Mary Allen
If you observe your cat closely, you will quickly notice changes in its behavior. In the case of a heart defect, for example, the animal often retreats to dark corners and quickly gets out of breath when playing or stressed. Breathing then takes place through the mouth instead of exclusively through the nose. At the slightest suspicion, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
Cats are difficult patients. This is especially true for house tigers with heart disease. Because they only show such mild symptoms that owners and veterinarians often only notice very late that the cat has a heart problem. Therefore, if there is even the slightest suspicion of a possible disease, you should ask the veterinarian for a thorough examination of this central organ or for a referral to a specialist.
Heart Defects Are Rarely Congenital
Such a suspicion should arise if the cat often withdraws into dark corners, takes little interest in its surroundings, eats poorly, quickly gets out of breath when playing or when stressed, and in these situations also breathes through its mouth instead of just through its nose. Incidentally, unlike dogs and humans, cats with heart problems usually do not cough. A heart check includes a thorough listening of the chest, X-rays, EKG, and echocardiography (the examination with an ultrasound machine). In addition, the blood values and blood pressure must be determined in order to discover accompanying or even triggering diseases. Such a disease is B. the overactive thyroid. If the vet can get these basic diseases under control in time, the condition of the heart will also improve. Congenital heart defects are relatively rare in cats. Kittens with such a handicap do not develop as well as their siblings, are less lively, and tire easily. Only in exceptional cases can these animals be helped with an operation in a special clinic. Acquired heart disease is much more common. In cats, the heart muscle is usually affected. At least in the case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease in cats, a hereditary predisposition is suspected. In this disease, the heart muscle thickens so that the interior of the heart becomes smaller, and less and less blood can be held. As a result, the heart has to beat more frequently to supply the body with enough blood. The higher heart rate, in turn, causes the heart muscle to swell further – a vicious circle that unfortunately can only be slowed down with medication.
The Heart Muscle Is Particularly At Risk
All cats can develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, real “brilliant guys” are particularly often affected, namely tomcats in excellent condition and in the best age of up to five years. Nobody can yet answer why this is the case. The second most common heart disease in cats is restrictive cardiomyopathy. It is just as puzzling as the hypertrophic form and even more difficult to recognize, in which the heart muscle has lost its elasticity and can therefore not absorb enough blood – the consequences are similar to those of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Diet And Rest Prolong Life
Nowadays, dilated cardiomyopathy is almost only known as a late consequence of other heart diseases. In this disease, the heart muscle has lost its ability to contract and the heart is – to put it casually – “weary”. In the past, when the importance of the amino acid taurine in cat nutrition was not known, dilated cardiomyopathy was the most common heart problem. Because the insufficient supply of taurine causes this disease. However, this problem has almost been eliminated thanks to improved feed. Unfortunately, this is not so easy with other heart diseases. There is a whole range of different active ingredients available to the veterinarian, but so far there have only been very few scientific studies on the therapy of cardiovascular diseases in cats. In addition, the velvet-pawed patients react very differently to the medication, so the veterinarian has to approach the right therapy for the individual cat with great sensitivity. You can support the therapy with a low-sodium heart diet and by keeping exertion and stress away from your cat as much as possible. A warm hiding place to which the patient can withdraw also contributes to their well-being. However, you cannot spare your pet the visit to the vet. Because only in the veterinary practice can the patient be examined in detail and the treatment adjusted if necessary to changes in the condition of the cat.