Feline Heart Disease Symptoms
When cats get heart problems, it is because they were born with a heart disease. Unlike people or dogs, cats do not get coronary heart disease. Some cats can go for years without showing any symptoms of heart disease and some show symptoms within days of being born. The early symptoms are hard to see. But even in later stages, cats can still be successfully treated.
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Loss of Appetite
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Any sudden change of appetite in a cat should signal that they need to go to the vet. If a cat rejects even favorite treats for more than a couple of days, this can be a sign of heart disease.
Weight Loss
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Along with the loss of appetite, the cat will also lose weight. Since cats only average 12 pounds, even the loss of one pound is significant.
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Labored Breathing
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The cat should not be panting breathing heavily when they haven't done any exercise. This is a sign that the disease is progressing.
Fatigue
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Because the heart is not working properly, the cat is not getting the oxygen it needs for energy, As a result, the cat will seem tired all of the time and disinterested in life.
Misconceptions
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A chronic cough does not mean that a cat has heart disease, although they should still see a vet. A chronic cough in dogs, however, can mean heart disease.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Cats can get heart disease, too. Image from StockXChng
