Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a major cause of deaths in household cats. This hereditary disorder causes thickening of the heart wall, eventually leading to failure of the heart, fluid in the lungs, or death from blood clots. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been documented as a hereditary trait in the Siberian breed. It is a devastating illness that can show at any age.
Only one defective gene is needed to cause HCM, though the disease will show at different ages in different cats. Some cats with an HCM gene may die as early as a year of age, while others may live to six or eight years old.
The Siberian breed is relatively young, making research into this disorder much faster than in other breeds. SRI has performed large studies about Siberian HCM, and has isolated six foundation points where the disease entered the breed. Currently, there are no genetic tests for the different types of Siberian HCM.
Siberian Research encourages both pet owners and breeders to cooperate in pedigree and genetic studies that will help reduce the deaths from this disease.
Researchers at U.C. Davis and WSU are both studying the genetics of Siberian HCM, and searching for the specific genes that are causing this disease. If you have a Siberian that has been diagnosed with HCM, please consider sending echocardiograms and DNA for study.
