{"id":15517,"date":"2019-06-19T17:19:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T17:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/?page_id=15517"},"modified":"2025-09-30T19:11:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T19:11:15","slug":"cat-genetics-4-0-evolution-breeds-breeding-strategies-and-inbreeding","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/cat-genetics-4-0-evolution-breeds-breeding-strategies-and-inbreeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat Genetics 4.0: Evolution, Breeds, Breeding Strategies and Inbreeding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cat Genetics 4.0: Evolution, Breeds, Breeding Strategies and Inbreeding<\/h1>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

The Evolution, Domestication and Breeds of Cats<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/a>The cat is a multiparous carnivore, an ambush predator, represented by 37 species grouped into 8 families. The domestic cat (Felis catus<\/em><\/strong>) has a genome composed of 2.4 billion bases, organized into 19 pairs of nuclear chromosomes plus 1 mitochondrial chromosome.<\/p>\r\n

The modern domestic cat (Felis silvestris lybica<\/em><\/strong>) is a descendant and subspecies of the middle eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris<\/em><\/strong>).\u00a0 The domestication of the cat is a bit surprising: contrary to the majority of domestic animals, cats (with the exception of lions) do not have a well-developed social structure and are solitary animals rather than herd animals.\u00a0 There are five sub species of Felis silvestris,<\/em> and only Felis<\/em> silvestris lybica<\/em> has contributed to the genetics of the modern domestic cat.\u00a0 The current hypothesis is that about 9,000 years ago, wild cats living in what is now modern Turkey as well as in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East became accustomed to living in proximity to the first agricultural villages.\u00a0 A commensal relationship was established between semi-wild (or semi-domestic) cats and farmers. Grain stores represented a source of nutrition for mice, and since cats are natural predators of small rodents, these mice were a source of nutrition for cats.\u00a0 It is quite probable that numerous domestication events occurred for cats, involving numerous individual animals.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Other independent events aided the domestication of cats: being considered gods in ancient Egypt (around 3,000 years ago) could only have been a plus.\u00a0 The newly domesticated cat would have followed humans in their ancient migrations and trading routes.\u00a0 Maritime trade would have helped in the global dispersal of the domestic cat, which was again useful for rodent control onboard sailing ships.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Modern Domestic Cat<\/h3>\r\n

Contrary to the situation seen for dogs and other domesticated animals, the process of domestication of the cat has not really modified the modern cat compared to its wild ancestors. \u00a0Thus, the morphology, physiology and behavior of the modern domestic cat are comparable to their wild cat cousins: they are first and foremost predators of small rodents.\u00a0 The modern domestic cat can fairly easily take care of itself if conditions require it to do so, which explains the feral (semi-wild) populations of cats often associated with urban centers.\u00a0 It also explains why the cat deserves the title of the least domesticated (or most independent) of our domesticated animals.<\/p>\r\n

Purebred Cat Breeds<\/h3>\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Natural breeds of the domestic cat developed locally and regionally, through more or less natural selection and reproduction.\u00a0 \u00a0In 1871 in England, only 5 cat breeds were recognized, and our modern purebred cat breeds were developed only over the last 50 to 75 years.\u00a0 Today, the CFA<\/a> (Cat Fanciers Association) recognizes 41 breeds of cats while the le TICA <\/a>(The International Cat Association) recognizes 57 breeds of cats.\u00a0 This compares to the 400 plus breeds of dog recognized throughout the world today.<\/p>\r\n

Defining a Purebred Cat<\/h3>\r\n

Generally speaking, the modern domestic cat (alley cat, if you like) is not the descendant of a cat with a pedigree and has the advantage of an open and equilibrated genetic heritage.\u00a0 Often a purebred cat breed is derived from the genetics of the domestic cat.\u00a0 It is a different situation with the modern dog. \u00a0At least in western societies, a mixed breed, crossbred or mongrel dog most assuredly has the genetics of a purebred dog somewhere in its ancestry.\u00a0 The definition of breeds in cats is often made based on simple genetic traits like colour and fur type, and not on the more sophisticated genetics of behavioral or production traits.\u00a0 Cat breeders often talk about \u201cpedigreed\u201d cat breeds rather than \u201cpurebred\u201d cat breeds.\u00a0 Often a new cat \u201cbreed\u201d is simply a colour or hair variation placed onto the genetics of an existing breed.\u00a0 If the new breed has a small population size and is excluded from the genetics of the parent breed, this can impose inbreeding problems.\u00a0 Genetic barriers for cats that are artificial (but nonetheless real), such as closed pedigree books, can be less strict or just as strict as what is seen for dogs.\u00a0 Thus, the same breeding strategies and inbreeding concerns seen for the dog are relevant to cat breeders (see section on inbreeding<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n

Hybrid Cats<\/h3>\r\n

The definition of \u201chybrid\u201d for cats is different from that for dogs. These days, a hybrid dog refers to the result of a cross between two dog breeds<\/strong>. For example, the Labradoodle is the result of a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle. However, a hybrid cat is the result of an original cross between two species<\/strong> of feline. For example, the Bengal cat is the result of an original cross between a domestic cat (of the Ocicat breed) and a cat of the Asian Leopard Cat species.\u00a0 Similarly, the Savannah cat is the result of an original cross between a domestic cat (of the Siamese breed) and a Serval cat, and the Chausie cat is the result of an original cross between a domestic cat (Abyssinian breed) and a Chaus or Jungle cat.\u00a0 Crosses between species of felines are potentially possible because most cat families have the same number (19) pairs of chromosomes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\r\n

Breeding Strategies<\/h3>\r\n

Several breeding strategies are available to the cat breeder, including:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Inbreeding <\/strong>– involves breeding of animals that are members of the same family, with common ancestors on both paternal and maternal sides of the pedigree.\u00a0 This will maintain (fix) the desired phenotypes in the offspring but at the same time will reduce the genetic variation found within the offspring. Inbreeding will increase the inbreeding coefficient<\/a> of the offspring compared to the parents.\u00a0 Another name for inbreeding is an incestuous breeding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Line breeding<\/strong> – involves breeding of animals that are members of the same breed and show similar traits but come from different lines (pedigrees).\u00a0 Thus, there is no (or very little) common ancestry.\u00a0 This is a compromise between obtaining the desired traits for the breed while still maintaining an equilibrated genetic base within the offspring.\u00a0 The coefficient of inbreeding of the offspring will be maintained at about the same level as the parents. \u00a0Not all cat breeds have the sufficient numbers of animals to support line breeding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Outbreeding <\/strong>– involves the breeding of animals of the same or similar breeds, from completely different lines where traits are not necessarily similar.\u00a0 There are no ancestors in common.\u00a0 The desired physical traits are not necessarily maintained in the offspring.\u00a0 The genetic variation of the offspring is increased compared to that of the parents, thus reducing its inbreeding coefficient.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Crossbreeding <\/strong>– involves the breeding of animals of two different breeds; there are no ancestors in common.\u00a0 Neither the type of the paternal parent nor the type of the maternal parent is maintained in the offspring.\u00a0 The genetic variation of the offspring is increased compared to that of the parents, and its coefficient of inbreeding is reduced. \r\n\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\r\n

Pedigrees<\/h3>\r\n

\"\"<\/a>Pedigrees are the official record of the parentage and thus the ancestry of an animal.\u00a0 They are an integral part of the official record keeping required by a breed club to register new animals.\u00a0 Pedigrees are also a valuable resource for the genetics of an animal, whereby the genetic contribution of a particular ancestor can be estimated and the genetic relatedness of two individuals can be determined.\u00a0 As we will see, the pedigree is also used for determining inbreeding estimates for animals.<\/p>\r\n

Pedigrees are organized like the branches of a tree.\u00a0 In the standard format, the paternal contribution is presented above and the maternal contribution is presented below for the animal (offspring) in question.\u00a0 With each generation, the genetic contribution of a particular ancestor is divided by two.\u00a0 Thus, an animal (offspring) has 2 parents each of whom contributed 50% to the genetic constitution of their offspring and 4 grandparents each of whom contributed 25% to the genetic constitution of the offspring, and so on.<\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Inbreeding<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When two animals that share common ancestors are bred together, a condition of inbreeding exists in the offspring.\u00a0 This inbreeding has two consequences for the phenotype of the offspring:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \r\n
  1. Increased uniformity of \u201ctype\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0(i.e. phenotype) within the offspring, with increased \u201cprepotency\u201d, i.e. the ability of parents to transmit or fix a phenotype in the next generation. This uniformity of type is desirable to breeders.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Inbreeding depression<\/strong>, which includes a reduction of vitality, reduced weight, reduced fertility, reduced rate of growth; increase rates of congenital anomalies, increased mortality, increased rates of recessive genetic diseases; a shortened life span.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>At the level of the genome, inbreeding has the effect of increasing the percentage of homozygous genetic alleles (N\/N, M\/M<\/strong>) and reducing the percentage of heterozygous genetic alleles (M\/N<\/strong>, carriers).\u00a0 Mutations that are recessive will accumulate in the homozygous state (M\/M<\/strong>), thus increasing the frequency of recessive genetic disease, which contributes to the deleterious effects of inbreeding depression.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Stated simply, Mother Nature does not like uniformity, neither in phenotypes nor in genotypes.\u00a0 She much prefers variations, diversity, differences.<\/p>\r\n

    Our modern purebred cat breeds are pretty much by definition, inbred groups of animals. The limited number of foundation animals for a purebred breed, closed pedigree books for the breed and the tendency to use only a fraction of animals within a breed as parents for the next generation (champion cat effect, popular stud effect) all contribute to the reality that our purebred cat breeds represent inbred populations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The Coefficient of Relation (a)\u00a0and the\u00a0Coefficient of Inbreeding\u00a0(COI)<\/h3>\r\n

    In 1921-22, Sewall Wright, an American mathematician and geneticist, defined two mathematical values based on a given genetic pedigree: the\u00a0Coefficient of Relation (a)<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0Coefficient of inbreeding<\/strong>\u00a0(COI<\/strong>, inbreeding coefficient or sometimes simply \u201cF<\/strong>\u201d).\u00a0 These two values are useful for the art and science of domestic animal breeding.\u00a0 Neither of these values represents specific DNA or genes of an animal.\u00a0 They are abstract values, calculated on the assumption that all of our genes follow simple mendelian genetics with dominant and recessive alleles (versions).\u00a0 This assumption is of course simplistic.\u00a0 In spite of this reality, the Coefficient of Relation and the Coefficient of Inbreeding have proven to be useful measures with practical applications for animal and plant breeders.\u00a0 They allow an estimation of the genetic relationship between two animals and also an estimation of the genetic variation (or lack thereof) found within the genome of a particular animal.\u00a0 With these measures, breeders can estimate the risks of having undesirable health effects (inbreeding depression) in future generations due to a lack of genetic variation caused by too much inbreeding.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n

    The Coefficient of Relation (a)<\/strong> is an estimation of the quantity of DNA that is in common between two animals within a pedigree.\u00a0 The simplest formula representing the coefficient of relation is as follows:<\/p>\r\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

    Where:<\/p>\r\n

    a\u00a0= the Coefficient of Relation between two animals.<\/p>\r\n

    \u00bd = the genetic contribution of a parent towards its offspring.<\/p>\r\n

    n\u00a0<\/em>= the number of pathways (number of generations) that separate two animals within a pedigree.\u00a0 Stated differently,\u00a0n<\/em>\u00a0is the number of meiosis (cell division of sex cells) separating two animals. In other words, the number of times productive sex occurred between the ancestors (or descendants) of the two animals in question.<\/p>\r\n

    \u2211 = the sum of the calculations for all possible pathways linking the two individuals.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

    This equation is derived from the fact that we (and our cats) are diploid, and that we have received half of our DNA from our mother and the other half from our father.\u00a0 The DNA of our parents was divided in two (1\/2) within their germ cells, and then added together (1\/2 + 1\/2) during fertilization to generate the full double (diploid) genetic complement (100% or 1.0) needed to form us and make us function.\u00a0 If two animals are not genetically linked then their Coefficient of Relation is 0.\u00a0\u00a0 On the other hand, if two animals are linked within a pedigree, their Coefficient of Relation will be higher than 0 and can be calculated.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n

    <\/a>The Coefficient of Inbreeding<\/strong>\u00a0(COI<\/strong>, inbreeding coefficient, \u201cF<\/strong>\u201d) is an estimation of the loss of genetic variation for an individual animal, due to the fact of having a common ancestor on both the paternal side and the maternal side of its pedigree.\u00a0 The Coefficient of Inbreeding can be derived from the Coefficient of Relation by the following simple formula:<\/p>\r\n

    COI \u00a0= \u00a0(1\/2)\u00a0a \u00a0<\/em>= \u00a0(1\/2) <\/strong>n+1<\/sup><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    A more comprehensive presentation of the Coefficient of Inbreeding formula is as follows:<\/p>\r\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

    Where:<\/p>\r\n

    F\u00a0= the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) for the individual in question.<\/p>\r\n

    \u00bd = the genetic contribution of a parent towards its offspring.<\/p>\r\n

    n<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>= the number of pathways (number of generations) between a common ancestor and the individual in question.<\/p>\r\n

    +1 = an additional factor of (1\/2) is added to represent the anticipated loss of genetic diversity due to common ancestors on both maternal and paternal sides of the pedigree.<\/p>\r\n

    \u2211 = the sum of the calculations for each individual ancestor in common.<\/p>\r\n

    If the common ancestor has itself common ancestors, then the common ancestor will itself have a positive inbreeding coefficient value.\u00a0 The inbreeding coefficient for the animal in question is now multiplied by the following correction factor:<\/p>\r\n

    (1 + Fa)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    Where:<\/p>\r\n

    Fa = the Coefficient of Inbreeding for the ancestor in common.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

    For intrepid souls and mathematical masochists these formulas can get even more complex:\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

    http:\/\/www.genetic-genealogy.co.uk\/Toc115570144.html<\/a><\/u>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

    http:\/\/www.genetic-genealogy.co.uk\/Toc115570148.html<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\r\n

    Examples of Coefficients of Relation and Coefficient of Inbreeding<\/h3>\r\n

    Here are some examples of Coefficients of Relation (once again, the average amount of shared DNA) between two parents without common ancestors, as well as the Coefficient of Inbreeding (measurement of loss of genetic diversity) for their hypothetical offspring:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    Relationship<\/strong><\/td>\r\nCoefficient of Relation (a)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) <\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    of offspring<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    Parent – child<\/td>\r\n50%<\/td>\r\n25%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Brother – sister<\/td>\r\n50%<\/td>\r\n25%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Grandparent \u2013 grandchild<\/td>\r\n25%<\/td>\r\n12.5%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Uncle\/aunt \u2013 nephew\/niece<\/td>\r\n25%<\/td>\r\n12.5%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Half brother \u2013 half sister<\/td>\r\n25%<\/td>\r\n12.5%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Cousins<\/td>\r\n12.5%<\/td>\r\n6.25%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Half-cousins<\/td>\r\n6.25%<\/td>\r\n3.125%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Second cousins<\/td>\r\n3.13%<\/td>\r\n1.063%<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

    For example, a child shares 50% of its genes with its parent, and the Coefficient of Relation (a) between the parent and child is 50%.\u00a0 The child has a Coefficient of Inbreeding of 0.\u00a0 However, the offspring resulting from an incestuous relationship between a parent and their child, or between a brother and sister, will have a Coefficient of Inbreeding of 25%.\u00a0 This means that, on average, there will be a 25% loss of genetic variation (loss of M\/N) and an equivalent 25% gain in genetic uniformity (gain in N\/N, M\/M) at the level of the offspring\u2019s DNA.\u00a0 Breeding of close relatives (parent\/child, brother\/sister) is discouraged by progressive breed clubs.\u00a0 \u00a0In terms of human laws, marriages between cousins are generally permitted even if children resulting from such marriages will have a Coefficient of Inbreeding of 6.25%.<\/p>\r\n

    Inbreeding and the Loss of Genetic Diversity<\/h3>\r\n

    Once again, for a Coefficient of Inbreeding of 10%, this would mean that for genetic sites that are heterozygous (M\/N, carriers) in a common ancestor, there is a 10% chance that these sites will become homozygote (N\/N or M\/M) in the descendant.\u00a0 In other words, there is on average a 10% net loss of genetic diversity (or gain in genetic uniformity if you will) in the offspring due to matings involving inbreeding.\u00a0 A particular genetic site that has been converted from heterozygote (diversity) to homozygote (uniformity) in an offspring due to inbreeding is said to be\u00a0identical by descent<\/strong>\u00a0due to the common ancestor.<\/p>\r\n

    Pedigrees<\/h3>\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>How many generations of a pedigree should be considered when calculating the Coefficient of Inbreeding?\u00a0 The more generations that are available, the more reliable the calculation.\u00a0 Using a small number of generations tends to give coefficient values that are artificially low compared to values obtained when more generations are included.\u00a0 In practical terms, use all the pedigree information that is available.\u00a0 This could be as few as three generation or as many as all the generations in the pedigree going back to the founding animals for the breed.<\/p>\r\n

    Thanks to the goodwill of breeders and the power of the internet, a good number of cat pedigrees are available on web sites dedicated for pedigrees.\u00a0 An example of one such site for cat pedigrees is PawPeds (https:\/\/pawpeds.com\/<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n

    For a given animal, the known pedigree is presented, common ancestors are noted, and often inbreeding coefficients can be calculated for the known generations.\u00a0 A useful function for breeders is the ability to calculate and compare inbreeding coefficients for possible future breedings (\u201cvirtual<\/strong>\u00a0breeding<\/strong>\u201d function).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Using Inbreeding Coefficients<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>Inbreeding coefficients, used correctly, are a powerful tool for breeders when it is the time to choose the parents of the future generation of cats. \u00a0In a general fashion, the inbreeding coefficient is an indication of the global state of genomic health of an animal.\u00a0 The genome is the sum total of all the genes that are necessary for the creation as well as the function of an animal.\u00a0 More specifically (as mentioned above), the inbreeding coefficient represents a numerical percentage, based on the analysis of a pedigree, that estimates the loss of genetic variation in an individual caused by the fact of having common ancestors on both the paternal and the maternal sides of the pedigree.\u00a0 \u00a0Having common ancestors on the two sides of the pedigree will result in a percentage of genetic sites that were heterozygous (M\/N) in the common ancestor to become homozygote (either N\/N or M\/M) in the descendant.\u00a0 This condition is known as being identical by descent<\/strong>\u00a0due to the fact of having a common ancestor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    From the genetic perspective, a loss of genetic variability is undesirable as it can result in the condition of\u00a0inbreeding depression<\/strong>.\u00a0 Inbreeding depression has been well documented for many animal and plant species.\u00a0 Also well documented is the effect of outbreeding or crossbreeding, which will increase the genetic variation in the genome of an animal and result in\u00a0hybrid vigor<\/strong>\u00a0(heterosis).\u00a0 Hybrid vigor is the genomic flip side of inbreeding depression.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>It is important to keep in mind that the inbreeding coefficient does not represent the genetic variation that will be found at a specific genetic site or gene, but rather is a global estimation of genetic variation for the genome of an animal.\u00a0 If there are no common ancestors between the paternal side and the maternal side of a pedigree, the offspring will have no loss of genetic variation compared to a standard population.\u00a0 The offspring will then have an inbreeding coefficient of 0.\u00a0 If there are common ancestors on both the paternal and the maternal side of the pedigree, there is now the potential of loss of genetic variation (genetic identity by descent), and the potential for inbreeding depression.\u00a0 The Coefficient of Inbreeding is now a positive number greater than 0, often expressed as a percent.\u00a0 It is estimated that for every 1% increase in the inbreeding coefficient there is a 1% reduction in whatever trait is being measured.\u00a0 In practical terms the inbreeding coefficient is most useful for estimating the effects of recent inbreeding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    It is not surprising that Mother Nature likes genetic variation as this is the long-term key to the survival and evolution of a species.\u00a0 Unfortunately for our domestic animals, breed standards favor phenotypic uniformity (breeding for type), and in order to achieve this uniformity, a certain level of inbreeding and reduced genetic variation is involved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Interpretation of Inbreeding Coefficients<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"\"<\/a>An elevated inbreeding coefficient for an animal indicates that the undesirable effects of inbreeding (i.e. inbreeding depression) will start to be evident.\u00a0 On the other hand, an elevated inbreeding coefficient will increase the chances that desirable traits associated with the breed in question will be fixed.\u00a0 Thus, the inbreeding coefficient can be viewed as a compromise.\u00a0 The deleterious effects associated with inbreeding start to be seen when the coefficient of inbreeding is higher than 5%, which is just below the value obtained for the offspring of a mating between two cousins (=6.25%).\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

    [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\r\n

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\r\n

    It is advised to maintain a coefficient of inbreeding that is below 10% which should allow a number of desired traits to be fixed without allowing the undesirable effects of inbreeding to become too pronounced.\u00a0 Incestuous crosses resulting in offspring with coefficients of inbreeding above 12.5% should not be performed; these include parent-offspring, brother-sister, grandparent-grandchild, half-brother-half-sister matings.\u00a0\u00a0 In practice it is recommended to choose crosses that will result in offspring that have reduced coefficients of inbreeding compared to the average of the breed in question.\u00a0 If a number of breeding possibilities are available that will reduce the average inbreeding coefficient in the offspring compared to the breed average, then ideally the breeding that will result in the lowest inbreeding coefficient while still maintaining the desired traits for the breed<\/em> is recommended.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”bloc_info”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\r\n

    In general:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    1. Select a breeding pair that will reduce the coefficient of inbreeding in the offspring compared to the average of the breed (if this is available).<\/strong><\/li>\r\n
    2. If possible, do not use an animal for breeding if it has common ancestors within its pedigree, at least not within the 3 to 4 most recent generations.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n
    3. Avoid incestuous breedings, with coefficients of inbreeding of 12.5% or greater.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n
    4. Try to keep inbreeding coefficients lower than 10%.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n
    5. Ideally, keep inbreeding coefficients lower than 5%.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n
    6. Think about sacrificing a bit of \u201ctype\u201d (physical characteristics for the breed in question) in an individual animal in order to increase the genomic health of your breed.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Link to Labgenvet’s Inbreeding Calculator<\/a><\/p>\r\n

      Link to Labgenvet’s page: Cat Genetics 4.1: Inbreeding Calculator, Detailed Instructions and Interpretation<\/a><\/p>\r\n

      \u00a9 2019 Dr. David W. Silversides[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Cat Genetics 4.0: Evolution, Breeds, Breeding Strategies and Inbreeding   The Evolution, Domestication and Breeds of Cats The cat is a multiparous carnivore, an ambush predator, represented by 37 species grouped into 8 families. The domestic cat (Felis catus) has a genome composed of 2.4 billion bases, organized into 19 pairs of nuclear chromosomes plus…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15517","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","description-off"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15517"}],"version-history":[{"count":65,"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24197,"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15517\/revisions\/24197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labgenvet.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}