Heart Disease Symptoms in Cats

Routine health exams help detect feline heart disease.

Feline heart disease is often difficult to detect in its early stages, because clinical signs of the condition are often vague and may be confused with other illnesses and diseases. The most common forms of feline heart disease include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and feline heartworm disease. Regular health exams performed by your veterinarian may detect heart disease early on, but there are a few visible symptoms you can watch for as well.

Loss of Appetite

Loss of appetite is a common symptom of all three forms of feline heart disease. Skipping a meal now and then is usually not cause for alarm, but if your cat is consistently ignoring its food and refusing to eat regardless of the fare offered, you should contact your veterinarian.

Dragging Rear Legs/Leg Paralysis

According to WebMD, about half of all cats that suffer from cardiomyopathy will experience an arterial thromboembolism, or blood clot, which can lead to weakness and paralysis of the rear legs. In many cases, this symptom is one of the first indications that your cat is suffering from heart disease. Your cat may show minor signs of weakness and difficulty walking or suffer a complete loss of mobility to its hind quarters. The skin of the legs may have a bluish tint and feel cold to the touch.

Respiratory Distress

Cats suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and feline heartworm disease will often exhibit signs of respiratory distress. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause a significant increase in the cat's respiratory rate. Common signs of feline heartworm disease include tachypnea, or short shallow breaths, and a chronic cough. Pulmonary edema, or fluid accumulation in the lungs, is another common symptom of feline heart disease that can add to respiratory distress in your cat.

Lethargy and Weakness

Weakness and lethargy are common signs of both hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy. Lethargy, which can be noted by signs of excessive sluggishness and sleepiness, can be difficult to determine if your cat is normally laid back and lazy. If you notice your cat sleeping more than usual or showing physical signs of weakness, it should be examined by a veterinarian immediately.

References

• WebMD: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• PetMD: Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Cats
• Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory: Feline Heartworm Disease
• WebMD: Aortic Thromboembolism in Cats