Can Cats Have Heart Surgery or Transplants?

Name: Can Cats Have Heart Surgery or Transplants?
Creator: Dr. Zubair Khalid

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-03

Can cats have heart transplants? No. Heart transplants are not performed in cats in the United States, and they are not a realistic treatment option for feline heart disease. A small number of cats can have heart surgery to repair certain congenital defects, but these operations are rare, expensive, and only available at a handful of specialty centers [1][2][3].

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

Heart transplants are not available for cats. No U.S. veterinary program offers them as a clinical service.
Open-heart surgery has been performed successfully in a few cats with ventricular septal defects (VSDs), a hole in the wall between the heart's lower chambers [1][2][3].
These surgeries require cardiopulmonary bypass, a heart-lung machine that takes over circulation during the repair [2][3].
Most feline heart disease, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is managed with medication, not surgery [4].
Diuretics such as furosemide are a mainstay of treatment when a cat is in heart failure, and they can be life saving in a crisis [4].

Can Cats Have Heart Surgery? What Procedures Exist

Heart surgery in cats is uncommon. The feline heart is small, the blood volume is tiny, and the margin for error during surgery is narrow [3]. That is why most heart conditions in cats are treated with drugs instead of scalpels [4].

That said, a few surgical procedures have been reported.

Ventricular Septal Defect Repair

A ventricular septal defect is a hole between the left and right ventricles. Blood shunts from the left side (higher pressure) to the right side, which forces the lungs and heart to handle extra volume. Large defects can lead to congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension [2].

Surgical closure has been described in individual cats. In one report, a two-year-old British Shorthair with a 5.8-mm defect had the hole closed with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch through a right ventricular outflow tract incision under cardiopulmonary bypass [1]. In another, a one-year-old Ragdoll had an atypically located muscular VSD closed through a median sternotomy during cardiac arrest with cardiopulmonary bypass [2]. A third report described a six-month-old American Shorthair who had a VSD repaired through a right atrial approach using a right fifth intercostal thoracotomy [3].

These are case reports, not routine procedures. They show what is possible at highly specialized centers, not what is widely available.

Other Surgical Options

Some heart defects can be repaired or corrected with surgery, while others are managed with medical therapy using one or a combination of drugs [4]. Which category your cat falls into depends on the exact diagnosis. Your veterinarian or a veterinary cardiologist can tell you whether a surgical option exists for your cat's specific condition.

What About Heart Transplants Specifically?

There is no established heart transplant program for cats. The procedure would require a donor heart, lifelong immunosuppressive drugs, and intensive critical care, and no veterinary organization reports doing this in clinical practice. If you have read about heart transplants in pets, those discussions almost always involve human medicine or experimental work, not cats in general practice.

Why Heart Surgery Is Rare in Cats

Several factors limit how often these operations happen.

Size. A cat's total blood volume is small, so even modest blood loss during surgery matters. One report noted that information on open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in cats is limited, particularly regarding hemodilution (blood dilution) and restrictions on transfusion volume [3]. Techniques such as retrograde autologous priming and ultrafiltration were used in that case specifically to avoid excessive dilution [3].

Cost and access. Open-heart surgery requires a boarded surgeon, a cardiologist, perfusion equipment, and intensive aftercare. Very few hospitals can offer it.

Alternatives that work. For many cats, medication controls the disease well enough to maintain a good quality of life. Treatment goals include minimizing damage to the heart muscle, controlling fluid accumulation in and around the lungs, improving circulation, regulating heart rate and rhythm, supporting blood oxygen levels, and reducing the risk of blood clots [4].

Underlying disease type. Most heart disease in cats is cardiomyopathy, a muscle disease, not a structural hole that can be patched. Cardiomyopathy is managed medically. If your cat has been diagnosed with this condition, see Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats for a full owner guide.

Some breeds carry higher risk for inherited heart disease, which is one reason screening matters. Breed-specific resources such as Somali Cat Health Problems: Inherited Conditions and Cardiac Screenings and Siberian Cat Health Problems: Inherited Conditions and Cardiac Screenings explain what to ask a breeder and when to screen.

How to Prepare If Surgery Is an Option

Preparation starts long before the day of surgery.

Confirm the diagnosis. Your cat needs a full cardiac workup, usually including echocardiography, radiographs, and blood work. In the reported VSD cases, echocardiography defined the defect size, location, and shunt direction before surgery [1][2].

Stabilize first. Cats are often started on medications before surgery to control signs. The British Shorthair in one report received pimobendan, amlodipine, furosemide, and clopidogrel for tachypnea before repair [1]. Your veterinarian will decide which drugs your cat needs and calculate each dose based on your cat's weight and health.

Ask about blood products. Because feline transfusion options are limited, the surgical team may plan specific strategies to reduce blood dilution during bypass [3]. Ask how your hospital handles this.

Fast as directed. Your surgical team will give you exact fasting instructions. Follow them precisely.

Plan for travel and time off. These surgeries happen at referral centers, so you may need to travel and stay nearby during recovery.

What Happens During the Procedure

Open-heart repair in cats is performed under general anesthesia with cardiopulmonary bypass, a machine that circulates and oxygenates blood while the heart is stopped or bypassed [2][3].

The surgical approach varies by defect. Reported approaches include a right ventricular outflow tract incision [1], a median sternotomy [2], and a right fifth intercostal thoracotomy with a right atrial approach [3]. The choice depends on where the defect sits and what the surgeon can reach safely.

During bypass, the team manages blood volume carefully. Techniques used in one feline case included blood cardioplegia, retrograde autologous priming, conventional ultrafiltration, and modified ultrafiltration to prevent excessive blood dilution [3].

After the repair, the cat is weaned off bypass, the chest is closed, and the cat moves to intensive care for monitoring. Expect continuous ECG monitoring, oxygen support, pain management, and close watching for arrhythmias.

Recovery Timeline and Home Care

Recovery is gradual. The table below reflects typical milestones described in feline cardiac surgery reports, but your cat's timeline may differ.

Timeframe	What to Expect	Your Role
First 24 to 72 hours	Intensive care monitoring, oxygen support, ECG checks, pain control	Visit only if the hospital allows it. Keep phone contact with the team
First 1 to 2 weeks	Incision healing, low activity, appetite returning	Confine your cat to a quiet room. Give all medications on schedule. Check the incision daily
2 to 6 weeks	Gradual increase in activity, recheck exams and imaging	Keep your cat indoors and calm. Report any breathing change right away
3 to 6 months	Repeat echocardiography to confirm the repair is holding	Attend all rechecks
1 year and beyond	Many cats return to normal activity	Continue routine cardiac monitoring

In one reported case, a cat had sporadic premature ventricular contractions after surgery but recovered without major complications, and at one year postoperatively showed improved activity, no residual shunt flow, and needed no medication [1]. Another cat was alive without medical therapy or clinical signs one year after surgery [3]. These are individual outcomes, not guarantees.

Home care basics:

Give every medication exactly as prescribed. Do not skip doses or stop early.
Keep your cat indoors and restrict jumping and rough play during healing.
Watch the incision for redness, swelling, discharge, or opening.
Track breathing rate at rest. Your veterinarian will tell you what number is normal for your cat and when to call.
Keep follow-up appointments even if your cat seems fine.

Possible Complications and Warning Signs

Complications can happen during surgery, right after, or months later.

Reported complications in feline heart surgery include transient chylothorax (fluid buildup from thoracic duct damage) that resolved with conservative treatment [2] and sporadic premature ventricular contractions after surgery [1]. Blood dilution during bypass is a known concern because of limits on feline transfusion volume [3].

Longer-term risks depend on the underlying disease. Cats with cardiomyopathy face a risk of thromboembolic disease, in which a clot blocks blood flow, often to the hind legs. Research into the hypercoagulable state in cats with cardiomyopathy is still limited and findings across studies are inconsistent [5]. Your veterinarian may prescribe an antiplatelet drug such as clopidogrel to reduce clot risk, as was used in reported cases [1][6].

Call your veterinarian right away if you see:

Open-mouth breathing, labored breathing, or a resting breathing rate above the number your veterinarian gave you
Sudden weakness, dragging the hind legs, or crying out in pain
Collapse, fainting, or a racing or irregular heartbeat
Pale or blue gums
Not eating for more than 24 hours
Incision swelling, discharge, or bleeding

Questions to Ask the Veterinarian

Bring a written list. Good questions include:

What is the exact diagnosis, and is it a defect that surgery can fix?
Is my cat stable enough for anesthesia and bypass?
How many of these procedures has this hospital performed in cats?
What is the expected survival and complication rate for my cat's specific defect?
What medications will my cat need before and after surgery?
What does aftercare cost, and what does the total estimate include?
What is the plan if surgery is not an option?
What signs mean I should come back immediately?

If surgery is not available or not right for your cat, medical management is a legitimate and often effective path. Diuretics increase urine output and remove fluid that accumulates with heart disease, and their use can be life saving when a cat is in a heart failure crisis [4]. Other drugs target heart rate, rhythm, clot risk, and oxygen delivery [4].

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

Feline heart surgery is not widely available, and outcomes are reported in small numbers of individual cats [1][2][3]. No one can promise a result for your cat. Every case needs a veterinarian who can examine your cat, review the imaging, and set a plan for your pet.

Contact your veterinarian the same day if:

Your cat's resting breathing rate is higher than the target your veterinarian set
Your cat is coughing, breathing with effort, or tiring quickly
Your cat refuses food or seems weak
The surgical incision looks irritated or has discharge

Go to an emergency hospital now if:

Your cat is breathing with an open mouth or gasping
Your cat's hind legs are suddenly weak, cold, or paralyzed
Your cat has collapsed or fainted
Your cat's gums are pale, white, or blue

Schedule a routine visit if:

Your cat has a new heart murmur
Your cat has a known heart condition and is due for a recheck
You are considering breeding and want cardiac screening first

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cats have heart transplants?

No. Heart transplants are not performed in cats in the United States and are not offered as a clinical treatment for feline heart disease. Care for cats with heart disease focuses on medication and, in rare cases, surgical repair of specific defects.

Is heart surgery ever successful in cats?

Yes, in individual reported cases. Cats with ventricular septal defects have survived open-heart repair and were doing well a year later without medication [1][3]. These results come from highly specialized centers and small numbers of cats.

What is the most common treatment for heart disease in cats?

Medication. Diuretics remove excess fluid and can be life saving during a heart failure crisis [4]. Other drugs help control heart rate and rhythm, support circulation, and lower clot risk [4].

How long does a cat live after heart surgery?

That depends on the defect, the cat, and the hospital. In reported VSD cases, cats were alive and free of clinical signs one year after surgery [1][3]. Long-term data in cats are limited, so your veterinarian will set expectations based on your cat's diagnosis.

Can heart disease in cats ever reverse on its own?

Sometimes, with treatment of the underlying cause. One cat with transient myocardial thickening and congestive heart failure showed complete reverse remodeling with normalization of the heart on echocardiography, and medication was discontinued [6]. Two cats with diabetes and heart failure signs improved after their blood sugar was stabilized [7]. These are specific situations, not the usual course, so follow your veterinarian's monitoring plan.

References

Surgical correction of ventricular septal defect in a cat. Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology, 2025.
Surgical Correction of Infundibular Muscular Ventricular Septal Defect in a Cat: A Case Report. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2024.
Prevention of blood dilution during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in a cat with ventricular septal defect. Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology, 2026.
Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Cats - Cat Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
The presence of a hypercoagulable state in cats with cardiomyopathies with or without thromboembolic disease: A scoping review. Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997), 2026.
Recurrent transient myocardial thickening and congestive heart failure in a cat. Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology, 2026.
Reversible congestive heart failure associated with diabetes mellitus in two cats. JFMS open reports, 2026.