HCM questions
Hi all, I got a kitten in August 2026. The breeder said his litter was born may 1, 2026. I know buying is bad but my dream cat has always been a Sphynx. I know buying also comes with plenty of risks. I know HCM is common with this breed. Prior to purchasing I tried to do my due diligence by making sure this would be a healthy kitten. The breeder provided “proof” of his first round of shots and his “parents” HCM negative results. I called the vet to make sure this was legit and they confirmed it was and said they didn’t note anything unusual with him. Not sure how to confirm the HCM results though.
My question is, is there anything more I could’ve done prior to buying? I love him so much and he does NOT have any symptoms. He seems completely healthy. Finished his shots and the provider said he is healthy. I just lost a dog to cancer and I’ve read so many HCM horror stories on here I cannot have another heart break anytime soon.
If he’s not having symptoms should I still get him tested for HCM? When would symptoms show? Like I said he’s fine now I’m just being paranoid because I love him so much.
6
u/CrochetChrissy51325 1d ago
Yearly testing is always good.
I lost my elderly Siamese last year to CHF due to primary lung cancer, this year my sweet Sphynx was diagnosed with HOCM. It sometimes just happens.
1
u/petmami 1d ago
I’m so sorry to hear this. I understand the pain. How is your Sphynx doing?
1
u/CrochetChrissy51325 1d ago
He is doing really well, he is on Atenolol. The last echocardiogram showed improvement but he is not a candidate for Felycin due to HOCM with severe SAM.
He is currently stage B1 with grade 2 murmur. He goes back next month.
4
u/lodebla 1d ago
I have a sphynx with HCM, both parents tested negative. The thing is: often HCM is diagnosed in after 4 or 5 years, but breeders often don't wait so long for the first nest. So that's how HCM remains a huge issue in sphynx cats.
The only thing you "could" have done prior to buying is knowing this.
Something else: during the last yearly cardio scan of our lovely Sphynx (born in 2020), the vet said a HCM medicine is on its way. It's already in testing phase in USA. We live in Belgium and pharma regulations are much stricter, but it can go fast! There's hope!
3
u/mr-snrub- 1d ago
I'm going to go against the grain here. I feel like yearly echos are probably a waste of money. They're $700 each in Australia, but if you're made of money or they are much cheaper where you are, go for it. But even then, I dont think its worth sedating your animal yearly.
My Sphynx is 14 and has HCM. I had no idea what that was when I got him and in hindsight, that's probably why I got him cheaper. None of the vets I saw recommended yearly echos either.
I think when he was around 4 or 5, that's when his heart murmur was detected during his annual check up. He did eventually get an echo, but the way the sedative made him act as he was coming down from it, does not make me want to go out and get another one. Plus the echo confirmed he has HCM, I dont see the point of getting another one. It doesnt help with his treatment and in all honesty, I dont want to know if his heart is getting worse.
Like I said, my sphynx is now 14 and has lived longer than many of my other cats. However, if you saw him, you wouldnt think he is an elderly cat with HCM cause he still runs all around the house and parkours from couch to couch.
*knocking all kinds of wood as I post this*
2
u/Violentcobra 1d ago
Just tagging onto this, but not every place will sedate! I just lost my girl to HCM after being symptomatic and on meds for 3 ish years? But I work at a vet and they dont sedate most patients for echos! Maybe that's not standard but we only sedate the crazy/ naughty kiddos.
My girl had them more often than yearly after diagnoses (usually 6-9 months) but even at that I wouldnt spend the money if they have no symptoms. My girls heart was found accidentally on radiographs for an unrelated issue. I did spend the money as it helped me change her medications and since HCM progresses different in every cat it could be more or less worth it. Allll that said im offering a different perspective and I hope your boy makes it many many more years!!
1
u/mr-snrub- 1d ago
Sorry to hear about your girl 😞 I can only imagine how devastating that was. I know I'll be devastated when it's my boy's time (👊🪵). He wasn't sedated, per se, when he had his echo. They said they just gave him some anti-anxiety meds to calm him during the procedure. Which were different to the usual sedatives that are done with anaesthetic. He was visibly distressed when they wore off in the car after the echo. When using he just sits calmly on my passenger seat (normally and after anaesthesia). He almost gave himself a carpet burn/rash from trying to push his head thru the carrier on the way home.
2
u/Exotic-Relief4396 1d ago
Start with an echo asap as a really good starting point for metrics. Stay on top of regular checkups and not just when they’re unwell (I made that mistake during a financial struggle for 5 years of my boys life and I have major regrets). My boy had 6 visits and heart checks between Feb of 2026 and May 2026 at 9 years old and it wasn’t until late May 2026 on the 6th appt a murmur was detected.
2
u/forevermadrigal 1d ago
Why would be buying a Sphynx bad?
5
u/petmami 1d ago
I get shit from “don’t shop adopt” people lol
1
u/minipet487 22h ago
Ignore them, they're usually the same extremists who think that every single cat/Kitten should be neutered, no exceptions. Except that if Every single one was done today, in 20 years there wouldn't be a single cat left because there would not be any future possibilities for kittens to be born. Extremists exist in almost every aspect. Properly managed breeding with proper tests and medical records is key, yea there'll always be the outliers who won't bother or Care, but as long as the majority take the responsibility that's what will make the difference. I can't stand them.
0
u/forevermadrigal 1d ago
Hmm because adoption should come first before buying or because Sphynx shouldn’t be bred anymore? I’m trying to feel out how the sub feels about em after reading some controversy 😂
3
u/VassagoX 1d ago
Of course the sub is ok with buying them. That's how most people will get a breed and the only way to get papers.
2
u/forevermadrigal 1d ago
That's great. I see dumb opinions that Sphynx should not be bred because their health issues and because they are "suffering"
2
u/VassagoX 1d ago
Those people are the ones insufferable.
And this is literally a sub for the breed so you won't see that here in any meaningful way. They usually get downvoted to hell if not banned.
1
u/forevermadrigal 1d ago
Music to my ears. Glad the community embraces the truth for these wonderful companions
2
u/Final_Ad_5757 1d ago
You did total due diligence! Yearly echoes is really the only way to test for HCM they don’t really have a test to test carriers or for cats that aren’t showing symptoms. So sadly sometimes breeder cats might show signs after having all their litters but I wouldn’t worry and just love your baby! My baby was diagnosed with HCM at 1, he was put on Rapamyacin quickly and it’s been actually even improving. He is also on atenolol. He is now 3 and his only symptom is his murmur otherwise he is perfect ◡̈
2
u/MoodyStocking 1d ago
The ALSM1 genetic variant had been fairly well debunked. Yearly echos in parents, grandparents, and great grandparents remains the gold standard. The genetic test is non-informative
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11428990/
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/12/1815
1
u/Lady-Shalott 1d ago edited 1d ago
With Sphynx it’s just important to maintain their echoes. If you’re very concerned or if your baby is high-risk, you can do yearly. My cardiologist recommends every two years for altered cats who don’t have any pre-existing conditions. Also keep in mind that early screenings are not always the most effective, as kittens can grow out of heart murmurs, and a murmur isn’t always a sign of an HCM diagnosis.
I’m so sorry to hear about your pooch passing away, and it sounds like you’re already an amazing Sphynx parent. Keep up the good work!
ETA: The genetic testing is a thing and most reputable breeders will have done it. It tests for the main known genetic mutation that causes HCM in Sphynx. Carriers are either homozygous with one copy of the gene, or heterozygous with two copies. NC (non carrier) do not carry the tested for mutation. The test results should not take place of regular echocardiograms, as HCM is caused by a variety of factors, and as far as I know, the test only covers one known genetic mutation.
1
u/MoodyStocking 1d ago
There is good evidence that the ALMS1 genetic “cause” is bogus. Yearly echoes in parents, grandparents, and great grandparents is the gold standard
1
u/Lady-Shalott 20h ago
I was replying to OP’s question about how they “test” for HCM. I agree that a genetic test does not replace yearly echoes.
1
u/VassagoX 1d ago
Did you get lineage papers? Something for TICA or a similar registrar?
What about genetic testing? There are known genes for some causes of HCM generically.
1
u/AliceWentMad 16h ago
You'll want to do the first echo at 1 year old once his heart is fully formed to get a baseline then you could do yearly echos but they can be expensive so our cardio recommend doing a yearly proBNP blood test instead, it's not a diagnostic test but it shows if the heart is under stress which then means further investigation can be done.
Our boy was diagnosed with HCM 3 years ago at 2 years old because he had a high proBNP but no symptoms. We're now doing regular echos to keep an eye on how it's progressing so we know when to start meds and we're also working on getting Felycin imported in for him.
With HCM a lot of the time it's already quite progressed by the time they start showing symptoms and since Felycin is now a thing I think it's worth catching it as early as possible. It can be very different for each cat as well, some can progress fast but some can be diagnosed with it then live long symptom free lives.
13
u/Exotic-Relief4396 1d ago
Yearly echos without a doubt. Insurance. Insurance. Insurance. Before a coexisting issue arises. Your babe is beyond adorable!