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Cats/paw pads and nose losing pigmentation
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Question
This question is regarding the one about a cat losing its paw pad and nose color. The cat cannot be shown but what about breeding the cat? The female has this but her litter brother and both parents don't. Will she throw this in her kittens?
Rose,
What a great question. It depends on whether the loss of pigmentation is due to a condition that has been acquired or a genetic condition. Your veterinarian may be able to give you some inkling as to what is going on.
If it is due to a genetic condition, then, yes the proggeny could have the same problem, or might not. Genetics are often not so simple that without being able to do DNA testing on whatever may have gone wrong in the genome for this cat, there is no way of telling, for sure what may happen in the next and ensuing generations.
If you can get some history on any siblings of the female's parents, on grand parents, on great grand parents, you might be able to get some idea of whether this is transmitted genetically or acquired. If it is transmitted genetically, is it recessive or dominant? (I would guess recessive), always expressive or variably expressive? Etc.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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