This is an umbrella infographic containing links to infographic articles on these 14 inherited diseases. I don’t profess to claim unequivocally that the list is 100% comprehensive as I may have missed something. Nonetheless it has been prepared carefully and the list is sadly extensive.
If it interests you, please click on the links contained within this infographic to be taken to more infographics on these diseases.
14 inherited diseases/conditions affecting the Peke-face Persian by Michael BroadThe objective for doing this is not to criticise the cat fancy although that has to happen but to support animal welfare generally and cat welfare specifically. People like myself who write about cats must prioritise welfare. It is impossible to justify the domestication of the cat unless everyone involved with domestic cats does their best to maintain a good standard of animal welfare.
There is always work to do. We have a long way to go before we can say that cat domestication as a whole and the cat fancy specifically have been a success if success is measured by the standard of excellent animal welfare.
All of the health problems afflicting the Peke-face Persian originate in decades of unethical selective breeding in a foolhardy attempt to comply with a breed standard which insists upon the distortion of the naturally beautiful feline form and anatomy.
We are not told why the administrators of cat associations such as the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) decided decades ago, sometime in the 1950s, to alter the appearance of what was then the only type of Persian cat namely the Doll-face Persian.
That was THE Persian cat and the Doll-face Persian is almost a normal-looking cat. There are no extreme features although the face is somewhat shortened but this original version of the Persian cat does not suffer from this extensive list of inherited diseases. They are particular to extreme breeding.
And I really regret going on about this. I don’t want to do it. I hate it but it is necessary to try and drive home the point that the breed standard needs to be changed. That will only happen if the administrators of the cat fancy open their eyes and take an enlightened viewpoint about prioritising health over appearance.
Ironically, you will find within the policies of the CFA a referral to the necessity of privatising health over appearance. The association says that the breed standard must never allow appearance to take precedence over health but their breed standard does exactly that. It happens all the time. It is the default form of cat breeding in respect of this particular breed.
It went terribly wrong and the poor health of the Peke-face Persian has made this breed less popular over recent years as the internet enlightens cat adopters who are nowadays more switched on to the costs of cat caregiving. Cats like the Peke-face Persian need a pet health insurance policy which can be expensive.
Most owners of moggies don’t take out insurance as there is no pressing need for one.
Update the day after! Late-onset PRA: Persians are susceptible to a different form of PRA, which typically manifests later in life. This is distinct from the early-onset form seen in Abyssinians and Somalis. I missed this when covering all the inherited diseases of the Peke-face Persian. It is however late onset.
