Health Tests for Pedigree Cats: HCM, PKD and More

Health testing of breeding cats can reduce inherited risk, but the phrase “health tested” is too vague on its own. Relevant examinations depend on breed, family history and the condition in question. Some tests detect a specific DNA variant, while others assess the animal's health at one moment. A careful buyer asks what was tested, when, by whom and whether the report belongs to both parents of this litter.

Start with breed, pedigree and family history

Ask a breeder which conditions occur in the breed and lines and which programme or veterinary advice they follow. Compare the answer with an independent source such as a breed club and the questions in which cat breed suits me?. Testing does not replace sound breeding choices, suitable anatomy, good housing and veterinary care.

Request original reports or complete readable copies before paying. Names, dates of birth, microchip or pedigree numbers should match the parents associated with the litter.

A DNA test answers one genetic question

Most DNA tests look for a particular known variant. A clear result for that variant does not show that the cat is free from every inherited disorder, or even every form of the named disease. Check the precise test, laboratory, cat identity and full outcome: clear, carrier or affected.

A carrier is not automatically ill and may sometimes be paired responsibly with a clear animal. Excluding every carrier without a wider plan can reduce genetic diversity. The planned combination matters more than a row of green ticks. A good breeder explains their reasoning; use cattery or private breeder? for the wider checks.

HCM: an ultrasound is not a DNA result

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) thickens the heart muscle and is relatively common in cats. DNA tests exist for a few known variants in breeds including Maine Coons and Ragdolls, but they do not cover every cause or perfectly predict disease. A negative DNA result does not rule out HCM in general.

Screening a breeding animal involves cardiac ultrasound by a suitably experienced veterinarian. HCM may become visible later, so dates and repeat examinations matter. Ask for the report, not just “heart checked” in an advert. A transparent series of results across breeding life provides more information than one very early scan.

PKD and other breed-specific examinations

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), best known in Persians and related breeds, causes kidney cysts. A DNA test exists for the recognised variant, while ultrasound has a role in other diagnostic situations. The right approach depends on breed, ancestry and breeding programme.

Other examples include eye examinations, kneecap assessment, hip radiographs and DNA tests for specific metabolic or neurological conditions. There is no universal shopping list. Ask the breed club or your vet which checks are relevant and why a breeder deviates. Health also concerns body shape and welfare, not laboratory results alone; read how the ban on hairless and fold-eared cats reflects legal welfare limits.

Infection tests are not inherited-disease tests

FIV and FeLV are viral infections. Negative results from parent cats may inform infection risk but say nothing about HCM, PKD or other inherited conditions. Keep the two categories separate and learn how timing affects interpretation in FIV and FeLV in cats.

How to verify a result

Read the original report or a complete, legible copy.
Match name, date of birth and any chip or pedigree number.
Check the method, date, laboratory or vet and conclusion.
Ask why these tests were chosen for this breed and pairing.
Let your own vet or breed club explain unclear abbreviations before payment.

A screenshot showing only “negative” without identity, date or method is not verifiable. “From tested lines” is not the same as current results from the two cats that produced the litter. A pedigree records ancestry but is not a health guarantee; see what a cat pedigree does and does not prove.

There are no absolute guarantees

Responsible breeding reduces risk; it cannot promise that a kitten will never become ill. Ask how results influenced the match, what ages and causes of death are known in the family, and what follow-up and contract terms apply. Open explanation is more valuable than an impossible guarantee.

Add the reports to the complete kitten-buying checklist. A trustworthy breeder treats detailed health questions as normal and also asks about the kitten's future home.