Birman — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Congenital hypotrichosis with short life expectancy (FOXN1 deletion)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An autosomal recessive deletion in the FOXN1 gene that causes kittens to be born with little to no coat and, more importantly, is associated with a much shorter lifespan. A validated DNA test exists and is the only reliable way to identify carriers, since the coat effect is not always obvious to the eye.
Ask to see: FOXN1 deletion DNA test (offered by Wisdom Panel and specialist feline genetics laboratories), on both parents
Wisdom Panel — Hypotrichosis (cat health conditions) (https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-us/cat-health-conditions/hypotrichosis) · Helps et al. 2015, PLOS ONE — FOXN1 deletion in Birman cats (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4363148/)
Hereditary distal polyneuropathycan shorten life or cause chronic pain
A degenerative nerve disease reported in related Birman kittens, causing progressive unsteadiness and weakness in the hind legs from a young age. No causative gene has been identified, so there is no DNA test; the original report describes it as being of suspected, not confirmed, inherited origin.
Ask to see: No DNA test exists — ask whether the line has any history of unexplained hind-limb weakness or unsteadiness in young kittens
Moreau, Vallat & Hugon, 1991, Acta Neuropathologica — distal axonopathy in Birman cats (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1927270/)