Persians, a major brachycephalic breed, are one of the oldest breeds, but their ‘type’ (shape) has changed over time, becoming ever more extreme.”ĭanièlle Gunn-Moore, Professor of Feline Medicine, University of Edinburgh and co-author said: “Along with growing health and welfare concerns for brachycephalic dogs, our studies raise the same concerns for brachycephalic cats. There is a growing preference for pedigree cats and brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds. Petra Černá, Intern in Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Edinburgh and co-author said: “Cats are quite rightly the most popular pet in much of the world. Additionally, owners of Persians need to be especially alert to dental, eye and haircoat issues in their cats and seek treatment at the earliest signs of ill-health.” Hopefully this evidence baseline will kick-start demands to reform the Persian breed’s health by breeding towards a less extreme body shape. Now, our new study of Persians provides evidence that cats with flattened faces are similarly predisposed to some unpleasant and debilitating conditions. This enabled them to identify health trends in the Persian cats who were treated under general veterinary care across the UK in 2013.ĭr Dan O’Neill, lead author and VetCompass veterinary epidemiologist at the RVC, said: “Welfare concerns over brachycephaly [flat faces) in dogs have been recognised for some years. The academics behind this study analysed the clinical records of 3,325 Persian cats using the RVC’s VetCompass™ programme. Meanwhile, the high levels of haircoat problems seen in this RVC study are associated with the thick and long coat of the Persian which is prone to tangling and matting. Previous research has shown that this abnormal head shape has been associated with various health problems in dogs, as well as cats. The high levels of dental and eye problems seen in Persians are thought to result from the brachycephalic, commonly referred to as ‘flat- faced’, shaped heads of these cats. The average lifespan of a Persian cat is 13.5 years.Male Persian cats (average 4.3kg,) were heavier than females (average 3.4 kg).The average adult bodyweight of a Persian cat was 3.9 kg.The most common causes of death were kidney disease (23.4%) and cancer (8.5%).Dental disease was more common in males, while claw/nail problems were more common in females.The most common specific disorders were haircoat disorder (12.7%), dental disease (11.3%), overgrown nails (7.2%) and eye discharge (5.8%).64.9% of Persian cats had at least one disorder recorded.This new information will also help the public understand more about the welfare challenges relating to owning and caring for Persian cats. The results of this study will help breeders to select which cats to breed from, veterinarians to spot diseases earlier and owners to ensure that they take preventive measures for common conditions in the breed. There are an estimated 100,000 Persian cats in the UK. These health issues represent major welfare challenges for Persian cats that should be considered by breeders and future owners. Many of these health issues may be related to the long coat and flat face that is characteristic of the Persian breed. The study revealed that haircoat disorders, dental disease, overgrown nails and eye discharge are the most common conditions diagnosed in the Persian cat. The research, which was conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. But despite this, almost two thirds of Persian cats suffer from at least one health condition according to the largest every study of this breed. They can cost a lot of money to purchase. Persian cats are a popular breed worldwide and are instantly recognisable from their luxurious coat and flattened face. Persian cats at high risk of health problems, study shows
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