I have been looking for a Maine Coon cat for quite some time. I am working with a breeder here who has been very helpful. She is very concerned with HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) in the Maine Coon breed. Because she has no cats available to me at this time I have been looking elsewhere and giving her the pedigrees to look over. She has on several occasions told me not to buy because of this HCM being strongly observed in the ancestors of the cats being offered. I questioned the general healthiness of the breed and her response was that Maine Coons are no more likely to have HCM than any other breed. I've searched for statistics to support this and can't find any.
So my question is this: Are Maine Coon cats statistically more prone to develop HCM than other breeds? Sources?
I have recently put a deposit on a Maine Coon kitten and was called by the breeder who told me the cats Sire just died. OK one day, dead the next. The breeder is very upset understandably, and has sent the cat for an autopsy. I wanted to request the results but felt it inappropriate to ask at the time. I'm guessing the cat died from this HCM. Y'know, I want a HEALTHY, big, laid back, friendly cat like a Maine Coon, but they seem to be a sort of sickly breed of cat. I'm hoping I'm wrong and you can help me with that.
So my question is this: Are Maine Coon cats statistically more prone to develop HCM than other breeds? Sources?
I have recently put a deposit on a Maine Coon kitten and was called by the breeder who told me the cats Sire just died. OK one day, dead the next. The breeder is very upset understandably, and has sent the cat for an autopsy. I wanted to request the results but felt it inappropriate to ask at the time. I'm guessing the cat died from this HCM. Y'know, I want a HEALTHY, big, laid back, friendly cat like a Maine Coon, but they seem to be a sort of sickly breed of cat. I'm hoping I'm wrong and you can help me with that.