Nada is very serious about fighting the good fight against HCM. We believe that HCM scanning of our breeding cats atleast once a year is one of the *TOOLS* to assist in this fight. We send these Cardiology Reports to reputable HCM Databases to allow the public to see this information. This info is also provided directly to the owners of our babies. Unfortunately we have experienced buying from breeders that claim to scan their breeding cats but have yet to provide any of this information for our records. We will no longer support breeding programs by purchasing from catteries that do not provide full disclosure of HCM reports and recommend you do the same. We insist that all of our cats undergo a necropsy when they cross over the rainbow bridge. This is a sure way to examine the heart for HCM. We urge other cat owners to participate proactively in HCM scanning before its too late.
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Nada Sphynx Cats donate blood after their HCM scans on 12/10/10, at University of Florida for Sphynx HCM Research. Thank You to the amazing Staff at UF Cardio clinic for helping with the good fight for our Naked Cats!!!!
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The Sphynx below have all been affected by HCM and are either fighting to keep their hearts working with the help of medications or have Crossed the Rainbow Bridge and will be waiting patiently for their human companions...... If you or someone you know has been affected by HCM please feel free to send us a picture and a few words and we will add them to our HCM page. It is extremely important that YOU notify the breeder so they are aware their lines are affected by HCM. Knowledge is Power and if we are not notified we do not know to make changes.
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Dexter
August 25, 2003 - January 23, 2011
I had never heard of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) an acquired heart disease, until I lost my baby boy Dexter on January 23, 2011. He was my beautiful male sphynx only 7 years old. I purchased him from a reputable breeder when he was a kitten. He even flew on an airplane to his new home in Florida. We all have our own stories about our animals, how they sleep with us, wake us up, eat with us and even sometimes go to the bathroom with us. Dexter of course did all of those things and more. He was the healthiest acting and looking cat from the outside, but I didn�t know what was happening on the inside with his heart. He couldn't tell me that his heart hurt him. It wasn't until that night when we were snuggled up watching TV, that he started howling, jumped off my chest to the floor and couldn't move his back leg. He kept wailing in pain, panting, his tongue sticking out of his mouth, fidgeting in my arms as I tried to console him. We took him to the emergency vet, and after an examination, she told me that he had a blood clot in his leg, more than likely a symptom caused by HCM. His prognosis wasn't very good and the Dr. explained to me the different options, neither of them what I wanted to hear. My baby was in so much pain, I just wanted to take the pain away for him. I had to make one of the hardest decisions in my life. I ended his suffering, but that will always be with me. He will always be with me in my heart. My healthy heart.
We recently decided to purchase not one, but two new sphynx kittens. They are brothers and are adorable, of course. The breeder that we are getting them from has helped me become aware of HCM and she herself is a HCM Champion. She tests all of her cats on a regular basis and is a self-motivated spokesperson on making more cat owners aware of HCM.
Besides feeding our cats the best food, playing with them all the time, loving them as much as we can, we need to do one more thing, GET THEM TESTED FOR HCM on a regular basis.
T. Mullin
St. Petersburg, Florida
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Written bY our dear friend Brooke :
My boy Harold (pictured above & below) —who I lost to HCM— was adopted and I didn’t know his background at all. It wasn’t until after he passed that I was able to trace him back to his breeder, and just recently found his pedigree online.
My other four Sphynx are also rescues, so again here I am with no back-ground on them, and no idea if they came from a reputable breeder who scanned. As such, I have no choice but to scan them, if for no other reason than to be able to sleep at night! I also feel that I have to make every effort possible to encourage other owners to scan as well.
Sphynx owners must have their cats scanned and make an attempt to educate other potential owners to ask the breeder if they are scanning their breeding cats yearly. It amazes me how many people are unaware! But, in fact, I was one of them not too long ago myself.
I’m sure people get tired of me sounding like a broken record, preaching about HCM, but I don’t care! I can’t help but wonder... if I can educate just one person and help them not have to deal with the heartache I felt... then maybe losing Harold had some sort of purpose. Harold was the love of my life, my alarm clock, my little snuggle monster, my best friend. He was the Sphynx by which all my future Sphynx will be judged. My heart is still broken into a million pieces, and I would give the world just to hug him one more time. — Brooke Arnold
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This is our sweet boy Kerrick above with Dr. Maisenbacher III
preparing for his HCM scan on 4/30/10.
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HCM+: Nelson P. Wrinkle Butt.....sporting his K9 Closet collar below
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and yet more words from my dear friend Brooke.....dealing with her second battle with feline HCM,,,,,
Nelson likely didn’t have the easiest start in life. He was a stud cat for a backyard breeder. At 3 1/2 years old, he and his breeding partner, Mandy, were dumped at the SPCA when the breeder decided they were no a longer useful part of his baby-making program. Mandy’s tiny body showed tell-tale signs of having raised far too many kittens in her lifetime and Nelson was suffering from IBD and horrible diarrhea. The SPCA contacted a local Sphynx breeder for help with placing Nelson and Mandy, and through that breeder, I was thrilled to adopt them! From the moment the carrier door opened it was love at first sight! There was no hesitation – Nelson charged out of the carrier with the power of a steam engine and nearly broke my nose with one of his (now-infamous) skull-cracking headbutts! For an hour, I just lay on the floor while he climbed all over me, burrowing in my hair, purring louder than anything I’d ever heard before, climbing all over my back, and I was laughing hysterically the entire time. This cat was simply amazing! I couldn’t believe he was mine!
Nine months prior, I had lost my first beloved Sphynx to HCM. I knew in the back of my mind that taking in a rescue was a risk, but I still hoped after losing Harold it couldn’t possibly happen to me again. A few days after adopting Nelson, we went to the vet for his checkup. My heart sank when the vet heard a grade 2/3 heart murmur. I immediately scheduled his appointment for an echocardiogram. The result was Equivocal – meaning, not HCM, but not normal. I was relieved, but worried. Not quite sure what this meant. We were instructed to recheck in 6 months. Shortly after, Nelson started having breathing problems and fainting episodes called Syncope. A trip to the emergency room prompted me to schedule another echocardiogram.
Sadly, 4 months after the first echo in March 2010, Nelson was diagnosed with Moderate HCM. I am at peace knowing that his disease was caught at its earliest stages. By catching it so early, and starting his treatment right away, I’m able to give him the best chance at the longest life. I’ve been able to make diet and lifestyle changes to promote his heart health. His vet has said the goal is to give him one more good year. I’m determined to give him a lot more than that!
We had a setback last month, when he had an aortic thromboembolism – meaning, he threw a blood clot. Most often when this happens, it will affect both legs, called a “saddle thrombus”, and the cat will be in screaming pain and paralyzed in both legs. In Nelson’s case, though, it only affected one leg, and he didn’t have any pain from it. It was heartbreaking to watch him dragging one leg around the house, and the vet told me if he didn’t regain the use of his leg after 5 days, I should consider putting him down. On day 4, guess who miraculously got up and started walking around on all fours as if nothing had been wrong!? He was rolling around on his back and purring like a ham that day, while I was sobbing tears of joy!!
Now I’ve been looking into other forms of therapy for Nelson. Instead of sitting back and waiting for this disease to take him, I want to be proactive, instead of reactive. Oxygen is used in human medicine for a number of things, and it’s used in animal medicine to pull cats out of congestive heart failure – but it’s never been cost effective or realistic for at-home therapy as a preventative treatment option for cats. However, the more I research it, the more it seems to make sense. My own mother was in heart failure at one point, and at-home oxygen therapy was a life-saver for her. So, I’ve started giving Nelson oxygen treatments at home, using an oxygen concentrator, and a make-shift oxygen chamber made from a duct taped cat carrier, until I can save up for a real ICU cage. It’s only been a few days, but since I started him on his oxygen therapy, Nelson has been sleeping better than ever and he’s been running around the house with more energy than I’ve seen in months! This is not the behavior of a cat who, according to my vet’s estimation, only has 8 months left to live! Nelson and I are determined to prove him wrong!
Despite everything I have tried and will try with Nelson’s care, I made a promise to him the day he was diagnosed with HCM, and I fully intend to keep it. I read it often so I’ll never forget. This is my promise to him:
My sweet boy, I promise to do everything within my power to give you the absolute best chance at a long, healthy, comfortable life. I promise to make sure you never suffer. I promise to cherish every moment I have with you. I promise to love you as unconditionally as you love me. I promise to not be selfish if the time comes to take your pain away. I promise to keep telling your story in hopes that someone will benefit from the lessons you've taught me
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Nelson is pictured below on the day he was diagnosed with HCM. With that thought in mind please consider your cat may look big and healthy and strong on the outside while his heart is fighting to keep their blood pumping on the inside........Has your cat been scanned???
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This Angel belongs to our dear friend Heidi of k9closet.
http://k9closet.com/Gigicollectioncollars.html
Gigi Collection
For cats and dogs!
I lost my sweet Lady Godiva aka Gigi on June 29, 2010.
This has been the hardest thing imaginable. Gigi had HCM (hypertropic cardiomyopathy) which led her into CHF (congestive heart failure) several times. I will explain more at a later time, now it is just too hard for me to go into detail about that horrific night.
Harry and I (my Sphynx in the photo to your left) have decided we want to raise money for HCM research. Harry has HCM as well. Both of my Sphynx are rescues, both from different countries, yes- HCM is a huge problem.
My first proceeds from these collars will go to Brooke and Nelson, please read their story below. Once we have raised enough for Nelsons oxygen tank, we will donate 100% of the proceeds to the Winn Foundation.
Thank you to all of you for your cards, emails, calls, flowers and food. We wouldn't be able to do it without you! Thank you for your support.
Love always,
Heidi, Blake, Harry and Gigi Schamberger
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PICTURED BELOW IS HARRY. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HCM MANY MOONS AGO AND IS A WONDERFUL MEMBER OF THE K9CLOSET HOME.
"We are saddened to report that Harry went to spend eternity with Gigi yesterday 9/12/10. Rest in Peace sweet boy, you will be missed more than words can say....
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PLEASE CLICK ON GIGI'S PHOTO **BELOW**TO SEE MORE OF HER PRECIOUS MOMENTS!!!!
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Our very first Sphynx Alter LEUPOLD was diagnosed HCM+ on 8/27/10. We had no idea what had been going on inside of his heart by looking at him, no signs, no symptoms, nothing. We are very happy that we had an echocardiogram performed and he has been started on Atenelol a Beta Blocker and Aspirin. Leo will be going back to UF in 3 months with Brooke's boy Nelson for further examination to see how well the medication is working. Leo's Cardiologist is optimistic and we are praying to keep LEO as healthy as possible with medication to allow him to have a long life.
http://www.scf-fr.net/sphynxmanager/genealogie.php?id=3242&gen=4
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Please take a look at the HCM databases below.....
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