Hi, I know just how scary it is to hear that your beloved baby has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. My sweet orange Oliver was diagnosed three years ago. He was a stray kitten that one of my friends found along a major highway. Of course I said I would take him in (cause that's what I always do!) Anyway, when he was old enough, we had him neutered at my local vets. When I brought him home, he seemed to be breathing more rapidly than I thought he should be, so I called my vet who said it was probably due to the post-op pain of the surgery. I persisted that something wasn't right about my baby and took him back in first thing in the morning. At first, they diagnosed him with possible aspiration pneumonia and treated him with antibiotics. When that didn't seem to help, my vet considered a heart problem and referred me to a larger vet hospital . My Oliver had his first kitty echocardiogram and was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was initially put on the medication atenolol which helped some. I then got a referral to a specialist, a kitty cardiologist, who put my Ollie on verapamil and lasix every 12 hours, as well as a baby aspirin 2 times a week. The cardiologist is the most wonderful vet. Oliver went to see her once a year for a repeat echo and he is now off the lasix and baby aspirin. He only has to take the verapamil every 12 hours. His cardiologist says he could be the spokeskitty for verapamil as he is doing so well, he now goes back in 18 months for a follow up. I apologize for this being so long, but please be persistent with your sweet Maxie. Are there any specialist's in your area or could your vet refer you to one. (Mine is 2+ hours away) I'll be keeping you and your Maxie in my prayers.