🫀 The Maine Coon Heart — How to Truly Keep It Healthy

A genetic test is not a magic guarantee. The real responsibility for your cat’s heart health lies with us.

HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) is one of the most common causes of sudden death in Maine Coons.But heart failure can also happen to a genetically “clean” cat — if the body is in a low-energy, sluggish state.

💔 For example, if your cat:• is overweight,• eats very little,• moves reluctantly,• seems sleepy or slow,• and has low CPK (Creatine Kinase) levels in bloodwork —that means the muscles and nervous system are “asleep” and running at minimum effort.The heart is a muscle too. If it’s underactive, it may not handle stress, fear, or physical change — and that can lead to sudden failure.

🩸 What is CPK (Creatine Kinase)?It’s an enzyme that helps cells produce energy — especially in:• skeletal muscles,• the heart (myocardium),• and the brain.

📍 A CPK test is part of a standard veterinary blood panel.📈 What it shows:• High CPK = muscle strain or damage (injury, seizures, inflammation).• Low CPK = less common, but more dangerous.It means the body is underactive, metabolism is slowed, and both muscles and nerves are not functioning well.In that state, the heart is at risk.

🚨 Low CPK is a red flag when:• the cat is inactive and gaining weight,• the diet is poor (especially without real meat),• the cat lies around all day, doesn’t play, but isn’t losing weight,• the nervous system seems underactive.

💊 What helps in these cases:

1. A nootropic — stimulates brain activity and nerve signals.

2. L-carnitine — boosts metabolism and muscle energy.

3. Taurine — essential for cats, supports heart and nervous system.

🍖 Where to get taurine from:• organ meats (heart, liver, kidneys), beef,• dark poultry meat,• seafood (shrimp, mussels, squid).❗️Cats fed only dry food or plain cooked chicken breast are at high risk for taurine deficiency.

✅ Takeaway:A genetic test is important — but it doesn’t tell the whole story.If you want to know your cat’s real heart condition — test for CPK.If you want your cat to live a long life — provide real food, daily activity, and proper support.