My Beloved Cat Has Heart Disease... How to Cope with a Sudden Diagnosis of "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy"

Feline heart disease is difficult to detect early, and by the time you notice something is wrong, it can be too late or lead to sudden death. As a cat writer who has heard stories about many different cats, I knew this, yet when my own cat, Gigi, was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, my mind went blank, and I felt firsthand how difficult early detection can be.

In this article, I will share the story of how Gigi’s heart disease was caught early, the treatment she is currently receiving, and how I have come to accept my cat’s diagnosis. I hope this proves useful for early detection.

Early Detection of Heart Disease Through Cardiac Biomarkers

In November 2021, when I took Gigi to the vet after she fell from her cat wall and couldn't walk, the veterinarian said something I never expected.

"This little one has a heart condition. I noticed something a bit off during the blood work and ultrasound, so we did further testing and confirmed it's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy."

...What? My cat has heart disease? I have heart disease myself, and now Gigi does too? Why? She hadn't shown any signs of distress at all.

That was my immediate thought upon hearing the vet's words. After the initial shock wore off, I remember the heartbreaking question, "Does this mean Gigi won't live a long life?" popping into my mind, and I felt like I was about to cry right there in the exam room.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease where the heart muscle (myocardium) thickens, which hinders the heart’s ability to function and prevents it from pumping sufficient blood to the body. In Gigi's case, it also seemed to be related to the fact that her kidneys were failing.

I was able to detect the disease thanks to an experienced veterinarian. Instead of brushing off the small irregularities felt during the ultrasound and blood tests, they performed an "NT-proBNP" cardiac biomarker test.

I thought I had enough knowledge about feline heart disease—things like mouth breathing, lack of play, or lethargy. I’ve even interviewed cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy several times to ask about key points for early detection.

And yet, I didn't notice Gigi’s illness. Early-stage heart disease is truly that asymptomatic... I realized once again just how frightening this condition is.

In the first place, the dislocation itself was a bad thing, but it still terrifies me to imagine what might have happened if she hadn't dislocated that joint.

She’s Been Getting Into More Mischief Since Starting Medication!

Fortunately, because we caught the disease early, Gigi began treatment with a once-daily pill called "Fortekor." Now, we go to the clinic every two months for check-ups.

Gigi had been perfectly healthy until now, so this was her first time taking medication. At first, I was worried, thinking, "She's probably going to hate the medicine... I wonder if she'll actually take it."

But cats are amazing, aren't they? They always defy expectations. In our house, we crush the pill and mix it into "Churu" treats, and Gigi completely mistakes her medication time for "snack time." When I call out, "Gigi, it's time for your medicine," she runs over happily.

I captured the kindness of my cat, who watches over her friend quietly without getting in the way when they are taking their medicine 🎥 pic.twitter.com/6BTa7pAGHR

— Yua | Writer🖊 (@yunc24291) April 27, 2023

I love that simple, straightforward nature of hers, Gigi-pon. When I told my vet, they laughed and said, "That's cute! It's good she hasn't figured it out (laughs)."

What changed after she started the medication is that she’s been getting into more mischief and is more interested in toys. Perhaps because she takes after me in having a short attention span, Gigi often loses interest as soon as I bring out a toy, but now she tracks them with her eyes and tries to pounce on them more often.

Maybe she just didn't have the energy to move before because she felt so unwell. Whenever I think that, I want to get down on my knees and apologize to her for not being able to detect it myself early on. (I’ve actually done that about four times.)

Watching Gigi wiggle her cute little rear end, climb onto the table, and battle with a ballpoint pen, I find myself torn: I want to scold her, but I also think, "Maybe she's just making up for all the time she couldn't play before."

I Even Blamed Myself... The Path to Accepting My Cat’s Heart Disease

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease that cannot be cured. Although I can now say, "We’ll just have to live with it," for a while after the diagnosis, the weight of the reality that it was "incurable" was really difficult to bear.

Why did she develop this? If only I had been more careful. Was it the environment in our home that caused it? Maybe if she lived somewhere else, Gigi would be perfectly healthy.

I found myself spiraling with questions that had no answers, blaming myself for being a bad servant to my cat.

But because I have heart disease myself, I was able to get my act together. This is the one thing I am grateful to my chronic illness for.

Even if the specific diagnosis and symptoms differ, it's still heart disease. If that's the case, I should be the one who best understands the frustration and worries she feels. The frustration of feeling "cold" in a room that humans and other cats find comfortable, or the struggle of wanting to move but having your body refuse to keep up—I know those feelings better than anyone. I decided to think from her perspective and provide the care she needs based on those "shared feelings."

Once I started thinking that way, my heart felt lighter, and I was able to face Gigi’s heart disease in a positive way.

I’m sure many of you who find yourselves in this situation with your own cats end up blaming yourselves, just like I did. But if your cat knew you were feeling that way, it would surely make them sad. Cats are gentle creatures who love their owner's smiles, so I truly hope you take care of your own heart for your cat’s sake as well.

"Our diagnoses are different, but we're both dealing with heart disease, aren't we, Gigi? Let's both enjoy the present and live so long that the doctors are surprised."

That was a goal I told Gigi in the car on the way back from a check-up, and I want to fulfill it. Because of that, I choose not to imagine a sad future; instead, I will focus on living each day together and continue to do my best so that Gigi can live as long as a cat yokai.