What IS PKD and what cat breeds have it?
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
