Advancing hope and care for cats with HCM
Founded in 2025, Ezra’s Heart Foundation (EHF) advances education and awareness of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), provides financial assistance for essential diagnostic testing and treatment, and supports innovative research to improve the standard of care for cats living with HCM.
EHF was created in memory of Ezra, whose life was cut short by HCM, to help ensure that other cats and families have access to knowdelge, early detection, and life-saving treatment.
Our vision is a future in which no cat dies from undiagnosed or untreated HCM.
With your support, Ezra’s Heart Foundation focuses on the following core activities:
Developing and maintaining educational resources on feline HCM, including best practices for screening, diagnosis, and treatment, shared through our website and social media platforms
Curating informational resources for at-risk breeds—including Maine Coons, Ragdolls, and Sphynx cats—highlighting responsible breeding practices and HCM screening protocols
Providing need-based financial assistance by paying veterinary clinics directly for diagnostic testing related to HCM
Providing need-based financial assistance by paying veterinary clinics directly for HCM treatment and ongoing care
Supporting and disseminating scientific research into novel diagnostics and therapeutics to advance feline cardiovascular health
Ezra’s Story
Ezra was a gentle giant, a Maine Coon with an easygoing nature and a deep affection for every cat and human he met. He spent his days stretched out in the sun on the deck or curled into the nearest lap, which—at 28 pounds—he hardly fit in.
At just five years old, Ezra died suddenly and without warning. A necropsy revealed the cause: severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a progressive and often silent heart disease with no cure. We were left shocked and heartbroken, asking the same questions so many families face after a sudden loss: How could this have happened? What could we have done differently?
As a kitten, Ezra underwent genetic testing intended to screen for HCM risk, yet the disease still claimed his life. As we searched for answers, we learned a difficult truth: genetic testing does not detect every case. Not all genetic causes of HCM are known, some cats develop the disease without identifiable genetic markers, and HCM remains the most common heart disease in cats, affecting an estimated 15% of the feline population, including mixed breeds.
Ezra’s death revealed critical gaps in awareness, education, and support for cat owners facing HCM. Ezra’s Heart Foundation was created to help close these gaps by educating the public, supporting families navigating diagnosis and treatment, and advancing efforts to better understand and manage this devastating disease.
Ezra’s life was far too short, but his legacy lives on through our commitment to protecting the hearts of other cats.