HCM - Is Your Breeder Legit

HCM is a genetic disorder and it is the most common heart disease in domestic cats. Either your cat has it or it does not which is why testing is so important. The only way to find out if your kitty is free from this potentially fatel disease is to have a genetic test done, which costs quite a bit.

Certain breeds are more at risk than others. A friend of mine has two Ragdolls and both of them have been tested positive for HCM. The male is rather healthy, but the female is not doing that good. A healthy Ragdoll can live to be 15-20 years old, one with HCM can die within the first couple of years.

If your cat tests positve with HCM there is not much you can do about it.

A lot of this could be controlled at the breeder level, but the truth is that not all of them test for it. Mainly due to the cost, and/or because they know that the dam and sire have tested positive. You want to make sure you find a respectable breeder, one who is legitimant and wants to sell healthy animals. If they don't test for HCM or aren't TICA and CFA Registered then don't adopt from them.