Screening for health problems in domestic cats

by Michael Broad · August 30, 2021

Screening of health problems in domestic cat normally concerns cat breeders who need to remove from their breeding lines inherited deleterious genes. However, these tests should be useful to all cat owners. It is said that the cat world has lagged behind dogs in terms of screening for health problems. DNA testing is an ideal way to test. Some health problems such as hip dysplasia involve multiple genes which makes DNA testing impractical. However, for hip dysplasia X-rays are used to diagnose and evaluate. Genetic testing is specific for each cat breed. Certain laboratories carry out these tests and they provide a certificate of the results which are available to the public “at least for normal cats and often for all cat screened” (Cat Owners home veterinary Handbook third edition page 402). As this is an advancing field of science the list below will not be comprehensive but useful nonetheless.

Two useful tags. Click either to see the articles: Toxic to cats | Dangers to cats

A testing laboratory. This is generic and not one of the labs listed. Photo: Pixabay.

Screening tests for health problems:

Hip dysplasia is screened using x-rays and in America the institution carrying out these tests are: OFA and PennHIP. “OFA” stands for Orthopaedic Foundation of Animals, which is a non-profit organisation. They say that they test dogs but I guess they also test cats.
Elbow dysplasia tested by x-ray at the OFA
Patella luxation tested by palpation at the OFA
Cardiac abnormalities which is screen using echocardiography and auscultation at the OFA
Cardiac abnormalities screened using DNA for Maine Coons and Ragdolls at the Veterinary Cardiac Genetic Laboratory, Washington State University
Polycystic kidney disease screened through DNA at VetGen (Veterinary Genetic Services)
Metabolic Defects Screened Using DNA at PennGen
Spinal muscular atrophy screened using DNA for Maine Coons at the Laboratory of Comparative Medical Genetics, Michigan State University

Breeds with available health screening tests are as follows and tested at OFA:

American Shorthair – cardiac abnormalities
Bengal – cardiac abnormalities, patella luxation
British Shorthair – hip dysplasia
Maine Coon – hip dysplasia, cardiac abnormalities, elbow dysplasia, patella luxation
Ragdoll – cardiac abnormalities
Siamese – hip dysplasia
Somali – elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia
Sphynx – cardiac abnormalities
Turkish Angora – cardiac abnormalities