Introduction
There are three basic types of heart disease in cats, and they are classified as different types of cardiomyopathy. However in some cases a cat may have a condition which has characteristics of more than one type of heart disease.
Types of Heart Disease in Cats
The heart is a muscle, and the word cardiomyopathy refers to a disease of the heart muscle. The three types of heart disease in cats include: dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. If a cat has a form of heart disease that does not fit specifically into these categories, then the diagnosis is usually termed an unclassified cardiomyopathy. The condition may be genetic, a result of a physical deformity, or it can be caused by an underlying medical condition.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart disease condition that occurs when the muscle around the wall of the heart becomes thin. In time, the chambers of the heart enlarge and the heart is unable to move the body’s required volume of blood. This type of heart disease is associated with taurine deficiency.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart disease condition that occurs when areas of the heart muscle become thickened, and the heart’s ability to pump blood is eventually affected. This type of heart disease is more commonly associated with predisposed genetic heart conditions and hyperthyroidism.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that occurs when the elasticity of the heart muscle is reduced, and eventually the heart is unable to properly pump blood. This type of heart disease is associated with injury and underlying medical conditions.