The Devon Rexponent

We've Moved

2008-04-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the inconvenience. But we've decided to move to another site, please feel free to visit us at http://thedevonrexponent.wordpress.com/. Thank you and we hope to see you there!

A Story About Strep G

2007-11-27T23:04:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I last made an entry. And for my comeback, I found this entry about Strep G and Feline Fertility Problems. This article is divided into two parts and really found this information very interesting. Got the link from my good mentor, Ms Debbie Van Patten of Pattnchat Cattery. But the article was written by Ms Marva Morrow of 7th Heaven Oriental Shorthairs. Happy reading!

http://www.kittykouch.com/articles/gstrepupdate.html

Some Very Useful Sites on the Web

2007-04-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

Some of the sites listed below are not "cat-related." But regardless, they have been helpful in my continous pursuit for knowledge. These are also sites recommended by my kind mentors in the cat fancy. I hope you find them relevant and employ a practical purpose for it in your cattery.

Do I Need A Mentor by Michael Canalizo

Planned Breeding by Lloyd Brackett

Cat Breeding and Basic Genetics by the European Cat Fancy

Cat Color FAQs by the Cat Fanciers Mailing List

Inbreeding, Linebreeding and Crossbreeding by Netpets

The Pigment Parade by Lorraine Shelton

UC Davis Veterinary Laboratory contains lots of helpful information about forensic and genetic testing in animals.

Feline Husbandry by Dr. Neil Perdersen is also available online (in PDF file)

Feline Blood Groups by the Feline Advisory Bureau

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy by Chick Newman, DVM

Some Helpful Reading Materials

2007-04-18T00:33:00.000-07:00

When my fascination over cats turned into a fixation, I started digging for more and even more information. I also knew that with my new found passion; I needed to equipt myself with knowledge. Not just about cats in general, but proper care, breeding/ husbandry, genetics etc. Here are some of my own "must read" books or materials that I consider essential:

Breeding Pedigreed Cats by Carolyn Vella/ John McGonagle

Complete Book of Cat Breeding by Dan Rice, DVM

Robinsons Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians by Carolyn Vella, Lorraine Shelton, John McGonagle and Terry Stanglein

Feline Husbandry Diseases and Management in Multiple Cat Environment by Neil Pedersen

The Devon Rex Handbook by Anne Gibney and Gerri Logan

Pyometra in Cats

2007-03-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

(Left: An x-ray film of a cat suffering from pyometra)

Pyometra is the medical term used to describe an infected uterus. This infection can be open (draining pus from the vagina) or closed (pus is contained in the uterus by a closed cervix).Pyometra can be a life threatening infection and may even require emergency surgery. A closed pyometra is more of an emergency than an open pyometra, since there is no drainage of pus in a closed pyometra. If left untreated, cats become very ill and some may not survive. With early treatment, about 90 percent of affected cats recover.Since pyometra is an infection of the uterus, all unspayed cats are susceptible. Pyometra is uncommon in cats from September to December, when their heat cycles are at rest.

Things to watch for:

- Vaginal discharge
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Drinking excessive amounts of water and urinating often

Different breeders have there own individual approach in handling pyometra. Some would suggest ovariohysterectomy (spaying) and some would try a series of antiobiotics before opting for surgery. In my humble opinion, some queens suffering from pyometra tends to react quite satisfactory to treatments by giving Clindamycin, Amoxicillin or Clavamox. But if the queen is still suffering from pain and infection considering that antiobiotics have been given, spaying should be considered. It is advise that we consult our veterinarians for diagnosis and treatment plans.

HYBRIDIZATION: Expanding the Feline (Devon Rex) Gene Pool

2007-03-18T22:37:00.000-07:00

(Left: A Devon Rex/ ASH F1 Hybrid)

“Hybrids" are crosses between populations, breeds or cultivars of a single species. There are a number of hybrids between various felid species. The main goal is to broaden the feline gene pool. It is estimated that only one percent of cats in the world are pedigreed cats. Making the gene pool relatively small, this is one of the reason why some cat registries allows specific cat breeds to be crossbred with another pedigreed cat breed. Examples of this breed are the Devon Rex, Havana Brown, Exotic Shorthair, Balinese, Colorpoint Shorthair, Oriental Shorthair, Sphynx, Selkirk Rex etc. Most allowable outcrosses are either Siamese, American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Persian or Domestic Shorthair; since these breeds have a very diverse or establish gene pool. They also possess the necessary physical traits that helps establish other breeds.

Lets take the Devon Rex as an example. The principles of Devon hybridization are quite simple. Remember that the Devon Rex coat factor is a recessive gene. CFA allows Devon litter registrations on any Devon Rex crossed with either a registered British Shorthair or American Shorthair. The first generation, all registered as Devon Rex, produce normal coated cats carrying the recessive gene for curly coat. Any of these then taken back to a curly coated Devon will produce a litter of Devon half with curly coats and the other half will have the dominant normal coat, but will carry the recessive gene for curly coat. This ratio (1 to 1) of curly to normal coated kittens will continue with all subsequent breeding of hybrid to curly. Once a recessive curly coated Devon is produced, it will be pure for that trait and will never be able to produce a normal coat unless bred to a normal coated cat. All normal coated cats are registered as Devon without any restrictions or indication of coat type. Though these Devon Rex cats are not eligible for shows since they lack a curly coat, they provide a wonderful opportunity in a breeding program to strengthen and reinforce desirable traits while providing outcross strength and vigor.

Some Devon breeders have been reluctant to undertake a Devon hybridization program feeling they would forfeit type. If the outcross chosen has been carefully selected, this should not be a major obstacle. When choosing either an American Shorthair or a British Shorthair for a Devon breeding program, one does not select by either American or British standards of excellence, but rather those potential outcrosses should reflect desirable Devon characteristics. For example, either an American or British with finer boning than would be required in their respective breed standards, would make an excellent choice for a Devon program since the Devon standard requires a finer boned cat.

Last year the [CFA] Devon Rex breed council requested and was granted an extension of the Devon outcross programs. Litters will be registered to Devon outcross to British or American Shorthairs born before May 1, 2013 and therefore the last opportunity to incorporate new genes into the Devon Rex pool. Hopefully by then we will have had a chance to introduce those desirable characteristics we wish to add or to strengthen the gene pool.

Feline Blood Type

2007-03-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

Three blood types have been identified in cats - type A (most common), type B, and type AB (very rare). In the United States, nearly 95% of all domestic mixbreed cats are blood type A. AH Siamese, Burmese, Tonkinese, American Shorthair, and Oriental Shorthair cats tested so far have type A blood. However, the following pure breeds have a 10-50% frequency of blood type B cats:

- Abyssinian
- Birman
- British Shorthair
- Cornish Rex
- Devon Rex
- Exotic
- Japanese Bobtail
- Persian
- Scottish Fold
- Somali
- Sphynx

The frequency of blood type B in other pure breeds has not been determined. Similar to humans, cats have naturally occurring antibodies to blood types other than their own. Blood type A cats have low amounts of weak antibodies to red blood cells (RBCs) from type B cats. Blood type B cats have high amounts of strong antibodies to type A RBCs. Because of these strong anti-A antibodies, incompatibility between type A and type B cats can cause potentially fatal reactions under two circumstances:

- transfusion of type B cats with type A blood
- breeding of type A toms to type B queens to produce type A kittens

Transfusion of blood from a donor cat to a recipient cat of the same blood type rarely causes problems, and the transfused RBCs usually last for 30 days in the recipient. However, transfusion of blood from a type A donor to a type B recipient results in rapid destruction of the transfusion within minutes to hours due to the strong anti-A antibodies in the type B recipient. This transfusion reaction causes anaphylactic shock and even death, and can be prevented by blood typing all cats prior to transfusion. A simple, rapid card test (DMS Laboratories) is now available for determining blood types in cats.

The transfer of maternal antibodies via colostrum from the queen to the newborn kitten not only provides protection from infection, but also may cause a life-threatening crisis called neonatal isoerythrolysis. Neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) is a major cause of the Fading Kitten Syndrome in purebred cats. NI is caused by a blood type incompatibility between the queen and her kittens. Since blood type A is dominant over type B, the mating of a type A tom to a type B queen produces type A kittens. When the type A kittens nurse the type B queen, they ingest colostrum containing antibodies to their blood type. These anti-A antibodies in the colostrum are absorbed from the intestine into the blood during the first day of life. The antibodies rapidly destroy the kittens' RBCs similar to a transfusion reaction.

The kittens appear healthy and vigorous at birth, but some kittens suddenly die after nursing while others 'Fade" and die 3-7 days later. The fading kittens stop nursing, become pale or jaundiced due to RBC destruction, and have red urine. The red urine distinguishes NI from all other causes of the Fading Kitten Syndrome. Breeders should check all kittens for red urine during the first 2 days of life. The diagnosis of Nl is confirmed by blood typing the tom and queen, or the queen and kittens.

Once the symptoms of NI are noticed, some kittens may be saved by a transfusion of RBCs from the queen. Since the queen's blood contains anti-A antibodies, the RBCs must be thoroughly washed with saline to remove these antibodies. The washed RBCs are given intraperitoneally (5 ml per kitten. Surviving kittens usually recover to full health but may develop necrosis of the tail tip at 2 weeks of age.

In the Devon Rex, British Shorthair, and Cornish Rex, nearly 25% of all matings are incompatible producing kittens at high risk for NI. If an incompatible mating is known to occur, NI can be prevented by removing the kittens at birth prior to nursing, and fostering them on a type A queen or hand-rearing on artificial milk for 2 days. These kittens should receive serum from a type A cat to provide immune protection (5 ml per kitten intraperitoneally). After 2 days, the kittens may be safely returned to the queen since anti-A antibodies in the milk can no longer be absorbed from the intestines.

Knowledge of the feline blood type is important when transfusing blood, diagnosing and treating NI in newborn kittens, and counseling breeders on selection of breeding cats. Only blood type-compatible breedings should be performed in breeds with a high frequency of blood type B. Breeders may even elect to eliminate type B queens from the breeding pool.

The Essentials

2007-03-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

We all start from somewhere at one point. In my case, cats have been a part of my life eversince and it was my choice to further explore my horizons. With very limited information about cats, I found myself confuse with all the terminologies. Books were not enough for me, I'd like to hear the facts from someone who has hands on experience. Lucky enough I found my mentors in the cat fancy. I think it's important to find someone that can take you under there tutelage and nurture you with priceless bits of advice.

I still have a lot to learn and cannot claim that I am a "breeder," all I know is I am a cat lover. But I try to learn from the "consummate breeders" that I met along the way (some of them even became my friends) and absorb the things they gladly share. My mentor once told me that "breeding" (be it cat, dogs, whatever) should be base on three important principles --- HEALTH, TYPE and TEMPERAMENT; and I try to abide with these goals.

With any breeding, I think HEALTH is a priority and should not be compromise at all cost. Breeding cats should be thoroughly vet checked, screened for genetic diseases and vaccinations should be updated regularly. We don't want to use sickly cats in a breeding program. Same with TYPE, inferior specimens should never to be bred (we do not want inferior offspring, right?). One has to know the "breed standard" to know the breed type and this cannot be neglected, period! Some breeders acquire the eye for type early in there career, but some needed years of experience and the help of others to find the right cat. TEMPERAMENT is also essential, a bad disposition is considered a genetic flaw and this can be passed down from one generation to another. Nobody wants an unpleasant cat or one with an unpleasant nature.

With any breeding program, a breeder should aim for perfection (or somehow close to it). It's not easy and there will be a series of highs and lows. But somehow all the hard work and perseverance is compensated when we see the ribbons and rossettes. It's an absolute satisfaction!

That Queer Looking Cat

2007-03-09T22:46:00.000-08:00

My addiction to cats is what led me to Devon Rex. I have this strange affinity towards "queer looking" things and creatures (I myself am odd at times). It was but ordinary to get knocked off by the "Devon Bug." I then started my research about this breed by reading some of the information available online and inquiring from exhibitors and breeders. It was also lucky having met, Ms. Debbie Van Patten (of Pattnchat Devon Rex) and her husband, Mr. Eric at a local cat show. They later became my mentors; carefully guiding and supporting my desire to show/ breed this lovely cats. Pattnchat Cattery is known throughout the continental US and Europe; having produce some of the best devons in the country. The pedigree behind there lines are exquisite; comprised with different titles such as Grand Champion, Grand Premiers, Regional and National Breed Winners.

I started my love affair with devons by showing in premiership at first, GC PR RW Pattnchat Sweetums of Karastan. She's our dainty Tortie and White Devon that captured the hearts of CFA Judges and fellow cat fanciers. She is a darling, enjoys traveling and strutting herself in the ring; she's also one of our most cherished pets. She later retired adding a Premier title to her name. About late 2006, we then decided to acquire our breeding cats. We were blessed having been gifted two adorable elfins --- Pattnchat Cuddle Bug of Karastan (Red McTabby) and Pattnchat Poke-A-Dot of Karastan (Brown Patch Tabby & White). Cuddle Bug carries agouti gene that would add vibrant tabby's in our program. Poka on the other hand would help develop our bicolor class. These two cats are carefully linebred to bring out there bloodlines best attributes. From the head, body, coat and even the ear jugs that gives these cats the elfin expression.

These cats have been carefully handpicked for us by our good friends at Pattnchat Cattery, I am forever grateful for there kindness, generosity, acceptance, friendship and mentorship. I hope to make you proud one day!

Terminus

2007-03-07T17:46:00.000-08:00

My good friend (Rino Paez) gave me this idea just last night. This was actually inspired by his blog called, The Silver Bengal Project. This site would serve as my diary, as I venture and explore the world of Devon Rex. There really is so much to learn about this lovely breed. From corformation/ standard, temperament, genetics, breeding, blood typing, common diseases, etc. ; the list can go on and on. Unfortunately, there's a shortage of available information about this breed. The web only offers a short introduction and there isn't a lot of written materials out in book stores or even in libraries. Due to this insufficiency, I'd always find myself baffled and athirst for any bit of facts I could find about the Devon Rex. And this blog would be my medium to share the lore to fellow ailurophiles who share my passion.