As breeders learn more about Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), this hereditary illness can be stopped. Pet owners should also make themselves more aware!
What IS PKD and what cat breeds have it?
Polycystic Kidney Disease is a hereditary disease commonly found in Persian and Exotic cats. Though it is most prevalent in these breeds, it is also found in American Curls, American Shorthairs, Siamese and Scottish Folds. It has even been found in domestic and feral cats.
What causes PKD? Is PKD hereditary?
The disease itself is caused by one abnormal gene, and just one positive parent will pass it on to at least a portion of her kittens, even if the other parent is negative. It is estimated that 1/3 of all Persians and Exotics have this disease. In a typical cattery setup, it is possible for 30% of the breeding cats to have, and pass on, PKD. Only catteries that test for PKD and only breed negative parents will have no instances PKD.
What are the symptoms of PKD?
Polycystic Kidney Disease is where fluid filled cysts grow inside the kidneys. It can grow slowly or quickly and range anywhere from a cat having only two or three cysts to a cat having kidneys that are literally filled with cysts. There are basically no symptoms. A cat with slow growing PKD may live to a ripe old age, while a kitten with rampant, fast growing PKD could die as early as 7 weeks old or even be born dead. The thing is, no one can predict whether an individual cat has slow growing or fast growing PKD. Some cats die of something else entirely before the PKD takes them, while the majority of cats seem to die around seven to eight years old of renal failure.
Why don't more breeders know about PKD?
People who don’t know why their cat died or who have lost touch with their breeder simply do not pass this important information on to a breeder, so for years, breeders have been breeding PKD positive cats. Only breeders who have necropsies done may have even known what their cat died from, and since many breeders retire cats at 5 or 6 years old, a cat that died of renal failure at 7 or 8 years old may also not have been reported or gone unnoticed. So, much of the Persian breeding stock can carry PKD, but with today’s testing methods, there is no longer an excuse for continuing to breed PKD positive cats.
Can PKD be cured?
There is no cure for PKD. PKD can, however, be prevented by responsible breeders by not breeding cats who test positive for PKD! Up until recently, an expensive ultrasound was the only way to test for PKD, but now there is a DNA test that will show whether or not a cat has PKD, and it is only $40. A good breeder will have their cats screened and never breed a PKD positive cat. A caring and responsible pet owner should make certain that their kitten’s parents have both tested negative for PKD. It is the only way to stop this disease!
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