Howdy! Cat question: Since we are hunkered down and our remodel is done enough,

[wiggs]

we are meeting some foster kittens tomorrow (carefully). Hasn't been easy to find, since none of the outlets such as Petco have cats anymore...they are all placed in foster homes and you have to be persistent to contact people who have contacts. However we seem to have met the right person who knows where 9 are placed. All shorthair tabbies (our preference). There are 5 male 1-year olds (all orange, also nice), but we are just meeting the 4 6-month olds tomorrow (prefer kittens). All have been checked, neutered, shots, all good. We want to get two, siblings or bonded.

Here's the question: Do we need to be wary/avoid kittens that are products of siblings mating? the 6-month olds we see Saturday are kittens from the 1-year olds. The foster rep believes they are happy and in good health and that it happens all the time without consequence and if there are genetic problems they probably would have shown up already.

In talking with a local vet it seems probable there won't be issues, but apparently if unlucky there can be problems down the road. Don't know what the percentages are.

If non-pedigree siblings mate, does anyone know if it RARELY results in problems or if it's COMMON to have problems?

[Kali]

1. Depends on how many generations it's been going on

line breeding is actually a technique for purebred animals so I wouldn't worry about it

[wiggs]

4. Thanks! nt

[Aquaria]

2. Depends on what you're willing to take on

Inbred cats are more susceptible to health problems like kidney disease, cancer and bone/joint problems like luxating patella that cause limps or arthritis. These issues are more of a problem with pedigreed cats, but the same problems could arise with normal cats.

You can adopt if you're willing to risk the health problems that have a high probability of showing up, eventually. They could be expensive down the road, but goodness knows every cat deserves a good home, especially ones like you're describing. Just understand what you might be getting into, up front, and make your choice from there.

I would be reluctant to take that on, but that's me.

[wiggs]

5. Thank you for the info...I know if we meet them the decision will be over, because they will need

a place to be and what kittens don't win you over?

You say high probability...do you think it's more likely than not? I had read it's rare that non-pedigrees have issues. Do you have some experience with this?

[Aquaria]

7. My next door neighbor is a kitty foster

And she’s had a few non-pedigrees who have had some of the problems from inbreeding, especially if they have a recent pedigreed ancestor.

Not a lot, but a few. That’s often why she has them. Some people get a cheap 1/2 pedigree cat and then the expensive health issues start showing up causing them to abandon the cat.

My son had a Siamese mix that the vet suspected of being a recent descendant of an inbred pedigreed cat, because she had the luxating patella and chronic kidney problems. She recently died of kidney failure, and at a far younger age than most indoors cats—7 or so. My Annie was at least 22 years old when her kidneys finally gave out.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. It's not likely to be a problem; cats don't care about such things

so it happens often and everybody is fine.

I do remember hearing from a friend about a neighbor's farm that had a clowder of barn cats ruled over by a tough old tom. After some years and a number of generations in which no cat from outside the clowder was allowed to date any of its ladies, there were fewer and fewer kittens and the ones that did survive weren't quite right. They said it was a cat version of "Deliverance."

But in the case of shelter cats it's very unlikely that there have been generations of inbreeding. Your kitties will be fine.

[wiggs]

6. Thanks! Hope so nt

[wiggs]

8. Huge problem! We are test driving four 6 month olds...all siblings. Two male orange, two females

one gray tabby, one brown. All gorgeous, all potentially great cats. They are in foster homes, along with many other cats. We've had them a day and a half and they are just starting to be themselves and interact. A couple are making strong cases but all are lovely.

We only want two. We like all four.

[tblue37]

9. I have four cats. It's doable. nt

[irisblue]

10. I have had 4

The biggest issue was when 3 of the kittens climbed the bedroom drapes to get a "sky raisen"
(House fly, spicy house fly=bee)

[tblue37]

11. Bees are jalapeno sky raisins. nt