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PrairieBaby Maine Coon Cats
The Health of our Breed
Some close friends have convinced me of the benefits of natural rearing. I have recently switched my entire flock of cats to a raw meat diet. The change in food has definitely increased my costs in raising a litter. In return we are experiencing many wonderful results in regards to their general health. After much looking around, we now get our raw meat through the Siamese Rescue shelter in Winnipeg. The food originally comes from an organic farm. We honestly don't know why we haven't considered natural rearing of cats earlier!
We still feed our kittens a little bit of canned food and dry kibbles additionally to the raw meat diet -but only in "snack" quantities. :-)
The following link on raw feeding was copied with permission:
Here is a link for natural raising of cats:
Please scroll down for HCM, PKD and HD test results.
The Maine Coon cat is still one of the hardiest and healthiest breeds in the world. Yet, every breed has its strong and its weak points concerning health. In order to breed responsibly, we need to find out about genetic problems in our lines and then select the cats used in our breeding program accordingly.
It is our goal at PrairieBaby to improve the health of the Maine Coon breed and yet preserve a good standard type. Even though outcrossing is not the answer to all problems, we believe that stable health and sound temperament can only be maintained through selective outcrossing (back to first generation) and testing for common breed-specific genetic diseases - a very expensive way of breeding. Even if type and size seem to be lost at first with this breeding method, it can be brought back over time - without any form of line- or inbreeding.
Testing without outcrossing or outcrossing without testing is NOT sufficient. Testing without selection is a complete waste of money and effort.
We currently test hearts, kidneys and hips of our breeding cats. On top of that we work with outcrossed pedigrees and also have our own foundation lines.
Hearts
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Hearts are tested with Color Doppler Equipment for Hypertrophic CardioMyopathy (HCM), a slowly developing malformation of the heart. We started testing for HCM in 1999. We are planning to do the genetic test for HCM once there are adequate studies available.
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Hips
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Hips are tested for Hip Displasia (HD), an affection where hip joints are not optimally connected. We started testing for HD in 1999.
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PKD
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Poly cystic Kidney Disease does affect our breed to some extent but is more commonly seen in other breeds. We have started testing for PKD in 2000.
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Genetic Diversity
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We select partners for our cats after carefully analyzing their genetic background, using a very large data base maintained by Astrid Straver and Ulrika Olsson. We also work with new bloodlines, called foundation.
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Please note: some breeders also test for Patella Laxation (PL).
Hypertrophic CardioMyopathy (HCM):
The following cats were tested with FSD 2000 Color Doppler (or similar) Ultrasound Equipment by a cardiologist or heart specialist vet and were found clear of evidence of HCM at the date of screening:
Sid of PrairieBaby, aka Sid (F1)- male
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age at screening 4 years
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DCH Franmar Lil Queen Sheba, aka Sheba - female
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age at screening 5 1/2 years, second screen at 6 1/2 years
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PrairieBaby Antonia of Thunderpaws, aka Antonia- female
(daughter of Punkin Pye)
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age at screening 10 months
and 2.5 years (second screen done by Thunderpaws) mother Punkin clear at age 8
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DCH PrairieBaby Pioneer Beautiful Gate, aka Pioneer senior - male
(son of Punkin Pye)
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age at screening 10 months and 2 years, mother Punkin clear at age 8
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Ch Franmar Punkin Pye of PrairieBaby, aka Punkin- female
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age at screening 8 years
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Kumskaka Eternal Mission, aka Eternity (F4) - female
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age at screening 2 1/2, 4.2 and at age 6
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Fourpaws Sparrow of PrairieBaby, aka Sparrow(F2)- female
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age at screening: 2 1/2 years, will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Hope, aka Plowman (F2)- male
(Son of Sid and Eternity)
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age at screening:6 1/2 months, father Sid clear at age 4, mother Eternity clear at age 2 1/2, 4.3 and age 6
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GCH Tati-Tan's Silhouette of PrairieBaby, aka Silhouette - male
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age at screening: 8 years
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PrairieBaby Shadow of Your Wings, aka Clarabel (F3) - female
(Daughter of Sparrow and Thunderpaws Singleton)
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age of screening: 10 months and 2 years will be re-tested at age 6
mother Sparrow clear at age 2 1/2 years , will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
grandmother (mother of father ) clear ate age 4 , great grandmother (grandmother of father ) clear at 5 1/2 years
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Thunderpaw Ransom, aka Ransom(F3) - male
(son of Turtlesoup and Soozn)
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age of screening: almost 1 year
father clear at almost age 3
mother clear at age 4 1/2
grandmother (mother of mother) clear at age 5 1/2
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PrairieBaby I Love All You Made, aka Oktober (F2)- female
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age of screening: 11 months
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PrairieBaby Fear No Evil, aka Fearless (F2) - male
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age of screening: 1 year
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PrairieBaby Deep Calls Onto Deep, aka Monkeygirl (F2) - female
(daughter of Eternity and Sid)
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age of screening: 1 year, father Sid clear at age 4, mother Eternity clear at age 2 1/2, 4.3 and 6
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PrairieBaby Terence Blue Star- female
(daughter of Fourpaws Sparrow of PrairieBaby and Thunderpaws Singleton)
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age of screening: 10 monthsmother Sparrow clear at age 2 1/2, will be re-tested at age 4 and 6,
grandmother (mother of father) clear at age 4, great grandmother (grandmother of father) clear at 5 1/2
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PrairieBaby Rainbow is His Promise, aka Melissa(F3)- female
(daughter of Sparrow and Singleton)
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age of screening: 6 months
(done by Cooneyisle Maine Coons) mother Sparrow clear at age 2 1/2 and 4, grandmother (mother of father) clear at age 4, great grandmother (grandmother of o father) clear at 5 1/2
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PrairieBaby Extravagant Love, aka Bunnypuppy
F4 male
son of Brock and Luisa
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clear at age 7 months
Troponin test : negative
clear at age 2 1/2, will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
sire Brock clear at 19 months and age 3.8. father of sire clear at age 8, mother of sire clear at age 2 1/2, 4 and age 6
dam Luisa clear at age 17 months
mother of dam clear at age one
father of dam clear at age almost 1, great grandfather (father of grandfather) clear at age almost age 3
great grandmother (mother of grandfather) clear at age 4 1/2
great great grandmother (mother of great grandmother clear at age age 5 1/2
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CH PrairieBaby Sonlight of Your Grace, aka Gracie (F4)
female
(daughter of Sheba and Ransom)
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clear at age 18 months, will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
mother Sheba clear at age 5 1/2 and age 6 1/2
father clear at age almost 1,
grandfather (father of father) clear at age almost 3
grandmother (mother of father) clear at age 4 1/2
great grandmother (mother of grandmother clear at age age 5 1/2
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PrairieBaby Refuge In Your Shadow, aka Kasimir (F3)- male
(son of Clarabel and Fear No Evil)
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clear at age 1and at age 3, will be re-tested at age 5
mother clear at age 10months and 2 years
father clear at one year
grandmother (mother of mother) clear at age 2 1/2, will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
grandfather (father of mother) not done by his owner
great grandmother (mother of grandfather clear at age 4,
great great grandmother (grandmother of grandfather) clear at over 5 1/2
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TCH PrairieBaby Ambassador of Grace, aka Brock (F5)
male
(son of Silhouette and Eternity)
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clear at 19 months and age 3.8
Troponin test negative at 19 months
mother Eternity clear at age 2 1/2 and at age 4.3 and at age 6
father Silhouette clear at age 8
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PrairieBabyCover Me I Will Sing, aka Luisa (F3)
- female
daughter of Oktober and Ransom
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clear at age 17 months
mother clear at age one
father clear at age almost 1,
grandfather (father of father) clear at age almost 3
grandmother (mother of father) clear at age 4 1/2
great grandmother (mother of grandmother clear at age age 5 1/2
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PrairieBaby Rest In His Shadow, aka Haley (F3) female
(daugter of Clarabel and Fear No Evil, granddaughter of Sparrow and Singleton)
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clear at age 3.4 and age 4.1 , will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
mother clear at age 10months and 2 years
father clear at one year
grandmother (mother of mother) clear at age 2 1/2, will be re-tesetd at age 4 and 6
grandfather (father of mother) not done by his owner
great grandmother (mother of grandfather clear at age 4,
great great grandmother (grandmother of grandfather) clear at over 5 1/2
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PrairieBaby Drench The Barren Land, aka Prairiegirl (F2) - female
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will be tested with our next batch, no previous testing history
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PrairieBaby Refuge in Your Shelter, aka Nigel snootbutter
F3 male
son of Clarabel and Brock, grandson of Silhouette, Eternity and Sparrow
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clear at age 8 months,
will be re-tested twice up to age 5
mother clear at age 10months and 2 years
grandmother (mother of mother) clear at age 2 1/2, will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
grandfather (father of mother) not done by his owner
great grandmother (mother of grandfather clear at age 4,
great great grandmother (grandmother of grandfather) clear at over 5 1/2
father clear at 19 months
mother of father clear at 2 1/2 and 4.3 and 6 years.
father of father clear at age 8
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PrairieBaby Fall At Your Feet, aka Plopp (F2)
female
(daugther of Moudine and Masterweaver P)
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will be tested with our next batch, no previous testing history
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Joy, aka Snowleamer (F3)- male
(Son of Plowman and Oktober)
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clear at age 13months and 2.9 years
father clear at 6 1/2 months (will be re-tested)
grandmother (mother of father) clear at age 2 1/2 and age 4 and age 6
grandfather (father of father) clear at age 4
mother clear at 1 year
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Kumskaka Light Walk of Prairiebaby, aka Pioneer (F3)- male
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clear at age 17 months,
father Skyler clear at 17 months
mother kara clear at 2.7 years
great grandfather (grandfather of father) Pioneer clear at 10 months and 2 years
great great grandmother (great grandmother of father) Punkin Pye clear at age 8
great grandmother (grandmother of father) Nerissa clear at age 5
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Freedom, aka Coldoldbear (F3)- male
(Son of Plowman and Oktober)
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clear at age 22 months and age 3.7,
father clear at 6 1/2 months (will be re-tested)
grandmother (mother of father) clear at age 2 1/2 and age 4.3 and age 6
grandfather (father of father) clear at age 4
mother clear at 1 year
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PrairieBaby River Revival, aka Franky Frownsalot - F2 male
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clear at almost age 2 (second test)
will be re-tested at age 3 and 5
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PrairieBaby Love Covers, aka Coral
female
(daughter of Luisa and Brock)
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clear at age 2 1/2, will be re-tested at age 4 and 6
sire Brock clear at 19 months and age 3.8. father of sire clear at age 8, mother of sire clear at age 2 1/2, 4 and age 6
dam Luisa clear at age 17 months
mother of dam clear at age one
father of dam clear at age almost 1, great grandfather (father of grandfather) clear at age almost age 3
great grandmother (mother of grandfather) clear at age 4 1/2
great great grandmother (mother of great grandmother clear at age age 5 1/2
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PrairieBaby Rise Up And Dance, aka Jelly Roll, female
(daughter of Dolly P and Coldoldbear)
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clear at age 16 months, many tested ancestors (the list is getting too long!)
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PrairieBaby In The River I Remain, aka Jazzie Jazz
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clear at age 20 months
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PrairieBaby Even So Come, aka Sophia
female
(daughter of Prairiegirl and Masterweaver
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clear at age 15 months, will be re-tested at later date
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Athabaske Song Of Songs - aka Fayre II, female
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clear at age 20 months, many tested ancestors (the list is getting too long!)
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PrairieBaby Hope Springs Eternal P , aka Whalebear P
(son of Dolly P and Coldoldbear)
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clear at age 18 months, many tested ancestors (the list is getting too long!)
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PrairieBaby Rest In Fields of Grace
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clear at age 14 months (many tested anchestors (the list is getting too long!)
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PrairieBaby Come to The River , aka Jericho, F3 male
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clear at age 16 months (sire clear at age 22 months, dam clear at age 21 months)
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We will repeat the HCM test in our younger breeding cats at a later date. Most of them will be tested for HCM until age 6 or 7, unless there is a reliable testing history in their ancestors. One test for HCM is not sufficient to determine if a cat develops changes in her heart at a later date. All Maine Coons need to be tested on a regular basis up to an older age in order to save our breed from dying out. HCM is an autosomal dominant gene. If a cat shows signs of this malformation of the heart, at least one of the parents MUST have HCM, even though the condition might not show up on a sonogram of the parents at the present time.
For more information on HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) please visit:
click on Cardiomyopathy
Frequently asked questions about HCM
Please visit our German Article:
Hip Displasia:
We also exray the hips of the cats used in our breeding program for Hip Displasia. We believe it is very important to test all breeding stock, in order to SELECT breeding cats with good hip confirmation.
Please note: We get preliminary OFA results for most of our cats. OFA does not list prelim results on their website. The written OFA results of our cats can be obtained from us, the breeder.
The following cats passed OFA:
Sid of PrairieBaby(formerly Sid of Thunderpaw)
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OFA certified *Good*
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DCH Franmar Little Queen Sheba
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OFA certified *Excellent*
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CH Franmar Punkin Pye of PrairieBaby
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Hips exrayed by our vet and no signs of degenerative joint disease found, no OFA test done at age 8
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Kumskaka Eternal Mission - female
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OFA certified *Good*
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DCH PrairieBaby Pioneer Beautiful Gate
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OFA certified (?): *Excellent*
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Fourpaws Sparrow of PrairieBaby - female
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OFA certified *Good*
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PrairieBaby Revival Fire - male
(Son of Antonia and Sid, grandson of Punkin Pye)
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OFA preliminary Result: *Excellent*
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PrairieBaby Refuge in Your Shadow F3 - male
son of Clarabel and Fear No Evil, grandson of Sparrow and Singleton
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OFA preliminary result at 11 months; *good*
father certified OFA *Good*
mother OFA prelim at 14 months: *Excellent*
sister of mother OFA prelim "Excellent"
grandparents ( parents of mother) OFA *Good*
parents of grandfather: both OFA *Good*
sister OFA prelim *Good*
half sister OFA prelim *Excellent*
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PrairieBaby Shadow of Your Wings (Clarabel)
F3 - female
(Daughter of Sparrow and Thunderpaws
Singleton)
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OFA preliminary result at 14 months: *Excellent*
mother OFA certified *good*
father OFA prelim at 16 months *good*
mother and father of father OFA certified *good*
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Shame Into Praise Of PrairieBaby (Moudine)
F1 female
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OFA preliminary result at 18 months: *Good*
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PrairieBaby I Love All You Made (Oktober)
F2 female
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OFA preliminary result at 22 months: *good*:
brother OFA prelim "fair"
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CH PrairieBaby Sonlight of Your Grace (Gracie)
F4 female
(daughter of Sheba and Ransom)
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OFA preliminary result at 16 months: *fair*
brother certified*good* (dont by technical commision in Switzerland)
mother OFA certified *Excellent*
father OFA prelim at 13 months *good*
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PrairieBaby Fear No Evil F2 male
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OFA preliminary result at 9 months: *Good*
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs Of Hope F2 male
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OFA Result: certified *Good*
mother OFA certified *good*
father OFA certified *good*
sister did not pass OFA
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Thunderpaw Ransom - F3 male
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OFA prelim at 13 months: *good*
mother and father OFA certified *good*
grandmother (mother of mother) OFA *good*
father OFA (prelim?) *good*
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PrairieBaby Eternal Blessing F5 - female
(daughter of Silhouette and Eternity)
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OFA prelim at 6 months: *fair*
mother OFA certified *good*
brother OFA prelim "fair"
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TCH PrairieBaby Ambassador of Grace (Brock) F5 male
(son of Silhouette and Eternity)
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OFA prelim at 6 months: *fair*
mother OFA certified *good*
father did not pass OFA at age 8
sister prelim "fair"
(8 offspring passed OFA with excellent, good and fair, one was tested in Sweden with grade 2/3 (?)
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PrairieBaby Drench The Barren Land
F 2 female
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OFA Result: Certified *Excellent*
two daughters OFa excellent
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PrairieBaby Refuge in Your Shelter (Nigel Snootbutter)
F4 male
son of Brock and Clarabel
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OFA prelim result at 8 months: *Excellent*
siblings and half siblings: 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 9 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*,
Mother OFA prelim at 14 months: *Excellent*
Father OFA prelim at 6 months: *Fair*
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PrairieBaby Grateful to Tati- Tan
(Patchybaby)
F2 female
daughter of Sid and Cloche
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OFA prelim result at 18 months:
*Good*
Father OFA certified *Good*
sister certified *good* (done by technical commision in Switzerland)
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PrairieBaby Fall At Your Feet (Plopp)
F2 Female
daughter of Moudine and Masterweaver P
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OFA preliminary Result at 14 months: *Good*
Mother: prelim *Good*
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Joy
f3 male (Snowleamer)
son of Plowman and Oktober
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OFA preliminary result at 8 months: *Good*
father: OFA certified *Good*
mother: OFA prelim at 22 months: *Good*
siblings and half sibling: 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*, 2 x OFA prelim *Excellent*
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs Of Freedom (Coldoldbear)
F3 Male
son of Plowman and Oktober
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OFA preliminary result at 8 months: *Excellent*
father: OFA certified *Good*
mother: OFA prelim at 22 months: *Good*
siblings and half sibling: 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*, 2 x OFA prelim *Excellent*
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PrairieBaby Gonna Be Worth It All
(Cameron)
F2 male
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OFA preliminary result at 11 months: *Good*
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Praylyne Blazing Glory - F2
female
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OFA preliminary result: *Good*
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PrairieBaby Cover Me I Will Sing - F3
(Luisa)
daughter of Ransom and Oktober
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OFA preliminary result at 22 months: *Fair*
Siblings and half siblings: 2 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 2 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*
father: OFA prelim at 13 months: *Good*
mother and father of father OFA certified *good*
great grandmother OFA *good*
mother: OFA prelim at 22 months: *Good*
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PrairieBabyDraw Me I Will Run
(Fayre)
daugher of Monkeygirl and Fear No Evil
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OFA preliminary result at 13 months: *Excellent*
Siblings and half siblings: 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 1 x OFA prelim *Good*
Father OFA prelim at 9 months: *Good*
mother did not pass OFA
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PrairieBabyLove Covers (Coral)
daughter of Brock and Luisa
F4 female
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OFA prelim at 19 months: *Good*
Siblings and half siblings: 7 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*,
Sire:OFA prelim *Fair*
Sibling of Sire: OFA prelim *Fair*
Dam: OFA prelim *Fair*
siblings an half siblings of Dam: 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 2 x prelim *Good*, 1 x Prelim *Fair
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CH PrairieBaby Infinite Grace (Gracelett)
daughter of Grace and Brock
F5 female
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OFA prelim at 19 months: *Fair*
Siblings and half siblings: 7 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*,
Sire: OFA prelim *Fair*
Sibling of Sire: OFA prelim *Fair*
Dam: OFA prelim *Fair*
siblings and half siblings of Dam: 2 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*
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PrairieBaby Extravagant Love (Bunnypuppy)
son of Brock and Luisa
F4 male
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OFA prelim at 11 months: *Good*
Siblings and half siblings: 7 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*
Sire:OFA prelim *Fair*
Sibling of Sire: OFA prelim *Fair*
Dam: OFA prelim *Fair*
siblings an half siblings of Dam: 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 2 x prelim *Good*, 1 x Prelim *Fair
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Athabaske Song of Songs (Fayre)
daughter of Snowleamer and Fayre
F4 female
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OFA prelim at 10 months: *Good*
OFA *Good* at 10 months
Sire : OFA prelim *Good*
Siblings and half siblings to Sire: 2 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*
Dam: OFA prelim *Excellent*
Siblings and half siblings to Dam: 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 1 x OFA prelim *Good*
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Kumskaka Love Everlasting (Evie)
daughter of Bunnypuppy and Treasure
F3 female
owned by Phyllis Tobias
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OFA prelim at 10 months: *Good*
OFA *Good* at 10 months
Sire OFA prelim *Good*
Siblings and half siblings of Sire: 3 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*, apparentely 1 x OFA prelim "mild" (done in Europe)
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PrairieBaby Fall At Your Feet P (Dolly P)
daughter of Plopp and Kasimir
F3 female
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OFA prelim at 14 months: *Good*
sibling: OFA prelim *Good*
Sire: OFA prelim *Excellent*
siblings and half siblings of Sire: 1 x OFA prelim *Good*, 2 X OFA prelim *Excellent*
Dam: OFA prelim *Good*
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Thunderpaws Simon St. Pierre (Simon)
F4 male
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OFA certified: *Good*
sire: OFA *good*
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CH PrairieBaby Hope of Eternity (Sylvan)
F4 male
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OFA : prelim *Excellent" at 12 months
Half Sibling OFA prelim "Good" at 16 months (?), brother OFA "good" at 22 months"
Sire OFA prelim "Excellent" at 8 months
brother of Sire: OFA "Good" at 8 months
Dam OFA prelim "Good" at 14 months
All grandparents and 5 great grandparents have OFA good hips also with good or excellent results!
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PrairieBaby In The River I Remain (Jazzie Jazz)
F4 Female
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OFA: Prelim *Excellent* at 21 months
Sire: OFa prelim Good" at 11 months
Dam: OFA certified "Excellent"
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PrairieBaby River Revival (Franky Frownsalot)
F2 Male
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OFA: Prelim "Good" at age 17 months
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Canada Graceland of PrairieBaby (Canada), F1 Female
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OFA: certified *Good*
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Kumskaka Light Walk of PrairieBaby (Pioneer) , F3 Male
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OFA: Prelim *Excellent* at 15 months
Mother OFa prelim "Fair"
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PrairieBaby Even So Come (Sofia), F3 Female
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OFA: Prelim *Excellent" at 15 months
Dam: OFA certified "Excellent"
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PrairieBaby Rise Up And Dance (Jelly Roll P), F4 female
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OFA: Prelim *Good" at 16 months
brother OFA *excellent* at 12 months. Half Sibling OFA prelim "Good" at 16 months (?)
Sire OFA prelim "Excellent" at 8 months
brother of Sire: OFA "Good" at 8 months
Dam OFA prelim "Good" at 14 months
All grandparents and 5 great grandparents have OFA good hips also with good or excellent results!
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PrairieBaby Truth Is A River (Langley)
F2 male
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OFA: Prelim "Good" at 10 months
mother OFA"excellent" at 18 months
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PrairieBaby Hope Springs Eternal P (Whalebear P)
F4 male
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OFA: Prelim *Good" at 22 months
brother OFA *excellent* at 12 months. Sister OFA "Good" at 16 months. Half Sibling OFA prelim "Good" at 16 months (?)
Sire OFA prelim "Excellent" at 8 months
brother of Sire: OFA "Good" at 8 months
Dam OFA prelim "Good" at 14 months
All grandparents and 5 great grandparents have OFA good hips also with good or excellent results!
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PrairieBaby Grace And Dance (Howdy Powdy)
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OFA prelim at 9 months: *Good*
Siblings and half siblings: 7 x OFA prelim *Good*, 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 1 x OFA prelim *Fair*,
Sire:OFA prelim *Fair*
Sibling of Sire: OFA prelim *Fair*
Dam: OFA prelim *Fair*
siblings an half siblings of Dam: 1 x OFA prelim *Excellent*, 2 x prelim *Good*, 1 x Prelim *Fair
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River Songs of Prairiebaby (Laviolette)F1 female, mother to Langley
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OFA: Prelim "Excellent" at 18 months
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CH Bogy-cats Xenos of Prairiebaby
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OFA: Prelim "Good" at 7 months
some OFA testing in the background
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CH PrairieBaby Falling Into Grace Again (Estevan)
F5 Male
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OFA: Prelim "Good" at 10 months
lots and lots of OFA testing in the background!
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PrairieBaby In Fields Of Grace (Charlotte)
F5 Female
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OFA: Prelim "Good" at 14 months
lots and lots of OFA testing in the background!
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PrairieBaby Come To The River (Jericho)
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OFA: Prelim "Good" at 17 months
father OFA "good". mother OFA "excellent"
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PrairieBaby Hopeful Mission (Angelina)
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OFA: Prelim "Good" at (?) months
lots and lots of OFA testing in the background!
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For more information on HD (Hip Displasia) please visit:
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD):
The following cats have been tested with Ultrasound Equipment and found to be free of PKD:
DCH Franmar Lil Queen Sheba
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age of screening: 6 years
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Franmar Punkin Pye of PrairieBaby - female
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age at screening: 8 years
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Kumskaka Eternal Mission - female
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age at screening: 2 1/2 years
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Fourpaws Sparrow of PrairieBaby-female
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age at screening: 2 1/2 years
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Hope - male
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age at screening: 6 1/2 months
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GCH Tati- Tan Cloche of PrairieBaby - female
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age at screening: 4 years
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GCH Tati-Tan Silhouette of PrairieBaby - male
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age at screening: 8 years
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PrairieBaby Deep Calls Onto Deep - female
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age of screening: 1 year
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PrairieBaby Shadow of Your Wings- female
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age of screening: 10 months and 21/2 years
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PrairieBaby Fear No Evil - male
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age of screening: 1 year
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PrairieBaby Terence Blue Star - female
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age of screening: 10 months
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CH PrairieBaby Sonlight of Your Grace
female
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age of screening: 18 months
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PrairieBaby Refuge In Your Shadow - male
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age of screening: 1 year
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PrairieBabyCover Me I Will Sing - female
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age of screening: 17 months
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PrairieBaby Plowman Songs of Joy - male
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age of screening: 13 months
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PrairieBaby River Revival
male
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age of screening: 17 months
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PrairieBaby Rest In His Shadow
female
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age of screening: 2.4 years
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PrairieBaby Even So Come
female
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age of screening: 15 months
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Prairiebaby In The River I Remain
female
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age of screening: 19 months
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Athabaske Song of Songs
female
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age of screening: 20 months
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PrairieBaby Rise Up And Dance
female
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age of screening: 16 months
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PrairieBaby Love Covers
female
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age of screening: 2.7 years
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PrairieBaby Hope Springs Eternal P
male
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age of screening: 18 months
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A few of our older breeding cats have not been done yet because we just started testing for PKD. Also, we will repeat the PKD test in our breeding cats that were younger than 1 year of age at time of testing. If both parents of a cat were 16 months or older at their PKD test, that particular cat will not be tested for PKD.
For Information on PKD please visit:
Polycystic Kidney Disease
FIP is an immune system related disease.
Corona Viruses usually don't create a problem if three things are avoided: Excessive Inbreeding, overcrowding and overall extreme stress. The tendency of an animal's body to mutate a Corona Virus into a Fip Virus is now also believed to be of genetic origin. Here at Prairiebaby we never had a problem with Fip in our lines so far. Here is a link on Fip:
This is the best link we could find on all health related issues:
For excellent information on general health questions please also visit
The Cornell Health Center:
Raw Feeding:
Natural Rearing of Cats:
Information for Stool Problems:
Information for Gum Problems:
Stomatis in Cats
We strongly believe in early Spaying/Neutering of kittens that are not used in a breeding program. Our kittens sold for pet and show will be spayed/neutered between 11 and 13 weeks of age. Males are kept one week and females two weeks after surgery, before they will be released to their new homes. Recent studies have shown that spaying/neutering done at early age involves hardly any risks compared to when this procedure is done after the cat has reached adulthood, especially in females. It will also NOT effect physical development or size of the cat. A spayed/neutered pet is a happier pet.
Web pages on Early Spay/Neuter:
Vaccinations
We believe that certain vaccinations can cause serious side effects in both cats and humans and that the risks in most vaccines outweigh the benefits. Like most breeders, we are able to store our own vaccinations. Vaccinations are - against general belief - NOT at all a cost factor for a breeder!! We believe that through outcrossing and a raw food diet our kittens have a very strong immune system that enables them to recognize and fight disease. We will still use intranasal vaccinaton for now. Our kittens are only vaccinated with a regular 4-way vaccine upon buyer's request. We will under no circumstances vaccinate for Ringworm, Fip of Felv/Fiv. Rabies vaccination will only be given if a cat has to cross the border. For making an educated decision if you would like your kitten vaccinated, please visit the following website:
Deafness in White Cats
White cats are sometimes hearing impaired. We have been fortunate that our cats rarely produce a kitten that cannot hear.
Some laws in Europe prohibit the breeding of white cats. At the same time, no action is taken against the producing and inbreeding of cats with serious genetic- and immune deficiency related health problems.
We at PrairieBaby strive to breed cats that are free from genetic defects, which includes the ability to hear. However, for many people, including us, the color White is a fancy in itself and we are willing to make a compromise in this matter. We will continue to breed a limited number of white cats because we and many others love them dearly. We don't believe int the BETA hearing test for several reasons.
This link contains valuable information about deafness in white cats:
Polydactylism is a beautiful natural trait and NOT a deformity. Please do not buy into old wives tales! We encourage everbody to visit these website with information:
Last not least we decided to copy the following article from the Maine Coon heritage site because we believe it contains valuable information every breeder should know:
INBREEDING AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Dr. Heather E. Lorimer
All cat breeders know something about the dangers of inbreeding. We have all heard of (and many of us have seen) the tragic results of doubling up dangerous recessive genes. One way to avoid the recessive lethal genes is to outcross as much as possible. On the other hand, the line into which you outcross may carry the very same gene that you are trying to avoid.
However, it is quite possible to weed out genetic faults in even the most inbred lines. Scientists do this all the time; they have produced strains of mice, rats, and other animals that are so inbred as to be genetically identical. Each animal in one of these strains is the identical twin (aside from sex) of every other animal of that strain. These animals carry no lethal genes and are extremely healthy in every way except one. They must be kept in a nearly sterile environment, because their immune systems are not capable of fighting off a normal range of diseases.
The immune systems of all animals are absolutely dependent on genetic diversity. There are basically two kinds of immune responses:
1. There are cells called B-cells, that make antibodies which are capable of inactivating or killing foreign particles (such as bacteria or viruses) that enter the body.
2. There are cells called T-cells, which kill dangerous cells such as tumor cells infected with a virus.
In many respects these two systems are the same. These cells are very specific; one cell makes only one kind of antibody or is capable of recognizing and killing only one kind of dangerous cell. The most startling thing about this system is that for every kind of infection or every kind of cancer to which an animal could ever be exposed there is already a cell in the animal's body specific to that infection or cancer.
This means that there are probably millions of genes, each coded for a specific antibody or cell surface receptor, in every adult animal. The problem is that there is not enough room on the chromosomes for all these genes. We animals have a very clever method of circumventing this paradox: Our immune systems' cells don't have complete genes for antibodies; instead, they have lots of little gene segments which the cell cuts and splices together to make a whole gene. Immune system cells are the only cells which alter their own DNA. If this happened anywhere but in the immunity genes, it would be very dangerous. In the immunity genes, however, it is essential: Otherwise, we would not be able to fight very many diseases.
In the following discussion I have arbitrarily used an original (germ-line) DNA with six gene segments, each segment containing ten different choices (in real life there are many more). These six segments could produce 10x10x10x10x10x10 (one million) different antibodies.
If both chromosomes of a cat or other animal have identical immune system gene segments, that animal has lost half of its potential antibody genes. If that animal is further inbred, it starts to lose other individual gene segments to a genetic phenomenon called "crossover." Each gene segment that is lost represents thousands of potential antibodies.
In the above example, an animal with two entirely different chromosomes can make two million different antibodies, each specific for one kind of infection. An animal that has identical (homozygous) immune system chromosomes can make one million different antibodies. An animal that has lost one gene segment from crossover can make only nine hundred thousand antibodies. So we see that, in my example, the loss of one gene segment represents the loss of one hundred thousand potential antibodies. When this happens, the animal starts losing its ability to fight some diseases. If a group of animals are missing the same gene segments, as happens in inbred lines, suddenly whole catteries or whole bloodlines can be lost to infections that would normally have little effect on a normal cat.
A well-known example of this kind of sensitivity to disease, caused by a lack of genetic diversity, has occurred in wild and captive populations of cheetahs. Captive cheetah breeding programs have been plagued by low birth rates and high infant mortality. To add insult to injury, cheetahs have proved to be very susceptible to Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Most cats become infected with the virus that can cause FIP when they are exposed to it, but usually less than 10% of those cats will go to develop the usually fatal FIP. However, cheetahs exposed to the virus will experience a 50% mortality rate. Stephen J, O'Brien and his colleges examined the cheetah problem in an article published in the May 1986 issue of "Scientific American." They found that cheetahs are nearly identical genetically - so identical that individual cheetahs, born thousand of miles apart, did not reject skin grafts from each other (a trait which is normally seen only in identical twins). At some point in history, the cheetah population must have narrowed down to so few individuals that their immunological diversity was lost and, as a result, these big, beautiful cats are in danger of extinction.
We as cat breeders must protect our beautiful companions from this fate. We must be careful no to "fix" immunodeficiency when we are trying to "fix" type. Fortunately, this is not hard to do. When you want to bring a trait into your cats, such as size or ear set, go to more than one source. Remember, you won't lose type in an outcross unless the cat to which you're outcrossing lacks type. Most important, watch for the danger signs of excessive breeding. They are:
1. Low fertility in either males or females.
2. Small litter size (one or two kittens) on a regular basis.
3. Asymmetry, misaligned jaws, crooked noses, irregular eye-set.
4. Regular appearance of cancer in young cats.
5. Loss of a large proportion of cats to one disease. If 50% of a litter of kittens or of a group of adults dies of a simple infection, there is not enough immune system diversity in your line.
You can find out more about this topic on the Maine Coon Heritage Site.
Authors note: June 1998. New information about the MHC complex indicates that lack of heterozygosity there may be an even bigger problem than is found in the antibody genes and TCR genes. More recent evidence indicates an even more serious problem with the immune system caused by inbreeding then the ones mentioned in this article. Some of this will be probably coming out in the next issue of the Cat Fanciers Journal.
Heather E. Lorimer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Genetics
Department of Biological Sciences
Youngstown State University
For more information on this topic and on the heritage of our breed in general please visit the Maine Coon Heritage Site under Links.
The German Address for this site is
Here at PrairieBaby, we have had very good results with outcross- and foundation breeding. Here is our health statistic.
Thank you for your interest.
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