Prevalence of heart disease in a population of domestic cats in Poland: A retrospective study

Abstract

SummaryThe survey included 514 cats brought to the Department of Small Animals within 5 years. The cats were examined cardiologically (clinical examination, echocardiography and electrocardiographic examination) and then divided into cats with cardiac changes and cats with problems other than heart disease. The study was designed to show the most common cardiac disease in cats and the breeds represented. The study found that the most prevalent cardiac diseases in cats were cardiomyopathies, which were found in 16% of all cats examined, while congenital malformations were found in 8% of the cats. Cats of 19 different breeds were represented, most of which were European Shorthair cats and Maine Coons. The European Shorthair breed had the largest number of healthy cats (40.9% of all healthy cats) as well as the largest number of cats with congenital heart disease (35.9% of all cats with congenital heart disease) and the largest number of cats with cardiomyopathies (50.6% of all cats with cardiomyopathies).