Showing posts with label Bengal cat HCM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bengal cat HCM. Show all posts

Friday, 30 July 2021

Five cat breeds that suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

I can quickly think of five cat breeds that are predisposed to suffering from HCM. They are: Maine Coon, Bengal, Ragdoll, Scottish Fold, and American Shorthair. The list is not comprehensive. It doesn't need to be comprehensive for me to question whether purebred cats are more predisposed towards HCM than random read cats. And if they are, why? HCM does affect random read cats and is the most common heart disease and is one of the most common diseases amongst domestic cats.

Ragdolls can inherit HCM
Ragdolls can inherit HCM. Photo: copyright Helmi Flick

You probably know that HCM describes a thickening of the muscles of the heart. The disease is listed as genetically inherited in my books but I also read that the causes are unclear. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Cardiology titled "The genetic basis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats and humans", states in the summary that "mutations in genes that encode for muscle sarcomeric proteins have been identified in humans and in breeds of domestic cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In people, HCM is a genetic disease. It is a disease of the sarcomere. Sarcomeres are the basic contractile units of muscle and sarcomeric proteins are responsible for the strength, speed and extent of muscle contraction. So, this study is saying that a genetic mutation affects heart muscles, specifically sarcomeres, which causes HCM in both domestic cats and humans.

If it is a genetically inherited disease, I would have thought that no purebred cat would suffer from it because cat breeders could remove carriers of the disease from their breeding lines. That may be an oversimplification. Perhaps the disease is embedded so fundamentally within some cat breeds, going back to foundation cats, that it is impossible to remove this gene from the breeding lines. I just don't know but if that is the case it is surely a failure in the breeding programmes of the purebred cats mentioned in the first paragraph.

Perhaps HCM in these cat breeds and others is the product of selective breeding which is essential to the creation of purebred cats. Cat breeders have to select individual breeding cats that have the correct characteristics in terms of appearance as per the breed standards. Therefore, the breeding stock is reduced in number, which means the cats are inbred. Selective breeding encourages the inheritance of defective genes.

It seems that inherited illnesses such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are part of the package when you adopt some purebred cats. They go with the territory. However, I just wonder whether it is possible to change this perception and remove HCM from these popular breeds. I have quite a big page on HCM and Bengal cats which might interest you.

Bengal cats blighted with inherited HCM
Bengal cats blighted with inherited HCM. Photo: copyright Helmi Flick

The Bengal Cat Club (UK club) so that breeders do their best to eliminate HCM from breeding lines. They say that there is very little information about the prevalence of the disease in the various breeds. In other words, how do breeds compare with each other in terms of a predisposition to getting HCM? Perhaps there needs to be more data on that available through a study? 

They say that there are a number of causes but breeders are obviously more concerned with hereditary HCM. As mentioned above, it is caused by a defect in a gene coding for a particular protein in the cardiac muscle cells that make up the heart wall. When the gene is defective the muscle cells are abnormal and they do not contract properly. The heart produces more muscle cells to compensate for this deficiency which results in a thickening of the heart wall.

The upshot is that the ventricles of the heart cannot relax and fill properly, the mitral valve becomes distorted which results in progressive congestive heart failure, the symptoms of which are lethargy and reduced exercise tolerance and an increased respiratory rate.

They say that there is no DNA test at the time that they wrote their article for HCM and Bengal cats. The article is undated. They say that breeders should buy breeding cats from "echo tested lines". This means cats which have been tested with echocardiograms. 

When mating a female cat with a stud cat they say that breeders should use a stud cat who is ideally four years old plus and who has been scanned negative for the disease. It appears that HCM can develop later in life and therefore if you wait you can then detect whether HCM has developed or not. Also, do not sell cats for breeding from young parents as they may develop HCM later. That is another feature of their advice.

All Bengal cats should be screened with echocardiography annually, ideally. It is a very complicated subject from my reading of it. It is difficult to remove the genetic inheritance of HCM from Bengal cats. This probably applies to other cat breeds; the ones mentioned above for example.

It is a great shame that such a wonderful cat as the Bengal is blighted with such a profoundly serious genetically inherited disease. The same sentiment would apply to the other cats mentioned.

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

Bengal cats everything about purchase

The title describes a book for sale on Amazon.



In my humble opinion you don't need to buy a book about buying a Bengal cat or taking care of a Bengal cat. This is because taking care of a Bengal cat is no different to taking care of any other cat and there is a pile of free information on the Internet about that. There is lots of information about that on this site alone!

As to buying a Bengal cat, I would prepare a series of pertinent questions primarily about cat health and telephone three local Bengal cat breeders. I would make them local so that you can visit them. By local I would mean within reasonable driving distance. Judging by the answers I would visit the best one.
  • How long have you been in business?
  • Are you registered with a cat association?
  • Do you have champion cats? (cat show champions)
  • What is your policy on cat breeding? Do you breed for health as well as appearance?
  • Do you check your cats for HCM? (HCM is a heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that can affect Bengal cats).
  • What filial are you buying? SBT cats are 4th generation from the wild - remember that the Bengal cat is a wildcat hybrid. Price follows filial and quality. Quality means the cat follows the cat association breed standard. Prices are in the order of $500 (2011) but will vary depending on quality.
  • These are purebred cats aren't they? (some breeders are back street breeders and are not breeding purebred cats). You don't want a Bengal cat mix as these are moggies.
You'll need to visit to inspect the conditions of the cattery. Most are hobby breeders so it will be a person's home as well as a breeding establishment. But does it seem smart and clean? Are there untoward odors?  Are the kittens confident and coming up to you without fear? Do the kittens look healthy? If one doesn't and you ask what is wrong what kind of answer does the cat breeder give? Is it plausible? Brushing off an eye infection with a casual remark is not good enough. Personally I would not proceed if one kitten was ill. If one is ill the others might be ill because many viral diseases are very contagious.

On the phone before visiting I would ask if she can provide a couple of recommendations from other customers. I would go on the Internet to check out the website; is it professional looking and does it work well? Search for complaints posted online. Sometimes there are discussions on forums about certain breeders.

Ask for a copy of the contract of purchase up front in the post so you can study it (it might be online on their website which would be a good sign incidentally). Make sure that all the necessary health checks are carried out by the seller before purchase. These should be in the contract. I would consider having your vet check out the health of the selected cat. A binding contract should be subject to that check. In other words the contract becomes effective provided the cat passes a health check by your vet. That might be a difficult one to get the breeder to agree to but a sick cat can cost you thousands of dollars or pounds over time. This is because you will become instantly attached to your new cat and will want to help. Some illnesses are serious and prolonged and difficult to cure.

The kitten that you select should ideally be confident, bright eyed and not frightened of you. You might find that the kitten selects you. That is what happened to me. Although I wasn't buying a Bengal cat but adopting a unwanted moggie!

Thursday, 26 March 2009

HCM Testing at Cat Shows

HCM testing at cat shows is something that I have only recently picked up (I know I am being slow). But it seems to me to be a wonderful idea. You've got a lot of cat breeders all in one place showing their cats with long pauses with nothing much to do in between. And the cost is a very modest $90 (that used to be about £45 in the UK). This is a perfect combination and presents little obstacle to getting the test done, something that may have been put off for various reasons.

A big cat show where this service is being offered is the Thunderkatz Show April 24-25 in Oklahoma City (OKC) , USA. The service, as I understand it, is being run by PetSafe Diagnostics. People can book a slot at the show from their website (the link goes to their website). PetSafe Diagnostics specialize in Veterinary Ultrasound Imaging. HCM is tested through this method. Screenings for the OKC show take place on the 24th April (Friday) after 3 pm and on the next day between 8 am and 4 pm (I think!). They are also attending The Cats Unlimited Store (presume in or near Dallas) on Saturdays April 4th between 8 am and 5 pm.

Although any cat can at least potentially develop HCM, a heart disease found in cats and people (and other animals, I presume) some cat breeds are predisposed to the disease. Two that come instantly to mind are the Bengals and Maine Coons. Some Bengal breeders think there is a need for a more open approach by the breeders to the problem of HCM. What they mean is that all breeding cats and their parents (going up the breeding line) should be tested and the results published. Only in this open and collective manner can the disease be removed from this extremely popular breed of cat. Not all breeders want to follow that route, sadly. I am for it because it benefits the cat.

HCM testing at cat shows greatly facilitates the testing of cats and cat shows are a great forum to discuss these issues too. I think the cat show should also be a place where seminars and talks can be given to discuss these very important issues. This does not happen as far as I know. See HCM in Bengal Cats.



HCM Testing at Cat Shows to Home Page

Photo of cat at Montreal cat show is by appaIoosa and published under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs creative commons License -- this site is for charitable purposes in funding cat rescue.

Thursday, 12 March 2009

Cat Breeding Coordination

Why do I sense that there is a need for some cat breeding coordination? It seems to me that there is a need for proper leadership in the cat fancy. It is too weak and laissez faire. There are many symptoms of this but the classic ones are concerned with, for example, the problems encountered by breeders of Bengal cats with the genetic disease HCM.

There is a desperate need for all breeders to be obliged to have their lines tested for HCM in order to gradually eradicate the disease from the breed as a whole. But individual Bengal cat breeders are doing the ethical thing and testing and some are not. To not test shows a callous disregard for the cat. And if a breeder does not care for the cat's welfare at a fundamental level then that breeder should not be breeding. Further it is against the Bengal breed as a whole.

I argue that there is a need for a coordinating hand, someone to guide, direct and enforce, yes enforce testing and organising a database. It can't be that difficult surely? Breeders will naturally pull in different directions and some will behave more ethically than others. That is the nature of humankind, of course. But in order to make the control and management of HCM in Bengal cats work and be effective we cannot leave it to Bengal cat breeders to work together. It simply won't happen.

If the associations step back and do nothing they are complicit in breeding unhealthy cats who will suffer. To do nothing knowing that there is a problem implicates them and makes them just as culpable. Come on, cat breeding coordination is needed urgently.



Cat Breeding Coordination to Cat Facts

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

The Collective Responsibility of Cat Breeding

Does the collective responsibility of cat breeding outweigh the individual cat breeder's self interest in personal success? The answer depends on whether we think short or long term. The answer depends on whether we think that short term financial gain is the best way to do business or whether long term thinking and a more stable long term but less spectacular financial gain is the better route.

The bankers of this world (the ones who used to be the masters of the universe) took the former route. Their primary interest was in promoting self (personal) interest. How much can I get out of the bank? This is what ultimately caused the credit crunch. The bankers at the top, the directors, wanted to grow the banks as fast and as big as possible to benefit them personally by way of the value of their share holdings and bonuses etc. What they failed to notice was that long term it was against the interest of the share holders generally, to whom they were responsible. The end result, we know about. When individuals in authority act in a way that is too focused on personal gain within an environment where there is a collective responsibility all can be the losers.

The same principle applies to everything we do. In the cat breeding world of Bengal cats there is a responsibility to oneself to make money. There is also a collective responsibility to the Bengal cat breed as a whole. If the breed suffers then all Bengal cat breeders, in the long term, suffer. A balance needs to be struck. In respect of cat health, and I am thinking mainly of HCM, which affects the Bengal cat (a genetic disease inherited throughout the breed to varying degrees). The long term communal gain (including the gain for the cats, most importantly) of dealing with the disease openly and collectively is bigger than dealing with it on an individual basis.

Individual cat breeders will naturally pull in different directions on this. Do they disclose HCM in their breeding program? Will that hurt business (yes, I guess). Do they keep quiet and ignore it? Does that mean that the breeders continue to breed from cats that have HCM and therefore continues to spread and entrench the disease more? The latter method will eventually hurt the Bengal cat breed as a whole and future cat breeders. It will probably, though, be the better course of action on a short term basis for the individual breeder.

Looking at the bankers we know what "shortermism" can do. It can undermine the bedrock of the business. For stability, long term reliable growth, moral wellbeing and above all the wellbeing of the cats, all cat breeders should think collectively and long term whilst balancing personal needs and gains. And someone needs to take charge of that and the only people to do that are the associations, which in the case of the Bengal cat is TICA. All Bengal breeders should be required to provide a test certificate that their show cat is HCM clear (negative) before showing.

The number one criteria for show cats should be health and character and it is those cats that should be the Grand Champions even if they look less good as a result. This will benefit all Bengal cat breeders and they will feel better for it too. It is also worth mentioning to, I think, that when people work together in a positive way there is a general sense of wellbeing amongst the group. The great difficulty is getting people to do it as it is against human nature, hence the many problems in the world.

The Collective Responsibility of Cat Breeding to Bengal Cats for Sale

Thursday, 22 May 2008

TIBS Lightning Fund

I have made an earlier post about the TIBS Lightining Fund. TIBS is the International Bengal Society and they are organizing funding the testing of Bengal cats to research the genetic causes of HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - heart disease in layperson terms) in Bengal Cats (finding genetic "markers" so the cats can be screened in the future). This disorder would seem to be of growing concern for Bengal cat breeders and cat fanciers.

HCM is found in many cat breeds and mixed breed cats. It is present in some cat breeds more than others. Maine Coons (perhaps the most popular cat) are known to have a problem and now it seems Bengal cats are going down the same path.

On an update about the TIBS Lightning Fund, is it true that the fund has the money to carry out tests but not enough cat breeders coming forward to have to donate blood from an HCM positive cat? This seems to be the case. It wouldn't surprise me as breeders will naturally be concerned about their cats being known to test positive for HCM, which leaves them with a damaged breeding program. As I have said countless times before it is difficult to reconcile good cat breeding and commerce, the two clash.

It is clear though that the research is vital to the betterment of the Bengal cat breed as a whole so Bengal cat breeders who have cats who have HCM have a duty to the breed to come forward. It's really about long term thinking versus short term financial gain. The long term strategy is always the best way.

TIBS Lightning Fund to Bengal cats

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Cat Skin Rashes

Cat skin rashes can be caused by Atopic Dermatitis; although there are numerous possible causes. Atopy is an allergic hypersensitivity to an allergen (a non-parasitic antigen causing hypersensitivity by over-production of the antibody immunoglobulin E - IgE). Humans have the same problems and a classic is being allergic to cat dander.

For cats (who are similar in many ways physiologically to humans - hence animal testing on cats) and humans the allergic reaction to substances in the atmosphere could be due to an immune system that is malfunctioning either due to an inherited condition and/or environmental factors.

I believe (or at least it is possible to believe) that some cats that have been deliberately breed within a tight gene pool may have compromised immune systems (I am thinking of Modern Siamese cats, for example). As Atopic Dermatitis is due to an immune system that is working against the welfare of the cat (over reacting due to being compromised) there may be a link between skin rashes and purebred cats. I have not seen any statistics to support this and this is pure speculation and chit chat. But it may be that skin conditions occur more frequently in purebred cats than mixed-breed cats. Anyone have any figures?

The actual mechanism for causing Atopic Dermatitis is unclear but in animals with this condition there is an imbalance between two different types of white blood cells. White blood cells provide the protection to invasion from foreign bodies.

There may be raised antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) presence as well. I'm rambling a bit here but there is an instance of a cat being allergic to propane fuel (for a gas oven) for example. The skin became red and the hair fell out. In time and on removing the source of the problem (and with steroid treatment) a scab forms which eventually falls of leaving good skin. The hair grows back.

What I am saying is that skin rashes are not always caused by the usual things like fleas and over grooming. It could be something in the environment. A little judicious testing by the person keeping the cat could isolate the offending allergen and a resolution found. Thinking wider, if breeding purebred cats can jeopardize the cat's welfare some thought needs to be given to the wider issues of cat breeding generally.

A possible example of purebred breeding that may be having a negative impact on cats is the high incidence of heart disease in Bengal cats (specifically HCM) and Maine Coons. I am speculating that cat breeding without full knowledge of the medical consequencees can result in long term health issues associated with the entire cat breed and wider (as outcrossing takes place).

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

TIBS Lightning Fund

TIBS Lightning Fund - The International Bengal Cat Society is running a fund to specifically address the pressing need to research the root cause of the heart disease, HCM, affecting Bengal Cats.

It is really good to see something tangible being done. The fund was established on 12th Sept. 2007. Well done TIBS. The study will be led by Dr. Kate Meurs of Washington State University under the administration of the WINN feline foundation. Click here to go to the TIBS website to make a donation. It will no doubt be a long journey to isolate the genetic mutation(s) responsible.

I have made several posts on the issue of Bengal cats and HCM. There are a number of comments on these posts indicating an interest, which is pleasing to see as it is probably the most important issue in the Bengal cat breeding fraternity.

The Maine Coon cat breed has a high incidence of the same disease and no doubt the research programme in relation to that breed can be referenced in the proposed research to be undertaken at Washington State University.

Note: the testing is painless and easy (a swab is taken from the mouth), so please don't be fearful in that regard.

TIBS Lightning Fund to Home Page

Sunday, 2 March 2008

Pedigree Cats with HCM

Pedigree cats with HCM should not be pedigree cats. A pedigree cat is one that can demonstrate a parentage of purebred cat that satisfies the cat association concerned. I other words she has a well documented history from father/mother and grandfather/mother etc. I don't live with a pedigree cat and my research proved fruitless but it seems to me that when you register your cat with an association you don't have to declare whether your cat has HCM, an inherited heart disease. Also, it seems that there is no requirement to test for HCM at regular intervals, which is important as it doesn't show up early on in the cats' life. Would it not be a good idea to make testing negative for HCM (meaning free of HCM) a prerequisite for registration and continuing registration of all cat registries/associations. This would force breeders to better control the spread of HCM, but privately. I say privately because a website that recorded the results of HCM testing for Bengal cats has been threatened with legal action unless an incorrect entry was removed. This website's register is open, a good thing in one sense obviously, but many breeders are too frightened to openly declare negative tests for fear of ruining their business. A private method would result in more testing it seems and a gradual eradication of this killer disease from the breeding lines. The end result would be less Pedigree Cats with HCM. Am I talking nonsense? If so please tell me. I have written this on a commonsense basis and I am not that familiar with the registration process. I think the cat associations have made things horribly complicated in so many areas. From Pedigree Cats with HCM to Cat Facts

Thursday, 28 February 2008

Cat Heart Disease

I have made several posts about the Bengal cat and HCM. HCM is a heart disease (there are others such as DCM) that affects Bengal cats and other cat breeds such as the Maine Coon. It seems odd to me that a cat breed can have a marked predisposition to such a devastating disease, a killer. This can only be due to cat breeders getting it wrong. If I'm wrong tell me, please - see Genetic Diseases in Purebred Cats.

Feline HCM. Source: Veterinarian website: MedVet.

Anyway, here's more about this important subject. I have used the human heart as the illustration is available and the cat's heart is very similar. HCM means Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. In practical terms it means the thickening of the heart muscles. It is an inherited disease (a genetic disease) that affects many animals including humans, pigs, dogs.

Daniel an F3 Bengal cat
Daniel a healthy Bengal Cat
who lives with my neighbour in London, UK. Photo: Michael @ PoC

It seems that in Maine Coon cats the cause of cat heart disease (specifically HCM) could be a dominant gene. But the whole area of HCM is still being researched. We are still very much in the dark about it in relation to its cause in Bengal Cats for example. See also Maine Coon cat health.

Because the heart muscle thickens it is less elastic and the area of the ventricle (the chamber from where it is pumped) is smaller. This means less blood is pumped out of the heart (less efficient) and turbulence can be created. The valves can leak as a result too. This causes a heart murmur. Fluid can build up on the lungs.

Sometimes there are no apparent symptoms and your cat can die suddenly. It develops slowly and your cat can show no signs before 6 months of age. It can be years before a successful diagnosis can be made.

There is no cure, just treatment to ease the life of the cat. The test to diagnose the disease is an ultrasound test (echocardiographic test). See video below:



From Cat Heart Disease to Home page

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Bengal cat Origins

The Bengal Cat origins are worth studying and thinking about as it tells us a lot about us and what we are doing and why we are doing it. The lives of domestic cats are in our hands. The way we think and behave dictates the wellbeing of the lives of all domestic cats. All the reviews on the beginning of the Bengal breed are very benign (lack proper discussion, are uncritical). Here is a different angle. But please don't misinterpret what I say. Most know that a women called Jean Mill started the Bengal cat breed. She retired from breeding Bengal cats in 2007, I understand. 



She is acclaimed and thought of fondly. Dare one be critical of her? Bengal cat origins began when she first bred a wild/domestic cat hybrid in 1963. She says that she "bought" an Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) from a pet shop (couldn't do that now). I suppose times have changed in attitudes about cats. I hope so. But I don't think one "buys" cats. Do we "own" cats. Or do we keep cats and adopt and care for cats (and they care for us too to a certain and sometimes large extent). 

I am surprised she used the word "bought". I don't know, but it would seem even at that time that it was not a good idea to have a wild cat caged up in a pet shop for sale. Moving on. The ALC she bought mated with a domestic cat she put in the cage with the ALC. This first step in wildcat/domestic cat hybridization was aborted as Jean Mill had to move from her home to an apartment (no space). Moving on to the breeding programme proper. After Jean remarried, she was able to recommence. She says that she "installed.....many zoo-like cages". Was this good for the cats or good for her? Sorry to be a bit critical but a lot of people don't think zoos are a good idea.  

Jean Mill acquired F1 hybrid Bengal cats from a medical research scientist who was doing research into leukemia. The ALC has partial immunity to feline leukemia. I presume that the research was for the benefit of humans. Some people don't like the idea of other animals being used for medical research for the benefit of humans. Cats are not infrequently used in medical research as they have conditions similar to ours. Sometimes the cats are sacrificed (killed) as a result. It seems that Jean Mill was the first cat breeder to think about producing a "tame toy leopard". 

Is it wise to try and produce an animal that we refer to as a "toy"? Does this demonstrate a respect for animals generally? Or does it demonstrate the idea that we are better and different to other animals and have the right to play God with them? Jean Mill then went to India and imported back from that country a feral or street cat with markings that she felt would produce the right offspring when mated with an ALC. I am guessing but an Indian street cat might not, through no fault of her/his own, be that healthy. 

I presume that she had the Indian cat checked out for inherited diseases such as HCM. The trouble is that HCM is due to a genetic mutation and there are many mutations that could be responsible. The science is only now being developed to isolate the genes for screening. The Indian cat mated with the female hybrids (presumed F1 hybrids adopted from the scientist mentioned above). One of the offspring was Millwood Tory of Delhi. She says that the genes from this cat are found in "virtually all Bengal pedigrees". Playing devil's advocate for a minute, what if the Indian cat had a predisposition to HCM? 

I don't know what tests were carried out. In any case at that time the science of screening for a genetic predisposition to heart disease was probably unheard of, or its infancy. Does someone know. If so, please leave a comment. The breeding of Bengal cats has been a worldwide success for us. Has it been the same success for the Bengal cats? From Bengal cat Origins to Bengal cats

Bengal Cats-HCM-Update

Photo: copyright Helmi Flick.

This is an update on the HCM (heart disease) information posted already. To see all the posts in date other please click on this link. As I read the situation, it is only coming to light fairly recently that there is a real problem with HCM in Bengal cats. There seems to be no doubt about that. HCM is inherited. This is well known. 

Clearly, it is vital therefore to know the background of each cat to track the disease. Where the condition is in the cat's background the cat should be spayed or neutered to cut that line of Bengal cats that suffer from this killer condition. That begs the question if there is a database of all the lines of Bengal Cats recording the HCM tests, which should ideally be obligatory. There is not such a database, of that I am sure. I am talking here of breeding cats. 

Every cat adopted by keepers who are not breeding cats should expect their cat to be healthy. This is in the hands of the breeders to organize a comprehensive database. For each Bengal purebred cat there is a database as to parentage (this is what makes the cat a pedigree cat and assures us that she is a purebred cat too). 

 It would seem to be a fairly simple step for the registries to insist that for each Bengal registered there is an absolute requirement to provide an HCM test result. If the cat is HCM negative (free of the disease), the cat is registered (provided other requirements are met) and if positive the cat should not be registered. Is this too simplistic? You have to start somehere and it seems that the situation is not being coordinated. Bengal Cats-HCM-Update to Bengal Cats

Sunday, 24 February 2008

Bengal Cats Heart Disease

Heart disease in Bengal cats seems to be a growing concern (as at 2008 - when this was written). This is an additional post on the subject. There are others, click here to see all posts on cat health. The reason why there are several posts is because I gather information progressively. And information is disclosed by breeders piecemeal. I think that heart disease in Bengal cats is of major importance to the entire breed. Bengal cat breeders are rightly proud of their work. 

HCM affects around 20% of male Bengal cats and about 2% of females. No one has explained the difference. It affects about 15% of the general cat population apparently.

Mackerel tabby Bengal cat.

They try very hard to do the right thing for the betterment of the breed as a whole. But they are in a business and it would seem that in the past they may have kept quiet about a growing health problem when it would have been wiser in hindsight to open up on it to ensure the health of cats for the future. The two types of heart disease concerned are HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and DCM (Dilated cardiomyopathy). 

HCM is the thickening of the heart muscles. DCM is the thinning, dilating of the heart muscles/wall. Both make the heart less efficient. HCM can present with symptoms (see this post for symptoms). It is a little difficult to find hard facts on this tricky subject; there are some, however. Here they are: - -- DCM is treated by giving taurine supplements and it works (in addition to other drugs - I'll leave that to the vets obviously). This is because the disease is caused (at least in part) by a lack of taurine in the diet. -- It is unclear if taurine can help cats with HCM. 

This is because of a lack of research. And HCM is a genetically inherited disease so on the face of it a supplement may not help. Cats need taurine, without it there will be health issues such as heart disease (DCM) and retina deficiencies for example. -- Bengal cats are dying suddenly without warning of HCM. They can be OK when you go to bed and dead when you wake up. Testing can be done and should be done. -- Cats are carnivores. 

Meat contains taurine. When cooked there is less taurine. Example: Uncooked beef: 362 mg/kg, cooked beef (baked) 133mg/kg, cooked beef (boiled) 60mg/kg. lamb has a slightly higher level of taurine. -- It is not clear as to exactly how much taurine supplement the Bengal cat needs - is it more than other domestic cats? The ALC (leopard) needs a lot more apparently. -- We don't know how big an issue heart disease in Bengal Cats is. We should know. 

It may be that this is a big problem. PETA and HSUS would probably like to use this against breeders. Breeders are it seems paying the price of not dealing with it more openly initially. More to come I expect. From Bengal Cats Heart Disease to Home Page

Saturday, 23 February 2008

Bengal Cat and Taurine

Bengal cats need taurine more than other domestic cats - is this true? That is what some say. This posting is not meant to be factual. It is more anecdotal and it is meant to raise a query, some questions if you like to which answers can be sought. In a recent article posted on the internet doctors treated an Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) kept at a zoo. 

Glorious Bengal cat. Photo copyright Helmi Flick.



The cat had a serious heart condition (disease) called DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy). DCM is different from HCM (another, similar heart disease). In DCM the heart muscles become stretched/dilated and in HCM they thicken. In both cases the heart becomes less efficient causing a range of conditions and symptoms. 

The treatment was to give the ALC a taurine supplement in the diet and drugs to help the heart beat stonger and to dilate the blood vessels. Taurine is an essential nutrient for domestic cats and an amino acid. The ALC's broken heart was mended - success. The ALC is the wild ancestor to the Bengal cat. The Bengal cat can suffer from HCM as mentioned above. It is argued that the ALC needs three times the normal dose of Taurine supplement of a domestic cat (1500 mg/kg daily) to maintain health (the domestic cat requiring 500 mg/kg?). 

However, it seems that commercial cat food has, in fact, 1000mg/kg of taurine in it (in dry products). The pet food manufacturers argue that is is better to put in too much (supporting the view that too much is not bad for the cat). The argument goes that as the ALC requires more than the usual amount of taurine and taurine helps maintain a healthy heart it may be the case that the number of Bengal cats suffering from heart disease, albeit HCM and not DCM, can be reduced by giving more Taurine supplement than is currently being given. 

The counter argument is that studies have not established a link between diet and HCM. Breeders often feed their cats raw food, hand prepared, with supplements. So the idea of adding more Taurine sounds useful. It is possible though to make a cat ill if given too much Taurine. So, what is the exact correct dose? It gets more complicated as sometimes breeders will give their cats manufactured food as well. 

This contains taurine usually, confusing the amount given. I said this article would raise questions :). In conclusion the question is, "can an increase in taurine supplement, or the correct amount of taurine supplement (whatever that is), reduce the incidence of HCM in Bengal cats?" Comments gratefully received. 

Here is another post on the subject of Bengal cats and Taurine and heart disease generally. 

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

Bengal Cats and HCM

Here's the answer for many cat breeders in the US who breed Bengal cats and are concerned (as all should be) about HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Mutation).

See all posts on the subject of HCM and this cat breed.

I am sure you can have tests done elsewhere but Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Laboratory, can provide a test kit on request.

The kit allows you to either use a swab provided to take a cheek swab yourself or ask your vet to take a blood sample. Either can be sent to the lab. They say they take about 2 weeks to conduct a DNA test to see if your cat is HCM positive or negative. The cost is extremely modest at $60 per test, with discount for multiple tests.

You should email the lab:VCGL@vetmed.wsu.edu?subject=Order%20Test%20Kit and provide: Your name, Your address, How many cats you'd like tested, Details as to how you would like to be notified., Your email if you want to notified by email, The test kit provides the swab. Visit their site fore more details.

Photo copyright Helmi Flick - the cat in the photo is not illustrating this post because she/he has HCM - I don't know if she has or hasn't.

From Bengal Cats and HCM to Bengal Cats and HCM

Tuesday, 5 February 2008

HCM in Bengal Cats

anatomy of a catHCM in Bengal Cats is something to take note of if you are buying a Bengal Cat. HCM stands for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I am not a vet. I try and research things extremely carefully. I may take about 2 hours researching a topic such as this before I put "pen to paper" but what is a bit surprising (and I may be being a bit grumpy here) is that it is hard to find one place where you can find a coherent and fairly complete discussion with some statistics on this subject. I think this is a reflection on the lack of coordination in cat fancy in respect of the disease and perhaps the lack of transparency.

Note: this page was written initially in May 2008 and updated. Things change.

General cat population

HCM in Bengal cats affects around 20% of males and about 2% of females. A big difference. Why? We don't know. The disease apparently affects around 15% of the general cat population but around 0.2% of the general human population. Why? We don't know why cats are predisposed to the disease compared to humans. Do you know why? Please comment.

This page evolved which is why it is a little haphazard and has been updated a lot. Sorry.


Update 12-3-09: The fact is that there is certainly a large number of breeders who do not test for HCM in their breeding lines and do not disclose the potential problem to others and buyers and this completely understandable as it affects business (short term). But (there is always a "but"), how much HCM is in the breed and how are breeders to know unless there is transparency? It is about collective responsibility for the breed, which is good for business long term. There is a hunch that cats are dying pretty regularly from this disease. It may be more prevalent than breeders think but if breeders hide from it no one can assess the impact.

The concept of transparency need not necessarily mean declaring to the world that a cat has HCM. It could mean one breeder disclosing to another that one of her cats has HCM and this builds a knowledge base amongst breeders thereby managing it better whilst not damaging business. Clearly the best course of action in dealing with HCM in Bengal cats is to have a proper and complete database open to breeders, which provides the information. And I think that the associations should be involved in this. It needs to be enforced and the database should be near 100% to be useful.

Could it be fairly argued that a Bengal cat breeder who does not test and has her/his head in the sand on this disease, is not fit to be a breeder? Surely to not test shows a disregard for the cat and many other cats that might be born with the disease. A cat with HCM will suffer more than one that is healthy. So a breeder who continues to breed whilst ignoring this disease is potentially hurting cats. How can that person be a cat breeder? Where are the associations on this?

Update 22-3-09: On the issue of collective responsibility etc. it seems that more could be done on the basis of the number of Florida Bengal cat breeders who attended a recent University of Florida HCM testing day. The University of Florida, hold HCM clinics every three months. Apparent, most of the breeders attending are Maine Coon and Ragdoll breeders. It looks like Bengal breeders are not yet in the mood to really tackle this disease for the wider good and the good of the cats. And it is the latter issue that upsets me. If breeders don't do the testing and hide the problem as I have mentioned it indicates a less than caring attitude towards cats.


HCM is a heart disease. It causes thickening of the heart walls. This makes the heart less efficient (less flexible). This leads to a range of other medical conditions. It can go undiagnosed and your cat could it seems quite suddenly die of this disease. Or, he may exhibit symptoms such as rapid breathing, shallow breathing, gagging, loss of appetite, coughing, lethargy, breathlessness, fainting, anorexia, limb paralysis (due to blood clot blocking blood to legs) - this is painful, heart murmur, racing heart beat (200 per minute). This would be extremely distressing for the cat and human keeper. Cats can live a reasonable life with the disease however.
Bengal cat
The kind of questions I have are:- how prevalent is the disease? (i.e. the percentage of cats that have it), are there certain breeds that are more susceptible? (we know the Maine Coon has a problem with this disease, but I didn't know it was quite common, it seems, in the Bengal cat), what causes it, the symptoms and cure etc?

The truth is the vets and scientists are still researching this disease. It is genetically linked, that seems clear. This means that a cat with the gene (a mutated gene) that causes the disease can pass this on through his/her offspring. As far as I am aware the mutated gene is dominant so at least 50% of offspring will carry the mutated gene. Research apparently indicates that it is caused "by genetic mutations inherited as an autosomal dominant trait". Autosomal means that the gene is not sex related. And there are all kinds of sources which state this fact, based upon research. Apparently, there is more than one type of mutated gene causing this disease and research is being carried out to isolate these genes.


Update of transmission of this disease: The Maine Coon cat also suffers this disease (as potentially all cats can and humans too, by the way). But the Maine Coon and Bengal are, it seems at a higher risk than average. The amount of offspring who will carry HCM+ depends on whether the parent is heterozygous or homozygous for HCM, and on the basis that their mate does NOT have HCM.

The odds of getting HCM increase if you pair two HCM positive cats. It will result in 100% HCM+. These are probably the kittens being diagnosed with HCM and dying at a very young age. Here is an extract from a piece by a breeder and I am sure he will not mind me quoting him:

"The genetics are very simple here. If we use (arbitrarily) H for HCM+ and h for HCM- or normal, then for a homozygous HCM positive cat bred to a normal cat we get:

HH x hh yields 100% Hh cats which are all genetically HCM positive and will pass on the disease whether or not they show symptoms. A heterozygous HCM+ bred to a normal HCM- cat yields: Hh x hh = 50% Hh and 50% hh or half the offspring will be genetically HCM+. Remember that more than one gene may be mutated and produce HCM in Bengals."

It would seem that some breeders refer to HCM tests as showing "mild HCM" or "normal HCM". This would appear to reflect the degree of thickness of the heart wall affected by the disease (HCM causes thinkening of the heart wall - see link below).

It is vital, some breeders say, that all breeding Bengal cats be tested for HCM. In fact every Bengal cat from every pedigree should be tested if it is to be used for breeding. This is the policy being proposed to successfully deal with this nasty disease and to improve the collective welfare of the breed (see Collective Responsibility of Cat Breeders)


Update: I forgot to put this video on the page. It is ultrasound testing for HCM and PKD at a cat show in the USA:




Clearly cat breeders can and indeed must do their bit in preventing the spread of this disease by testing for HCM in Bengal cats. This does not always happen. There was an operational website (no longer updated it seems but still in existence) where cat breeders can post the results of tests. The idea was to build a database to track the disease. This website is called Bengal Pedigrees.

Testing is cheap for HCM in Bengal cats (in the US at least) at about $80 (update: see the comment at the base of this post, this figure could be misleading but was obtained in good faith and with care). So, no excuses. However some vets are more au fait with this disease than others. Where are the ones who know this disease well? - don't know. The cat need not be shaven for a test to be carried out (this is good for breeders with show cats).

The indications are that there is HCM in Bengal cats. Maine Coons are known to have it. Other breeds that are being tested are the Ragdoll, Sphynx, Norwegian Forest Cat. Does this mean that these breeds have more incidents of the disease than other breeds? - I don't know. The non-purbred cat is not immune from this disease either but it is probably less prevalent in the ordinary moggie because of the much wider gene pool. Recommendation: Ask the breeder from whom you are adopting a cat for a vet's health cert. on the disease (i.e. is the cat free of it and is that certified by an independent vet?).

HCM in Bengal Cats -- Here are some more posts on this subject that expand on it a bit:
Photo top, author is Surachit
This image taken from Wikipedia under creative commons. The image reversed in color (became a negative when downloaded so this is not an exact copy).

Photo middle, copyright and by Zanastardust
There is no connection with HCM and the Bengal cat depicted (called Mel) as far as I am aware.

Sources:
  • http://www.felinewelfare.co.uk/hcm.htm
  • About.com
  • Washington State University
  • Bengal Cat Breeders

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