Leaking mitral valve in kitten

[TheletterZ]

My 5 month old kitten has just been diagnosed with a leaking mitral valve in her heart, so rather than the blood being pumped out around her body some goes backwards.

The vet spotted a heart murmur in her pre-op check and she then had an ultrasound which identified the problem. She is only 5 months old and 2.2kg so the vet is going to rescan in 6 months to hopefully find out a bit more.

Anyone any experience of congenital heart defects in cats/kittens?

My Persian had cardiomyopathy. She was completely asymptotic With it. Even though her heart was in a shocking state. She took 8 pills a day. And was as good as gold. I the end it was her kidneys that went. It's reassuring that the vet only wants to scan in 6 months. My other cat is on 6 monthly scans as she has it more mildly.
Hope you have good insurance. Cardiologist visits are expensive. If you are Derbyshire/Nottingham/ Staffordshire etc. Sarah Smith cardiology is brilliant.

Leaking mitral valve - mitral valve disease is rare in cats ( very common in dogs) I would recommend seeing a very experience Cardiologist for this Mark Patterson at heart vets, Adrian Boswood or David Connelly at the RVC, Paul Smith at East Anglian Cardiology or Luca Ferasin at Lumbry Park would be my go to people in the South of England.

I am very close to Lumbry Park. Do you think it is worth going to see a specialist about this? My local vet isn’t an expert but has an interest in cardiology which is why he could do the ultrasound.
Is there much a specialist can actually do?

I probably would go and see a specialist. But then if they are happy share care with the local vet. Or they might do out reach clinics. I know mine does. But I prefer to go to her clinic even thought Its a 50 mile round trip.

The vast majority of vets can now do a cardiac ultrasound and diagnosis mitral valve disease - every vet in my practice can.
But mitral valve disease in a cat is rare, you need advice on when to start medication and what medication to have. Luca is a really great cardiologist if you are near Lumbry I would see him, plus he is a lovely man with a real passion for his speciality.