Feline Physiologic Murmur

Amara H. Estrada, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), University of Florida

ArticleSeptember 20141 min read

A soft, grade 2/6 murmur (auscultated loudest over the left sternal border) is appreciated in this heart sound.

This murmur is most likely an innocent or physiologic murmur caused by increased cardiac output and a high heart rate (common in cats). An echocardiogram is necessary to determine whether a benign dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (DRVOTO) or a pathologic dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (DLVOTO) is present.