| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most significant | | | | HCM). Even in these cases a good treatment can |
| cause of heart failure and death in ragdoll cats. This | | | | alleviate the symptoms for a long period of time. |
| disease is characterized by a marked thickening of | | | | Recently a genetic cause was found for this |
| the left ventricle (heart muscle mass). This increased | | | | idiopathic form of HCM - MYBPC3 gene (cardiac |
| muscular thickness determines a decrease in chamber | | | | myosin binding protein C gene), the same causing a |
| diameters, meaning less blood will pass through the | | | | human variant of HCM. Each gene comes in ever |
| heart and, as a result your cat will have problems | | | | organism's genetic material in two copies; these |
| breathing, will eat less, will be lethargic and weak, will | | | | copies can be identical (homozygous) or different |
| lose weight, suffer abdominal swelling, vomit more | | | | (heterozygous). The ragdoll cats having a single copy |
| frequently, or will lose the ability to use its hind legs. | | | | of the defective MYBPC3 gene have a less severe |
| Cardiomyopathy is life-threatening for any cat but | | | | outcome than the ones having two mutant copies. |
| especially for ragdolls as usually they are pretty calm, | | | | Some veterinary services already offer genetic |
| lazy beings, making any initial symptoms much more | | | | testing for this gene, crucial for breeders as the |
| difficult to spot. If a specific cause is identified and | | | | frequency of these mutation is around 30%. Very |
| can be resolved, many (sometimes all) changes in the | | | | important - if your cat has the gene, keep in mind |
| heart can be reversed. This only happens though in | | | | that half of its offsprings will have it too; you |
| very rare occasions, usually ragdoll HCM being | | | | shouldn't use these cats in breeding programs if you |
| considered to be of an unknown cause (idiopathic | | | | don't really have to. |