Knowing the early signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Maine Coon cats

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Respected sources of information on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Maine Coon cats tell us that about 30% (25%-33%) of Maine Coons have a genetic mutation that makes them likely that they will develop HCM which is a thickening of the muscle walls of the heart leading to heart failure and other complications such as an increased risk of blockage. So, what are the signs that your Maine Coon cat is developing HCM?

Image: MikB based on images in the public domain: heart: Wikipedia and MC: Pixabay.

The genetic mutation referred to is a defective gene which is autosomal dominant. It affects both males and females. One copy of the gene may lead to the disease.

RELATED: Mavacamten is slated as a possible new drug for HCM in Maine Coon cats.

Test for genetic mutation

In the US, the Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Laboratory at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine can test cats for this defect using a cheek swab or a blood test. That information was valid in about the year 2000. I cannot vouch for the fact that it is still valid and therefore a phone call would help. I could not find a quick answer on the Internet.

Age when it appears

Firstly, my reference work on veterinary medicine (Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook) tells me that in general HCM tends to affect cats 1-5 years of age and it has been detected in kittens as young as three months.

However, for Maine Coon cats, signs of HCM usually show up in affected males by two years of age and affected females by three years of age. That helps you to judge whether the signs that you see are related to HCM.

Signs

The early signs are indefinite and can be vague. There might be an increased heart rate and a murmur. Both are common signs. You will probably need a veterinarian to detect these symptoms.

The owner will detect decreased appetite and weight loss. They should detect an increase in respiratory rate as well. Another symptom is a loss of activity or desire to be active and a reduced tolerance to exercise. These might not be obvious to the cat's owner.

Cats recognise their limitations and restrict their activities to match.

Sometimes the first and only sign may be sudden death which is very worrying for a Maine Coon owner.

A blood clot in an artery may be the first symptom of cardiomyopathy of any type.

Diagnosis

A veterinarian will diagnose by chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart and thyroid function tests. I'm told that an excellent diagnostic tool is an echocardiogram with Doppler technology.

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