How to Compare a Cat's Heart Rate to a Person's

A cat's heart rate is much faster than a human's.

Though both cats and humans have hearts with a similar structure, a cat's heart rate tends to be much faster than a human's, due mostly to its smaller size.

Human and Cat Heart Rates

A well-rested adult human should have a heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute. An average adult cat should count between 120 and 200 beats per minute.

Causes

Cats, being much smaller than humans, possess a higher ratio of surface area to volume, meaning that a larger proportion of a cat's body is exposed to the environment compared to your own. This causes heat to radiate from a cat's body more quickly, and its heart must pump blood faster to keep its body temperature from dropping.

Other Considerations

Children younger than 10 have heart rates as high as 120 beats per minute, and infants up to 160, while the heart rate of a trained athlete may be as low as 40 beats per minute. A kitten's heart rate also tends to be much faster than an adult cat's, averaging 200 to 260 beats per minute, and often requires a vet to measure it accurately.

References

• Medline Plus: Pulse
• Vet Info: What is a Normal Kitten Heart Rate?
• Idaho Museum of Natural History: Mammals Introduction
• Pawprints and Purrs: Keeping Watch: Your Cat's Vital Signs