(1)
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a clinically heterogeneous myocardial disease and is the most common cardiac disease identified in domestic cats.
HCM is characterised by an increased left ventricular mass due to an increase in wall thickness of the heart, with papillary muscle hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion of the Mitral valves.
Death by HCM can occur via three mechanisms:
(i) sudden cardiac death with arrhythmia and ventricular fibrillation,
(ii) heart failure with tachycardia, increased respiration, shortness of breath, pulmonary oedema and pleural effusion or
(iii) thrombus formation. Thrombi can form either in the left atrium due to abnormal blood circulation or in the heart chamber itself due to severe hypertrophy and cardiac weakness.
Atrial thrombi can break free and reach the arterial blood circuit, thereby often causing blood congestion at the branching of pelvic and crural arteries with paralysis of the hind legs. Echocardiographic examination has so far been the only diagnostic tool for this disease. However, it can only be identify affected cats with some years of age, when they already present first symptoms of HCM.
(2)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
SMA is a disorder caused by death of spinal cord neurons that activate skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs. Loss of neurons in the first few months of life leads to muscle weakness and atrophy that first becomes apparent at 3-4 months of age.
Affected kittens develop an odd gait with a sway of the hindquarters and stand with the hocks nearly touching. They may also stand with toes out in the front.
By 5-6 months of age they are too weak in the hindquarters to readily jump up on furniture and often have a clumsy landing when jumping down. The long hair of Maine Coon cats may hide it, but careful feeling of the limbs will reveal reduced muscle mass.
(3)
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Feline infectious peritonitis is a fatal disease of cats, caused by a feline coronavirus. Infection with coronavirus ia actually very common in cats but most of the time it does not cause any problems, other than maybe mild self-limiting diarrhoea.
Uncommonly, the virus mutates (changes) within an infected cat, and it is this mutated form that causes the disease of FIP.
Cats can be tested to see if they have been exposed to coronavirus by checking for the presence of specific antibodies. However, such a coronavirus serology test is of very limited use in diagnosing FIP. This test does not distinguish between the coronavirus encountered commonly with few associated problems, and the mutated form that causes FIP. So as many cats are infected with coronavirus, many cats will be positive with this test. Low titers indicate a small amount of coronavirus antibodies, while high titers indicate much greater amounts of antibodies. A healthy cat with a high titer, however, is not necessarily more likely to develop FIP or be a carrier of an FIP-causing coronavirus than a cat with a low titer. A cat with a high titer is also not necessarily protected against developing FIP in the future. The test does not give any information as to whether that cat has or may develop FIP. Furthermore, some cats with confirmed FIP are actually negative for antibodies, so it also cannot be used to exclude FIP.
(4)
Feline Infectious Diseases
SUERAGDANDY MAINE COONS
Reputable Breeder of Beautiful Cats Since 1989
Cardiff
029 20520947
Some mail does'nt get through, please phone or try again if you do not get a reply.
Powered by Create