmonary stenosis or atresia – narrowing in either one lung artery or both arteries that supply blood to both lungs respectively due to an abnormal growth on their walls called pulmonary valvulopathy.”

How common is a heart murmur in cats

You’re not alone. Heart murmurs are fairly common in cats and can be the result of a number of different factors. In fact, they are more likely to happen in older animals, overweight animals, spayed or neutered animals and those who have been bred. Don’t worry though—if your pet has a heart murmur there is plenty you can do about it!

If you think that your cat may have one of these conditions we recommend visiting your veterinarian for an exam as soon as possible.

Why do cats get heart murmurs

Heart murmurs are caused by fluid in the heart, and they can be indicative of a number of conditions. Congenital heart disease is one such condition, as it causes fluid to build up in your cat’s heart from birth. This fluid can cause a murmur over time, but it doesn’t always lead to serious health problems for your cat.

Other conditions that can cause heart murmurs include chronic kidney disease, which makes it harder for cats to process fluids; hyperthyroidism (when your cat has an overactive thyroid gland), which results in an increase in blood pressure; and myocardial disease (or cardiomyopathy), which results from damage to the muscle walls of the ventricles or atria within their chest cavity.

Heart murmurs and grade levels

It’s important to note that the grade of a heart murmur is not an indication of how serious your cat’s condition may be. Rather, it simply indicates the severity of the murmur itself. For example, if you were listening to your child’s heartbeat and heard a faint murmur in his/her chest, then that would be considered a grade 1 murmur. On the other hand, if you heard no sound at all while listening (i.e., silence) then this would be considered a grade 0 or normal reading on your stethoscope.

Here are some examples of each grading level:

• Grade 1: Barely audible with special equipment such as an echocardiogram (ultrasound). Most cats with this type of heart problem require no treatment other than monitoring their health closely over time to ensure everything is progressing normally without any complications arising from having such an issue present in their bodies’ anatomy.* Grade 2: Faint but easily detected by trained ear when listening directly into chest cavity area where heart beats are located; also detectable through placing stethoscope over chest region outside skin surface which tends toward being more sensitive due its closer proximity.* Grade 3: Moderately loud enough so that it can still be heard clearly even when not using special equipment like ultrasound or electrocardiogram test results show readings within normal range but above baseline levels recorded previously during physical examinations performed prior year(s), meaning there has been some increase since last checkup but nothing alarming yet.”

Risk factors for heart murmurs in cats.

If you think your cat has a heart murmur, it’s important to know what might be causing the condition. Some of the most common risk factors include:

• Age. Younger cats are more likely to have a heart murmur than older ones.
• Breed. Certain breeds, such as Maine Coon cats and Ragdolls, have been found to be more susceptible to congenital heart disease than others.
• Gender and stress levels. Though this is not yet well-established in veterinary literature for felines, studies on dogs show that males tend to develop murmurs earlier than females do; however, both genders can experience stress from being left alone for long periods of time or moving into a new home or environment which could also trigger murmurs.

We don’t yet know if age plays a role in whether or not cats who already have murmurs will develop them later on but we do know that some breeds are genetically predisposed toward developing them at an earlier age than others so it’s possible that those factors contribute further risk factors (although there does seem to be some debate on this topic).

Diagnosing heart murmurs in cats.

The best way to diagnose a heart murmur in cats is through listening to the cat’s heart with a stethoscope. Blood tests can also be used to detect heart problems, as well as an ultrasound or X-ray of your cat’s chest.

Treating HCM as soon as possible is key to a good outcome.

Treatment for HCM in cats is the same as treatment for humans, which is to say it’s not very effective. Cats with HCM can be treated with the drug pimobendan, which has been shown to slow down the progression of the disease. This drug can also help cats who have suffered from heart failure due to HCM.

However, this medication does not prevent a cat from developing heart failure in the first place. Thus, if your cat does receive treatment for HCM and experiences any symptoms of heart failure, they should be immediately brought into an animal hospital or veterinary clinic so that appropriate care can be administered right away.

Heart murmurs are a serious condition that often indicates underlying issues, if your cat has a murmur you should make an appt with the vet.

A heart murmur is a sound produced by blood flowing through the heart. Heart murmurs are a common condition in cats, and they can be caused by a variety of factors. While it’s not always serious, it is important to have your vet look into any murmur that you notice in your cat.

If you think your cat has a murmur, take them to see the vet as soon as possible!

Conclusion

Heart murmurs are a serious condition that often indicates underlying issues, if your cat has a murmur you should make an appt with the vet.