Common Diseases of Cat Breeds

People who participate in cat shows and competitions prize purebred cats for their bloodlines. The breeding industry has grown around shows and professional breeders can be quite successful. However, cat breeding is more complicated than it might seem and professional breeders must pay careful attention to the specific genetic histories of each cat pairing to prevent potential health issues such as the diseases that are common among pure breeds.

  1. Siamese

    • Siamese cats are striking in appearance, with lighter bodies and contrasting tips (face, ears, paws and tail). This breed is especially prone to several health concerns including:

      Dystocia
      Familial hyperlipaemia (can cause heart attacks)
      Gingivitis-periodontitis feline juvenile-onset
      Mucopolysaccharidosis (causes tissue damage which can stunt growth)
      Mucopolysaccharidosis VI
      Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement)
      Porphyria (can make cats anemic or depressed and cause sensitivity to light).

    Abyssinian

    • Abyssinians are a popular breed for pet cats and you can recognize them by their unique fur coats which appear "ticked" because the color is lighter at the roots and darker at the tips. This breed can experience a number of health issues, many of which affect the eyes of the cat:

      Corneal sequestrum (a dark plaque on the cornea)
      Familial amyloidosis (affects vital organs)
      Feline infectious peritonitis
      Gingivitis - hyperplastic,
      Progressive retinal atrophy (causes blindness)
      Progressive rod cone degeneration and rod cone dysplasia (causes vision loss)
      Pyruvate kinase deficiency (results in anemia, recurring gallstones and fatigue)
      Retinal dystrophy
      Thromboembolism (the forming of a blod clot in a deep vein).

    Common Diseases

    • Some diseases are common in several breeds.

      Feline infectious peritonitis can cause inflammation in the abdomen, kidneys or brain due to the way red blood cells respond to the virus. This disease is common in Domestics, Himalayans, Ragdolls and Rexes.

      Dystocia is a general term which indicates difficulty in giving birth. Dystocia affects humans and other animals as well as cats and can result in birth defects. Devon Rex, Persian and Siamese cats are prone to this condition.

      Different forms of gingivitis affect several breeds including Abysinnian, Domestic, Maine Coon, Persian and Siamese. This disease causes inflammation of the gums.