Health

Maine Coons can be subject to some diseases. Here are the main diseases:

 

HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)

HCM is a race-specific congenital heart disease. This means that the cat has an enlarged heart muscle. The heart muscle cells thicken and cannot contract properly, especially in the left half of the heart, where the muscle wall is already thick enough. This complicates the pumping function of the heart and therefore blood circulation.

For this reason, it is advisable to regularly perform an echocardium in order to detect the first changes.

 

Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and patellar dislocation

The Maine Coon is a large and heavy breed. Joint complications can therefore occur during the growth phase. Hip dysplasia is a hereditary defect of the joint. The patella does not adapt exactly to the joint and the surfaces begin to rub against each other, causing the degeneration of the cartilage.

Here it is advisable to perform an X-ray examination of the hips and joints.

 

SMA (spinal muscular atrophy)

SMA is a motor neuron disease. It is a disease of nerve cells and affects all the muscles of the body. Symptoms include muscle wasting and muscle weakness with spinal motor neuron degeneration. Cats that develop SMA exhibit progressive walking instability and postural abnormalities.

A genetic test is recommended to see if this disease is genetically present.

 

PK deficiency (pyruvate kinase deficiency)

In PK-Def, red blood cells lack the pyruvate kinase enzyme. Pyruvate kinase is important for erythrocyte energy production. Symptoms are anemia such as pale mucous membranes, weakness and fatigue and also severe crises with jaundice and fever.

A genetic test is recommended to see if this disease is genetically present.