Somali — 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, documented in Somali and its parent breed Abyssinian, causing intermittent lethargy, weakness, jaundice and weight loss with unpredictable onset and severity.
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, late-onset (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)
Progressive retinal atrophy, early-onset (PRA-Rdy)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A second, genetically distinct and more severe form of inherited blindness found in Abyssinian and Somali. Affected kittens show retarded retinal development and are blind by around seven weeks old, much earlier than the rdAc form.
Ask to see: PRA-Rdy (CRX) DNA test on both parents, showing an N/N (clear) result — a separate test from PRA-rdAc, since a cat can be clear of one and carry the other
UC Davis VGL — PRA-Rdy test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pra-rdy)