For operational reasons, we have temporarily interrupted testing for appearance traits in cats. Tests are going to be performed only in predetermined action weeks during which you must deliver the samples to the laboratory. Online placement of test orders and sample kits orders will be launched one week ahead of this action week. Thank you for your understanding. Next feline week is: 13.-19.9.2021

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Feline long hair – test of FGF5-gene variants

The hair length in cats is controlled by the FGF5-gen (fibroblast growth factor 5). The short fur is the natural hair form in cats (wild-type).

Several variants of FGF5 gene were identified that affect length of coat of cats: M1(c.356insT), M3 (c.474delT) and M4(c.475A>C).

Variants c.406C> T and c.182T> A were found in Norwegian forest cats - these variants are not tested by Genomia.

Possible results

• N/N – the cat does not carry any variant specific for long hair – the cat has short hair
• N/M1, N/M3, N/M4 – the cat carries one copy of the variant gene – the cat is short-haired, but she can give birth to long-haired offsprings, if suitably crossed.
• M1/M1, M3/M3, M4/M4 – the cat carries two same variants in the FGF5 gene – the cat is long-haired
• N/M1 & N/M3; N/M1 & N/M4; N/M3 & N/M4 – the cat carries two different variants in FGF5 gene – the cat is long-haired on condition that the cat inherited one variant from each parent.

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Reference:

Kehler J. S., V. A. David, A. A. Schaffer, K. Bajema, E. Eizirik, D. K. Ryugo, S. S. Hannah, S. J. O'Brien, M. Menotti-Raymond. Four independent mutations in the feline fibroblast growth factor 5 gene determine the long-haired phenotype in domestic cats. Journal of Heredity 98(6):555-566 (2007).

Drögemüller, C., Rüfenacht, S., Wichert, B., Leeb, T.: Mutations within the FGF5 gene are associated with hair length in cats. Anim Genet 38:218-21, 2007. Pubmed reference: 17433015.