Let me start this by saying we are not vets, and this is not going to have medical advice.
Cats are amazing, they’re fun, and they fill your life with frustration and joy all at the same time. And this was never more true than with our own cat, Mr Bump. However, recently, we lost Mr Bump to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This absolutely broke me. I have owned Mr Bump for 16 years, and thought he’d be one of those cats who lived till they’re 21. He was a spritely, energetic little grump, soppy as anything on his terms.
What happened
It happened incredibly quickly, one minute Mr Bump was being his usual self. Jumping up on the sides, trying to annoy me, then he sat on my lap while I worked, then jumped on the side where he slept. 20 minutes later, he had a stroke or a seizure; the vets aren’t quite sure. He seized up, gave a little meow, and that was it, changed.
I could, at this point, explain in more detail about Bump’s neurological issue, but that will make this into a much longer piece, and it’s hard to explain. Simply put, he would often seize up, which the vet explained was his body reacting to a severe change, such as a quick temperature change.
So, I assumed this was one of his usual episodes. I picked him up and gave him lots of sensory stimulation (Lots of strokes), as that usually worked. However, this time it didn’t. He was very wobbly and couldn’t stand for longer than a few seconds, which would cause him to flop down on the floor.
At this point, we go to the vets, and we find out that there is a lot of fluid in his chest and his heart rate is very slow. We knew Bump had a murmur, but this was different. After Mr Bump was examined, the vet explained that this could be heart disease and that if Mr Bump was at this stage, it wasn’t looking good and decided (with our permission) to take him in for observation and tests.
Fast forward, and we find out he has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Which, having had a previous cat with the same issue, who, as it happened, lived for 6 years after her diagnosis. Because of this, I thought it would be manageable. Some diuretics each day, bosh… I was wrong. Very wrong.
What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
As I said, I’m not a vet, but here’s my layman’s terms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. HCM is where the heart muscle walls become enlarged and thickened. This has a cascading issue. Firstly, because the heart is unable to pump efficiently, the kidneys go into panic mode and start retaining water and salt to compensate for the reduced pressure. Secondly, because the heart chambers are stretched and blood is moving so slowly, it starts to pool and swirl. This slow-moving blood can then easily turn into a clot, and once that clot leaves the heart and enters the bloodstream, it can cause all kinds of trouble.
Basically, it’s a horrible heart disease. Not to say others are better, but this one is nasty.
This is what happened to Mr Bump. They believed that a small clot had formed in his heart and travelled to his brain, which in turn, likely caused his seizure/stroke.
Can you tell if a cat has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy before it becomes severe?
Cats are masters at hiding medical problems; they can go for years with an issue without you ever knowing there’s a problem. It’s the hardest part of owning a cat, because when they get a severe medical problem that becomes noticeable, it’s usually the point of no return.
Obviously, this isn’t the same for every cat. However, it’s more common than not. This is why we weren’t able to know that Bump needed help earlier; he was, in all intents and purposes, a healthy cat. It was only that a small blood clot likely left his heart and entered his brain that everything went wrong.
What should I do, and what are the signs?
The hardest thing about HCM is that many of the signs look like a cat is simply getting older or having a lazy day. However, if you notice several of these things happening together, going to the vet would be a very smart choice.
The subtle signs to watch for
Cats are very good at hiding signs. We aren’t going to tell you to follow your cat around and keep checking, but there are some tell-tale signs weeks or months before they develop into something more sinister. Equally, it’s important to remember (and I will go blue in the face repeating this as I have done for 15 years in the pet trade), we are not vets! Nothing will ever beat a vet’s diagnosis. With that said, here are some signs:
- Changes in activity: If you once had a very energetic cat, and they’ve begun being slower or more lethargic and maybe reluctant to jump on things. (Again, not a clear sign, but activity levels can drop due to lower oxygen levels)
- Hiding away: When a cat is struggling or feeling weak, they will much prefer to be alone or in a quiet corner. This is for both protection and stress. A cat is a predator; they do not want to be prey, and being weak and ill, they can’t protect themselves.
- A change in appetite: They might still eat, but they seem less bothered about their food or leave more behind than usual.
- Weight loss: You might notice their spine or hips becoming more prominent, even if they are still eating.
The emergency signs
If your cat has started to show these signs, then you need to take them to the emergency vet.
- Open mouth breathing: Cats don’t pant, and they never breathe through their mouth. If your cat has begun panting or gasping, you need to get to the vets! (If you are unsure – Google: “Emergency vets near me“. That will show who your local emergency vet is.
- Rapid breathing at rest: While your cat is sleeping, count how many times their chest rises in one minute. The general rule is that under 30 is a good breathing rate, and over 30 is not good. I would recommend doing this a few times first to make sure.
While these signs are typical of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, what you should do with any kind of illness for your cat is take it to the vet! If you’re sitting here and questioning whether you should or not, the answer will always be – go to the vets.