HCM Screening

TESTING

I screen my Turkish angora breeding cats, starting at 1 year of age, for HCM by echocardiogram. (while this doesn't guarantee against problems, I do believe it to be an excellent indicator). Echocardiography is the gold standard for the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats. It is non-invasive and very accurate. Cats are screened by Dr. Riepe, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM Cardiology. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, in the subspecialty of cardiology.

DOCUMENTATION

I provide the documented echocardiogram results of the kitten’s sire and dam to the adopting human parents. HCM screening is not a perfect test, but right now it is the best tool available to diagnose the disease and prevent it in future generations. HCM screening every breeding cat every 18 months can be inconvenient and expensive, but it is worth the time and expense to ensure any Turkish angora who has HCM is not used in a breeding program. No matter what pedigreed breed you are interested in, please find out what reputable breeders should be testing for to reduce the incidence of disease in their breed and ask to see the results of those tests.

ABOUT

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most commonly diagnosed cardiac disease in cats. Characterized by regional or diffuse thickening of the walls of the ventricle, HCM has been diagnosed in cats as young as 4 months old and as old as 16 years old. Although the definitive cause of feline HCM has not been identified, its prevalence within certain breeds (Maine Coon cats, Ragdolls, etc.) has prompted speculation that at least some forms of HCM are genetic in origin.

The finding of mutations in an important cardiac protein called myosin binding protein C in affected lines of Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats supports a heritable, genetic component of HCM.

In Maine Coons, HCM has been confirmed as an autosomal dominant inherited trait, as it is in humans, where over 130 gene mutations in 10 genes have been found to cause the disease. The disease has variable expression; meaning some cats are severely affected, others are only mildly to moderately affected, and some cats may not have evidence of the disease yet produce affected offspring. Genes identified as a cause of HCM in Maine Coon cats may not be the same gene responsible for HCM in other breeds. HCM will require investigation in each breed individually.