Inferno12
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I keep seeing you guys talk about HCM and I guess I have never heard of it? What is HCM and is it only a Sphynx thing? Sorry if im ignorant about this 
Welcome to Sphynxlair! Connect with Sphynx owners & enthusiasts around the world!
Talk to me about HCM.......
- Thread starter Inferno12
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Here is some info n HCM.
Sphynx Breeders & Fanciers Alliance - Preserve, Protect & Promote the Sphynx Breed
Sphynx Breeders & Fanciers Alliance - Preserve, Protect & Promote the Sphynx Breed
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Here is some info on HCM.
Sphynx Breeders & Fanciers Alliance - Preserve, Protect & Promote the Sphynx Breed
Sphynx Breeders/Enthusiast Newsletter - ARCHIVES - Vol. 1 Issue 1 Breeder / Health - Judy Webb Gunby: Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx Catand Other Problems Concerning Diagnoses
Sphynx Breeders & Fanciers Alliance - Preserve, Protect & Promote the Sphynx Breed
Sphynx Breeders/Enthusiast Newsletter - ARCHIVES - Vol. 1 Issue 1 Breeder / Health - Judy Webb Gunby: Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx Catand Other Problems Concerning Diagnoses
Inferno12
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Thank you for this information. Has anyone in here dealt with this personally?
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My friends have.
Some have cats with HCM right now and my mentor has lost 5 cats to HCM.
Some have cats with HCM right now and my mentor has lost 5 cats to HCM.
Inferno12
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Is it a risk you take as a breeder or is this something that is preventable? Thanks for you information by the way 
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The breeders try to keep it out of the lines but HCM pos cats can still happen.
They do HCM tests before they breed.
If a cat tests pos then it is altered and removed from the breeding program.
There are bad breeders that will breed anyway.
They do HCM tests before they breed.
If a cat tests pos then it is altered and removed from the breeding program.
There are bad breeders that will breed anyway.
EmbraceMonChat
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Is it a risk you take as a breeder or is this something that is preventable? Thanks for you information by the way
It's a risk you take as a breeder and an owner. There is no genetic test for Sphynx (yet) so breeders can't send out a quick blood sample and know if they are HCM free or not prior to a mating. They can do echocardiograms on their breeders and monitor any changes, remove HCM + cats from their program and share the information so that other breedersk can avoid cultivating HCM+ branches in their own pedigrees. The problem is that sometimes a cat can scan clear for the first few years of it's life, the same time period it would be breeding...and then pop positive after it's been retired from breeding. Well, too late for all the other breeders and pets that were placed from those litters. That's why it's so important, if you are trying to stack the deck in your favor, to deal with a breeder that KNOWS pedigrees and HCM inside and out. Even then, you can't completely guarantee anything.
Inferno12
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AWE......thanks, I love his facebook page too! I have never heard about HCM either until I have gotten on here. I plan on taking him in and having him tested now. It makes me nervous too
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How old is he?
I would not scan until the cat is 1 -1.5 months years old.
I would not scan until the cat is 1 -1.5 months years old.
Inferno12
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He is just about 1.5 years old
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I would have him scanned now.
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Hi Inferno12 Embracemonchat said it very well. The only thing missing is that no it's not a "sphynx thing". Any animal including humans can get this heart disease.
Shauntay
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Both of my altered boys have HCM, and my smaller one has a murmur graded 5 out of 6. It's a horrible disease, and I am grateful for every day I have with them. When I got them 6 years ago, I did not do adequate research, and fell in love with their pictures and trusted the "breeder's" word that her breeding cats had been scanned negative. I later found out that both parents were positives, and being her only sphynx produced up to 4 litters a year. I love my boys more then anything in the world, and it breaks my heart we probably wont have the time we deserve with each other.
A note to everyone; Support HCM research in finding a genetic marker for Sphynx. With loving conscientious breeders, we can all keep up hope!
A note to everyone; Support HCM research in finding a genetic marker for Sphynx. With loving conscientious breeders, we can all keep up hope!
Inferno12
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WOW...how sad. I cant imagine him going at a young age. I will make sure that I get him scanned and I hope that he is ok. This is so sad to me and I am sorry that both our boys have this.Both of my altered boys have HCM, and my smaller one has a murmur graded 5 out of 6. It's a horrible disease, and I am grateful for every day I have with them. When I got them 6 years ago, I did not do adequate research, and fell in love with their pictures and trusted the "breeder's" word that her breeding cats had been scanned negative. I later found out that both parents were positives, and being her only sphynx produced up to 4 litters a year. I love my boys more then anything in the world, and it breaks my heart we probably wont have the time we deserve with each other.
A note to everyone; Support HCM research in finding a genetic marker for Sphynx. With loving conscientious breeders, we can all keep up hope!
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Hi Inferno12 and welcome! Also keep in mind that if you have your cat scanned and the result is negative he can be positive a week, month or year later so it is no guarantee.
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firehillqueen
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I lost my much beloved Singe to HCM. I had never owned a Sphynx before and had no idea that this would steal my darling at 2 years old.
Awww he looks so much like my Snuffie! So cute!! I'm sorry for your lose.I lost my much beloved Singe to HCM. I had never owned a Sphynx before and had no idea that this would steal my darling at 2 years old.
holly_savage
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Wish I could offer anything new, but it has all been covered by our resident HCM "experts" (and I am using the " " in a nice way, not sarcastic).
I am also a new sphynx owner, so I will have to go through the testing part in the next year!
I am also a new sphynx owner, so I will have to go through the testing part in the next year!
Inferno12
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Thank you for the information. This is exactly what I was looking for. I will be having my little man tested and this is something that will monitor for the rest of his life and when I am looking for my next Shynx!
ckutkuhn7, I am so sorry for your loss
ckutkuhn7, I am so sorry for your loss
It was firehillqueen who lost her Singe to HCM, our kitties do look a like tho. Thanks but I will forward your condolences to Firehillqueen.ckutkuhn7, I am so sorry for your loss
