Singapura — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK deficiency)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited haemolytic anaemia causing intermittent lethargy, weakness, jaundice and weight loss, with unpredictable onset and severity. UC Davis names Singapura specifically as a breed with the mutation at meaningful frequency.
Ask to see: PK deficiency DNA test on both parents, showing an N/N (clear) result
UC Davis VGL — PK deficiency test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pk-deficiency-cat)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-rdAc)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited, untreatable form of blindness. Affected kittens have normal vision at birth that degenerates from around seven months old, with most cats fully blind by three to five years.
Ask to see: PRA-rdAc (CEP290) DNA test on both parents, showing an N/N (clear) result
UC Davis VGL — PRA-rdAc test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pra-rdac)
Burmese hypokalemia
An inherited disorder causing episodes of low blood potassium and skeletal muscle weakness, most visible in the neck as a wobbly gait or difficulty holding the head up. It is not usually fatal and is manageable with dietary potassium supplementation once diagnosed.
Ask to see: Burmese hypokalemia (WNK4) DNA test on both parents, showing an N/N (clear) result
UC Davis VGL — Burmese hypokalemia test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/burmese-hypokalemia)