A Passion for Persians
What is PKD?
PKD is a genetic condition that can cause severe kidney failure in cats. The disease is caused by an abnormal gene. All cats with the abnormal gene will develop the disease, however it will affect different individuals at different ages, and in some cases the cat will succumb to old age before the disease progresses, however affected cats most commonly display symptoms from 7 years of age.
Because the signs of the disease do not usually present themselves until the cat is an adult, it is possible for an affected cat carrying the abnormal gene to breed extensivley, thus passing on the gene to the next generation.
The disease causes small fluid filled holes, (cysts), to form in the kidney and these gradually get larger as the cat matures. As the cysts get bigger they replace the normal healthy kidney tissue and the kidney is unable to work normally, unfortunately kidney failure is inevitable.
Which cats are at risk of PKD?
PKD is a relativley rare condition in the typical household pet cat. The chance of a cat devloping PKD is higher if it belongs to one of a few breeds. Persian cats throughout the world appear to have a high chance of having PKD. A recent study has shown that 4 out of every 10 Persian cats in the UK are affected and numbers are similar in other countries throughout the world.
How is PKD passed on?
PKD is an inherited disease passed from parents to offspring in the genes. It is not contagious and affected cats are born with the disease. It is important to point out however that although you may purchase a kitten free from PKD, this does not guarantee that it may not experience kidney failure in its latter years due simply to old age. Buying a kitten that has been bred from negative lines will ensure that your kitten does not carry the abnormal gene for PKD.
How do I know if my cat has PKD?
Cats can be screened for the presence of the disease before they start to show signs of kidney failure. If your cat belongs to one of the breeds at risk of PKD and has been sold to you for breeding, it may well come with a copy of the paperwork confirming the PKD status of the cat. Paperwork is not always issued with pet kittens, however it should be shown to you by the breeder.
Breeding cats should be tested for PKD before they breed and only cats that are negative should be allowed to breed. If a cats parents are both negative, then any offspring from those two parents will also be negative.
A DNA test has now been developed that can identify cats carrying the abnormal gene. The test can be done on DNA extracted from a swab taken from inside the cats mouth or from a blood sample.
Can PKD be treated?
Cats with PKD have progressive kidney disease that will ultimately lead to kidney failure. The disease cannot be treated but if your cat does develop renal failure there are some treatments that may help to improve its quality of life. Sadly the disease is ultimately fatal, the only way to prevent future cats suffering the same fate is to make sure that affected cats are not allowed to breed.
The Future?
The vast majority of breeders, who are aware of PKD, are doing all they can to eradicate the disease from the Persian breed, by only breeding from negative cats. In some circumstances there can be an argument for breeding a positive and negative cat together, ie. to produce a negative cat to continue a line which may otherwise die out entirely.
How do I find a kitten without PKD?
Reputable breeders will have their cats tested for PKD or will be breeding only from negative lines, they should only be breeding from negative cats. If both parents are free of the disease then the offspring will also be unaffected. Occasionally a breeder may need to have a litter from an affected cat, as explaoned previously, provided the other parent is disease free, some of the kittens will also be negative. The kittens can be tested under the DNA testing scheme to confirm their status.
Information taken from Vetstream Fact Sheet Number 265569, with some personal additions
PKD is a genetic condition that can cause severe kidney failure in cats. The disease is caused by an abnormal gene. All cats with the abnormal gene will develop the disease, however it will affect different individuals at different ages, and in some cases the cat will succumb to old age before the disease progresses, however affected cats most commonly display symptoms from 7 years of age.
Because the signs of the disease do not usually present themselves until the cat is an adult, it is possible for an affected cat carrying the abnormal gene to breed extensivley, thus passing on the gene to the next generation.
The disease causes small fluid filled holes, (cysts), to form in the kidney and these gradually get larger as the cat matures. As the cysts get bigger they replace the normal healthy kidney tissue and the kidney is unable to work normally, unfortunately kidney failure is inevitable.
Which cats are at risk of PKD?
PKD is a relativley rare condition in the typical household pet cat. The chance of a cat devloping PKD is higher if it belongs to one of a few breeds. Persian cats throughout the world appear to have a high chance of having PKD. A recent study has shown that 4 out of every 10 Persian cats in the UK are affected and numbers are similar in other countries throughout the world.
How is PKD passed on?
PKD is an inherited disease passed from parents to offspring in the genes. It is not contagious and affected cats are born with the disease. It is important to point out however that although you may purchase a kitten free from PKD, this does not guarantee that it may not experience kidney failure in its latter years due simply to old age. Buying a kitten that has been bred from negative lines will ensure that your kitten does not carry the abnormal gene for PKD.
How do I know if my cat has PKD?
Cats can be screened for the presence of the disease before they start to show signs of kidney failure. If your cat belongs to one of the breeds at risk of PKD and has been sold to you for breeding, it may well come with a copy of the paperwork confirming the PKD status of the cat. Paperwork is not always issued with pet kittens, however it should be shown to you by the breeder.
Breeding cats should be tested for PKD before they breed and only cats that are negative should be allowed to breed. If a cats parents are both negative, then any offspring from those two parents will also be negative.
A DNA test has now been developed that can identify cats carrying the abnormal gene. The test can be done on DNA extracted from a swab taken from inside the cats mouth or from a blood sample.
Can PKD be treated?
Cats with PKD have progressive kidney disease that will ultimately lead to kidney failure. The disease cannot be treated but if your cat does develop renal failure there are some treatments that may help to improve its quality of life. Sadly the disease is ultimately fatal, the only way to prevent future cats suffering the same fate is to make sure that affected cats are not allowed to breed.
The Future?
The vast majority of breeders, who are aware of PKD, are doing all they can to eradicate the disease from the Persian breed, by only breeding from negative cats. In some circumstances there can be an argument for breeding a positive and negative cat together, ie. to produce a negative cat to continue a line which may otherwise die out entirely.
How do I find a kitten without PKD?
Reputable breeders will have their cats tested for PKD or will be breeding only from negative lines, they should only be breeding from negative cats. If both parents are free of the disease then the offspring will also be unaffected. Occasionally a breeder may need to have a litter from an affected cat, as explaoned previously, provided the other parent is disease free, some of the kittens will also be negative. The kittens can be tested under the DNA testing scheme to confirm their status.
Information taken from Vetstream Fact Sheet Number 265569, with some personal additions
