Research overview: inherited diseases in purebred cats

Selective breeding concentrates not only desired traits but also disease-causing mutations, and this overview surveys inherited disorders documented across cat breeds. It covers conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in several breeds, polycystic kidney disease in Persians, progressive retinal atrophy, glycogen storage and other metabolic disorders, and breed-linked structural problems, many now identifiable through DNA tests. The survey discusses how genetic screening allows breeders to reduce disease prevalence, the role of breed clubs and testing programs, and the tension between maintaining breed type and avoiding harmful conformation and inbreeding. It situates feline inherited disease within the broader genetics of small, recently founded breed populations, presenting genetic testing and informed breeding as the principal tools for improving the health of purebred cats and curbing the spread of deleterious mutations.