Transient myocardial thickening (TMT) in cats is a rare, reversible condition characterized by temporary thickening of the left ventricular wall, often following stressful events, and generally associated with a more favorable prognosis than hereditary or genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This study describes clinical presentations, diagnostic findings, and outcomes of cats with TMT evaluated in a private veterinary clinic in Bucharest. A retrospective review was conducted on thirteen cats diagnosed between January 2024 and June 2025. Inclusion criteria required echocardiographic confirmation of increased diastolic left ventricular wall thickness (LVWTd ≥6 mm) on at least two assessments, with subsequent normalization (<5.0 mm) during follow-up. All cats had a history of previous stressful or predisposing events and commonly presented with congestive heart failure (CHF) signs, elevated cardiac troponin I (fTnI), and echocardiographic evidence of increased LVWTd. Supportive therapy, including cardiac medications, was administered in all cases. Follow-up performed at a median of 45 days demonstrated normalization of cardiac morphology on echocardiography and marked improvement in cardiac biomarkers. TMT should be considered a differential diagnosis in cats presenting with acute cardiomyopathy, particularly younger animals with recent stressors. Early recognition and management can lead to favorable outcomes and provide valuable prognostic-wise insight into feline practice.
VULCAN et al. (Thu,) studied this question.