What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
The most common heart disease in cats, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart muscle disease in which the walls of the heart, specifically the left ventricle, become abnormally thickened. As the disease progresses, it alters the structure of the heart and impairs its function. It is a potentially serious disease that is found in cats of all ages. A cat that seems healthy can suddenly become very ill or even die. There currently is no cure, although there are medications veterinarians can prescribe to help alleviate the symptoms.
