Cat Owner Factsheet

What is PKD?

Top

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (known as ADPKD) is an inherited condition that can cause severe kidney failure in cats. The disease causes small, fluid filled holes (cysts) to form in the kidney, and these gradually get larger as the cat gets older. As the cysts get bigger the kidneys are unable to work normally and kidney failure will eventually occur, but the time course of this is very variable. The disease is caused by an abnormal gene. All cats with the abnormal gene will develop the disease but because the signs of disease usually do not develop until the cat is adult it is possible for a cat to breed extensively (and pass the disease on to its kittens) before the affected cat becomes ill. It is therefore essential to screen breeding cats of high risk breeds for the presence of the gene before they are used for breeding.

Can PKD be treated?

Top

Cats with PKD have progressive kidney disease that will ultimately lead to kidney failure. The disease cannot be treated but if your cat does develop renal failure, there are some treatments that may help to improve its quality of life. Sadly the disease is ultimately fatal. The only way to prevent future cats suffering the same fate is to make sure that affected cats are not allowed to breed.

How is PKD passed on?

Top

PKD is an inherited disease passed from parents to offspring in the genes. The affected gene is an autosomal dominant gene, so it affects both males and females; only one of the parents needs to have the disease for it to be passed onto some of the kittens; and all cats that inherit even a single copy of the affected gene will be affected by PKD.

Which cats are at risk of PKD?

Top

PKD is a very rare condition in breeds other than those that are, or are related to Persians and Exotic Shorthairs. Persian cats throughout the world appear to have an especially high chance of having PKD. Recent figures show that 1/3 of Persians cats in the UK are affected, and numbers are similar throughout the world. Other breeds, related to Persians, are also at high risk of the disease. The disease is common in Exotic shorthairs, with 3 in 10 testing positive for PKD. Other breeds which may have imported the PKD gene through previous outcrosses with Persian cats include British Shorthairs, Burmillas and possibly Maine Coons.

How do I know if my cat has PKD?

Top

Cats can be screened for the presence of disease before they start to show signs of kidney failure. Breeding cats from the high-risk breeds should be screened for ADPKD before they are used for breeding. If your cat belongs to one of the breeds at risk of ADPKD then it may well have come with some sort of certification from the breeder and if both its parents are free of the disease then it will not have disease.  If your cat is in a high-risk breed group and its parents have not been tested then you can arrange for a gene test to be done. The test uses DNA extracted from a swab taken from inside the cat's mouth, from a blood sample. Cats over 10 months of age can also be screened for the disease by ultrasound scanning.

What does the gene test involve?

Top

The gene test for ADPKD involves collections of cells from the cat's mouth, or from a blood sample. The sample is then sent to one of the accredited laboratories offering the gene test. Many breeders use the laboratory where the test was developed (Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University College, Davis, California).

Is there any other way to test for the disease?

Top

Ultrasound scanning can be used to identify the kidney cysts. If the cysts are large they can easily be identified by routine scanning (just like pregnancy testing in humans) and this is useful in cats with advanced PKD, eg those that have enlarged kidneys, or that have already developed renal failure. A small patch of fur will need to be clipped so that the ultrasound can get good contact with the skin. Pre-breeding screening requires a more specialist approach as the cysts are likely to be very tiny and hard to identify. The scan must be done by a specialist ultrasonographer using a very high definition machine. Cats must be 10 months old before they can be given a certificate to say that they do not have PKD, because the cysts may be too small to detect before this time. In order for a breeding certificate to be issued the cat must have an identification microchip which can be read at the time of scanning so that its identity can be checked.

Where can I get my cat ultrasound scanned for PKD?

Top

For breeding cats the ultrasound test for PKD must be done by a specialist ultrasonographer (so that you can be sure that the result is accurate). If you are not planning to breed from your cat, your own veterinarian may be able to scan your cat and tell you whether or not your cat has large kidney cysts.

How do I find a kitten without PKD?

Top

Reputable breeders of Persian and Exotic Shorthaired cats will have all their breeding cats tested for PKD. If both parents are free of disease the offspring will all be unaffected. Occasionally a breeder may need to have a litter of kittens from an affected cat, and in this case it is predicted that a proportion of the kittens may be unaffected. The kittens can therefore be gene tested to identify which of them have the disease, and which have not.

How can I find out more about the disease and testing scheme?

Top

A useful website is available at www.felinePKD.com.

Additional Comments:

Samples - how they help your veterinarian

Kidney disease in your cat

X-rays and ultrasound

PKD negative register

Kidney: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Bringing home a kitten

Back to top
© Copyright Vetstream

Cat OWNER ENGLISHFACTSHEET035

---