Feline cardiomyopathy refers to impaired function of the heart muscle. There is more than one cause. Thus, cardiomyopathy is not a specific disease, but the result of some disturbance affecting the muscle of the heart. All causes of cardiomyopathy in cats are not known.
Cardiomyopathy exists in two forms called dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The difference rests in how the disease process affects the walls of the ventricles.
Dilated cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle loses its tone and becomes flaccid. The heart chambers overfill, the walls of the ventricles become thinner and the chambers enlarge. One of the causes of this condition is taurine deficiency. Taurine is an essential amino acid present in animal tissue. Most commercial cat foods are supplemented with taurine. Another cause of dilated cardiomyopathy is myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy tends to affect cats one to five years of age. In this condition, walls of the ventricles become thick, and the heart becomes weak. This type of cardiomyopathy often develops with no visible signs.
Dilated cardiomyopathy, in contrast, is often a rapid onset disease that progresses over 2 to 3 days. The most frequent sign is labored breathing at rest. The cat sits with head and neck estended and elbows out, straining to take in air. Coolness of the feet and ears and a below normal body temperature are signs of poor circulation. Loss of appetite, weakness, fainting and crying often accompany the illness.
TREATMENT
Accurate diagnosis is necessary to establish which form of the disease is present to provide the proper therapy. Most of the drugs used in treating heart disease in people are used for similar purposes in small animals. The choice depends on the stage of illness and presence or absence of complications.
Restricting the cat's activity reduces the strain on the heart. Your veterinarian may prescribe a period of cage rest.