Prevention
Breeders should avoid breeding cats that have heart disease or heart defects. Feeding a good quality cat food ensures the appropriate level of the amino acid taurine to prevent nutritionally-dependant dilated cardiomyopathy. In general, most cat foods are well supplemented with the amino acid taurine, but cats that are fed homemade diets or who do not eat cat food may need additional supplementation. Cats with heart disease should not be placed in stressful situations, since stress increases the workload of the heart. This increase may "push them over the edge" and lead to serious complications, including heart failure.