Garden of the Cats supports research that improves the quality of life for cats. This includes medical, scientific, and behavioral research, with a special interest in a certain study.
Dwarf Cat Orthopedic Project
Garden of the Cats’ first supported research is the Dwarf Cat Orthopedic Project, run by the Lyons Laboratory at the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, working with the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals (OFA).
Project overview:
Several trait-related health concerns, such as dwarfism, have led to considerations regarding the “retirement” of specific breeds from all cat fancy registries. Some worldwide registries already do not accept dwarf cats for registry. Before suggesting retirement, a study of diverse dwarf cats should be conducted to determine the presence and prevalence of orthopedic issues, including osteoarthritis. Do dwarf cats have health concerns associated with their dwarfism?
Background information:
Many breeds of domestic animals have been developed as dwarf breeds. Several genes are known to cause dwarfism in dogs, which are generally recessive conditions. Some dwarf dog breeds are known to have issues with intervertebral disc ruptures and other orthopedic concerns, including with mobility. A concern of early onset osteoarthritis is high are less well documented. Because the gene for the cat autosomal dominant dwarfism, UGDH, is novel for causing dwarfism, no information about secondary health affects is available from other species. Also, cats do not have the same associated gene variants as the dogs with the intervertebral disc ruptures; thus, dwarfism-related health issues may not be as a significant concern for dwarf cats, but is yet undocumented.
Why GOTC is involved:
Unfortunately, ignorance is the cause for calling for banning dwarf cats. Dwarf cats are a natural mutation and banning such cats on the basis of “an assumption” is fool-hardy. Owners of dwarf cats insist their cats are healthy, athletic cats and should not be denigrated because of their short stature. On the other hand, no scientific study has ever been done on the structure of dwarf cats to either prove or disprove these allegations. Therefore, Garden of the Cats is joining with Dr. Leslie Lyons and the OFA to conduct the first study done on dwarf cat structure. To date, Garden of the Cats has acquired, taken, and paid for the x-rays of twenty-five dwarf and control cats entered in the study, and will continue to do so to promote this study.
Anyone with a dwarf cat (munchkins, minuets, bambinos, etc.) that would like to participate in the study should contact Catherine Rudy, of Garden of the Cats, for more information.
Wolfpirateprop@aol.com.
