Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most commonly diagnosed cardiac disease in cats. At Bengal Kittens Breeders Home, every breeding cat undergoes annual echocardiographic screening for HCM — an investment in the long-term heart health of every kitten we produce.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat's heart to thicken, decreasing the heart's efficiency and potentially leading to heart failure, blood clots, or sudden death. It is the most commonly diagnosed cardiac disease in cats and is thought to have both genetic and environmental causes.
HCM can affect any cat breed, but certain breeds — including Bengal cats — have been identified as having elevated risk. The condition can be present without obvious symptoms, making regular echocardiographic screening the only reliable method of detection.
At Bengal Kittens Breeders Home, every breeding cat undergoes annual echocardiographic screening carried out by a qualified veterinary cardiologist. This screening uses ultrasound technology to assess the structure and function of the heart, identifying any thickening of the cardiac walls.
By annual screening, we aim to identify any Bengal cats where genetics may be playing a role in cardiac changes, and to remove such cats from our breeding programme before they can pass on any predisposition to their offspring. This is a proactive, evidence-based approach to protecting the cardiac health of our kittens.
By purchasing a Bengal kitten from Bengal Kittens Breeders Home, you are choosing a kitten whose parents have been annually screened and cleared for HCM. While no screening programme can guarantee a kitten will never develop HCM — as the condition has multiple causes — purchasing from a programme with annual cardiac screening significantly reduces the genetic risk.
HCM screening results for our breeding cats are available on request, reflecting our commitment to full transparency.
