Health and Genetics
HCM Screening in Cats Explained: What Buyers Should Know
Published 2026-01-18 | Last updated 2026-03-02
Key Takeaways
- HCM, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is a heart condition that can affect cats, including some purebreds.
- Responsible breeders screen breeding cats with a heart ultrasound, often called an echocardiogram.
- Screening the parents helps inform placement decisions, but it is not a guarantee about any individual kitten.
- Ask any cattery what screening they perform and request the records before you reserve.
What HCM Is
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is a condition where the muscle of the heart thickens. It is one of the more common heart conditions seen in cats, and it can appear in some purebred lines. HCM can range from mild to serious, and in some cats it shows no outward signs for years.
Because HCM can be inherited, responsible breeders screen their breeding cats to understand the health of their lines and make informed placement decisions.
How Breeders Screen for HCM
The standard screening tool is a heart ultrasound, called an echocardiogram, performed by a veterinarian. The scan measures the walls of the heart and looks for thickening. Some breeders also use a genetic test for a known mutation in breeds where one has been identified.
Screening is done on the adult breeding cats, not on young kittens, because the changes that indicate HCM often develop over time. A normal scan on a breeding cat is a good sign, but it does not guarantee that a kitten will never develop a heart condition later in life.
Learn more in our Health and Delivery guide, or browse kitten styles.
Breeds Where HCM Screening Is Common
HCM screening is especially common in breeds where the condition has been studied. We screen our British Shorthair and Ragdoll lines, and we keep PKD-clear lines where relevant. Other breeds in our program are also monitored as part of routine veterinary care.
You can read more about each breed's health considerations in our breed guides, including the British Shorthair guide and the Ragdoll guide.
What to Ask a Cattery
Before you reserve a kitten, ask the cattery directly:
- Do you screen your breeding cats for HCM, and how recently?
- Which breeds in your program are screened?
- Can you share the screening records with me?
- What other health screening do you perform, such as PKD testing?
Screening Is Not a Guarantee
It is important to be honest about what screening can and cannot do. Screening the parents helps a breeder make responsible decisions about which cats to breed, and it gives you information. It is not a guarantee that a kitten will be free of every health condition for life. Any cattery that promises a guaranteed healthy kitten is overstepping what screening can actually deliver.
What you should expect is transparency: clear records, honest answers, and a willingness to talk through what the screening does and does not mean.
The Luxury Only Kittens Team
A boutique cattery founded in 2020, placing health screened purebred kittens with carefully selected families.
FAQ
What does HCM screening mean for a kitten?
HCM screening is performed on the breeding parents, usually with a heart ultrasound. It helps the breeder make informed decisions, but it is not a guarantee about any individual kitten.
Which breeds should be screened for HCM?
HCM screening is common in several purebred breeds, including British Shorthair and Ragdoll. Ask your cattery which breeds in their program are screened.
Can a screened kitten still develop HCM?
Yes. Screening the parents reduces risk and informs breeding decisions, but it cannot guarantee that a kitten will never develop a heart condition later in life.
How do I ask a breeder about HCM screening?
Ask whether they screen their breeding cats, how recently, and whether they can share the records. A responsible cattery will answer clearly and provide documentation.
Do you provide health records with your kittens?
Yes. Every kitten goes home with full veterinary health certification and vaccination records, and we are happy to discuss the screening we do on our lines.