Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common health issues in Persian cats in the UK
By O'Neill, Dan G et al.·Published in Scientific reports·2019·The Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Persian cats under first opinion veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that many Persian cats in the UK face health issues, with about 65% having at least one disorder. Common problems include skin issues, dental disease, and eye discharge. The average lifespan for these cats is around 13.5 years, but kidney disease is a leading cause of death. This highlights the importance of regular vet check-ups and proper care to manage these common health concerns in Persian cats.
People also search for: Persian cat health issues · why does my Persian cat have eye discharge · dental care for Persian cats
Abstract
Persian cats are a popular cat breed worldwide, and especially in the US, Europe and Asia. This study aimed to describe the demography, common disorders and mortality in Persians under general practice veterinary care in 2013 in the UK. The study population of 285,547 cats overall included 3235 (1.1%) Persians. Mean adult Persian bodyweight was 3.9 kg (SD 0.9) and median age was 7.0 years (IQR 3.3-11.6). At least one disorder was recorded in 2099 (64.9%) Persians. The most common specific disorders were haircoat disorders (411, 12.7%), periodontal disease (365, 11.3%), overgrown nails (234, 7.2%), and ocular discharge (188, 5.8%). The most common disorder groups were dermatological (578, 17.9%), ophthalmological (496, 15.3%) and dental (397, 12.3%). Median longevity was 13.5 years (IQR 9.9-16.0). The most common grouped causes of death were renal disease (102, 23.4%), neoplasia (37, 8.5%) and mass-associated disorder (35, 8.0%). This is the first study to use general practice data to examine the overall health of Persian cats. With haircoat, ocular and dental disorders being the predominant disorders identified, this study highlights the need for increased owner awareness to manage and prevent the typical health problems associated with this breed's phenotype.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31530836/