My mom found out today that Kitty Kitty (Flower's mom) has Feline Cardiomyopathy. Unfortunately there is no known cure. Treatment with certain medications can prolong her life here on earth but ultimately heart failure will come. The vet told my mom hopefully with the right medicine she will live another 5yrs (she will be 11 if that's the case).
What is Cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy means "disease of the heart muscle" - the myocardium. It is a structural abnormality in one or more of the four chambers of the heart. The heart muscle grows too thick, scars and becomes stiff or weakens. Thus, the heart's ability to pump blood is impaired. It's primarily a disease of adult cats (avg 6.5yrs). All cats are suseptible, a genetric predisposition for the disease has been shown in Persians, Ragdolls and in some American Shorthairs. In Maine Coon cats, it's been proven inherited through a dominant gene (*** Flower and his two brother's are not Maine Coon but are getting tested for this since their mother has it ***).
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is the most prevalent feline cardiac disorder. It is a primary disorder of the myocardium (heart muscle) characterized by hypertrophy (thickening) of the heart's left ventricle, impaired relaxation of the heart muscle and secondary left artrial enlargement. These changes lead to diastolic dysfunction - a condition in which the heart fails to relax and fill with blood normally. A resulting backup of pressure in the lung may lead to congestive heart failure.
- - I'm going to get in touch with our vet ASAP to see if we need to have Flower tested. Even though he's not Maine Coon from all the research I have done (and as stated above) it's an inherited gene.
Please keep our kitty family in your thoughts and prayers through the next several days as we hope to get some answers and get Kitty Kitty started on medication.
I'm sorry to hear that.
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