Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common inherited condition in cats, particularly Persians, where fluid-filled cysts progressively destroy kidney tissue, leading to chronic kidney disease.
PKD is a particularly significant welfare concern because it is entirely preventable through responsible breeding. Every affected cat inherits the disease from a carrier parent, and a simple, inexpensive DNA test can identify carriers before they are bred. Despite this, large proportions of Persians and related breeds remain affected globally. Cats with PKD experience the same slow, uncomfortable deterioration as cats with other forms of chronic kidney disease - nausea, lethargy, eventual uremic poisoning - but their suffering is entirely a product of breeder choices rather than natural disease. The ethical obligation to test and not breed carriers is clear.