HCM requires cardiac screening
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, causes abnormal thickening of the heart muscle and is the most commonly diagnosed heart disease in cats. Some affected cats have no obvious signs. Echocardiography, an ultrasound examination of the heart, is the diagnostic gold standard.
There is no validated Bengal-specific DNA test that replaces an echocardiogram. A normal screening result describes the cat at the time of that examination; it does not promise that HCM can never develop later. That is why age, timing, the examiner, and repeat screening all matter when evaluating a breeding program.
PKDef and PRA-b are inherited conditions
Pyruvate kinase deficiency, commonly shortened to PKDef, can cause hemolytic anemia. Bengal progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA-b, damages the retina and can lead to progressive vision loss. Both are tested with DNA and follow autosomal recessive inheritance.
A carrier has one copy of a tested recessive variant and is not the same as an affected cat with two copies. Responsible breeding decisions use verified results from both parents so a carrier is not paired in a way that can produce affected kittens. Removing every carrier without considering genetic diversity is not automatically the healthiest population strategy.
Testing is evidence, not theater
Ask to see the actual report, the cat's identity on that report, the date, and the laboratory or cardiologist involved. A screenshot of a green icon or the phrase health tested is not enough to explain what was tested.
No test can guarantee a lifetime free of illness. Strong programs combine documented testing with veterinary care, honest pedigrees, observation, thoughtful pairing, clear contracts, and willingness to stand behind the cats they produce.