Thread: suspected HCM

First let me say I am so sorry for the loss of your young kitty, how very sad, my heart truly goes out to you :(

The good news is that there ARE treatments for HCM cats!! I would definitely recommend getting a cardiac ultrasound done on your other kitty as soon as possible. This is the only sure way to diagnose HCM.

If you take a look at my previous posts you will see that I have been through this with my little boy. He was diagnosed when he had no symptoms other than a slight murmur, our vet said it could be nothing since he was under a year old at the time but offered us the option of diagnostics if we were interested. My boy is not from a breeder, he is the product of my parent's female cat escaping the house before she was spayed and an opportunistic neighborhood Coon. Since I didn't have any genetic info on his parents I decided to be cautious and get the ultrasound.

Being told that my seemingly healthy 1 and a half year old kitty, who I have had since the moment of his birth, had a chronic, progressive, untreatable heart condition was one of the most devastating moments of my life. But as hard as it was to hear I'm glad I found out early and was able to get him on medication.

Generally asymptomatic HCM is treated with atenolol, it is a beta-blocker which slows the heart rate and eases the workload of the heart muscle. The goal is to keep the walls of the heart from thickening any further. In some cases this may be all that is needed. There are things that can be done at home too such as maintaining a healthy weight and feeding a diet that is low in salt. Some people I have talked to feel they have seen benefits from supplements like fish oil and CoQ10.

Knowledge is the most important weapon in this battle, you have to know what you're up against, so the first step is getting the testing done. My little boy went into heart failure when he was about 3 (the progression of his condition was slowed by the medication but in his case it didn't halt the thickening) he fought back from death's doorstep and with the help of a fantastic cardiology team, made a full recovery. He is now 7.5 years old and takes a diuretic medication and an ACE inhibitor for his heart, but to all outward appearances he is a happy, healthy, active, rambunctious kitty. I think that the early treatment he received when he was asymptomatic and the fact that I was able to recognize his heart failure and get him the right treatment right away are the reasons that his condition is so stable and well managed now. His doctors are very pleased with his results and are optimistic about his future. I am looking forward to many more years together