Feline Heart Attack Symptoms
Contrary to popular belief, cats do not suffer from heart attacks the way people understand them. A cat's arteries remain clear whatever their diet may be, and they almost never have high cholesterol. However, cats can experience a "myocardial infarction," or disordered muscular heart tissue.
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Detecting Symptoms
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Even though it is rare for cats to develop heart problems, their "heart attacks" usually come without warning. In fact, when cats experience sudden heart defects, they often die within seconds. However, in rare cases, cats exhibit a set of symptoms ahead of time that gives pet-owners enough forewarning to take them to the vet.
Weakness or Fainting
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When a cat experiences heart-related problems, the heart beats abnormally. When this happens, the cat may faint or suddenly collapse from lack of oxygen. If your cat suddenly appears drowsy or listless, this may be a sign that the heart is not pumping enough oxygen.
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Hyperactivity and Wheezing
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On the other hand, if a cat's heart is beating abnormally fast, it may move rapidly and/or spastically. This rapid movement can cause shortness of breath, which will make the cat wheeze or cough.
What to Do
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You have to act as quickly as possible to treat your cat before its symptoms worsen. Take it to the nearest vet or animal hospital immediately.
Prevention/Solution
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You can't rely on detecting a cat's symptoms to tell you there may be a heart-related problem. Some cats do not exhibit symptoms at all, only to suddenly collapse or die due to a heart arrhythmia or other disorder. Therefore, take your cat to the vet for yearly exams so the vet can listen for heart murmurs and other telltale symptoms.
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