{"id":4047,"date":"2024-03-14T06:37:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T06:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/?p=4047"},"modified":"2025-11-01T13:19:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T13:19:16","slug":"congestive-heart-failure-in-cats-due-to-hcm-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-health\/congestive-heart-failure-in-cats-due-to-hcm-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Congestive Heart Failure in Cats due to HCM in Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why are Cats Prone to Congestive Heart Failure? What&#8217;s HCM in Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No cat parent ever wants to think of the possibility that their precious furball can fall seriously sick. However, it is important to know the possibilities to find out the correct preventive healthcare measures you can take before your cat begins showing signs of congestive heart failure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cardiac disease diagnosed in cats. It is also one of the leading causes of congestive heart failure in cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a matter of fact, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs in 1 out of 7 cats although most of them do not show any clinical signs in the early stages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is the very reason why you need to get your cat or kitten\u2019s cardiac health checked up ASAP. Speak to a <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vetic.in\/pet-consultation-near-me\">veterinary cardiac specialist<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Vetic for your cat\u2019s preventive health checkup right now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4050\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/7.jpg\" alt=\"An informational image about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats, featuring a grey cat and a diagram of an affected heart. Description: The image is informational and focuses on explaining Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats. On the left side, there is a grey cat lying down, looking towards the camera. The background is plain with a gradient from white to light blue at the bottom. At the top left corner, there\u2019s text explaining what HCM is and stating that it\u2019s a common heart disease in cats causing thickening of heart muscles. On the right side, there\u2019s a diagram of an HCM affected heart labeled \u201cHCM Heart,\u201d showing thickened walls and narrowed chambers. The company or organization logo \u201cvetic\u201d appears at the top right corner.\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats is a progressive disease that reduces the heart\u2019s efficiency. HCM in cats causes the thickening of the muscular walls of a cat\u2019s heart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HCM can also show signs in other parts of the body including lameness, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/cats\/why-is-my-cat-panting-causes-and-effects-of-panting-in-cats\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shortness of breath<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and lethargy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cats with HCM show abnormal thickening of the heart\u2019s left ventricle. It results in the reduction of space inside the heart\u2019s chamber. The changes cause the heart to beat rapidly using up more oxygen in the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eventually, it can lead to arrhythmias (slower, faster, irregular heartbeats), backup of blood in the chamber(s) of the heart and even to the lungs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These steps ultimately cause congestive heart failure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the Clinical Signs of Hypertrophic Cardiomegaly (HCM) in Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4051\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/8.jpg\" alt=\"An informational image about Hypertrophic Cardiomegaly in cats featuring a fluffy cat and a list of symptoms. The image is an informational graphic about \u201cThe Clinical Signs of Hypertrophic Cardiomegaly or HCM in Cats\u201d by vetic. A fluffy, long-haired cat with green eyes is prominently featured on the right side of the image. The background is a gradient from blue at the top to white at the bottom. At the top, there\u2019s text stating that most cats with mild to moderate heart diseases don\u2019t have symptoms. Below this, there\u2019s a list of symptoms of HCM in cats, including labored breathing, panting, hind limb pain, and hind limb paralysis. Each symptom is accompanied by an icon of a cat\u2019s face.\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the cats with mild to moderate heart diseases don\u2019t show any symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other cats can show symptoms such as &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laboured breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open-mouthed breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hind limb pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hind limb paralysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some cats may also develop blood clots in one or multiple parts of the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is Your Cat at Risk of Developing HCM?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around 15% of cats across the world are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8642168\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diagnosed with HCM<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> since they show the clinical signs. That is a big number considering several indie cats and other common breeds such as Persian, Ragdoll and Maine Coon go through their entire junior years and part of their adulthood without any preventive health screening (tests).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4049\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/10.jpg\" alt=\"An informational image from Vetic about cat breeds at high risk of developing a specific heart condition, with a list of breeds and additional information on the condition. Description: The image is primarily informational, presented in a visual format with text and icons. The top section has a teal background with white text stating \u201cWhich Cat Breeds are at a High Risk of Developing\u201d (the rest is cut off but likely refers to a specific health condition). Below this headline, there\u2019s a list of four cat breeds: Ragdoll, Persian Cats, Maine Coon, and British Shorthair. Each breed name is accompanied by an icon of a cat\u2019s face. A large blurred area obscures part of the image; it seems like an illustration or photo was originally there. At the bottom, there\u2019s more text on the teal background explaining that this is a common heart condition in cats and providing statistics about its prevalence. The logo \u201cvetic\u201d appears in the top right corner.\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no gender bias when it comes to HCM.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any cat can be at risk of developing HCM since this heart disease is dependent on genetics. Other factors involved in the cause of this heart disease in cats is not yet known.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HCM is most commonly seen in particular breeds including Ragdoll, Persian, British Shorthair and Maine Coon. If you have a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-care\/how-to-take-care-of-your-persian-cat\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Persian cat in India<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or you have brought a Maine Coon, British Shorthair or Ragdoll cat home, you need to put their cardiac health checkups on priority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How is HCM in Cats Diagnosed?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4049\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/10.jpg\" alt=\"An informational image from Vetic about cat breeds at high risk of developing a specific heart condition, with a list of breeds and additional information on the condition. Description: The image is primarily informational, presented in a visual format with text and icons. The top section has a teal background with white text stating \u201cWhich Cat Breeds are at a High Risk of Developing\u201d (the rest is cut off but likely refers to a specific health condition). Below this headline, there\u2019s a list of four cat breeds: Ragdoll, Persian Cats, Maine Coon, and British Shorthair. Each breed name is accompanied by an icon of a cat\u2019s face. A large blurred area obscures part of the image; it seems like an illustration or photo was originally there. At the bottom, there\u2019s more text on the teal background explaining that this is a common heart condition in cats and providing statistics about its prevalence. The logo \u201cvetic\u201d appears in the top right corner.\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is extremely difficult to diagnose HCM when it\u2019s subclinical or without any symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a kitten or cat has early stage HCM, you need to go for preventive healthcare screening including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/veterinarypartner.vin.com\/default.aspx?pid=19239&amp;catId=102903&amp;id=9453775\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">echocardiography<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can reveal any abnormalities in the heart physiology and function.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a cat is showing signs like irregular heartbeat and breathing problems, the veterinarian will likely conduct an echocardiography.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The veterinarian will also recommend additional tests, such as radiographies, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-health\/thyroid-in-cats-hyperthyroidism-in-cats-causes-signs-diagnosis-and-treatment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">thyroid level tests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (TSH, T3 and T4) and blood pressure monitoring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the Resting Respiratory Rate and Heart Rate of Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>HCM in cats almost always cause abnormal heart rhythm and heart rates, but the signs aren&#8217;t always visible on diagnostic tests. Most veterinarians recommend monitoring your cat&#8217;s respiratory rate and heart rate when they are well rested to understand if they are at-risk of HCM.<\/p>\n<p>The normal respiratory rate of cats is 20-30 breaths per minute. You can easily tell the respiratory rate by observing their chest rise and fall. A cat&#8217;s respiratory rate will be higher if they have just finished eating or playing. However, if a cat has a respiratory rate over 30 per minute while sleeping, they can be at high risk of heart failure.<\/p>\n<p>Normal heart rate of cats is 100-140 beats per minute. If your cat is touch-friendly and calm enough, you can easily count their heart beat by placing the palm of your hand gently on their chest (slightly towards the left). Count the number of beats for 15 seconds and multiply the number by 4 to get the cat&#8217;s heart rate (heart beats per minute). If a cat&#8217;s heart rate is above 220 beats per minute, it can be a sign of heart disease in cats.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the Available Treatment for HCM in Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sadly, there is no cure for HCM. A cat with cardiomyopathy needs specialised care throughout their life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The treatment includes the management of the symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF), such as &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart rate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prevention of blood clots<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reducing symptoms of lung congestion<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, there are new-age medicines that can help manage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the Prognosis of HCM in Cats? Can Cats with Congestive Heart Failure Survive?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies show that the prognosis of HCM in cats can vary significantly between two cats of the same age and breed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cats with signs of CHF typically have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/1098612X15588797\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">very poor prognosis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (median survival time is approximately 3 months).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since HCM is not present during birth but develops over time during adulthood, you need to get your cat\u2019s heart health checked every year especially if you have a Persian cat, Ragdoll, Maine Coon and British Shorthair. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why are Cats Prone to Congestive Heart Failure? What&#8217;s HCM in Cats? No cat parent ever wants to think of the possibility that their precious furball can fall seriously sick.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[118,65,64],"tags":[9,112,156],"class_list":["post-4047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cats","category-pet-care","category-pet-health","tag-cat","tag-cat-disease","tag-preventive-healthcare"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4047"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6896,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4047\/revisions\/6896"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}