Siberian Cat Health Group

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM is a devastating illness that is the most common heart ailments found in cats.  It is considered to be genetic although no DNA test exists for the Siberian breed.  However, it is most likely polygenetic and multiple genes affect its development and expression.  The gold standard for testing cats for HCM is the echocardiogram or ultrasound.  As breeders, those who test their cats hope to track their lines, have the healthiest lines possible, and if there is an issue the testing can help detect it early so the cat can be eliminated from breeding and treated early.

Polycystic Kidney Disease or PKD is a disease that affects cats.  This occurs mostly in Persians or Persian outcross breeds.  However, some lines of the Siberian have been found to have PKD.  There is a DNA test for PKD1, but it may not be totally reliable for the Siberian given that the breed was not identified as being at risk in testing and any Persian outcrossing may have been generations in the past.  So, both DNA and ultrasound combine to give the best assurance that the cats are free of PKD.  Because it is an autosomal dominant disease, if both parents are negative for PKD, all of their offspring will be PKD free by parentage.

Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency or PK Def is a form of inherited hemolytic anemia.  This is most often found in Abyssinian and Aby related breeds, but has recently been found to be in the domestic longhair and domestic shorthair populations as well as many other breeds including the Siberian.  This disease is recessive and a cat may carry a gene for the disease but is still healthy and free of the clinical illness.  They must have 2 copies, also referred to as homozygotic, of the gene to have the disease.

Note:  

PKD -    N/N means the cat does not have the genes for the disease PKD1.  Because it is dominant, Y/N means the cat will be affected.  Those with an "*" by the results have also been screened via ultrasound.

PK Def - N/N means the cat does not have nor does it carry any genes for the disease.   

PK Def - N/K means the cat has 1 copy of the gene and is free of the illness but carries the gene.  Should only be bred to a NON carrier.

PK Def - K/K means the cat has 2 copies of the gene and will have the disease.

Blood Type:

Important for breeding plans and breeding decisions.  A kitten with a different blood type than the mother may suffer from "fading kitten syndrom" if not removed from mother and handfed for the first 24/48 hrs - or placed with another female with the same blood type as the kittens.

N/N = A or AB

A/A = A

AB/AB = AB

Ab = A carrying B and can produce B blood type

B/B = B