DEAFNESS IN WHITE CATS

GENETIC RESEARCH


www.khaomaneecatclub.co.uk
www.khaomaneecatclub.com

Odyssey ChaWee of Ayshazen

 

Genetic Research

DEAFNESS IN WHITE CATS GENETIC RESEARCH

Working with Professor Leslie Lyons of UC Davis in California, the Khao Manee Cat Club is appealing for cheek swabs from at least 50 hearing and 50 deaf white cats of all breeds. Professor Lyons will research the possibilty of finding the gene responsible for causing deafness in white cats, which is more prevalent than in coloured cats.

Please send a cheek swab from your white cat to us, and we will co-ordinate their transport to Dr Lyons in the USA. It is really easy, you only need a cotton bud and a paper envelope.

You can send your cats swab anonymously if you wish, however, we will need some information. There is a form you can complete here

If you are happy to identify your cat, then please provide registered name, and also registered name of parents. This is to help Dr Lyons, and the KMCC undertake not retain any information. A pedigree would be very helpful to Professor Lyons, although not essential.

Instructions on how to obtain the swabs can be found below, along with details of where to send the swabs. The procedure is painless and takes seconds.

Please help us to help all white cats worldwide to look forward to a future without deafness.

Pllease pass this link on to any cat clubs, vets, pet owners, breeders, cattery owners, mailing lists, or anyone you know who may be able to help.

How to Take and Send Your Swabs

1. If the cat has been eating or drinking, wait at least 15 minutes before taking samples. Try to swab kittens about 15 – 30 minutes after nursing.

2. Sample one cat at a time. Cut 2 cotton buds in half, and use each half to obtain 4 samples per cat (as requested by Dr Lyons). If you are sampling several cats in the same session, complete the process for one cat before sampling the next.

3. Write the cat's details on a plain white envelope.

4. Handle the cotton bud by the plastic end. Please do not touch the "bud" end as this can transfer DNA.

5. Place cotton bud between the cheek and gums and swirl, spin or swipe 10 times, trying to make contact on both sides of the cotton bud. Please be vigorous, as these are the only samples we will have for your cat. Keep the cotton bud level, parallel with the teeth, towards the front of the cat’s mouth, under the whisker pads. If you try and swab too far back in the mouth, the cat will try more to chew on the swab.

6. Let the swab air dry for about 30 seconds and then immediately and carefully place the swab to its envelope.

7. Close the envelope and seal with a paperclip or tape.

8. Do not seal samples in a zip-lock bag or plastic bag.. This allows bacteria to grow and contaminate your cat’s DNA.

9. When you are ready to send your samples, please send them along with your completed information form to:

Marcia Owen
KMCC
43 Gryms Dyke
Prestwood
Great Missenden
Bucks, HP16 0LP
UK

The swabs will then be forwarded to Professor Lyons.

Thank you for your help.

REMEMBER...

..... any white cat, any breed, any age, any sex. Hearing or non hearing (unilateral or bilateral). We appreciate deaf cats are harder to find, so it's all the more important to send your deaf cat's swabs in.