Cat heart murmur – is it always serious?

📞 Appointment booking for cardiac examinations: 010 739 9130

📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa

Quick answer: A cat's heart murmur doesn't always indicate a serious illness, but it should be carefully evaluated. In cats, heart disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, and an ultrasound provides the most accurate information about the situation.

Cats are skilled at hiding their symptoms. Therefore, a heart murmur is an important finding, even if your cat seems completely normal at home.

When to see a vet?

Contact a veterinarian if any of the following apply:

• Your cat gets out of breath, tires easily, or hides.
• Your cat has difficulty breathing.
• The murmur is new or loud.
• It's a breed with an HCM risk (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).

What can cause the symptom?

1. HCM

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is one of the most common heart diseases in cats.

2. Stress or a temporary finding

Not all murmurs indicate a serious illness, but the cause should always to determine in cats.

3. Other structural heart changes

Ultrasound reveals if there are changes in the heart that require medication or monitoring.

What can you do at home?

• Monitor your cat's breathing at rest.
• Avoid unnecessary stress if your cat shows symptoms.
• Contact the emergency service immediately, if your cat has difficulty breathing.

What happens at the vet?

A cardiac ultrasound shows the thickness of the heart muscle, heart size, and changes in blood flow.

Sacrum Animal Hospital can help

If you are unsure about the severity of a symptom, it's better to contact us than to wait too long. A professional can help assess whether it's an emergency or if an appointment can be scheduled for examination.

📞 Appointment booking for cardiac examinations: 010 739 9130

📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa