Pedigree Cat Health

What problems are some pedigree cats prone to have?

Owners are often, understandably, upset when their cat develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they had known what problems the breed was prone to have.

Some medical conditions are very common in certain breeds, causing a reduced quality of life for a large number of cats.

PDSA vets advise that if you choose one of the breeds listed there is a risk they will develop one or more of the medical conditions mentioned.

Click on the breeds to find out what some of the commonest breed-related medical conditions are.

Bengal

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult. Cats with hip dysplasia are more likely to get osteoarthritis.

Patellar luxation

A condition in which the patella (kneecap) moves out of its normal location, resulting in limping or difficulty walking on the back legs. Severely affected cats require surgery to be treated. Cats with patellar luxation are more likely to get osteoarthritis.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

This is an infectious condition which is usually fatal. Bengal cats are more likely than non-pedigree cats to develop this condition

British Shorthair

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Multiple cysts (fluid filled sacs) develop on both kidneys, which gradually enlarge with age and eventually cause kidney failure. The cat often suffers from vomiting, weight loss and inappetance before death.

Burmese

Diabetes Mellitus

High blood sugar (glucose) levels. It can cause weakness, blindness, excessive appetite and excessive thirst. Burmese is the most common cat breed to develop this condition.

Devon Rex

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult. Cats with hip dysplasia are more likely to get osteoarthritis.  

Patellar luxation

A condition in which the patella (kneecap) moves out of its normal location, resulting in limping or difficulty walking on the back legs. Severely affected cats require surgery to be treated. Cats with patellar luxation are more likely to get osteoarthritis.

Maine Coon

Hip dysplasia

An abnormality of the hip joints. It causes lameness in the hind legs and can make walking difficult. Cats with hip dysplasia are more likely to get osteoarthritis.  

Patellar luxation

A condition in which the patella (kneecap) moves out of its normal location, resulting in limping or difficulty walking on the back legs. Severely affected cats require surgery to be treated. Cats with patellar luxation are more likely to get osteoarthritis.  

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease

Persian

Brachycephalic airway syndrome

“Brachycephalic” means “short face”. Because of their short face, Persian cats struggle to breathe properly. Many get short of breath quickly and suffer from inflammation and swelling in their airways.

Primary seborrhoea

Causes scaling and greasy skin which can affect the whole body.

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

Persian cats are very susceptible to this fungal condition, which causes itching, fur loss and crusting and scaling of the skin. It can be transmitted to people.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (heart disease)

This can cause fainting, tiredness and other signs of heart disease.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Multiple cysts (fluid filled sacs) develop on both kidneys, which gradually enlarge with age and eventually cause kidney failure. The cat often suffers from vomiting, weight loss and inappetance before death.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

This is an infectious condition which is usually fatal. Persian cats are more likely than non-pedigree cats to develop this condition.

Cryptorchidism

One or both of the testicles stays in the body rather than going in to the scrotum. This makes the testicle(s) more likely to develop cancer.

Siamese

Mediastinal/thymic lymphoma

A type of cancer. It typically causes an accumulation of fluid around the lungs, which causes difficulty in breathing and coughing.