Health Concerns
Maine coons are prone to several health issues. It is extremely important that before you buy a kitten you are aware of these issues and make sure the parents of the kitten have been properly tested. We at spooky Maine coons guarantee to dna test all of breeding cats to make sure you are protected from these dangerous hereditary concerns.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a hereditary condition whereby cats are born with cysts growing on their kidneys.
During the course of a Maine Coons lifespan these cysts will increase in size, at varying rates.
Most cysts grow slowly and are not usually evident until a Maine Coon reaches seven years old. If any of these pockets of fluid grow too large though, they may impact the cat’s kidney functions, resulting in kidney failure. Polycystic kidney disease is caused by an autosomal dominant gene abnormality. Cats only need one parent to be infected with the defective gene, to inherit PKD.
HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY (HCM)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the commonest form of heart disease in cats and it is even more common in Maine Coons. HCM is when the thickness of the heart wall increases abnormally resulting in multiple problems and at some stage prevents normal heart function and heart failure develops.
SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY (SMA)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a condition that causes a cat’s spinal muscles to slowly degenerate, causing the cat to have a weak or abnormal gait. While the condition is neither painful nor fatal, cats with SMA require extra care and attention.
You can check out each of our cats dna testing by clicking on the button "Optimal-DNA Testing" on each king & Queen's profile page.