Heart Murmur & panting?!?! What could it mean???

My 7 yr old cat just got back from the vet. We initially wanted a blood and urine test done ( just as a first check up) but it couldnt be done, but the vet told us that he heard a heart murmur and suggested that we get an ultrasound done.
Although my cat is not showing any type of heart disorder symptoms at the moment, from what the vet told me, there really is not much point of getting the ultrasound done. He told me that there is no prevention or treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy which afterdoing some reasearch on the web, I found to be untrue. Is this so? Is there really no prevenetion or treatment for this disease? he also said that there is absolutely nothing to do unless there were and symptoms.
I dont know much yet, but frankly the vet has got me quite worried
. is it possible that a heart mumur can mean nothing?

So, I'm hoping you folks can share some experiences with heart disorders. I've noticed that my cat pants when she's nervous or stressed out ( like a trip to the vet's) is this normal??

I just adopted a kitty with a heart murmer and my vet (whom I trust completely) told me to give her baby aspirin every third day because they can develop clots. Your kitty may be different so I would ask your vet instead of just doing it, my vet also said (roughly) there really isnt anything to do and that they can live their whole lives with a heart murmer, just keep an eye open for clinical symptoms (coughing is a big one).

As for the panting, when your cat is worked up it's normal. I took Chester to the vet the other day and he was panting, sometimes when they play rough they'll pant too. Did your vet say what grade your cats heart murmer was?

Did your vet mention what grade the heart murmur is? They're graded from 1-6, depending on the severity. If possible, I'd encourage you to consider a cardiac ultrasound, which can help confirm whether your does have HCM and the actual condition/function of your cat's heart. My Peter, who's 5, has a grade 2 murmur and was diagnosed with mild HCM after an ultrasound 3 years ago. Although there is no cure for HCM, the disease can be managed and further damage to the heart prevented with treatment. Peter gets 1/2 a baby aspirin twice a week to keep his blood thin, and a low dosage of a beta blocker daily to regulate his blood pressure and prevent blood clots. For now, he gets an annual ultrasound to monitor the condition of his heart. The meds are doing the trick, because in three years there's been no further progression of the disease and his heart is functioning normallly.

I'll be sending lots of vibes for your kitty. Please feel free to PM if you have
any questions, concerns or just need to talk.

My Sugar Ray had DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy). When he had been to the vet when he was young (probably about a year of age) he had had a slight heart mumur, but when we went in the next year for his check it wasn't detected again, and then not at any subsequent checkups.

When he was 8 to 9 years old I noticed he was breathing strangely. To make a very long story short, we rushed him into emergency on Christmas night of 2007. They drew a tremendous amount of fluid from his lungs, did X-rays, and kept him in the oxygen chamber overnight. The next day they performed an ultrasound that showed the DCM.

He was put on several medications that I prayed would be the answer, but I finally had to accept that he would never get better. My husband and I spent hours and hours researching on the internet about DCM. I will never forgive myself that I did not get him to the vet before the damage was so severe. The vet assured me that even vets can miss the symptoms with their own cats, but I can look back now and see when it began. I wish I would have gotten him in then. DCM usually shows up around 8 years of age from what I have read and is more common in male cats.

HCM is different than DCM, but many of the medications are the same. Sugar Ray was to take only 1/4 of a baby aspirin every 3rd day. He also took lasix, Enacard, and Vetmedin. I don't know the exactly what the Enacard and Vetmedin did, but I do think if I had gotten him in sooner something could have helped him before there was so much irreversible damage.

Now I have Kody. HCM is a real issue in the Bengal breed. I have asked my vet about a ultrasound, just to be on the safe side, and he has talked me out of it both times, saying that he really doesn't recommend it, if no symptoms present themselves.

So......I don't know what to say, but do not give any medication (aspirin) without a vet's recommendation. Aspirin is poisonous to cats, so the dosage has to be very carefully considered.

Anne

Im still amazed how common these heart murmurs are.

My two year old, Jack went for his yearly check up last month, and he was shaking with fear as usual.

The vet said he had a "slight" heart murmur as there was a faint hissing sound, but that it was probably because he was stressed as it started to ease off once he calmed down. I asked him to check it again just before we left which he did and he could hardly hear anything

He said if he had to grade his it would be 1, but that i didn't have to worry.

I asked if he needed a scan, medication, or if i needed to calm him down as he was such an energetic cat, but he said no, and let him carry on as normal.

Tedi was diagnosed with a heart murmur about a year and a half ago. He takes 1/4 of an atenolol tablet twice a day to slow down his heart rate. His murmur was graded at a 3 or 4. It has brought his grade down to a 2.

There is no cure, but there is treatment to help slow down the progress of the disease. I would also suggest a cardiac ultrasound to see what grade it is.

My Meeko has a grade 2/3 heart murmur and is 9 years old now.
She was 3 months when we found out.
You need to get the scans no matter what the vet says.
I know breeders that have sphynx with HCM and there are things you can do even though they do end up getting worse.
It depends on how bad it is.
I have a lot of info on HCM.

My 4yr old was DX with Hypertrophic Cardiomyapathy. He will be on meds, but I am sick to my stomach thinking about it. He's doing well, eating, playing n going to the bathroom. Has anyone had a cat with this disease?