Identify specific thoracic deformities
FCK occurs sporadically in all breeds of cats including domestic short hairs, and is therefore of concern to every breed and breeder in the cat fancy. It can affect kittens without warning, from parents who have shown no sign or indication of producing kittens with the problem, and from repeat matings that have previously produced only healthy kittens. It can affect only one kitten, or it may affect whole litters; kittens may recover or they may die. There are few references to this condition in the veterinary literature; as a result veterinary professionals do not always recognise the condition, and breeders sometimes have to find out about it by themselves when they discover they have a kitten that they think is affected.
The condition is often confused with pectus excavatum (an inverted sternum), also known as funnel chest. Flat chested kittens sometimes have pectus excavatum as well, but it is a different condition although the two may be related. Other thoracic deformities are also reported in kittens and sometimes accompany a flat chest. They can also appear independently. One of the objectives of the group will be to clearly identify and define each known thoracic condition in kittens.
Educate breeders and the veterinary profession
An important part of any research group is the ability to bring together existing knowledge and new information so that it can be used to inform the public and the veterinary profession. A clear and precise description (phenotyping) of thoracic conditions that may affect kittens is essential in order to develop effective research projects and helping breeders and vets to understand the thoracic diseases that affect kittens. One of our primary objectives is to contact all veterinary surgeries in the UK, and eventually much further afield, with a data sheet describing thoracic deformities, and inviting the profession to participate in returning data to our research team that will allow new conditions to be identified, breed prevalences to be established and effective methods of management developed.
Fund multi-disciplinary approaches to the problems
All this is going to cost money, and our medium-term goal is to establish a post-doctoral research post at a University Veterinary School to look for underlying causes of FCKS and other thoracic deformities. At this stage it is essential that we keep an open mind and take a broad view as to potential causes. This will require and initial phase of information gathering that will embrace all the possible causes: genetic, environmental, physical, dietary etc. and must include both healthy and FCK litters. By keeping an open mind, we increase our chances of success.
Treat and prevent conditions with knowledge gained through research
For every breeder who has suffered the loss of kittens with a thoracic deformity, their most urgent wish is that a treatment may be found to help kitten that develop this condition. If we know more, we should be able to treat kittens, but more importantly we hope to be able to prevent the condition from developing by identifying causes and risk factors including any underlying genetic influences. If breeders and vets are better informed, they will be able to identify the condition earlier, thus improving the chances of success for any treatment
Many breeders have been gathering data for several years, and by sharing information
about the progress of kittens with flat chests, have tried many ways of supporting affected kittens.
Although some treatment regimes have been successful, these are largely unknown, and sadly many
kittens still die of flat chests and related problems.
Because of the huge cost of funding a research post, the THINK group understands that there are no quick solutions. We have to raise at least £300,000 and we recognise that this cannot all come from the general public. We need to establish a body of data, inform all those who come in contact with kittens, before approaching major funding bodies with a well-devised plan of research. All this will take time and money, and this is where you can help. Become a Friend or Sponsor (Sponsors will be listed on our website) of THINK today, and be part of something that may one day save the lives of your kittens.
Become a Friend for a year: £5 or a Sponsor for a year (with web listing): £100
Please send membership fees and donations to:
THINK Treasurer, The Cottage Cattery, Stapleford Road, Whissendine, Oakham, Rutland LE15 7HF
Please make cheques payable to: THINK project
Email: think.project@gmail.com
Fees/Donations may also be sent via a PayPal account linked to the address above.
Please send completed questionnaires (available on this site shortly) to:
THINK Research Collator, Royal Oak Cottage, 6 High Rd, Seddington, SG19 1NZ
You may download the information in a printable version here