In cats, bradycardia is defined as heart rate below what value?

In cats, bradycardia is defined as heart rate below what value?

• A. <80 bpm
• B. <90 bpm
• C. <100 bpm
• D. <110 bpm

Answer: (C)

Bradycardia is a slower-than-normal heart rate for the species. In cats, a typical resting heart rate is about 140–220 beats per minute, so when the rate falls below 100 beats per minute it’s considered bradycardia. This threshold matters because a slower heart rate can reduce cardiac output and compromise tissue perfusion, especially under anesthesia or when vagal tone is high or drugs that depress the heart are used. Recognizing this cutoff helps guide rapid assessment and management, such as adjusting depth of anesthesia, addressing reversible causes, and considering appropriate interventions if perfusion is affected. The other values listed would not be considered bradycardia in a typical feline clinical setting.

Bradycardia is a slower-than-normal heart rate for the species. In cats, a typical resting heart rate is about 140–220 beats per minute, so when the rate falls below 100 beats per minute it’s considered bradycardia. This threshold matters because a slower heart rate can reduce cardiac output and compromise tissue perfusion, especially under anesthesia or when vagal tone is high or drugs that depress the heart are used. Recognizing this cutoff helps guide rapid assessment and management, such as adjusting depth of anesthesia, addressing reversible causes, and considering appropriate interventions if perfusion is affected. The other values listed would not be considered bradycardia in a typical feline clinical setting.