Download Feline Heart Disease - Pride Veterinary Centre

There are three main types of heart disease which affect cats, which are known as 'cardiomyopathies',
meaning disease of the heart muscle. These are;
 Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
HCM is the most common type of heart disease that affects cats. The muscular wall of the hearts
lower chambers becomes thickened, reducing the volume of blood in the heart. The heart is also
unable to relax normally between contractions. Eventually the upper chambers of the heart will
become enlarged due to the increased pressure
 Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM)
In RCM, the inner lining of the lower heart chambers is affected, making it stiff and inelastic. This
means that the heart is unable to beat properly and the amount of blood flow pumped from the
heart is reduced.
 Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
In DCM the muscular wall of the heart becomes thinner and the heart does not contract sufficiently,
causing the heart to become enlarged or dilated. This condition is linked to taurine deficiency and so
is rarely seen these days now cats are fed on appropriate complete diets.
Are certain cats more at risk than others?
Any cat can be at risk of developing a
cardiomyopathy, although there are some
breeds that are more prone to HCM. These
include Bengals, Maine Coons, Ragdolls, Sphynx
and British Shorthair among others. Some other
diseases may also increase the risk of a
cardiomyopathy, such as hyperthyroidism.
How is a cardiomyopathy diagnosed?
The best way to confirm if your cat has heart disease is with a heart scan. This allows a cardiologist to
look at the heart and measure the walls and chambers to look for any abnormalities. X-rays are also
useful to check for signs of heart failure. Unlike with dogs, a heart murmur is not always an indication of
heart disease and not all cats with heart disease will have a murmur. Cats are also very good at hiding
signs of their illness, and so their disease is often more severe by the time it is diagnosed.
My Cat has been diagnosed with a cardiomyopathy – now what?
There is no cure for cardiomyopathy, and each cat will be affected differently by their disease.
Unfortunately there are no drugs or treatments available to show the progression of the disease, but many
cats remain symptom free for a long time, and most do not require any medication unless they go into
heart failure. At this point there are drugs which can be given to alleviate the symptoms and improve
quality of life. Once diagnosed, your cat will need monitoring for progression of their disease to ensure that
they receive the care they need as and when they need it. The best way of doing this is with repeat heart
scans to monitor for any changes to the heart.
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