Small heart murmur in 5 year old cat - any experience?

[ScreamingValenta]

My five year old girl has just had her annual vaccination and health check, and the vet detected a small heart murmur. He said it was less than grade one and nothing to worry about, other than to make sure she doesn't become overweight.

She is very lively, active and agile with healthy appetite, normal toileting and affectionate disposition.

I'm just a bit worried in case this is something that's likely to escalate as the years go on and affect her quality/length of life.

I wondered if anyone had experience of managing a heart murmur in cats and could explain how it progressed?

Any advice would be gratefully received and I of course attach a picture!

My then 5 year old was found to have a heart murmur, but no one seemed particularly worried about it. And vets just said"we don't talk about grades" So I took it as a sign that it didn't need investigation. I found out by chance it was actually a grade 4 and she had fluid on her lungs. She has got cardiomyopathy. She's on treatment now and it's improved slightly. But you'd never know she was unwell. She's her usual self.
If you are really worried you could get her scanned to check if everything is ok. I did that with her sister. As I couldn't relax.
Hopefully your cats is just innocent.

Her prognosis isn't great, as her heart is terrible. But she's well and very happy. And that's all
That matters. She's a Persian so it's likely hereditaryx

We rescued a 10 year old moggy a couple of years ago with stage 2 heart murmour. Hes lazy and overweight and cutting his food just drives him nuts so after speaking to our vet she said hes more likely to go of old age than anything else and to let him enjoy his elderly years doing whatever makes him happy.

Pic of said moggy...

Toddler Your girl is a beauty! I'm glad to hear she's responded to treatment. It's reassuring to know that it isn't affecting her happiness.

My girl is a rescue moggy, so I don't know her heritage. She's pretty self-regulating with her food - I always leave food out, as my other cat is 18 years old and can't tolerate lots in one go so it's there for him to nibble at.

Elmo It's good to hear your vet doesn't see this as a big issue for your boy.

I think what I'll do is take her back in 6 months, which is when my other cat's vaccines are due (hoping and hoping that he will keep going that long) and see if there has been any progression. This is the first time it's been mentioned and she's (about) 5 now (exact age unknown as she was an adult when rescued).

Thank you both for your advice - I feel more confident now.

Elmo Just seen your pic - what gorgeous eyes he has! He looks a real character!

My rescue cat has always had a heart murmur. She is now 10 and shows no sign of it causing major problems.

My girl is on three types of medication. I'm very lucky as she is very good at taking it.

My previous cat had a heart murmur diagnosed at 4 years old grade 3/4. The vet at the time said “I hope you’ve got good insurance for him”.... I refused to let them drug him for it (there’s lots of pros and cons of beta blockers and the like) and with several house (and vet) moves over the years I had to stand my ground on the “no treatment” line several times. He died of skin cancer at 17 years old! Having spent the whole time until the last couple of weeks running around like a nutter

Keep an eye on it obviously, but very common and not always worth worrying about

Mine will take tablets OK, so if she needs medication later on it shouldn't be an issue - unless she develops an aversion to meds given more often (she's only had to have worming tablets so far - I always give a treat afterwards).

DustandRubble good to hear of another older cat getting along well.

Wonderful that he was still lively at 17, ditzzy even when he had an unrelated illness. I lost a cat to cancer at 15 and she was the same - very active until right at the end.

It sounds as though this is fairly common - just not something I have encountered in the cats of my family before.

I had a cat with a murmur, it was noticed when she was a kitten, she never showed any symptoms so we never did any tests because I didn't want her to go through that when she was healthy and active otherwise. At 7 she has a stoke and up unfortunately had to be PTS. But she lived a happy and healthy life up until then and I have no idea if that had any bearing on her Stoke.

The stroke could well have been caused by her heart, I'm sorry to say. As the blood clots if he heart is not pumping correctly. Maia is on an anticoagulant to help prevent it, but she's still at risk. Though it could have been coincidental in your case.

I'm glad it's been identified at an early stage so I can monitor it, and get my girl on meds if starts escalating.

mummy So sorry to hear about your cat. I'm glad she had seven good years with you before she became ill.

I had a Briitish Shorthair who had a heart murmur. The vet said she may not make old bones...she lived until she was 18.happy and lively right up until the end! She was a rather a curvy lady too! Try not to worry to much is my advice x

Thank you Vulgarlady. 18 is a grand age! I feel very reassured by the experiences on this thread.

My four year rescue has a grade 2 murmur.

He is fine, active and also not a big eater so self regulates his food.

The vet said I could have scans etc done but there doesn't seem much point when he is totally fine and it is only a grade 2.

My 14yo boy had a slight heart murmur detected in a pre op for major surgery. He was at a specialist vet hospital so they got the cardiologists opinion which was that it was safe to go ahead with surgery. (Mind you not going ahead was not an option really) He's fit and well and apart from sleeping more than he used to you wouldn't know his age.

I’m following this thread with interest as Harry has been diagnosed with a heart murmur. He’s had a blood test which showed he could have heart disease so we’re waiting for him to have an x ray, which is booked for 6th March.

Poor Harry! I hope the x-ray goes well.