Do persian cats really have that high a risk of kidney problems?

The problem you're talking about is PKD - polycystic kidney disease. It is unfortunately a hereditary disease in Persians and some other breeds as well. If you buy your cat from a reputable breeder, they will be certified free of PKD. Reputable breeders breed it out of their line, and do not breed cats that have it. Unfortunately, many of the Persians that are sold are from people who just plain and simply don't get their cats spayed, or who are just out to make money - the back yard breeders and kittens mills.

Not every Persian who comes from a BYB or pet store will have PKD, but chances are pretty good that they will. People buy them despite their health issues because they don't do their homework prior to buying one, which is why Persians are the #1 breed surrendered to shelters.

1

There's a disease called PKD - Polycystic Kidney Disease - that Persians and Exotic Shorthairs are genetically predisposed to. Which is why you should NEVER buy one from a backyard breeder. A simple DNA test can reveal whether a cat has the PKD gene. Reputable breeders test all their cats before breeding them and never breed PKD+ animals. So in a short matter of time they can breed this disease out of their animals. Backyard breeders don't bother testing their animals and therefore end up with PKD+ kittens. And then they sell those animals unaltered so they often are bred again resulting in more PKD+ kittens.

If a cat isn't PKD+ then it's no more likely to have kidney problems than any other breed (or mix) of cat. Do research, though, what it takes to care for a Persian. They're VERY high maintenance. Their long coats can NEVER be brushed - brushes pull out and break the top coat hairs and do little to remove the loose hairs of the undercoat which are the hairs that cause mats. A Persian's coat needs to be COMBED with a good quality steel-toothed combed at LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY ALL YEAR LONG to remove the loose hairs of the undercoat. If you go even two or three days without combing, the coat can mat.

Persians also have to have special attention given to their eye area. Their facial structure can cause their eyes to become goopy and their fur tear-stained. I use a great product on my adopted Persian called "Eye Envy" that keeps his eyes clear and his fur around his eyes bright white. http://www.ferretocious.com/percy/percynose1.jpg

Persians are also more prone to kitty colds turning into Upper Respiratory Infections. While other cats can often shake off colds, Persians can easily end up with their flat little noses very congested. So at the first sign of sniffles you really have to take action. I put on a vaporizer with some Eucalyptus Oil in it and give Percy L-Lysine tablets daily and the last two times he's gotten the sniffles he hasn't ended with a URI.

Not that any cat should be fed crappy food but with Persians the quality of the food especially reflects in their long full coats. Feed the cat cheap food and it's coat will look shabby. Persians need to be fed a cat premium food made mostly of meat and with little to no grain as well a canned food. Even better - feed a raw diet. My Percy eats a mix of Innova Evo, Petcurean Go! Natural and Royal Canin for Persians (because it has a built-in hairball remedy). For canned foods he eats Merricks, Tiki Cat, Weruva.

Because of their high maintenance Persians are one of the breeds most often surrendered to shelters. So I would highly advise you to check shelters first to see if they have any up for adoption. By the time they get dumped at shelters they're often so matted they have to be shaved down. Or their fur is badly tear-stained. But look beyond the scruffiness. With a bit of TLC you'll end up with a gorgeous cat. And beneath all that mess lies a wonderful, wonderful animal.

I adopted Percy when he was 2 1/2. He was only SIX POUNDS when I adopted him and was filthy. He's now a healthy 10.9 pounds and he's one of the sweetest, most loving and by far the most playful cat I've ever owned. And if you want to be sure about PKD, you can order a cheek swab test online and get the cat checked out or ask your vet to do the test for you.

edit: someone mentioned a Persian that "hunts outdoors". Not that I condone the free-roaming of ANY cat but especially so the Persian. Not only will their coats quickly become a tangle of dirt and plant matter but they're laid back, trusting personalities can make them VERY quickly become prey or coyotes or loose dogs.

My Mother had Persians and Siamese cats all her life and they were among the longest living cats that I have ever come across. She passed in 2000 and my stepdad still has one of them. He (the cat) is approaching 21 years of age and still hunts outside on a regular basis. He just doesn't catch anything anymore.

Not one of her cats was ever at the vet's except for yearly exams and shots and they all lived to be over 15 years old.

We, on the other hand, had a domestic short hair that developed urinary failure at the age of 6 and had to be out down.

They are known for kidney problems and respiratory problems, but my Aunt has a persian that is 15 years old, has only ever been to the vet to get fixed, is indoor/outdoor and she is just fine. Since she doesnt visit the vet regularly, there may some issues, but she appears healthy and happy.

There is a problem in the breed with PKD now, and many breeders are testing their cats. Its not wise to be breeding a PKD carrier. So be sure to find out if the breeder tests for and if they are breeding PKD carriers (ask for proof).

Heal Kidney Disease Forever : http://naturallygo.com/Official

respiratory problems are big because of the smushed in face