Are inbred kittens bad or are there many defects?

Answer 1

Inbred kittens tend to be smaller in size and can have health and genetic problems. I have 3 kittens that were part of a litter I was fostering for the animal shelter. All 3 cats are fully grown, but are about the size of a 3 month old kitten. One of them was born blind. Newsroom

Fact SheetsAnimal Shelter EuthanasiaNational euthanasia statistics are difficult to pinpoint because animal care and control agencies are not uniformly required to keep statistics on the number of animals taken in, adopted, euthanized, or reclaimed. While many shelters know the value of keeping statistics, no national reporting structure exists to make compiling national statistics on these figures possible.

However, American Humane is one of the founding members of the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy. The mission of the National Council is to gather and analyze reliable data that further characterize the number, origin, and disposition of pets (dogs and cats) in the United States; to promote responsible stewardship of these companion animals; and based on the data gathered, to recommend programs to reduce the number of surplus/unwanted pets in the United States. The most recent statistics that the Council has published are from 1997, however only 1,000 shelters replied to the survey.

Using the National Council's numbers from 1997 and estimating the number of operating shelters in the United States to be 3,500 (the exact number of animal shelters operating in the United States does not exist), here are the statistics:

• Of the 1,000 shelters that replied to the National Council's survey, 4.3 million animals were handled.
• In 1997 roughly 64% of the total number of animals that entered shelters were euthanized -- approximately 2.7 million animals in just these 1,000 shelters.These animals may have been put down due to overcrowding, but may have been sick, aggressive, injured, or suffered something else.
• 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification.
• Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners.
• 25% of dogs and 24% of cats that enter animal shelters are adopted.

It is from these numbers that we estimated what is occurring nationwide. It is widely accepted that 9.6 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States.

For more information on the studies done by the National Council, please visit www.petpopulation.org.

Practical solutions for reducing euthanasia numbers

American Humane believes that all dogs and cats adopted from public or private animal care and control agencies must be sterilized before being allowed to leave the shelter and supports passage of state laws mandating this practice.

American Humane supports the establishment and operation of low-cost spay/neuter clinics. The reduction in cost motivates those who cannot and those who will not pay the full cost for the operation and has proven successful in reducing euthanasia rates in communities across the nation.

American Humane believes the percentage of animals reunited with their owners would greatly increase if more pets were properly identified.

• Be sure your pet wears an identification tag, rabies license, and city license. Include your name, address, phone number, and pet's name.
• Keep licenses current as they help shelters locate pet owners. If you are willing to pay a reward, put it on the tag.
• When moving, put a temporary tag on your pet. Include a phone number of someone who will know how to reach you.
• Don't assume that your indoor pet doesn't need tags. Many strays in shelters are indoor pets that escaped.
• Purchase special cat collars with elastic bands to protect your cat from being caught in trees or on fences.
• In addition to ID tags, consider getting your pet tattooed or microchipped.

AnswerI had a cat whose brother impregnated her, all of the kittens died within a week of being born. Defects are common and the mortality rate is low for the kittens. AnswerThe above statement is misleading, yes there is chance that there could be defects and I would strongly suggest NOT breeding a sister to a brother because the chances of defects and I quote "MAY" be higher because the genes are so closely related {especially if there is a history of genetic problems in the bloodlines} . but that does not mean that the Kittens will be doomed to die.. It is possible to have perfectly healthy kittens as a result.... As long as the mother is properly cared for and has no health problems herself.... I myself cared for a female cat in the same position and she gave birth to 5 perfectly healthy kittens who all lived to be at least 13yrs or so years... a couple of them lived to be about 18 yrs old... They were all given to friends and family so I had contact with the owners on a regular basis.....

Answer 2

Inbred kittens can have higher risks of genetic defects and health issues due to the limited gene pool. It is generally advisable to avoid breeding closely related cats to prevent these problems. If you suspect a kitten is inbred, consult a veterinarian for a thorough evaluation and advice on how to manage any potential health issues.