Heart disease in cats is notoriously quiet. Many cats show no outward symptoms until the condition is advanced, which is why murmurs, abnormal rhythms, or changes detected during a routine exam deserve prompt follow-up.
We evaluate feline heart health using physical examination, blood pressure measurement, chest radiographs, and cardiac-specific blood markers. When a condition such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is identified, we build a management plan around medication, monitoring, and regular rechecks to keep your cat comfortable for as long as possible.
Cardiac care includes
- Heart murmur evaluation
- Blood pressure screening
- Chest X-rays and cardiac blood tests
- Medication management for diagnosed heart disease
- Coordination with veterinary cardiologists for echocardiograms
What to expect
A cardiac workup is quiet and non-invasive: careful auscultation, blood pressure measurement, chest X-rays, and a blood test (proBNP) that flags heart muscle stress. If findings warrant, we coordinate an echocardiogram — the definitive picture of feline heart structure — and build a medication and recheck plan around the results.
Frequently asked questions
My cat has a heart murmur — how worried should I be?
Some feline murmurs are benign, others signal real disease, and the murmur's loudness doesn't tell us which. That's why any new murmur deserves follow-up testing rather than watchful waiting — cats are exceptionally good at hiding cardiac disease until it's advanced.
What are the warning signs of heart disease in cats?
Often there are none — that's the danger. When signs do appear, they include rapid or open-mouth breathing, lethargy, hiding, decreased appetite, and in emergencies, sudden hind-leg paralysis from a blood clot. Breathing changes in a cat always warrant a same-day call.
Can feline heart disease be treated?
Yes. While most feline heart disease can't be cured, medications that ease the heart's workload, control rhythm, and reduce clot risk can give affected cats good-quality years — especially when the disease is caught early through screening.
Ready to schedule?
Request an appointment at our Glendale clinic or call our team — we serve pets and their people across the surrounding communities.