Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a hereditary condition particularly common in Persian cats, causing progressive cyst formation in the kidneys that eventually leads to renal failure.
PKD causes progressive kidney destruction over years, with welfare impacts accumulating as renal function declines. In early and middle stages, cats may show minimal signs while significant kidney damage accumulates. As the disease progresses, cats experience the full welfare burden of chronic kidney disease — nausea, dehydration, reduced appetite, lethargy, and eventually uremic illness. The hereditary nature of PKD represents an important welfare issue in Persian breeding — the condition is entirely preventable through genetic testing and exclusion of affected cats from breeding programs. Despite the availability of accurate DNA testing, the prevalence remains high in Persian populations, indicating inadequate implementation of prevention. Breeders who test and breed only PKD-negative cats make a significant welfare contribution by preventing future suffering in their breed lines.