r/cornishrex Dec 21 '15

Cornish Rex and HCM

40 Upvotes

This post will probably stay stickied so that it's easy to find.

What is HCM?

HCM, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is a cardiovascular disease that affects cats (not just cats, either). To put it simply, HCM results in the thickening of the heart's walls, making it harder and harder for the heart to pump blood as it progresses. It can develop at any stage in life - from kittens as young at 6 months to adults as old as 10 (or more!).

Are some cats more at risk than others?

Research is still being done on feline HCM, but it is prevalent in many breeds including but not limited to Sphynx, Bengal, Maine Coon, Ragdoll and yes, Cornish Rex. To my knowledge, the disease & the risk isn't well known among the Rex community which is why I'm making this sticky.

What can I do to protect my cat?

HCM appears to be tied to genetics rather than other factors, so the first defense is finding a breeder that is aware and regularly scans their breeding stock. Unfortunately not many Rex breeders do, so the next line of defense is that much more important: annual scanning. Taking your cat to a board-certified cardiologist for an ultrasound of their heart annually is really the best thing you can do. This way, you're more likely to catch any problems early and start treatment as soon as possible (if necessary) and potentially prolong your baby's life.

Is there anything else I can do?

Yes! Share your results with HCM databases so others also participating in the program can track the disease through pedigrees. This helps dedicated breeders improve the breed through responsible breeding and helps non-breeders make informed decisions about purchasing kittens by inspecting bloodlines.

Ultrasounds are too expensive! I can't afford to scan.

It's true, seeing the cardiologist is not cheap. For those in the US and Canada there is Hairless Hearts, a volunteer organization that coordinates discounted clinics (and records other unaffiliated ones) across the US & Canada. Most of the clinics are $150-$200 which is a huge discount for most. Hairless Hearts also offers educational material on the breed including ongoing research, and provides the tools to participate in the program.

I want to help! How can I do that?

We're always looking for volunteers! There are plenty of gaps in our coverage that we need to fill, especially in Canada. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer with Hairless Hearts, visit this page. We hope to hear from you!


r/cornishrex 1d ago

My boy passed away today 🕊

Thumbnail
gallery
358 Upvotes

Only 5 years old. Stomach cancer, he did a good fight, his last months were smooth and loved. It's difficult to describe my pain. I love him si much.

Merlin

2021-2026

💔


r/cornishrex 4d ago

Rex Pictures Freyja, our little heat goblin

Thumbnail
gallery
125 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 6d ago

Rex Pictures My boys greeting me after work (8 years ago)

Post image
161 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 5d ago

Advice/Support Young Cornish Rex not using the litter box

5 Upvotes

I recently got two young Rexes (6 months old now), and one of them hasn’t been using the litter box consistently.

She used the box when I just brought her home, and was in fact really neat about it.
The kittens are very playful and they get along with each other well.
Took the litter non-complying cat to the vet, urine test looked clear.
I have 5 litter boxes and 3 different litters.
My household consists of 2 calm adults who are often around, as they work mostly from home.
We don’t play with them constantly, but they play with each other.
They eat high quality wet food for most of their meals, and have a water fountain
25 mg Gabapentin seems to not be doing anything.
Feliway diffuser is plugged in next to where they eat.
I’ve tried Zylkene and calming probiotic.
Nothing seems to help much and I’m at my wits’ end.

I’ve had cats and kittens before, so I thought I knew what I was getting into. I never anticipated I’d feel like I made a huge mistake. I was able to deal with the moderate destructiveness and accidental injuries (of me, by cats) just fine, but the peeing is a hard limit.

If you’ve had a cat that used to struggle with this, and got better, please tell me what worked. I’m at a loss.


r/cornishrex 6d ago

Rex enjoying summer

Post image
28 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 7d ago

Brother before any other

Thumbnail
gallery
111 Upvotes

These two are ridiculously bonded biological brothers (same litter). And the love they share is just fantastic. I have so many images of them together on top of one of my kids, they adore the children. 🥰


r/cornishrex 8d ago

Rex in bowl

Post image
135 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 8d ago

Rexes and Other Pets They don’t know they’re not “real” sisters and we won’t tell them

Post image
69 Upvotes

Same litter yep yep 🙂‍↕️


r/cornishrex 8d ago

Rex drinking

Post image
57 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 8d ago

Rex Pictures Bea in the garden

Post image
111 Upvotes

Anyone else allow their indoor rexes out in their garden or beyond? I'm always very mindful that Bea is still young (she's 2) and full of beans so have always kept right by her when I've let her out, she could escape very easily. She's definitely maturing a bit though and this is literally the first time she's ever just sat, content whilst outside. She's usually darting after bees, munching on grass or joining the kids on the trampoline! She's so content whilst being held outside though, I feel like I could go for a walk around the block just holding her and she'd be delighted and would welcome strokes from curious folks we'd pass.


r/cornishrex 9d ago

Rex Pictures My cat loves when I bury him in blankets before sleep. Chill mode

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

91 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 11d ago

Aunties Snookums and Toots

Thumbnail
gallery
72 Upvotes

They are almost 16 years old and mostly just sleep on electric blankets all day


r/cornishrex 12d ago

Kittens My kitten Biscuit wants to say hi to all your Cornie babies!

Thumbnail
gallery
336 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 11d ago

Hasn’t left my side in 3 days

40 Upvotes

I had a hip replacement on Wednesday, and since I got home that night Loki has not left my side. He’s laid on my right leg at the hip right, where my incision is. Hasn’t jumped on me, has been super gentle, and hasn’t even stepped on me the wrong way.

It’s so unlike him, cause he’s normally a wee dick, landing on me with his full weight and his petit paws. lol
Wee darling looking after his mum💕


r/cornishrex 12d ago

Rex Pictures Anyone else’s Rex dog obsessed?

Thumbnail
gallery
86 Upvotes

He hates it 😭 he literally cannot get a break from her


r/cornishrex 12d ago

Rex Pictures 100 degree heat. The kids decide pizza from the oven is the way to go. And of course Penelope is loving every second.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

85 Upvotes

We are trying to conserve. So no AC. We hit over 100 last week and she is in heaven. Forgive my voice. I always hated it.


r/cornishrex 13d ago

Rex Pictures Left my controller on the couch and left the spot where I sat. 5 mins later...

Post image
138 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 13d ago

Let's get weird! What are the most absurd nicknames you have for your Rex?

22 Upvotes

I have seen some absolute bangers in here and I love reading them. Our lil man is named Apollo but we have about 46 other terms that we use to refer to him, my personal favourites being 'chimkin' and 'smeeby prankz', a combination of his most frequently used nicknames, 'smeeb' and 'prankz'. I wanna hear yours!


r/cornishrex 16d ago

New (to me) Cornish Rex in the (tiny) home! How to keep her happy?

14 Upvotes

Hi! I recently adopted a 5 year old female Crex. It was kind of unexpected, but of course I've completely fallen in love!

She came to me because of fighting with other cats in her last 2 homes (the last time resulting in a claw in her paw becoming infected and her having a lil cast for a while). It was hypothesized that she might do better as a single cat. She's spayed. She loves people. But she's never lived alone before and I worry about her being lonely or bored (though this is better than her being bullied or injured even worse).

I live in a small 2 bedroom 800 sq foot apartment. She's only been here for 3.5 weeks but I'm noticing that it's sometimes hard to keep up with her energy levels! She has no destructive/negative behaviors, I just worry that she might be bored.

I've installed 2 climbing walls for her in (in different rooms) and gotten a cat wheel, but she hasn't been brave enough for any of these yet. We play every day for about an hour cumulatively (in 10-20 minute increments). She cuddles with me often, but ultimately usually prefers her heated cat bed.

She came to me a little overweight, but she's not finishing her food (overeating was a negative behavior she had in her last home) and seems content as long as she can be in the same room as me. She is very affectionate and not shy greeting new people. I was nervous to have lots of people over at first, when she was settling in, but letting my friends and neighbors meet her seems to be her favorite kind of mental stimulation!

I realize 3.5 weeks isn't a very long time for settling in, but this is my first time owning a cat as an adult, and I want to take perfect care of her! Any advice for keeping a crex happy in a small apartment?

PS next summer I'm hoping to screen in my porch so we can both enjoy the outdoor space (I don't use it right now because of mosquitoes). I also hope to keep expanding the cat climbing walls (if she will use them).

PS I've lived entirely alone for a long time now (moved around a lot) so sharing my space is also new to me, but she is my priority! Any advice about adjusting to sharing my home is welcome, too. Thank you!


r/cornishrex 17d ago

Rex Pictures Do any other rexes love when you rub their ears?

Thumbnail
gallery
107 Upvotes

My girl immediately starts purring when i rub her ears and sometimes tries to put my finger in there. Maybe there's an itch i scratch, but she just loves it.


r/cornishrex 17d ago

Advice on finding a loving new home

6 Upvotes

I've adopted two Cornish Rex brothers (they came out of a household where they had trouble with the other cats living there), but now it turns out that I'm not a very fitting home as well - I live alone and although I'm currently at home a lot, it's not enough for them. So I decided to look for a new home but I really want to make sure that it's one where all there needs are met, which is not easy (no other cats, no small children, one person with LOTS of time for the cats or a several person home). Any advice on how I find that?


r/cornishrex 17d ago

He is just sitting there. Semi-menacingly.

Post image
89 Upvotes

Lukas putting on his best RBF.


r/cornishrex 17d ago

There are two Rexes in this pic

Post image
45 Upvotes

r/cornishrex 21d ago

Fiona 💚

Thumbnail
gallery
344 Upvotes