Femoral neck fracture (avascular femoral neck necrosis) (r)

Separation of the head of the femur (femoral capital epiphysis) from the rest of the femur has been seen in a number of young (<2 year old), often over-weight, male cats. Affected cats develop severe hind limb lameness. While one study found Siamese cats to be over-represented, the condition appears to be seen most frequently in BSH cats (in the UK). Surgery is usually needed to remove the head of the femur.

Craig L E (2001) Physeal dysplasia with slipped capital femoral epiphysis in 13 cats. Veterinary Pathology 38, 92-97
Newton AL, Craig LE. (2006) Multicentric physeal dysplasia in two cats. Vet Pathology 43(3):388-90.

Cardiovascular conditions

Peritoneal pericardial diaphragmatic hernia

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) is a congenital abnormality by which the abdominal cavity directly communicates with the pericardium (the sac that the heart sits in). While the veterinary literature does not appear to include any documented evidence of an increase incidence in the any particular breed but Persian and British Short Hair cats appear to be predisposed to this abnormality in the UK.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

A familial incidence of HCM has been reported in the British Shorthair breed. While this may be due to an inherited gene defect, to date, such a defect has not been identified in this breed. See Screening scheme info on www.fabcats.org/hcm

Kittleson MD Feline Myocardial Disease, Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Editor:  Ettinger S.J, Feldman S.E., St Louis, Elsevier, 2000, pp 1082-1103
Inherited Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in British Shorthair Cats.; Abstract at ACVIM 2003:  Ingrid Putcuyps, Frank Coopman, Gerda Van De Werf. DAP Clos Fleuri, St Denijs Westrem, Belgium. Ghent University, Belgium.

Urogenital conditions

Polycystic kidney disease (*) - see Persian section click here...

Calcium oxalate urolithiasis (*) - see general section click here...

Haematological/immunological conditions

Bleeding Disorder; Factor IX deficiency, Haemophilia B or Christmas disease (r) – see general section