Burmese Stud List

Advice to Owners of Queens

The Burmese Cat Club accepts entries for this Stud List only from stud owners who have signed the declaration (see below).

Nevertheless, if you are the owner of a queen you should not take your queen to any stud unless you are allowed freely to see the stud, his quarters and the queen’s quarters and the heating arrangements.

Equally it is your responsibility to send your queen to a stud only when she is in excellent health.  Also check that she is free of fleas and ear mites.  It is most unfair to ask a stud owner to risk the health of the stud and possibly that of the queen that follows yours.

If your queen has been on any form of contraception pill or injection you should NOT get the queen mated until after she has had at least one complete call.

Make sure that you have completed the transfer of registration for your queen and that she is registered on the Active Register before making arrangements to go to stud.  Queens on the Non Active Register will not be accepted into stud.

Declaration

I declare that I am the Registered Owner and agree:

  1. That my stud must be on the GCCF Active Register
  2. That all queens accepted must be on the GCCF Active Register only
  3. My stud(s) will not be “free range”
  4. To advise owners of queens on the care of queen and kittens and to assist with the identification of kitten colours if necessary
  5. To stress the importance of and give advice on registration of progeny
  6. To my stud and quarters being inspected at any reasonable time by a member of the Burmese Cat Club Committee or someone authorised by them

I declare that to the best of my knowledge my stud is not affected by the gene for Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy. I will advise the Burmese Cat Club Committee without delay if my stud sires, in the future, any verified cases of Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy.

GCCF Requirements

All studs must have a Certificate of Entirety. This must be deposited with the GCCF prior to the registration of the stud’s first litter of kittens. When a litter is registered the application to register must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of mating unless the person registering the kitten(s) is also the owner of the sire. A certificate of mating must state the registered name, breed name and registration number of the sire, together with the registered name, breed name and registration number of the dam and the dates of the mating and must be signed by the registered owner of the sire.

Check List for Owners of Studs and Queens

Owners of studs and queens are reminded of the many responsibilities resting upon them when arranging a mating.  Some of these are discussed elsewhere in the Stud List in “Advice to Owners of Queens” and in the genetic notes but it was felt that an easy to use checklist would be useful at one or more of the many discussions, which are inevitable between both parties.  A personal meeting of both owners is most desirable, even essential.

Owner of Stud

Owner of Queen

Guidelines for Inspection of Stud Quarters

The general impression should be of a contended stud in quarters that are hygienic and comfortable, suggesting good management on the part of the stud owner. There should be evidence of attention to the social needs of both stud and queen and commitment to the requirements of stud work.

Stud House  
This should be large enough to accommodate the stud at all times. Recommended minimum size is 6’ x 6’ x 6’ (1.8m x 1.8m x 1.8m) but preferably larger, with good ventilation and window space.  Walls and roof of the house should be lined and insulated. Inside walls should be covered with paint or PVC. Floors should be covered with impervious material, which should extend some way up the walls. Doors into the house should be large enough to allow easy access. A stable type door is desirable. Shelves and ledges  (of which there should be several) should be finished in easily cleaned material.

Queen’s Quarters  
This should be separate accommodation incorporating sleeping area, litter tray and sufficient space for feeding and stretching. There should be easy access to the stud quarters but allow access to the queen without molestation by the stud. It can be a partitioned area of the stud house or it can be constructed as a small box type pen within the main house; this must have secure fastening and a solid wall around the sleeping compartment to allow the queen privacy. The size of the queen’s apartment should not be less than 6’ x 2’ x 2’ (1.8m x 0.6m x 0.6m) and should be well ventilated.

Outside Run  
This should be large enough to provide scope for exercise – recommended minimum size is 6’ x 6’ x 6’ (1.8m x 1.8m x 1.8m) – with shelves situated at various aspects.  It should be constructed from strong supports covered with a wire frame with no wire ends protruding into the run. There should be no gaps in or under the wire from which a cat could escape. The base of the run should be constructed from concrete, paving slabs or similar, allowing easy cleaning and disinfecting. The safety run should be incorporated into the main run and have a secure inner door and lockable outer door.

Heating and Lighting  
Electricity should be used for heating and lighting with all wires concealed or protected and plug sockets out of range of a spraying tom. There should be adequate illumination to allow management of the stud and visiting queens after dark.

Premises that are recorded as differing in any respect from the guidelines (e.g. size of stud house, queen’s quarters/safety arrangements) are marked “Premises do not conform totally to BCC guidelines.  Further details should be obtained from the stud owner.”

Feline Leukaemia

Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) infection, which can result in leukaemia, lymphoma and other fatal diseases was a serious problem in pedigree cats until the policy of testing studs and queens for the virus was introduced. Even before showing any symptoms themselves, FeLV positive cats can infect other cats by contact with body fluids such as saliva and blood. The infection can also be passed from a queen to her kittens.

Although cats may suffer only a transient infection there is no cure for persistent FeLV infection, which is diagnosed by a blood test carried out by veterinary surgeons.

There are now several FeLV vaccines licensed for use in the UK. Although these should be useful in reducing the incidence of infection none has proved to be totally effective under laboratory conditions. A certificate of vaccination should not be accepted as a substitute for blood testing of queens and studs, although vaccination may reduce the need to test whole households of cats.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), which causes the feline equivalent of AIDS, is another major viral pathogen of cats. Transmission of FIV appears to occur mainly by biting and theoretically could happen during mating. FIV infected cats may appear well for years before developing symptoms. FIV infection can be diagnosed by a blood test, performed at the same time as the FeLV test.

A breeder must be prepared to show the stud owner the appropriate test certificate(s) and is advised to enquire about the acceptability of these certificates when making stud arrangements.

The committee of the Burmese Cat Club wishes to point out that entry to the Stud List does not provide any guarantee that the stud is FeLV/FIV negative and breeders are advised to make their own enquiries by asking to see a test certificate for the stud.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus Testing

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal viral disease that remains a particular problem in pedigree cats. It is caused by certain strains of feline corona virus. Routine blood testing for corona virus antibodies is not generally recommended by veterinary surgeons because it is unable to distinguish between FIP – causing corona virus and less pathogenic strains, which may cause diarrhoea or no symptoms at all; fewer than 10% of antibody-positive cats go on to develop FIP. If it is known that a cat or household of cats has a corona virus infection (which often occurs only when a kitten that a breeder has sold develops FIP), the breeder must be aware that FIP could occur in subsequent litters of kittens unless special precautions are taken. It is safest to breed only from cats with a corona virus antibody titre of 0, but the viruses are so prevalent in the pedigree cat population that this may not always be possible. Owners of studs whose households are corona virus free may therefore wish to see the result of a corona virus antibody test before admitting a queen for mating and owners of queens may request test results for the stud.

Remember on no account is a titre reading alone enough evidence to put cat to sleep.

Protecting Against Viruses

Regular vaccination of studs and queens against feline infectious enteritis (FIE) and cat flu (FVR & FCV) is also important. In general problems with infectious diseases can be minimised by the provision of clean quarters with good air circulation, reduction of overcrowding and separation of litters of different ages.

Initial Action for the Control of Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy

1. Introduction

Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy – a deficiency of potassium in the blood – is a serious disease of certain Burmese cats. Symptoms appear some months after birth, often only after kittens have gone to their new owners. The condition can be identified by characteristic symptoms of muscular weakness and confirmed by a blood test. Although feeding potassium supplements can treat the symptoms, the treatment is not fully effective and there is no known cure.

Expert opinion from the University of Bristol Veterinary School is that the condition is hereditary and in all reasonable probability caused by a recessive gene. The advice given by the School to the Club is that

At present these cats can only be identified by the results of mating; if a litter contains a hypokalaemic kitten or kittens, then both sire and dam are proved to carry the gene.

The data collection exercise undertaken by the Club has identified the existence of affected lines and also apparently “clear: lines of descendants from suspect cats.

According to the principles of recessivity there is an expectation that 50% of the off spring of a carrier will be carriers themselves and that 50% of their off spring will be carriers. Any kittens that come from other litters involving either of these parents have a reasonably high chance of being carriers and any unaffected littermate of a hypokalaemic kitten has a 66% chance of being a carrier. In this way the gene travels down the generations. Furthermore the apparently “clear” lines will almost certainly contain a percentage of cats carrying the recessive factor.

2. Action

THE BCC STUD LIST

It is acknowledged that some stud owners do not place their cats at public stud and will not wish to be included in the Club’s Stud List, but those who do are required to complete a declaration when they apply for entry.

The Committee reserves the right to delete from the Stud List the details of any stud having sired a verified case of Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy, if such action has not already been required by the stud owner.

THE BCC KITTEN LISTS

Before being eligible for acceptance on any of the Club’s Kitten Lists, breeders are already required to sign a declaration regarding the health of their kittens (see below).

If hypokalaemic polymyopathy becomes apparent whilst the kittens are under the age of 13 weeks breeders are asked to contact the Hon Secretary (who will initiate the verification process) and their Regional Adviser/Kitten List compiler. The Club will offer advice and support on the management and homing of such kittens.

Declaration:

I undertake to abide by the recommendations of the Burmese Cat Club and sell only registered kittens (registered individually with the GCCF), which are fit, healthy and house trained. I will not allow them to go to their new homes before 13 weeks of age and at least 7 days after completion of a full course of vaccination for FIE, FVR and FCV (cat flu) including a health check given by a veterinary surgeon or by a listed veterinary nurse under the direction of a veterinary surgeon.  In the event of a problem (e.g. Hypokalaemic Polymyopathy) developing after a kitten has gone to its new home I will offer appropriate support to the owner in accordance with the advice from the Burmese Cat Club.

In the case of kittens affected by hypokalaemic polymyopathy after they have gone to their new homes, breeders are asked to ensure that the owners receive whatever information is currently available from the Club; to draw the attention of their veterinary surgeons to the briefing notes prepared by Dr Tim Gruffydd-Jones and to suggest that they contact the University of Bristol Veterinary School before confirming a diagnosis. It is hoped that this will prevent unnecessary testing and stress and encourage liaison with Bristol.

3. Verification Process

Cases of suspected hypokalaemic polymyopathy should be notified in writing to the Hon Secretary who will request, by means of a standard letter, the submission of documentary evidence in support of the allegation (e.g. pedigree of parents, mating certificate, blood test results/veterinary documentation). This information will be presented for verification to a sub-committee appointed by the main committee of the club. The Hon Secretary will confirm completion of the verification process to the owner/breeder of the cat/kitten, and to the stud owner, who will have an automatic right of appeal, through the Hon Secretary, to the main committee. Upon verification of a case the members concerned will be expected to act upon the Stud List and Kitten List requirements detailed above.

4. Education and Future Developments

This note has been prepared in consultation with the University of Bristol Veterinary School and will be subject to regular review in the light of further developments. It is hoped that, in time, a test will be developed to determine carriers, but in the meantime the Club will continue to seek, and act upon, advice from Bristol and to inform members of any new developments at the earliest opportunity via the BCC news and, if appropriate, by means of a seminar.

5. Registration Controls

At present the GCCF Veterinary Sub Committee is reluctant to recommend registration controls due to the difficulty of providing carrier status. (The diagnosis of hypokalaemic polymyopathy in some cases may be made on the basis of individual veterinary opinions, which, in private practice and without the benefit of a standard test, may differ.)

When carrier status can be determined satisfactorily the Club will consider seeking GCCF approval, through the offices of the Burmese Joint Consultative Committee, for an amendment to the Registration Policy