If you have a cat who has been recently diagnosed with HCM - Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - you need to know about this new medication, called Rapamycin.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common heart disease in sphynx cats. It involves the thickening of the myocardium, the muscular wall of the heart, which can lead to decreased heart efficiency and, in severe cases, heart failure. The thickening makes it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively.

The exact cause of HCM is unknown, but it can be hereditary. In Sphynx cats, there is evidence to suggest a genetic component, making responsible breeding practices crucial.

Up until recently, the prognosis has been bleak as there is no cure for HCM. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications such as congestive heart failure or blood clots. 

Rapamycin recently completed a trial called RAPACAT which was reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This medication has been shown to be a treatment option that can halt the progression of HCM in cats.

As someone who works in the feline community, I have also heard anecdotally from many different people in Sphynx/HCM Facebook groups and other social media sources, that they have used the rapamycin on their cats with HCM and seen positive results.

So today’s cat tip is that while HCM is still a very serious disease, there is new hope in medications like rapamycin and other potential treatments coming down the line in the next few years. So if your cat currently has a diagnosis, be sure to talk to your veterinarian and cardiologist and discuss a trial for your cat.

Keep giving your pets the best of natural life!

~PetCoachApril 

April Arguin A.S., C.P.N., M.P.H