Health & Temperament

In that order.

When choosing to dedicate your life hours, feelings, and hard earned money on a purebred feline family member - the health of your family is naturally your top concern.
We are here for the same reasons. Learn why Caked Up exceeds the standard you are looking for in a breeder.

BREEDING FROM HEALTHY CATS

The health of your future kitten starts with its ancestors. Genetically flawed, poorly developed, sick or defective cats cannot produce healthy kittens.

Every breed comes with it's own host of health concerns. Some are tragic.

A registered cat is a documented, verified and hopefully, a controlled ancestry. Meaning the feline has been selectively and purposefully bred for certain health, characteristics or temperament. Unfortunately, that's not always the case, and unethical breeders continue to breed genetically flawed, sick cats. In most cases, these instances could be prevented with a few $60 tests, and a dash of decency.

Some of the health conditions and diseases affecting the Maine Coon cat are:

HEALTH TESTED LINES

Research, screening and education of the conditions affecting the Maine Coon cat now make it easier for breeders to determine the suitability of a cat for inclusion in their breeding program.

HCM, SMA, PKD and PKDef all have known, linked, mutated genes specific to the Maine Coon breed. Cats carrying these mutated genes are at increased risk of developing the related conditions (there are no genetic tests for patellar luxation or hip dysplasia).

HCM (FELINE HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY)

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease seen in cats and often carries a poor long-term prognosis for affected cats and treatment/management of this disease is lifelong.

The DNA test screens for the presence of the known mutant gene linked to HCM and all breeding cats should be double NEGATIVE (n/n) for this gene.

But we also know that cats who are DNA tested and genetically clear (n/n) of the mutant HCM gene, can and do still develop HCM. Therefor indicating that simply running a genetic test for the one mutated gene is not accurate and is not enough.

Currently the most effective way to test, is by conducting an echocardiogram (Ultrasound).

It is advisable to screen cats either each year following their first birthday or at set intervals e.g 1, 3 and 5 years old.

PATELLAR LUXATION AND HIP DYSPLASIA

The Maine Coon is a large breed and is prone to knee and hip problems. Two common conditions affecting the Maine Coon are Patellar Luxation and Hip Dysplasia. There are many factors leading to the development of the conditions including, diet and nutrition, jumping from a height at a young age, repetitive jumping and landing on a preferred leg, twisting the leg or other injury, sliding or living on slippery surfaces including laminate floors.

To lesson the genetic risk factor, breeding cats should be hip X-Rayed by a qualified veterinarian after the age of 10 months and on an ongoing basis once matured at around 2-3 years old.

This still does not mean your cat will never develop hip dysplasia as previously mentioned, there are many factors at play, but it does mean your breeder has been responsible and vastly lowered the risks for you by understanding the health of their cats.

HEALTH TESTING

In summary we believe that simply conducting a genetic test of a breeding cat does not declare it as being 'from health tested lines'.

There are many other factors thought to be genetic that can influence the development of disease. A responsible breeder should always be fully utilizing the testing and screening available to them. Regardless of the cost, inconvenience and the inevitable casualties from any breeding program.

For all the reasons mentioned above:

Our cats are DNA tested and genetically clear for all mutated genes related to:

HCM

SMA

PKD - without exception with a n/n result.