Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat's heart to thicken, decreasing the heart's efficiency and potentially leading to heart failure, blood clots, or sudden death. It is the most commonly diagnosed cardiac disease in cats and is thought to have both genetic and environmental causes.
HCM can affect any cat breed, but certain breeds — including Bengal cats — have been identified as having elevated risk. The condition can be present without obvious symptoms, making regular echocardiographic screening the only reliable method of detection.
At Bengal Kittens Breeders Home, every breeding cat undergoes annual echocardiographic screening carried out by a qualified veterinary cardiologist. This screening uses ultrasound technology to assess the structure and function of the heart, identifying any thickening of the cardiac walls.
By annual screening, we aim to identify any Bengal cats where genetics may be playing a role in cardiac changes, and to remove such cats from our breeding programme. HCM screening results for our breeding cats are available on request.
