Persian health: tests, checkups and questions for the breeder

Persians live about as long as many other cats: in the UK VetCompass study, their median lifespan was 13.5 years. But the breed has a few well-documented predispositions that are worth knowing about before you choose a kitten. This article isn't medical advice; diagnosis and treatment are always a job for a vet. Its purpose is to help you ask the right questions.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and the DNA test

Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited condition in which fluid-filled cysts form in the kidneys. They're present from birth, grow over the years and can lead to kidney failure; according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, signs often appear around the age of seven, though they can show up earlier. The disease is caused by a mutation in the PKD1 gene that's inherited in a dominant way: a single copy from one parent is enough for a cat to be affected.

In the 1990s, PKD was found in more than a third of Persians. Today the picture is much better thanks to a simple DNA test using a cheek swab or a blood sample: responsible breeders test every breeding cat and don't breed from carriers. What to know:

• ask to see PKD1 results for both parents, linked to their microchip numbers;
• if both parents are negative, the kittens can't inherit this mutation;
• a vet may recommend a kidney ultrasound, which shows the cysts themselves.

Kidney disease in general was the most common cause of death among Persians in the VetCompass study (23.4% of cases), so as your cat gets older, the vet may suggest regular blood and urine tests.

Breathing, eyes and teeth

The flat face is the breed's main source of problems. International Cat Care lists the consequences of marked brachycephaly as narrowed nostrils and airways, tear overflow from misshapen tear ducts, corneal damage (including corneal sequestrum), misaligned teeth and inflamed skin in facial folds. When choosing a kitten, check:

• whether the nostrils are open and the kitten breathes quietly while asleep and after play;
• whether the eyes are clean, with no inward-turning eyelids, redness or squinting;
• what the bite looks like.

If a kitten snuffles even in its sleep or gets out of breath quickly during play, ask a vet to assess its breathing before you decide.

We explain how skull shape is linked to these problems in “Why Persians have flat faces”.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-pd)

A rare inherited form of progressive retinal atrophy has been described in Persians; affected kittens lose their sight very early, within the first months of life. It's caused by a mutation in the AIPL1 gene that's inherited recessively: only a kitten that receives two copies, one from each parent, is affected. A DNA test is available. The mutation is rare (a 2016 study put its frequency in Persian-related breeds at around 1%), but it's still worth asking about.

The heart

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats. The Cornell Feline Health Center lists Persians among the breeds in which it's seen more often. There's no specific DNA test for Persians, so some breeders screen their breeding cats with echocardiography, a heart ultrasound. Ask whether the kitten's parents have had one.

HCM can go without any signs for a long time, so it's important to know the warning signals: fast or labored breathing at rest, lethargy, sudden weakness or paralysis of the hind legs. In any of these cases, see a vet immediately.

Skin and teeth

Persians are prone to ringworm (dermatophytosis), and in them it can be more severe and longer-lasting than in other cats. It's contagious to people and other animals, so a kitten with dandruff, bald patches or crusts should see a vet. In the VetCompass study, gum disease was also among the most common problems in Persians, so a dental check should be part of every routine visit.

Questions for the breeder

• Which tests have the parents had (PKD1, PRA-pd), and can I see the certificates with microchip numbers?
• Have the parents been screened for cardiomyopathy with a heart ultrasound?
• How do the parents breathe, and do they have any eye problems?
• Has a vet examined the kitten, and which vaccinations and parasite treatments has it had?
• Have there been cases of ringworm in the cattery, and how were they treated?

A responsible breeder won't be offended by these questions; on the contrary, they'll be glad to show you the paperwork. And once your kitten moves in, be sure to introduce it to a vet, who will draw up a plan for checkups and screening.

Learn more about the breed on the breed page. Available kittens, if there are any, are among our kittens of the breed, and if there are none right now, join the waitlist.