Maine Coon Cattery
Black Moon
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common heart disease in cats that causes the heart muscle to thicken abnormally. This thickening can obstruct blood flow and lead to various complications.
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Like the human heart, the feline heart has four chambers—two smaller chambers on the top, the left and right atrium, and two larger chambers on the bottom, the left and right ventricle.
The function of the right atrium is to pump deoxygenated blood from the body into the right ventricle, which pumps the blood to the lungs to pick up more oxygen for use by the body and release carbon dioxide for disposal.
The function of the left atrium is to pump oxygen-rich blood from the lungs into the left ventricle, which then pumps the blood back to the body to allow proper cellular and organ function. Because the left ventricle needs to push oxygenated blood to the body, its muscular walls are thicker than those of the right ventricle.
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Since HCM can be inherited or may be the result of other medical conditions, the disease is difficult to prevent. It is my responsibility over my cattery to test my cats in hopes to be able to prevent this in the breed in our future. my cats are seen by a board-certified veterinary cardiologists. as breeders we should test for mutations in the A31P gene so that kittens produced from breeding stock do not inherit two mutated copies of the gene.
General care and proper nutrition for all cats can go a long way to supporting heart health and prolonging the asymptomatic stage of HCM. It is crucial for higher-risk cats (senior cats, cats with predisposed conditions, cats with the A31P gene) to be screened annually for any signs of heart disease.
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Prevention of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Causes of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats
What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Cats?
Certain breeds, such as Maine Coons,, are more prone to developing HCM
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Exposure to certain toxins or environmental stressors may increase the risk of developing HCM.
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Conditions such as hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, or certain types of cancer can contribute to HCM.
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However, in many cases, the exact cause of HCM in cats remains unknown (idiopathic).
What is a Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist
Veterinarians who undergo advanced training to become board-certified cardiologists demonstrate a passion and commitment to their field and the welfare of the pets they serve. In order to become a board-certified cardiologist, a veterinarian must complete 3 years of cardiac-specific training. During these three years, the veterinarian must pass 2 extensive examinations in both general veterinary internal medicine and veterinary cardiology. Completing this rigorous program also demonstrates advanced knowledge and experience that is invaluable when it comes to proper diagnosis and treatment.
Heart Murmur in cats
The cause of a heart murmur in a cat is typically not found by using a stethoscope alone to listen to the lungs, though this can be helpful in determining the location, configuration, and grade of the murmur.
Unfortunately, a benign or innocent heart murmur can sound like a heart murmur caused by severe heart disease in a cat. So all heart murmurs will need to be evaluated thoroughly by a veterinarian to ensure the health of your cat.
Your veterinarian will likely recommend full blood work, including a cardiac proBNP, which gives a quantifiable number value to the amount of stretch on the heart muscle itself. Concerning symptoms and consistently increased levels of proBNP can suggest underlying heart disease in cats.  
Blood work can help rule out anemia or underlying systemic disease, such as hyperthyroidism, which can contribute to heart disease.  
Chest radiographs are often recommended to assess the size of the heart, to evaluate the vessels going to and from the heart, and to assess the lungs for any signs of fluid or congestive heart failure (CHF).  
An echocardiogram or ultrasound of the heart is considered the gold standard to investigate the underlying cause of a heart murmur. Sometimes an electrocardiogram (EKG) is recommended if an abnormal heart rhythm is noted.
Treatment of Heart Murmur in Cats
​A heart murmur itself does not require treatment, but the underlying cause of the heart murmur may need to be addressed.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of the heart murmur. Benign or innocent murmurs usually require no treatment at all. Often, cat age, overall health, and the cost of therapy are major considerations with treatment of heart disease in cats. 
CHF, depending on its severity, often requires hospitalization, diuretics (furosemide), cardiac medications (benazepril), and oxygen therapy. In many cases of CHF in cats, pleural effusion (fluid buildup around the lungs) needs to be removed by a procedure called thoracocentesis to allow the lungs to fully expand again.  
Some congenital heart murmurs, such as small holes in the heart walls (or septal defects), may resolve within six months as the animal grows. In some cases of congenital heart disease in cats, surgery is necessary to close a PDA or septal defect.  
Treatment of other underlying health conditions, such as anemia or hyperthyroidism, may help with underlying heart murmurs. 
Each case is different, so your veterinarian will work with you to determine the best diagnostic and treatment plan while also discussing the prognosis for your cat.