Cat

Hypokalaemia is a condition related to low serum potassium and high creatine phosphokinase. Symptoms include episodes of muscle weakness usually in the neck but sometimes only in the limbs. As a result, affected cats may have problems walking and holding their heads properly.

Factor XI deficiency is a genetic disorder affecting the coagulation process. Symptoms of this condition are excessive bleeding following surgery or trauma.

The tabby genetic test distinguishes between the mackerel (striped) and blotched (classic swirled) tabby patterns. These patterns are determined by variations at the tabby locus, specifically the Ta^M (mackerel) and Ta^b (blotched) alleles, which follow a dominance hierarchy. Additionally the test provides information on the Ta^as allele which can result in an atypical swirl coat pattern. The test provides breeders with precise information to predict and select for these coat patterns in their breeding programs. The tabby pattern is only expressed if agouti is A/A or A/a (not solid) and ticked is N/N (not ticked).

This panel includes five specific analyses related to coat colour: agouti (CAT-AG), amber (CAT-AMBER), brown (CAT-BROWN), colorpoint (CAT-COLORPOINT) and dilution (CAT-DILU).

The ticked coat pattern is caused by the two dominant variants Ti^A and Ti^CK. The distinctive feature is characterized by a coat made almost entirely of agouti hairs, creating a speckled or "ticked" appearance. Unlike other tabby patterns, cats with one of two of these dominant alleles lack dark stripes, blotches, or spots on their body. However, faint striping may still be visible on the legs and tail. This pattern is only expressed if cat is A/A or A/a for agouti.

The charcoal coat pattern, unique to Bengal cats, features a dark facial mask and a distinctive dorsal stripe, often called a "cape." Unlike fully melanistic cats, the charcoal pattern results from a complex interaction between genes influencing melanism and coat patterning.

This pattern is strongly associated with compound heterozygosity in the ASIP gene. Specifically, it arises when a Bengal inherits one copy of the A^Pbe and one copy of the non-agouti allele (a) which in combination creates the striking charcoal phenotype.

The ASIP protein interacts with the melanocortin-1 receptor to alternate between black and red pigments, creating a banding pattern in the hair. Mutations in the ASIP gene prevent this change from occurring, resulting in uniformly coloured hair. The colour of the cat's coat also depends on complex interactions with other genes.

Cats with the brown allele have reduced amounts of the black pigment and therefore have a brown appearance. Two mutations are tested, the first is responsible for the chocolate colour and the second for the cinnamon colour. The coat colour of the cat also depends on complex interactions with other genes.

The amber gene causes kittens to gradually change their coat colour from black at birth to an amber colour. This change is mainly observed during the first year. The coat colour of the cat also depends on complex interactions with other genes.

The colorpoint mutation is associated with the production of temperature sensitive pigments. Pigment production is reduced in the warmer areas of the body, resulting in darker pigmentation in the cooler extremities of the cat (paws, ears, etc.). In the Siamese phenotype, pigment expression is limited to the extremities of the cat (legs, tail, ears, face). In the Burmese phenotype, the pigment expression results in a wider distribution of pigments on the body and darker spots than the body.