Bengal Nose
Bengal Nose – a comparison between a good nose and an affected nose – photo copyright Helmi Flick This page was first written, as I recall, in around 2009. It has been updated on more than one occasion including today … continue reading…
Tag Archives: inherited illnesses
Persian cats introduced polycystic kidney disease into British Shorthair cats
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common inherited disorder in cats according to a 2015 study. It is present in British Shorthair cats. Both the Persian and the British Shorthair carry the same genetic mutation causing the disease. It … continue reading…
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects 10% of British Shorthairs
Sadly, there are studies, one of which I am reading right now, which confirm that this very popular cat breed (particularly the blue) suffers from a high prevalence of HCM, often of early onset and with a significant male sex … continue reading…
Looking at the link between HTN and CKD in cats through genome wide association
Reporting on a study which looks at the link between hypertension and chronic kidney disease in cats through genome wide association.
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How to buy a Bengal cat – due diligence and caveat emptor
This article on how to buy a Bengal cat covers some of the things that I would do if I were buying a Bengal cat. This is a very popular cat breed and there are very many breeders particularly in … continue reading…
Intermittent open-mouth locking in Persian cats
This is a condition which I have only just, today, bumped into on the Internet. It’s another inherited condition affecting Persian cats or it’s due to the abnormality of the bone structure of the Persian cat’s head. Although it is … continue reading…
Criticize the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) because it lacks sufficient focus on health and is too cautious
I first wrote about criticising the Cat Fanciers’ Association about 12 years ago or more. That criticism concerning the ‘Twisty Cat’ can be seen in the second part of this page. In the first part I want to also mention … continue reading…
Oriental Shorthair with puppy ears
This is a picture and video of an Oriental Shorthair cat with floppy, puppy ears. The cat looks as if he might be a cross between an Oriental Shorthair and a Scottish Fold but I am pretty sure that he … continue reading…
What did Grumpy Cat die of?
Without detail, we are told that Grumpy Cat A.K.A. Tardar Sauce died of “complications from a urinary tract infection on May 14, 2019” at the age of seven. Her lifespan was similar to that of Lil Bub (8). She entertained … continue reading…
What did Lil Bub die of?
Lil Bub died in her sleep on December 1, 2019 after suffering from an aggressive bone infection according to her owner Mike Bridavsky, a writer and producer. Bone infections are most often bacterial and not viral. In the unlikely event … continue reading…
What is a Scottish Straight cat?
A Scottish straight cat is a Scottish Fold without the flat ears. So, what is the purpose of a Scottish Fold without folded ears? I think that that is a reasonable question because the distinguishing characteristic of the Scottish Fold … continue reading…
Are calico cats healthy?
The genetics of calico cats are complicated and I don’t pretend to fully understand the science. You can read up about it on Sarah Hartwell’s website messybeast.com [link]. In answering the question in the title, the story of the health … continue reading…
Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) in veterinary medicine
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in human medicine and it is expected to have a major influence on how veterinary practices develop and evolve in the future in order to keep pace and be competitive. As the eBay … continue reading…
Bombay cat health issues
Like many purebred cats (all purebred cats?) the Bombay cat has some health issues. I am referring to genetically inherited conditions. Firstly, I will quote verbatim from what I consider to be the best book on inherited genetic diseases in … continue reading…
Average life expectancy of a Siamese cat
As this is an imprecise science I don’t believe that you can provide a confident answer to a question about the life expectancy of a Siamese cat. However, there are clear indications that the Siamese cat’s life expectancy is shorter … continue reading…