Hello! I'm new to this group but thought it would be good to get advice. I got a purebred ragdoll cat a month ago. (He was 7 months) I took him for a check up a few days after I got him and the vet said he was healthy. I took him in now which was a month later and the vet found a grade 3 murmur. She recommended me to go to a cardiologist to get the ultrasound which will cost $800. I'm torn on what to do as I'm all about the health of my pet but is that extreme to that test right away? Also I did ask the breeder if she tests her cats for hcm before I got him and she said she tests the parents. Not sure what to do as I've only had him a month and wasn't expecting this so soon. Also makes me wonder if there was more to it that the breeder was selling these kittens at 7 months of age. [emoji]128532[/emoji]
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New cat has heart murmur
- Thread starter lynettek
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- Oct 30, 2015
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Lots of breeders (not all) don't tell the truth. I don't have a ragdoll but I have a Maine Coon and they suffer the same hereditary HCM condition as ragdolls.
When the breeder said she tested, was that via DNA or echocardiogram or both? Ideally it should be both and the echo's should be done at least once a year if not every time before they breed. An echo only gives a snapshot of what the heart is doing at that moment on that day and things can always change, even in a DNA cleared cat.
Does she have a kitten policy? Have you told her of the heart murmur?
Unfortunately while testing breeding stock helps to keep lines from having heart conditions they're not really sure which genes exactly cause the heart issues and the DNA only tests 1 of 13 genes. Genes can also mutate and cause heart conditions in cats whose parents are both clear.
I hate to say it but yes, I would get the heart checked. Cats can live full lives with heart conditions. I had a domestic male who had a "great thumping heart murmur" for his entire life and lived to 14, but I also lost a baby Maine Coon at 8 1/2 months to a suspected HCM issue that was never found. There are medications that help to keep the cat comfortable and prevent early death though so if it were me, I would get it checked. Depending on the breeder and their kitten policy they may offer to help with some of the cost (or you can just plain ask them to if they assured you this kitten was clear prior to purchase).
When the breeder said she tested, was that via DNA or echocardiogram or both? Ideally it should be both and the echo's should be done at least once a year if not every time before they breed. An echo only gives a snapshot of what the heart is doing at that moment on that day and things can always change, even in a DNA cleared cat.
Does she have a kitten policy? Have you told her of the heart murmur?
Unfortunately while testing breeding stock helps to keep lines from having heart conditions they're not really sure which genes exactly cause the heart issues and the DNA only tests 1 of 13 genes. Genes can also mutate and cause heart conditions in cats whose parents are both clear.
I hate to say it but yes, I would get the heart checked. Cats can live full lives with heart conditions. I had a domestic male who had a "great thumping heart murmur" for his entire life and lived to 14, but I also lost a baby Maine Coon at 8 1/2 months to a suspected HCM issue that was never found. There are medications that help to keep the cat comfortable and prevent early death though so if it were me, I would get it checked. Depending on the breeder and their kitten policy they may offer to help with some of the cost (or you can just plain ask them to if they assured you this kitten was clear prior to purchase).
I'm not sure how the breeder tests for HCM when there is no good test for a healthy cat that doesn't have a murmur and i doubt she does an ultrasound (echo-cardiogram) on healthy parents.
The reason i suspect your vet wants an echo is to check for HCM which is visible on an echo when its developed, and there are medications that can help your cat if he has HCM.
