Heart Murmurs In Cats

A heart murmur is an extra sound in the heart that sounds like a whooshing noise. It can be benign or indicate an underlying heart condition.

Murmurs are graded on a scale of 1 being mild to 5 being strong.

Kittens may have a temporary murmur that disappears by 5 months of age.

Adult cats can have intermittent murmurs that appear during times of increased heart rate due to stress.

Signs to Watch Out For:

• Lethargy or weakness
• Rapid or difficulty breathing
• Exercise intolerance
• Collapsing Episodes
• Pale Gums
• Poor appetite and weight loss

Diagnosis

A veterinarian will listen to your cat’s heart with a stethoscope.

Tests like an ultrasound can provide images of the heart.

Treatment depends on the cause.

• It may involve medication, diet changes or other therapies.