Several veterinary genetic laboratories, both academic and commercial, offer multi-test profiles of a few dozen of the most popular genetic screens to more than 50. Several labs have added to their feline genetic screening profile two inherited blood clotting disorders: Factor IX (Christmas Factor) deficiency and Factor XII (Hageman) deficiency.
Why are these important, and what should a breeder do if one of their cats is found to carry one of these traits? Before we answer those questions, a brief discussion of blood clotting mechanisms and current laboratory screening tests of the efficiency of those mechanisms is necessary.
The Miracle of Blood Clotting
We take it for granted. We are playing with Fluffy and his favorite toy, and our hand gets in the way of that paw batting at the toy. We yelp a little, look at the scratch oozing a tiny bit of blood, then wipe it off with the nearest available absorbent form of paper. Already stopped bleeding, we think to ourselves. We shake it off and think to ourselves that Fluffy is overdue for a nail trim.
What we fail to appreciate is that not only does Fluffy need a nail trim, but those claws of his set off a cascade of biochemical reactions that has saved our life, time and again, and we don't even realize it. That process is more formally called hemostasis.¹ Hemostasis is essentially the same process in both humans and felines.
Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Cat Talk.
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Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Cat Talk.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Checklist For What to Look For in Your Club's Next Show Venue
Show Manager To Ring One, Please
Tonkinese
When You're Well and Truly Tonked
AVOIDING The Kitten Fear Period
Young kittens seem fearless.4 As soon as those eyes open and they can get their legs under them, they are off to see the world if their mama and humans let them.
No Milk For You!
Milk Issues and Kittens
Fostering Kittens
When asked if I would be interested in fostering a queen and her eight newborn kittens, I volunteered without question.
Do You present ? Polish! OR DO YOU
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS!
No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!
Felines have graced the decks of boats and ships back nearly to the beginning of time, roaming freely on passenger ships, war vessels, and merchant schooners, keeping vermin at bay.
Feline Summer Movie Fun!
School is almost OUT! Huzzah! But raindrops are plunking against the window, the amusement and water parks haven’t opened yet, camping is out, and roasted hot dogs and S’mores are another month away.
Kittens Are Special...
...and so are some of the show rules for them:
Genetic Pleiotropy and the Risks in Breeding Recessive Mutations
Nearly everyone loves what’s rare and unique. A slight defect in the minting process of a coin can create a demand and a value well beyond the face value of the coin. The coin is functionally no different than its perfectly minted counterpart, but its scarcity and uniqueness alone make it more desirable than the rest.
