Genetic Diseases in Purebred Cats
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Abyssinians. Renal amyloidosis, retinal atrophy, psychogenic alopecia, patellar luxation,
American Shorthair. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney disease, mucopolysaccharosidosis
Bengal. Entropion
Birman. Hip dysplasia, epibulbar dermoids
British Shorthair. Hemophilia
Burmese. Ocular dermoids, primary endocaridal fibroelastosis, meningoencephalocele, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, erosion of cartilage of third eyelid, lethal midfacial malformation.
Chartreux. Patellar luxation, hip dysplasia
Cornish Rex. Hypothyroidism, hypotrichosis
Devon Rex. Hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, hypotrichosis, spasticity
(prevents swallowing)
Himalayan. Cataracts, psychogenic alopecia, cutaneous asthenia, polycystic kidney
disease.
Korat. Gangliosidosis.
Maine Coon. Pectus excavatum, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Manx. Spina bifida, atresia ani, rectal prolapse, corneal dystrophy
Persian. Chediak-Higashi syndrome, congenital ankyloblepharon, entropion, congenital epiphora, primary glaucoma, mannosidosis, seborrhea, polycystic kidney disease, peripheral pseudocysts, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia
Ragdoll. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Scottish Fold. Severe vertebral abnormalities, prognathis, incapacitating joint disease with fold to fold breeding, polycystic kidney disease
Siamese. Feline hyperesthesia syndrome, feline endocrine alopecia, adenocarcinomas of the small intestine, mucopolysaccharidosis, gangliosidosis, malignant mammary tumors, numerous congenital heart defects (PDA, aortic stenosis, AV valve malformation, pyloric stenosis, etc), primary endocardial fibroelastosis, strabismus, nystagmus, sphingomyelinosis, hydrocephalus, asthma, mast cell tumors, cutaneous asthenia, esophageal hypomotility, cutaneous mastocytomas, hypotrichosis, glaucoma, cervical neck lesions, hip dysplasia
Somali. Gingivitis
Sphinx. Spasticity, alopecia universalis.
Tonkinese. Susceptible to upper respiratory infection, sensitivity to vaccines.
Data taken from Medical, Genetic, & Behavioral Aspects of Purebred Cats; Ross D. Clark, DVM, Forum Publications, Fairway Kansas, 1992
