Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hi All,

I'm Rory from Australia....I currently have a 12mth old bengal called Enzo which had a heart murmur and was recently checked again and it had gotten worse.

The vet performed a Cardiopet blood test and I got his result not long ago....a bad reading is above 270 pmol/l and my boys was 559 pmol/l.

To say I'm completely shattered would be an understatement, I will be getting him to a heart specialist asap and will do whatever I can with no cost spared.

But if anyone knows the signs I need to look for too make sure he isn't suffering please let me know....like all our babies they are all loved so much...and I adore all my cats but now he is sick I want to spoil and love him as much as I can....but I don't want him to be in any pain....

So sorry you have this diagnosis, a hard one to swallow for any cat owner and especially for such a young cat.

I presume you're talking about HCM - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? It's a known issue in Bengals and annual scans are recommended in healthy cats to watch out for it.

Symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy, breathing difficulties or rapid breathing, muscle weakness ... in other words even without the diagnosis you would know if your cat was unwell.

All the very best with treatment options, hoping your lad has many happy years ahead of him, he certainly sounds like he will be getting the best care imaginable.

He so amazing.....

I believe it is HCM....thickening heart walls....

I had noticed he was coughing a bit and while he is super energetic he did get tired....my partner works for RSPCA and they picked up murmur at his 12 mths check up and vaccination...

When she mentioned his coughing the vet said that isn't a good sign....which it turns out it wasn't....

I will do absolutely everything I can for him but so shattering...thank you for you advice and wishes....x

This is my boy....

This is absolutely awful for you. I think the advice given is good. However, a word of warning on "breeds". Without going deeply into the genetic causes, quite often such animals are inbred i.e. bred from close relatives. This is awful news for the kittens, who are likely to have genetic problems that can lead to disability & short lives.

If such a breeder ever sells you a cat that develops abnormalities, avoid them in the future. I know of more than one case (one involving a puppy!) where subsequent problems have arisen when buying again from the same source after a poorly pet departed this existence.

Your cat rescue centre is likely to have animals which are much healthier because of their mixed parental heritage. Get one of those.

Catotum wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2019 8:46 am Your cat rescue centre is likely to have animals which are much healthier because of their mixed parental heritage. Get one of those.

Great advice for "next time" but I think OP is quite attached to this cat and would like some support with Enzo rather than advice on choosing a replacement.

I'm afraid i can't really give any information regarding HCM in cats, but i wanted to add a Facebook link you might find interesting.

Skye was a feral cat who was pregnant and going blind when she was trapped as part of a TNR scheme. A while after having her kittens and being spayed she collapsed and was diagnosed with HCM, her outlook was bleak, feral, eye problems and a heart condition. However Tinykittens (the shelter) didn't give up on her and eventually she was adopted. That was three years ago, while she is still on the eye meds she has been given the all clear as far as the heart is concerned. I don't know how relevant it might be, but it does give hope that your Enzo, might be able to live a full and happy life in spite of the heart condition.

https://www.facebook.com/SkyeTheSinkCat2016/

I did & do feel truly sorry for both cat & owner, Mollycat - as, in fact, I said. The first thing I said, actually.

However, this is an open forum with many readers. I do know of more than one person who has bought from the same source after problems (which are not necessarily connected to longevity alone) so added the summary to advise & inform.

Hi All....

Thank you all so much for your replies.....I definitely understand that breed specific cats are full of potential issues....I have had Dobermans all my life and they too have many issues....

I will do all I can for my boy thou....hopefully after the 20th of next month I will know as he is booked in for echocardiogram so a bit of clarity will be good....I'm sure if it's bad news I will cry like a baby....I get tears just writing that to be honest.

And I'm a normal bloke that LOVES cats...I have my dogs too but I bond and appreciate cats so much more....And never care about stereotypes about people that like and LOVE cats.

Again thank you for your support...I will do all I can for him....he is an amazing part of my family....

I know it's sounds crazy but I even googled heart transplants but that doesn't seem possible and the thought of another cat giving it's life for mine makes it not even and option if it was one.