I recently read in a CatFancy magazine, that polycystic kidney disease is fairly common in persian cats. I have a himalayan cat, so this caught my attention. There is a test available, to see if you cat has the disease, but from all I've read, there is nothing to stop or slow down the growth of the cysts. Because of this, I see no reason to test Merlin for it. I know it would mean peace of mind for me if he tested negative, but if he tested positive....well, it would just devistate me.
Because I got Merlin at a shelter, I don't know his health history, or his lineage. I'm not even positive how old he is. He was believed to be around one and a half to two years old, but they really didn't know for sure. I don't even REALLY know if he's full blood, but I've been told by many, including my vet, that he looks like he is. He appears to be perfectly healthy. He doesn't have the watery eyes or breathing issues normally associated with this breed. As for kidney disease...well, he's not drinking or urinating any more or less frequently than any of my other cats.
What are some other symptoms that I would need to watch for?
