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We often hear about cats/kittens having murmurs. We hear they are graded in severity from grade 1 through grade 6. I thought sharing exactly what those grades mean might be helpful to many as most only hear the number. Just a reminder some kittens outgrow murmurs in their first year and that a murmur does not always mean HCM positive. Only about 50% of cats that develop HCM even have an audible murmur. The only true way to test for HCM is getting an echocardiogram done. The recommended age to have a cat heart scanned is when then reach maturity around 1 years of age.
Grade I — barely audible
Grade II — soft, but easily heard with a stethoscope
Grade III — intermediate loudness; most murmurs which are related to the mechanics of blood circulation are at least grade III
Grade IV — loud murmur that radiates widely, often including opposite side of chest
Grade V — very loud, audible with stethoscope barely touching the chest; the vibration is also strong enough to be felt through the animal’s chest wall
Grade VI — very loud, audible with stethoscope barely touching the chest; the vibration is also strong enough to be felt through the animal’s chest wall.
Grade I — barely audible
Grade II — soft, but easily heard with a stethoscope
Grade III — intermediate loudness; most murmurs which are related to the mechanics of blood circulation are at least grade III
Grade IV — loud murmur that radiates widely, often including opposite side of chest
Grade V — very loud, audible with stethoscope barely touching the chest; the vibration is also strong enough to be felt through the animal’s chest wall
Grade VI — very loud, audible with stethoscope barely touching the chest; the vibration is also strong enough to be felt through the animal’s chest wall.