BENGAL CAT HEALTH

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Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM is a fairly common inherited cardiac condition which affects the Bengal cats health. The heart muscle thickens, so the organ has to work much harder, causing several health problems. Blood clots or thrombosis can ensue, making the back legs motionless. This important health problem can also lead to heart failure, resulting in death. The first signs of cardiomyopathy include shortness of breath and excessive fatigue in Bengal cats.

The Bengal progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-b) causes recessive blindness in Bengal cats. This  inherited disease attacks the health of the eyes and causes the  destruction of cells that record light. The loss of cells begins around  the age of 7 weeks and progresses slowly until the cat vision becomes  compromised around the age of 2 years. However, blindness can develop at  different rates.

Pyruvate  kinase deficiency is an inherited health issue in Bengal cats. Pyruvate  kinase is an important red blood cell enzyme in the energy metabolism  of red blood cells. Therefore, if this enzyme is lacking, anemia may  result. 

This health problem is  inherited as a recessive gene, so only cats with two copies of the  defective gene will have their health affected. Carrier Bengal cats are  clinically healthy, but can transmit the defective gene to their offspring.