Cardiac hypertrophy is a slow and effective compensatory function that mainly occurs under long-term stress loads. It is an adaptive response to changes in hemodynamics or myocardial injury. Decompensation of myocardial hypertrophy can eventually lead to an increased incidence of heart failure and sudden death, and no effective treatments have been established. In this paper, we summarize and compare the preparation method and characteristics of animal models of cardiac hypertrophy, including mice, rats, and large animals. We also summarize and compare the classical molecular signaling mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy, including the mitotic protein kinase signaling pathway and the Ca²⁺ mediated signaling pathway, as well as the molecular mechanisms of decompensation induced by cardiac hypertrophy, including catecholamine and the cardiomyocyte apoptosis signaling pathway.