Normal Heart Rate for Cat

Cats are decent animals that want you to play with them. Sometimes they get bored which results in stress but they are masters in the skills of hiding suffering.

The normal heart rate for cat is between 160 to 200 or 220 beats per minute bpm. When they have some issues their heart rate becomes lower or higher according to the situation.

The study addresses cat heart rates in different situations, all the issues related to heart rates, the causes, signs and symptoms of abnormal heart rate. Let’s discuss all about the normal cat's heart rate.

Cat's Normal Heart Rate?

A normal heart rate of a cat means a relaxed cat that is at rest and has no physical activities, the normal cat heart rate is in between 160 to 200 or 220 beats per minute bpm.

Cats are masters in hiding signs and inner feelings, they often hide what they feel and stay calm in a corner. When one cat is not relaxed and has some physical activities, you cannot get the cat normal heart rate without normal vital signs.

Related Article: How to Stop Cat Shedding

How to Calculate Normal Heart Rate?

Calculating a normal cat’s heart rate is very easy and simple, all you have to do is handle your cat very gently. Take your cat in your hands very calmly and pretend that you are just in love with her and out of care you are lifting her.

As the heart is attached to the dorsal sides of bodies, so behind her left side elbow place your hand on her chest and carefully start counting how many beats per minute.

Notice heart beats in 15 seconds and then multiply by 4, check your cat’s beats with the normal rate which is 160 to 200 or 220 bpm.

Heart Rate of Kitten

The newborn kittens have relatively higher heart rate than older cats. The normal range for cat heart rate is 160 to 200 bpm that of kittens may rise to 240 or 260.

If your kitten has that much heart rate, there is nothing to worry but near 300 is high for them and is alarming.

Sinus Tachycardia, Arrhythmia, and Sinus Bradycardia

The following are the heart diseases caused by a pet’s vital abnormalities: -

Causes of Higher and Lower Heart Rates

Physical activities, temperature, or any other serious pet health conditions may result in faster heart rates while anesthesia, unconsciousness, seizures, and abnormal electrical activity with the heart are responsible for lower heart rates. Thus, heart rate indicates the cat’s health condition.

Resting and Dying Heart Rate of Cats

A normal cat’s heart rate indicates that your cat is in normal health condition, if it lowers or increases that will signal the abnormal health issues. What is the resting heart rate for cats?

The resting or sleeping cat heart rate ranges from 120 to 140 or 160 bpm. Unfortunately, if the cat is dying, her heart rate will meet a lower range because of her pauses between each beat and the pauses will get longer.

Critically Low, Low, and High Rates

In addition to the normal cat’s heart rate, let’s discuss other sides. What is the critically low heart rate? The critically slow heart rate for cat is below 100 bpm. What is the low heart rate?

The slow heart rate for cats ranges from 100 to 140 bpm. What is the normal heart rate? The cat's normal heart rate is between 140 to 220 bpm. What is the high heart rate? The high heart rate for cats is above 220 bpm.

Abnormal Heart Rate Alerts You

A normal cat heart rate indicates the normal cat’s overall health condition while an abnormal heart condition signals an alert that something is going wrong cats.

It can also alert you about the anxious condition, boredom, stress, or any other problem. An abnormal heart may be due to physical activities but if your cat faints, yowls, vomits or acts disoriented then you are directed to invite a Veterinarian.

Causes of Abnormal Heart Rate of Cats

Determining the cat’s vital signs is easy, the abnormal heart rate for cats alerts you about various situations, which are the following;

Pain

The normal cat heart rate may be disturbed due to pain, if your cat has any kind of pain, first it will try to hide but then it will yowl, an indication for you to consult a Veterinarian for your cat.

Appetite

Sometimes when you are out of the home for a long day and there is no one to watch and feed the pet, the cat's normal heart rate will also be disturbed on account of starvation.

Boredom

Cat is a happy animal and wants you to play with it most of the time, not playing with it will lead to its boredom.

Boredom will result in stress affecting the cat’s normal heart rate, so whenever you find your cat unhappy and silent, try to have some fun.

Fear

Out of fear, the normal cat’s heart rate will rise, whenever they detect danger or watch a fearful scene, like human beings their heart rate speeds up and starts fast beating.

Hyperthyroidism

Heart arrhythmia is the condition of abnormal heart rate for cats, it may be caused due to numerous reasons like hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism like pain, fear, boredom, and physical activities affects the cat’s normal heart rate.

Physical Activities

Abnormal heart rate for cats is not always due to some serious issues, it may increase with some physical activities. So do not worry about the cat’s normal heart rate when they return from playing.

Anemia or blood loss

There may occur some other reasons like anemia, blood loss, infections, congestive heart failure, and blood clots that lead to disturbance in the cat’s normal heart rate. But these are serious issues and cannot be ignored.

Normal and Abnormal Temperature of Cats

What is the normal and abnormal temperature for cats? The normal cat’s temperature for is in between 37.5 to 39-degree C, in Fahrenheit it will be between 100 and 102.5.

Checking cat’s temperature can be done through digital thermometer, any pet’s temperate above or below this will be considered abnormal.

Normal And Abnormal Respiratory Rate For Cats

What is the normal cat’s respiratory rate? The normal respiratory rate for these pets is 20 to 30 breaths per minute. The breathing rate may also affect the normal heart rate, if one breath up or down abnormally, the heart rate will be disturbed.

Recommended Tests

If the cat’s normal heart rate is disturbed, the Veterinarian will conduct some tests along with Chest X-ray, ECG, Echocardiogram, and blood work. Visit your trusted cat veterinarian in Asheville, NC.

Prescribed medications

The proper medication for the cat suffering from heart rate issue can only be prescribed by the vet physician that too after conducting cat's medical examination.

However, most of the times, following medications have been prescribed: -

For the abnormal heart rate, the Veterinarian may recommend some medicines like Diltiazem, Propranolol, Atenolol, Sotalol, And a pacemaker.

Conclusion

Normal heart rate for cat means when a relaxed cat has no physical activities, the normal cat heart rate is in between 160 to 200 or 220 beats per minute (bpm).

Physical activities, temperature, or any other serious health conditions may result in faster heart rates while anesthesia, unconsciousness, seizures, and abnormal electrical activity with the heart are responsible for lower heart rates.

The normal body temperature for cats is in between 37.5 to 39-degree C, in Fahrenheit it will be between 100 and 102.5. Any temperate above or below this will be considered abnormal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sick cat's heart rate?

The critically low heart rate for a sick cat is below 100 bpm and low ranges from 100 to 140 bpm. The normal is in between 140 to 220 bpm while a high heart rate is above 220 bpm.

What is a good heart rate for a cat?

Normal heart rate means when the cat is at rest, the normal cat heart rate for cat is in between 160 to 200 or 220 beats per minute (bpm).

Why is my cats heart beating so fast?

Hyperthyroidism, boredom, stress, anxiety, physical activities, etc. are responsible for fast heart beats. But if your cat faints, or acts disoriented then call a Vet.

How can I check my cat's heart rate at home?

Place your hand on the lower end of her chest and carefully start counting the cat’s heartbeat. Count heartbeats in 15 seconds and then multiply by 4.