Question

Can a cat perform a cardiac shunt during times of increased activity? Please include anatomical evidence to support your response.

Answer 1

The cats can perform carterial shunt during the times of increased activity, these animals have something called ductus arteriosus which is an arterial shunt between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.

The cats heart functions similar to humans where the blood flows from the body into the right side of the heart and then is pumped through pulmonary artery into the lungs where the blood is oxygenated. From there, the bllod flows into the left side of the heart through pulmonary vein. The oxygenated blood is pumped throughout the body using the aorta.

A condition called patent ductus arteriosus exits in cats where the difference in pressure between the pulmonary artery and the aorta leads to blood taking the path of least resistance. Since less blood is being pumped through aorta, the left side of the heart is working hard to meet the demands of the body.