Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with heart failure from two rare heart defects at 13 years
By Harada, Kazuki et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2025·Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Concurrent incomplete atrioventricular septal defect and supravalvular mitral stenosis causing heart failure in a 13-year-old cat: a case report.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 13-year-old female Persian cat was brought in for breathing problems and was found to have a heart murmur. X-rays showed fluid in her chest and enlarged heart chambers, while an ultrasound revealed serious heart defects. Despite being treated for 7 months, she eventually passed away, but this case is notable for being the longest reported survival for a cat with these specific heart issues.
People also search for: cat heart murmur · cat breathing problems · heart failure in cats · Persian cat heart disease · cat heart defect treatment
Abstract
A 13-year-old female Persian cat with a heart murmur presented with dyspnea. Thoracic radiography revealed pleural effusion and dilation of peripheral pulmonary vessels. Echocardiography showed significant enlargement of the right atrium and ventricle and left atrial appendage; an atrial septal defect (ASD) near the atrioventricular valves; and a septum-like structure below the left atrial appendage. Left-to-right shunting through the ASD was noted, with a pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio of 2.72. The cat was diagnosed with incomplete atrioventricular septal defect (IAVSD) and supravalvular mitral stenosis (SVMS) and subsequently medically managed for 7 months before death. Necropsy confirmed IAVSD with a mitral valve cleft and SVMS. To our knowledge, this is the longest reported survival in a cat with both anomalies.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40903248/