Chronic kidney disease is common in cats and mainly affects the older feline population. The cause for failing renal function is often unknown. The aim of this project is to evaluate the presence of renal cysts observed in Swedish Siberian and Neva Masquerade cats and investigate if there is a genetic predisposition for the disease in these breeds.
The Siberian cat (SIB), and its sister breed Neva Masquerade (NEM), are native domestic cat breeds from Russia. Their Swedish popularity is increasing fast from 12 registered cats in SVERAK in 2000, to about 2000 cats in 2019. Lately Swedish SIB/NEM-breeders have observed an increasing number of cats presenting with renal cysts similar to those observed for PKD. These cysts do not appear to be caused by the mutation identified in Persians. Therefore, they addressed researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala to help them setup a survey for the situation within these breeds and to evaluate if any conclusions about patterns of inheritance can be drawn.
Genetic mutations can cause kidney disease
For some forms of kidney disease in cats more is known about the causes behind the disease.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is such an example (for details see facts below). PKD presents already at a young age. The clinical findings include several cysts in both kidneys, which grow larger as the disease progresses. When those cysts progress into larger cysts they will damage the renal tissue and disrupt the function of the organ over time.
Clinical signs can be observed already at an age of 7-8 years and are close to identical to chronic kidney disease of unknown causes, e.g. polydipsia, anorexia, loss of weight and vomiting. Clinical assessment of PKD is performed by ultrasound, which will identify cysts of different sizes and numbers, usually in both kidneys. Ultrasound is only useful for assessing PKD once the cysts have developed, and a kitten (less than 6 months of age) could, hence, still present with normal kidneys at an evaluation but will develop disease over time.
The renal cysts that have been observed in SIB and NEM are similar to those that present in PKD. The cysts are however negative for the previously described genetic mutation in Persian cats.
The aim of this project is to evaluate the presence of renal cysts observed in Swedish Siberian and Neva Masquerade cats and investigate if there is a genetic predisposition for the disease in these breeds.
This project has received funding through a research stipend from Svelands stiftelse för djurens hälsa och livskvalité (Sveland foundation for animal health and quality of life) and Stiftelsen Svenska Kvinnors Djurskyddsförening (Swedish Women's Association for the Protection of Animals).
Generous donations to the project has been provided by breeders, owners and cat fanciers through the projects crowd-funding. Some of the donations have been encouraged through the following platforms or clubs:
Vår sibiriska katt
SIgNE-ringen
Sällskapet Sibirisk Katt (SäSK)
Föreningen Neva Masquerade Sverige (FörNEM)
We would like to sincerely thank everyone of you that has made a contribution to the project in any form!
Do you want to contribute with a donation?
You can still contribute to the project even if the costs for the project are now covered. With more funding more cats can be evaluated in the project. The researchers would highly appreciate more samples from cats that are positive with kidney cysts. Please contact the researchers if you have questions about how to send a sample!
You can send a donation by Swish to nr: 123 322 23 38
Mark your contribution with: ”SIB & NEM” or ”kidney cysts cat”
Thank you for your support!
