Congenital heart defects in cats: a retrospective study of 162 cats (1996-2013)

Objective: To study the prevalence and distribution of congenital heart defects in cats presented at two referral centers in Sweden between 1996 and 2013. Animals: 162 client-owned cats with congenital heart defects. Methods: Case records of cats diagnosed with congenital heart disease were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The overall prevalence of congenital heart disease was 0.2% of the total number of patient cats, and 8% of cats diagnosed with heart disease. A total of 182 heart defects were identified as 16 cats were diagnosed with more than one defect. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was most prevalent, found in 50% of cats, followed by tricuspid valve dysplasia (11%), pulmonic stenosis (10%), atrial septal defect (10%), aortic stenosis (9%), mitral valve dysplasia (9%), tetralogy of Faltot (5%), patent ductus arteriosus (3%), common atrioventricular canal (2%), and the following defects that each accounted for 0.6% of cats: double chamber right ventricle, double outlet right ventricle, endocardial fibroelastosis, dextroposition of the aorta, persistent right aortic arch, and pulmonary atresia. Conclusion: The prevalence of congenital heart disease was 0.2% of the total number of patient cats, and 8% of cats diagnosed with heart disease. Ventricular septal defect was the most common congenital heart defect in this study. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.