ArcaMax

"I think it's important to point out that at least some cats with heart failure survive and never look back," Fox adds.

Of course, the best scenario is that nothing happens after a cat is diagnosed with HCM? In fact, many cats with HCM do live out a normal lifespan, ultimately succumbing to an unrelated problem.

One drawback of Fox's study is that cats were only followed for five years, so he and his team never looked at HCM's impact on longevity.

"Approximately four out of five cats remained asymptomatic (at least over five years), but one would expect that a proportion of these animals might still develop complications from HCM later on," Fox says.

Regular veterinary visits for all cats are a good idea, increasing the odds of early diagnosis, which is always helpful. Cats most at risk might also benefit from the CardioPet ProBNP test, an inexpensive blood test which can offer clues to the veterinarian before jumping to the far more expensive gold standard test: an echocardiogram.

The Winn Feline Foundation, which raises money to fund cat health research, has supported many studies on HCM since initiating the Ricky Fund. Named for my Devon Rex cat, Ricky, who died of HCM in 2002, the fund has raised over $100,000.

Backed by Winn funding, a gene defect causing HCM was discovered in Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats, which can determine if this form of heart disease might be passed on to the next generation via an inexpensive cheek swab test. Without question, lives have been saved.

"Of course, more needs to be done," Fox adds. Learn more about the foundation at www.winnfelinehealth.org.

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