DNA result for the boys

 FedraRex*PL Baloo

Agouti: A/A 
Point 1: carrier (Siamese)
Blood type: b/b
Cinnamon: carrier
Dilute: carrier

PKD -/- negative (PKD1 see text below)

DevonDream*PL Yarglee
Point 1: +/+ Siamese
Blood type: A/b

PKD -/- negative














I got a bit concerned when I saw that both the boys had markers in 2 places for longhair!!
But i fond out that if a cat have markers on Longhair4 and 4_2 they are shorthair but carrier.
Puuh.. I have been looking suspiciously on Baloos fluffy tail all morning... but I did not need to worry :)



http://www.abyssiniancats.info/abyblog/tag/longhair-in-cats/

Tag Archive for Longhair in Cats

Controversial DNA test results?

Christine Ruessheim | July 16, 2011 | No comments

There was recently a huge discussion about the test results for an “Aby” whose DNA sample has been sent to two labs (UC Davis and Texas A & M) for screening if the cat carries for longhair since only 10 years ago some Somalis were introduced in that pedigree. The results came back different or should I say inconclusive. Read my thoughts about it below.
I will be trying to explain with different words and  how the explanatory text from the Texas A&M site can be interpreted and whose correct link, btw, is:
http://www.catdnatest.org/DNA-results.html .
First thing to notice is, that apparently Texas A&M (other than UC Davis) only tests for 3 of the 4 Mutations involved in modifying hair length in cats. They are M1, M2 and M4, hence they do not test for M3. Also the Texas A & M uses two different markers for M4 (M4 and M4_2), due to difficulties in typing they say. Their observance in results is, that in most cases the result is the same for both markers (for example M4 +/- and M4_2 +/-). In order for a cat to show the longhair however it seems that cats need to have two mutations at either M4 or M4_2 (or both together?). One mutation at each marker of M4 would not make it a longhair cat, unless there would be an additional mutation at one of the other loci (M1- M3). So the compound heterozygote doesn’t apply for mutation M4 when both markers have one mutation.
Below you can see a couple of combinations of different mutations and how they “translate”:

Mutation M1	Mutation M2	Mutation M3	Mutation M4	Mutation M4_2	Phenotype	Genotype
+/-	+/-	-/-	-/-	-/-	longhair	compound heterozygote
-/-	-/-	+/-	+/-	-/-	longhair	compound heterozygote
-/-	-/-	-/-	+/+	-/-	longhair	homozygote
-/-	-/-	+/-	-/-	-/-	shorthair	carrying M3
-/-	-/-	-/-	+/-	+/-	shorthair	carrying M4/M4_2
-/-	-/-	-/-	-/-	-/-	shorthair	homozygote
-/-	-/-	+/-	+/-	-/-	longhair	compound heterozygote

The test result for the cat in questions shows one mutation for M4_2, and no mutation for M4. Cat also doesn’t have any mutation for M1 and M2, M3 is not tested by that Laboratory. Another Laboratory reported the cat to be free of any mutation (M1-M4), but I do not know wether they test for both markers in M4.  So far, it is not clear, whether mutation M4_2 is functional or not. None of the description I read so far did state that anywhere clearly, neither pro nor con. If there do exist cats which tested M4_2 +/+ and are phenotypically longhaired, then the answer should be yes. Question is, did they also test M4 +/+, if so, it still would not be clear if the mutation M4 at the 2nd marker is functional or not. My first approach would be to contact Texas A&M and ask them exactly that question. Maybe, they are inconclusive themselves, then we are back to square.


PKD1

PKD1 (Polycystic Kidney Disease) in Felines

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a well documented abnormality in domestic cats. Cystic kidneys can sporadically occur in any population of cats. PKD is not a new disease and has been reported in the literature for over 30 years. The heritable form of PKD1 may not have initially occurred in Persians as a new mutation, but perhaps in random bred cats. Unfortunately, PKD1 does not have a strong clinical presentation. The presentation of PKD1 is similar to one of the most common causes of death for any cat, renal failure. Thus, PKD1 has gone unnoticed for many years and has spread throughout the Persian breed. Any breed that has used Persians in their foundation or propagation should have concerns for PKD1.
In Persians, the condition has been shown to be inherited as a single autosomal dominant gene. It is estimated over 37% of Persians have PKD1, a breed that accounts for nearly 80% of the cat fancy. Many lines and catteries have been able to greatly reduce this frequency by using ultrasound screening methods and improved breeding practices

I do not know how common it have been to use Persians in the breeding program for Devon Rex and if the longhair gene we see today are only coming from breeding them together, if that is the case I believe it is a good idea to also do the DNA test for PKD1 the lab does the test from the same swab so there is no extra steps to take.

 

 

Chicken

Chicken wings are great go give to your cat, but only raw. The bones in raw chicken are soft and will not splinter.

It will help to clean their teeth and take away fish breath.

A cats digestive track is shorter than ours and very acidic PH1, so a healthy animal will not be affected by Salmonella. 

Nom nom,
 Yarglee loves chicken wings

http://felineinstincts.com/dontworryaboutsalmonellawhenfeedingrawtoyourcats/?doing_wp_cron=1391402255.6861369609832763671875

Parasites, which are passed up the food chain – roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms – are found in the entrails or gastrointestinal tracts of animals. We don’t feed guts. Even if you buy a commercially available raw food diet, there are no guts in that meat because guts are where the parasites are.

Toxoplasmosis, which can sometimes be found in meat, can be successfully killed if you freeze your meat for a minimum of three days before you feed them to your pet. By freezing meats before you feed them (a lot like sushi) and by removing the guts of prey species, you can successfully avoid transmitting parasites to your pets when feeding them a raw meat diet.

One of the things that is important to recognize when it comes to salmonella or any potentially pathogenic bacteria is that there has to be some contamination. Contamination absolutely does occur. That’s where all the recalls come in, even for human foods. When it comes to salmonella outbreaks, there’s been contamination in the food chain. It’s important to remember that salmonella is not just one species.

There are over 1,800 serovars of salmonella, a gram-negative bacteria. It’s a facultatively anaerobic bacteria that exists in many species of mammals. The most common species of salmonella that exists in dogs and cats is salmonella typhimurium.

The truth is, salmonella can naturally exist in your pet’s GI tract. It’s not necessarily a foreign pathogenic invader.

Factors that increase the likelihood of clinical disease from salmonella include the age of the animal, poor nutrition, the presence of cancer or neoplasia, and other concurrent diseases and stress, as well as the administration of antibiotics, chemotherapy or glucocorticoids [which are steroids].

In conclusion, these potentially harmful bacteria that naturally exist in your pet’s GI tract are there, whether you feed raw foods or not. Your pet is already contaminated with salmonella. Dogs and cats are designed to be able to handle these bacterial loads that are quite foreign to human GI tracts.

Litter Box

Here is some good information about why your cat may not like the litter box, and what you can do to improve it.

I will go to Ikea and buy some big bins for sure I think it is a great Idea


http://www.catinfo.org/?link=litterbox#Top_reasons_for_a_cat_to_stop_using_his_litter_box

Top reasons for a cat to stop using the litter box:

• Dirty litter box(es)
• Poor choice of litter form (using pellets/crystals/non-clumping litter which are uncomfortable to walk on and do not allow for complete urine removal)
• Poor location of litter box(es)
• Blocked from the box by a dominant feline housemate
• Unable to relax and get to the box, or use it, due to fear of a strange human, dog, active child, loud noise, etc., in the house environment
• Box size is too small
• Too few boxes
• Medical problem(s) - This should always be a serious consideration.

Types of Litter Boxes, Size, Number, and Location

Size:

The size of the litter box is very important.  It is very common for people to pick out a litter box that is too small which can result in the cat stepping in his own waste.  This can result in a litter box aversion causing the cat to urinate and defecate elsewhere.

The bigger the box, the more inviting it will be to your cat.  The more inviting the litter box is to the cat, the more apt he will be to use it instead of soiling your home. 

Keep in mind that conventional litter boxes are not your only options.  Storage containers often make much better choices since they are larger and often less expensive.

Number of Boxes and Location:

The number and location of the litter boxes are very important issues.  Many cats will not use a litter box if it has been used by another cat.  In addition, some cats prefer to urinate in one box and defecate in another.  Also, a common cause of inappropriate elimination stems from a more dominant cat blocking the pathway to the litter box.  The more passive/timid cat is forced to look elsewhere for a bathroom.  In this situation it is critical to have enough boxes in ‘safe’ areas to minimize the potential for problems. 

Don't put all of the litter boxes in the same spot if you have a bully cat that may be blocking a timid cat from the box.  Place the boxes in quiet, low traffic areas.  The laundry room is often not a suitable place due to the noise from the washer and dryer and has led to many litter box aversion cases.  Also, it is best to not place litter boxes near the cat’s eating area.

A very common problem arises when people allow young kittens or frightened adult cats that have recently been adopted to have access to too large of an environment without enough litter boxes close by.  Often the scared cat or kitten is hiding in one part of the house while his litter box is in another part of the house. 

Keep in mind that these animals are not going to suddenly become brave when their bladder gets full and venture out to look for a litter box in a strange environment.