Which health problems are common in the Maine Coon?
Best known for an inherited heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and for hip dysplasia. A DNA test shows whether the breed's known HCM gene is there, heart ultrasounds can find HCM before any sign shows, and a healthy weight is kind to the hips.
Updated November 9, 2026
What should Maine Coon owners watch for?
Common for the breed doesn't mean your cat will have it.
- Heart disease (HCM). The heart wall thickens, often with no signs. Fast breathing at rest, breathing with the mouth open or sudden weak back legs need a vet now.
- Hip dysplasia. Loose, worn hip joints. Cats often show nothing obvious, which is why screening uses an X-ray. Tell your vet about any stiffness or jumping less.
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). An inherited nerve condition that shows by 3 to 4 months as an odd walk and weak jumps. It doesn't seem to cause pain.
Which checkups do vets often suggest?
| Checkup | What it is | When |
|---|---|---|
| DNA test for HCM | A cheek swab or blood sample, done once, for the breed's known HCM gene. A clear result doesn't rule out HCM. | Once |
| Heart exam by a cardiologist | An ultrasound of the heart, the test that finds HCM. Ask your vet from what age and how often it makes sense. | From 1 year · Every year |
| Hip X-ray | An X-ray of the hips that screening programs take after 10 months of age to check for hip dysplasia. | From 10 months · Once |
| DNA test for SMA | A cheek swab, done once, that shows whether the cat carries the gene for spinal muscular atrophy. | Once |
Your vet decides which checkups fit your pet, and when.
How do I keep a Maine Coon health record?
VetVitae, a free pet health record app for iPhone, Android and the web, shows these notes on your cat’s profile under Health, and Plan it opens the exam or test with its name filled.
For vaccines, parasites and the signs that can’t wait, see the cat care guide.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Your vet knows your pet.
Sources
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Maine Coon, Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW)
- Maine Coon Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (MC-HCM), Langford Vets
- Breeding Recommendations HCM, PawPeds
- Demography, heritability and genetic correlation of feline hip dysplasia and response to selection in a health screening programme, Low et al., Scientific Reports, 2019
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Langford Vets
Start a record for your pet.
Add your pet, log the last vaccine, and you're set up. Use it in your browser, on iPhone or on Android.