Cat heart & circulation

Heart Sac Inflammation (Pericarditis) in Cats

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) in cats are faults in the structure of the heart that are present at birth.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) in cats is a serious syndrome that occurs when the heart does not pump blood effectively, leading to fluid retention (congestion).

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats is the thickening of the heart muscle resulting in reduced internal volume of the heart chambers. Early signs of HCM are subtle and may include lethargy, breathing difficulties, and fainting.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition where the muscle of the lower heart deteriorates, which causes it to stretch and lose function. Fluid accumulates in the lungs as the heart begins to fail. 

Heartworm is a serious disease in cats caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis. The parasite lives primarily in the blood vessels that connect the heart and the lungs. Heartworm disease is uncommon in cats, but is increasingly thought to be underdiagnosed.

Feline Aortic Thromboembolism (FATE) is a life-threatening condition in which a blood clot lodges in the saddle: the final section of the aorta that provides blood to the hindlimbs of the cat. The cause of FATE is most commonly heart disease, and in rarer cases cancer or other causes.