Health Testing
Why every Orimeeze cat is genetically tested before being bred.
A breeding programme is only as healthy as the cats at its foundation. Every breeding cat at Orimeeze is comprehensively DNA tested before being bred from - not after, not "if needed." We test because we want to know, for our own peace of mind, for the future of our lines, and for the families welcoming an Orimeeze kitten into their home. Healthy parents are the foundation of healthy kittens.
What we test
Our breeding cats are tested through Orivet Australia using the MyCatScan™ panel - one of the most comprehensive genetic screens available for the breeds.
74 genetic diseases. The MyCatScan™ panel screens for the full range of genetic conditions relevant to Oriental and Siamese cats - including Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), the principal hereditary eye disease in these breeds. Every breeding cat at Orimeeze is cleared before being part of our program.
20 traits. Beyond disease screening, the same panel maps coat colour and dilute genetics, blood type, and inheritance patterns such as the pointed gene - the gene that determines whether kittens express the Siamese coat pattern. Knowing these traits lets us plan litters with confidence.
FIV and FeLV. Every breeding cat is also tested negative for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukaemia Virus - two of the most serious infectious diseases in cats.
All Orimeeze genetic testing is carried out by Orivet Australia, a veterinary-grade laboratory specialising in pedigree feline DNA testing. Their MyCatScan™ panel is internationally recognised and used by responsible breeders across Australasia.
Our cats' results to date
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Cleared on the full MyCatScan™ panel - 74 diseases and 20 traits. Tested negative for FIV and FeLV. Does not carry the pointed gene, meaning her litters will be Oriental (not pointed).
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DNA testing yet to be completed via Orivet Australia (MyCatScan™ panel) (both parents PRA clear)
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Kittens kept for the breeding programme are cleared for PRA through parental testing, then undergo their own full MyCatScan™ panel before being bred from. We do not breed from any cat that hasn't been fully tested in its own right.
Every Orimeeze kitten leaves us with a written health record, the kitten's vaccination and microchip information, and their NZCF and NZ Companion Animal Register details. We believe new families should have complete visibility into the health background of their kitten.