VetClick Discussion Forum

I have just taken my 9 and a half week old kitten in to the vets for his first check up and been told that he has an obvious heart murmur (though I was not told the grade). The vet told me that he knows of so many cats diagnosed with this type of condition and out of 100 only around 3 or so have had lasting detrimental life effects. That being said this does not stop me being both concerned about my baby and angry at the lady who sold him to me. The vet said to me "What can you do? you could always take him back?" And I looked at my kitten who, in just a week, has weaved his way well and truly into my heart, and thought, no I can't do that. The only thing is that now I am worried that my training methods (such as giving him a spray of water to stop him chewing on my laptop) are going to give him a fatal shock...help?

Hi. Well there are a few issues here: first the cat and whether you want to be responsible for any ongoing problems and second whether you want to return the cat to the breeder. As far as the latter goes under the Sale of Goods Act you are entitled to return the kitten and get your money back (if you accept that you do not want to because you are 'in love' with the kitten then really you are liable for any vet bills). The breeder however may be willing to come to some arrangement.

As far as a murmur being present at this age , this is not uncommon. If a murmur persists after 16 weeks of age (or if the murmur has certain qualities) then it needs investigation. This may mean that there is an inherited heart defect and this in a cat probably cannot be corrected surgically so the prognosis is very poor. It really needs assessing by an experienced cardiologist to tell you the whole picture. If you want to keep the kitten then let it be assessed in a few weeks and if the murmur is still there ask to see a cardiologist.

Hi, I recently found out that my kitten (almost 1 year old) has a heart murmur at 2/3 sev level. She is a very playful kitten and had painted only when it is too hot(has very thick and long coat) or when she gets too excited over playing with a new toy for too long.
Do you guys know if she can outgrow this problem or if this will have any affect on her life span? And also how can I make her live healthier life style. I will really appreciate your answers.

Your cat will not grow out of the murmur and if she gets out of breath when playing or it is hot it is likely to be significant. If anaemia has been excluded then an ultrasound of the heart is needed to diagnose what is causing the murmur and the treatment and the cat's life expectancy will depend upon what is wrong with the heart. Your vet may wish to send you to a cardiologist to see exactly what is going on. Early diagnosis is important in improving quality of life.

Hi Everyone,
I have a beautiful orange swirled tabby, born of a tux and a tortiseshell, who also has a heart murmur. He is now 3 yrs old and has been on low dose aspirin for over a year. We lost his Dad in October 2010, and now I fear we are losing him as well. What I wanted to ask is this...once he has begun to refuse food and water, and just lays around wheezing is he treatable or not? I don't want to put him to sleep if I can help it, but I also cannot afford expensive treatments as I am the mother of 4 special needs children too. Please help...

The short answer to your question is yes. The better answer is that cats treated before they become symptomatic have a greatly improved quality of and length of life. Usually cats with acquired heart disease have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the best treatment is a beta blocker and the cost is really very low. Later they may require other drugs but generally speaking the cost is also not really too high. Low dose aspirin although commonly used is of dubious benefit and in the absence of drugs to treat the heart itself (the aspirin is supposed to prevent clots) is unlikely to help at all.

i had to take my 8 week old kitten to the vet today due to my lille boy accidently tredding on her leg, the vet informed me that she has a heart murmer & that she could only live up to 6 months, is this true? she had some medicen i have to take her back on friday to see if the murmer is still there & if it is the vet said i will need to think about puting her to sleep which just the thought of is breaking my heart.

Lots of kittens have murmurs at 8 weeks of age and most of these are nothing to worry about and these are usually gone by the age of 12-16 weeks. The murmur would have to be very loud or of a certain sound for me to make such a dire prediction as your vet has made and to say she needs putting to sleep because of it seems rather outrageous if the cat is not in heart failure. I would recommend you get an opinion from another vet.

Hi

I have a 9 year old male tabby called Tom, earlier this week when the vet was giving him his vaccinations and yearly check they discovered a heart murmur, level 2. I've been devastated all week, Tom's never ever been sick, he's seems as always happy, eating well and sleeping. The Vet practice have suggested that I get an Echo Cardiogram done and I'm worried that he will get stressed and I suppose a bit apprehensive as to what they might find. The way the vet was talking was that Tom may die at any moment - I'm struggling to deal with this. Should I forget about this and carry on as normal or should I get the Echo done? Maybe there might be something that can be done for him.

Heart disease in cats of this age is usually caused by a problem with the heart muscle itself, rather than the valves, which is the most common problem in dogs. Left untreated it will eventually be fatal. If treated before the cat becomes symptomatic then the medium term prognosis is good and most cats will live at least several years, often much longer, depending on the severity and rate of progression of the disease. The first thing to do before the echo is to check the cat does not have anaemia (blood test) as anaemia can cause a murmur. The second thing to do in a cat of this age is to test the thyroid hormone level as an overactive thyroid can cause heart disease which is reversible in most cases.

The point of the echo is to determine what type of heart disease is present and to gauge the severity to decide on the most appropriate treatment. Most cats have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and respond well to beta blockers for a long time before any other drugs are needed. You may well be surprised how much more lively your cat is once it starts treatment so I would recommend you get the echo and treatment.

I'm happy to have found this forum. This week, my 2 yr. old Singapura was diagnosed with a Grade 3 murmur at her annual physical. Beyond being surprised at this - the first - report of a murmur, I've been an emotional basket case since the vet told me. This forum has helped me hold onto my perspective. Thank you. Now on to my reason for posting: After a second opinion, I'm following the 2nd vet's recommendation to have the local university vet school (with their board certified veterinary cardiologists) perform blood, X-ray, and ultrasound tests. Of course, with a long waiting list, it may be several weeks before she can get in. The vet indicated the delay should not be problematic. In the meanwhile, he's recommended aspirin therapy and a dietary supplement. What I can't get a straight answer on is how active I should allow my cat to be? Typically, she's a ball of fire and loves to chase and run and pesters me to play. Any advice on how to know it's time to hide the toys for the day? I want to give us every chance to have many more years together and would appreciate advice on how to make this dream a reality.

Hi Hannah,

I am so sorry about your loss for your kitty! That must be so tough on you! I have a Savannah cat I just got that has a heart murmur he is only 4 months old and we have had him 2 weeks. I took him to the Vet and was told he has a huge heart murmur they never said what scale I took him to a cardiologist and they did a Echo-cardiogram and they told me he wont live probably another 3 months if he is lucky! I was devastated to say the least and was told there is not much we can do. They can't do surgery but when he starts having issues I can give him so medication like Viagra. Don't beat yourself up most likely there was not much that could have been done. 9 years is a long life for a cat with a nice sized heart murmur. I hope my Jabali lives longer than another 3 months. I pray for him everyday! I am so sorry about your kitty.
Leona

I am glad your cat is to see a specialist because heart disease in cats when treated appropriately can give the cat a good quality of life for very significant periods. As far as 'exercise restriction' I suppose there are 2 schools of thought - 1. wrap them in cotton wool and POSSIBLY give them a longer life or 2. let them do whatever they want and CHANCE them POSSIBLY having a shorter life. My personal opinion is the latter - better to be happy but risk a shorter life.

hello i have an eleven year old cat with grade 4 heart murmur how and what did you do after your cat was diagnosed for it to live 4 years mine was diagnosed 2 months ago he is scheduled to be put down tomarrow any help or suggestions would mean the world to me thank you

I am sorry your cat's heart disease is so bad that it has only lasted 2 months before needing to be put to sleep.

The important thing with cats is that they are not 'little dogs' when it comes to heart disease and unfortunately some vets forget this. There are lots of drugs to treat heart disease and when used appropriately give a good quality of life. I would be very disappointed if my patients only lasted 2 months on treatment and unless your cat is extremely bad I wonder whether your vet has explored all the treatment options. You may find if you ask to see a specialist or a vet who is particularly familiar with cat heart problems that there is more that can be done.

I took my 7 and a half week old kitten to the vet today and he told me she has a very loud heart murmur but he didn't say what grade. She's going back for her 2nd shots in 4 weeks time so I will ask him for a grade. He said the murmur may calm down as she grows up but if it doesn't then it can seriously affect her life span. She seems fine; running and playing and she eats and drinks well, but she does sleep quite a bit and breathes very fast. The vet also said that any tests and things to find out about the murmur are very expensive and he didnt seem very positive that it would help. Should I insist he do the tests, or wait until she's a few months old to see if it gets a bit better and then ask for the tests if it doesnt? and how much would I be looking at, as he didn't mention any prices?

Many Thanks,
Rhianydd

At this age heart murmurs are not uncommon and most have gone by 12 weeks of age. I normally recommend owners to get the cat checked again at 16 weeks if the murmur is still present at 12 weeks (unless the murmur is very loud or characteristic of something in particular). If the murmur is still present at 16 weeks then an ultrasound of heart is needed to determine the cause. In cats the commonest cause is a hole in the heart. You would be looking at several hundred pounds to see a cardiologist I expect. Bear in mind that you could also return the kitten to the breeder.

Hi,

I'm going to get a ragdoll cross kitten in a week when he is 8 weeks old. He was taken to the vet and diagnosed with a Grade 1 heart murmer. . . but the vet said he will grow out of it and even if he doesn't, he will probably live a normal life. The breeder said that on the way to the vets, he was crammed in a case with all the other kittens so mught hav been stressed, but seeing as he had a grade 1 heart murmer, would the stress have created one (since he was diagnosed with 1 he idn't go up agrade with the stress).

The breeder says I can swap him if I really want but he is so beautiful I don't want to unless he will have a short life or something

Should I swap him

Thanks

The murmur may go away, but may not. If it has gone by 16 weeks then there is usually no problem but if it has not then it means that the heart is abnormal in some way, and although this may not necessarily get worse, you should assume that it will. You may be better to swap the kitten now.

hi my name is lisa i saved a wedgehead siamese from outside she was hungery and lost some of her hair on her ears and face due to sunburn she was weak. brought her to the vet and they say she has a 5/6 heart murmur and she probably wont live long...6 months later she is like any other cat playful etc. until last week she had a fainting spell and coughs maybe 3 times a week. i only have about $350...my vet suggests an exray and blood tests......over an ultasound hmmm which each costs about $350 thats $700 i can only either do the xray and blood test or the ultrasound with the cardiologist ....which one would be the one you would choose if you could only pick one and she is about 4 to 5 years old ...please help i want to bring her in soon and im waiting on your responce thank you so much lisa in canada

The ultrasound will be by far the best option as it will tell you exactly what is wrong and the best treatment. The bloods and xrays will be of very limited use with the signs you describe, although they may provide some information which could be useful, but I would get the ultrasound done as it will tell you 95% of the answers and allow appropriate treatment.

Hi. This is a few years latee but eh... it might work. I have a 4 month older Russian Blue kitten. His name is Mecca. I took him in today to get neutered and was told he has a Grade II or III murmur, and that its unusual. Makes a whistling noise instead of a whooshing noise. He's always been skinny and small bone structure. I don't think he's anemic and he doesn't act lethargic. I took him home because I wanted to research myself. Is putting him under anesthetic safe? He's such a good cat. Beautiful brown eyes, blue fur. The vet said it was congenital and other things may be wrong with him... what do I do?
Thanks
Holly Rose

I have been breeding Persians for many years. I have recently been informed that one of my kits has a grade 2 murmur. Having researched this issue on this and other sites also having another female of my own with a grade 2 who appears perfectly healthy and very lively (she is not the dam of the kitten in question), should I be worried about which of my breeding cats has passed this on? The new owner is obviously concerned but I had been informed by the vets that at the lowest end of the scale he could grow out of it and never show any symptoms at all. Both sire and dam of the kitten are absolutely fine too, although I have not had the need to have their cardiology checked in the past.

Your advices would be appreciated.

Regards
Christine

My car who is 1 year old, found out had heart murmur when he 6month old by the vet, didn't say what grade was, he look fine, but will he checking again soon.

Your cat has grown to adulthood with his heart murmur which is a good sign that it is not affecting him badly. He was quite young when it was diagnosed so he may have been born with it. As you say he shows no signs of problems at the moment the best thing is to go for that routine vet check when your vet can tell you if he thinks your cat's heart problem is still mild or getting more serious. Cats can live normally with a heart murmur but its always worth getting regular check ups to make sure no problems are developing. Ask him what Grade and severity he thinks it is. Your vet can offer you some further tests if he is concerned about the heart murmur.

Cathy Wickenden BVet Med MRCVS
Barton Lodge Veterinary Centre
1 Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 5BH
Tel: 01442 216048 24 hours
[www.bartonlodgevets.co.uk]

I just had a query about this topic, hopefully to put my mind at ease. I have two Siamese kittens and the vet picked up a heart murmur in my boy when he went to get his first vaccination at 10 weeks. She didn't hear one when he was taken back for the second vaccination a few weeks later. However when he was neutered recently at four and a half months, the vet picked up the murmur again when checking him over beforehand. No problems occurred during the op and the vet didn't seem particularly concerned. They did say I could come back when he was a bit older to check his heart again if I was concerned.

Overall, he seems pretty healthy, I have noticed him sneezing sometimes recently but I've had some work done in my flat to remove a damp problem so I figure this may be due to dust in the air.

From what I have read on here, it seems that his murmur is likely pretty mild and nothing to be concerned about in terms of his health. It doesn't seem that getting checked to confirm or deny the murmur still being there would lead to any additional treatment for him so I'm thinking that it probably isn't necessary to take him back unless I notice any health changes. But I just wanted to be sure that this sounds right? I obviously want to give him the best life I can but don't see the point in wasting money on a consultation that won't necessarily offer him any benefit...

Thanks.

Hi Caroline

That's certainly reasonable and many people would adopt your wait and see approach to his condition I am guessing that the murmur is low grade but I would advise you to monitor him, especially over the next few months whilst he finishes his growth to adult size. If he grows to be a big healthy looking cat and is lively and active then it is most unlikely that the murmur is affecting his health. If that doesnt happen and he remains small and skinny for his age, I would certainly get your vet to check him again soon. They may need to do nothing more but if you want to know about the murmur and what it is caused by, a heart scan is a non-invasive way of finding this out for any cat. That may involve being referred to a specialist rather than your regular vet and of course cost you more but these are options for the future in case you feel you want or need to know about his heart problem. As I have said previously young cats can grow, develop and live normally with a heart murmur, depending on if it is affecting the heart function or not. Go back to your vet and ask if they agree that a wait and monitor him approach is OK, based on what they have assessed and heard recently with his heart murmur. That would put your mind at rest too.

Cathy Wickenden BVet Med MRCVS
Barton Lodge Veterinary Centre
1 Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 5BH
Tel: 01442 216048 24 hours
[www.bartonlodgevets.co.uk]

My 12 year old cat was seen by a different vet a few days ago who classified his heart murmur as a grade III (his usual vet classified it as a grade II over a year ago). He is completely asymptomatic, very active, no trouble breathing, is eating and drinking normally. I would say he's acting very much like he was when he was 6 or 7.
My only concern is that he has had some weight loss - approximately 400 grams (down to 5.3kg). He has, however, had some weight issues in the past year or so after being switched to senior's food, at the vet's suggestion. After the switch he lost a fair amount of weight, so I switched him to a mix of his regular food and the senior's food. He regained the weight, after which the vet suggested a switch to dental food. He has been on that for a few months so I would have believed his weight to have stabilized, but as I said, it's gone down by 400 grams. (He has a periodontal score of 2, but apparently there is improvement. I've been brushing his teeth, much to his delight.)
At this last visit, he had his blood pressure checked, a CardioPet proBNP check, and his blood and urine screened. Nothing was found in any of the tests, except that the proBNP result was at 123. (I'm not sure if this could have affected it, but he is a very clingy cat. He doesn't go outside, he likes "his people" near him. She took him to the back to do the tests, and when he came back he was pretty terrified. Pupils fully dilated, paws sweaty, etc.) The vet suggested that next I take him in for a cardiogram.
Unfortunately, this previous round of tests was already rather expensive. I have recently finished my masters program and have been unable to find work as of yet. To get the cardiogram, I would need to borrow money from my family. My cat's health and happiness is very important to me, and if this is what I have to do, I will, but I am trying to gain a better understanding of the issue before I go ahead. Thank you very much for any advice.

Hi Joanna

You need to discuss your concerns with your vet. A cardiogram is another way of checking heart beat regularity, function and size. I can't be certain about the reasons they have made that particular suggestion now to you as a follow up but they should be able to explain that to you. This should help you to make any decisions about the spend.

Cathy Wickenden BVet Med MRCVS
Barton Lodge Veterinary Centre
1 Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 5BH
Tel: 01442 216048 24 hours
[www.bartonlodgevets.co.uk]

Hi, I just came across this forum after coming back from the vet today about my 12 week old kitten.
The vet picked her up and said straight away she could feel a heart murmur and then after taking a listen to her heart she confined it by saying she has a serious heart murmur which could be cause by a leaky valve (she approx level 6).
I'm devastated by this, as she's such a lovely playful little thing and is so young . There's no way on earth I can possibly have her out down yet, as, as far as she is concerned she not ill, she plays, poops, drinks, eats and is exalty like every other little kitten her age.
My vet saud she would like to refer me to a heart specialist, and after talking to my insurance people they have decided that they can't help me as she's only been insured a week. I don't think there is anyway I can afford the scan and I'm at my wits end about what to do.
I in no way want her in any discomfort or pain, but while she's not feeling the effects of it I want her to live as much of her little life as she can.
My vet has adviced me that she can have medication to help (not a cure) which she will be starting next month, as apparently as she's so little the dose would be a tiny amount and there wouldn't be much point.
I guess I'm hoping for maybe a little but of positive advice, as I'm so devastated about this.
Does anyone else have cats on the medication? Is it even worth it? Or does it just prolong her life? If it prolongs it I will do it, but not if it's going to be painful. Should I just let her go naturally?
Thanks for the advice in advance.