My cat has been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), what do I do?
If your cat hasn’t had an ultrasound, you should have one done immediately. If your cat has already had an ultrasound, she/he will have been placed on medications that will help the heart pump blood more efficiently. Your cat has most likely been prescribed a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, an ACE-inhibitor, or some combination of the three. If your cat is in congestive heart failure, a diuretic should also have been prescribed. Aspirin may be prescribed if your cat is at a high risk for developing blood clots. If your cat has not been tested for hyperthyroidism, you should ask that your cat be tested. Hyperthyroidism can be an underlying cause of HCM. Once all of this has been done, it’s up to you to ensure that your cat receives his/her medication and lots of TLC. You may want to read the Managing a Cat with Heart Disease section.