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I had the most beautiful gray Maine Coon named Baxter. He was a year and a half. Two weeks ago I found him dead. He was as healthy as a cat could be and this day was like every other. He ate his breakfast, ran back and forth the length of our home several times, was his usual silly self, and then cozyed in for his morning nap. About an hour later, I didn't see him in his usual napping place and went looking for him. That's when I found him under the bed. The vet said he died suddenly of a heart attack, which is called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I looked this up. It's genetic and is fairly common of Maine Coons. Has anyone else experienced this? I am devastated because I thought we'd have another 15 years together. We want another Maine Coon kitty and are looking for our lifelong buddy again. Linda
I was so sorry to see that you lost your Maine Coon, Baxter, to heart disease. It is terrible that Maine Coons suffer from heart disease – usually hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). I am a pet-owner of two Maine Coons, both of whom are heterozygotes for the recently discovered MyBPC-3 genetic defect which causes HCM in Maine Coons. As a researcher by profession (though not in medicine), I have begun researching HCM in various lines of Maine Coons in an effort to correlate DNA status with clinical disease. The purpose of my research is private: I am merely seeking to trace current Maine Coons who are positive for the MyBPC-3 defect back through lines that may or may not have presented HCM in the past. None of my data will be published or disseminated in any form.
I was wondering if you would be willing to give me the names of the parents & grandparents of Baxter? It is very helpful in studying HCM to have ancestral information on cats who might have had HCM - sometimes it is even possible to hazard a guess as to whether or not the cat might have been positive for the known defect (which was identified in 2005.)
Any information you can provide would certainly be appreciated. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Breeders have better tools now to control HCM, but there is still much work to be done to eradicate this terrible disease. I am grateful that research continues on the genetic defects that can cause HCM in Maines. Hopefully, some day soon we will be able to screen genetically for HCM and thus sharply reduce the number of cases among Maine Coons (and other breeds including domestics as well.)
Dear Ms. Ball,
I was so sorry to see you lost your Maine Coon, Baxter, to apparent heart disease. It is terrible that Maine Coons suffer from heart disease – usually hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Here is a site with information on HCM in Maine Coons: http://www.pawpeds.com/healthprogrammes/hcm.html
I am a pet-owner of two Maine Coons, both of whom are heterozygotes for the recently discovered MyBPC-3 genetic defect which causes HCM in Maine Coons. As a researcher by profession (though not in medicine), I have begun researching HCM in various lines of Maine Coons in an effort to correlate DNA status with clinical disease. The purpose of my research is private: I am merely seeking to trace current Maine Coons who are positive for the MyBPC-3 defect back through lines that may or may not have presented HCM in the past. None of my data will be published or disseminated in any form.
I was wondering if you would be willing to give me the names of the parents & grandparents of Baxter? It is very helpful in studying HCM to have ancestral information on cats who might have had HCM - sometimes it is even possible to hazard a guess as to whether or not the cat might have been positive for the known defect (which was identified in 2005.)
Any information you can provide would certainly be appreciated. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Breeders have better tools now to control HCM, but there is still much work to be done to eradicate this terrible disease. I am grateful that research continues on the genetic defects that can cause HCM in Maines. Hopefully, some day soon we will be able to screen genetically for HCM and thus sharply reduce the number of cases among Maine Coons (and other breeds including domestics as well.)
As one who has owned scores of cats over a lifetime, I can honestly say that Bart, our Maine Coon rescued from a shelter, is the best cat I have ever owned. I tell him all the time that had I known more about his personality when he was a kitten, I would have named him Quint, as he is the quintessential cat. He's about 10 years old now. I hope he lasts at least another 10, because he's irreplacable.
One week after my husband passed away (57), I adopted a beautiful kitten from the animal shelter. His name is Kitson, after the famous Kitson stores in Hollywood CA, all the cats were named after movie stars and singers. Anyway, turns out my Kitson is a beautiful Maine-coon, he has been such a wonderful companion since I also lost my little brother a year before my husband, my brother Sandy was called the catman, since he took in strays and fed them daily, as now my other brother has the job of doing so. Kitson is a very smart and loving cat, he loves playing fetch all the time and gives me kisses and unconditional love. He is beautiful and everyone loves him cat lover or not. Bless all animals and especially the Maine-coons.
My gentle giant (27lbs) Abby, is a nanny cat to all the fosters that come through our house (kitten or Puppy). She will take charge of the babies and make sure everyone is clean whether they like it or not! She is truly a gentle soul, but she is a great hunter! She moves pretty fast for a big gal! She has a tiny voice that she rarely uses, but she has enormous gold eyes and a majestic plume of a tail. Her triple coat is completely unsuited for Southern California summers, and I have to make her come inside to cool off. But in winter she will spend hours outside in the pouring rain, it doesnt seem to bother her a bit! Abby is a joy and a comfort to us. Long live Queen Abbigail!
Maine Coon cats earned a nickname "The Gentle Giant" due to their large size. Although the average size is 12 - 15 lbs for males and a little less for females, some individuals can grow to be up to 25 lbs!
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I was so sorry to see that you lost your Maine Coon, Baxter, to heart disease. It is terrible that Maine Coons suffer from heart disease – usually hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). I am a pet-owner of two Maine Coons, both of whom are heterozygotes for the recently discovered MyBPC-3 genetic defect which causes HCM in Maine Coons. As a researcher by profession (though not in medicine), I have begun researching HCM in various lines of Maine Coons in an effort to correlate DNA status with clinical disease. The purpose of my research is private: I am merely seeking to trace current Maine Coons who are positive for the MyBPC-3 defect back through lines that may or may not have presented HCM in the past. None of my data will be published or disseminated in any form.
I was wondering if you would be willing to give me the names of the parents & grandparents of Baxter? It is very helpful in studying HCM to have ancestral information on cats who might have had HCM - sometimes it is even possible to hazard a guess as to whether or not the cat might have been positive for the known defect (which was identified in 2005.)
Any information you can provide would certainly be appreciated. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Breeders have better tools now to control HCM, but there is still much work to be done to eradicate this terrible disease. I am grateful that research continues on the genetic defects that can cause HCM in Maines. Hopefully, some day soon we will be able to screen genetically for HCM and thus sharply reduce the number of cases among Maine Coons (and other breeds including domestics as well.)
Sincerely,
Ellie Kimmel
Charleston, SC
Ekimmel43@yahoo.com
Dear Ms. Ball,
I was so sorry to see you lost your Maine Coon, Baxter, to apparent heart disease. It is terrible that Maine Coons suffer from heart disease – usually hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Here is a site with information on HCM in Maine Coons: http://www.pawpeds.com/healthprogrammes/hcm.html
I am a pet-owner of two Maine Coons, both of whom are heterozygotes for the recently discovered MyBPC-3 genetic defect which causes HCM in Maine Coons. As a researcher by profession (though not in medicine), I have begun researching HCM in various lines of Maine Coons in an effort to correlate DNA status with clinical disease. The purpose of my research is private: I am merely seeking to trace current Maine Coons who are positive for the MyBPC-3 defect back through lines that may or may not have presented HCM in the past. None of my data will be published or disseminated in any form.
I was wondering if you would be willing to give me the names of the parents & grandparents of Baxter? It is very helpful in studying HCM to have ancestral information on cats who might have had HCM - sometimes it is even possible to hazard a guess as to whether or not the cat might have been positive for the known defect (which was identified in 2005.)
Any information you can provide would certainly be appreciated. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Breeders have better tools now to control HCM, but there is still much work to be done to eradicate this terrible disease. I am grateful that research continues on the genetic defects that can cause HCM in Maines. Hopefully, some day soon we will be able to screen genetically for HCM and thus sharply reduce the number of cases among Maine Coons (and other breeds including domestics as well.)
Sincerely,
Ellie Kimmel
Charleston, SC
Ekimmel43@yahoo.com