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The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) is a valued companion animal throughout the world. Over 60 different cat breeds are accepted for competition by the cat fancy registries in different countries. Genetic markers, including short tandem repeats and SNPs, are available to evaluate and manage levels of inbreeding and genetic diversity, population and breed structure relationships, and individual identification for forensic and registration purposes. The International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) hosts the Applied Genetics in Companion Animals Workshop, which supports the standardization of genetic marker panels and genotyping for the identification of cats via comparison testing. SNP panels have been in development for many species, including the domestic cat. An ISAG approved core panel of SNPs for use in cat identification and parentage analyses is presented. SNPs (n = 121) were evaluated by different university-based and commercial laboratories using 20 DNA samples as part of the ISAG comparison testing procedures. Different SNP genotyping technologies were examined, including DNA arrays, genotyping-by-sequencing and mass spectroscopy, to select a robust and efficient panel of 101 SNPs as the ISAG core panel for cats. The SNPs are distributed across all chromosomes including two on the X chromosome and an XY pseudo-autosomal sexing marker (zinc-finger XY; ZFXY). A population study demonstrated that the markers have an average polymorphic information content of 0.354 and a power of exclusion greater than 0.9999. The SNP panel should keep testing affordable while also allowing for the development of additional panels to monitor health, phenotypic traits, hybrid cats and highly inbred cats.

Summary: The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) is a valued companion animal throughout the world. Over 60 different cat breeds are accepted for competition by the cat fancy registries in different countries. Genetic markers, including short tandem repeats and SNPs, are available to evaluate and manage levels of inbreeding and genetic diversity, population and breed structure relationships, and individual identification for forensic and registration purposes. The International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) hosts the Applied Genetics in Companion Animals Workshop, which supports the standardization of genetic marker panels and genotyping for the identification of cats via comparison testing. SNP panels have been in development for many species, including the domestic cat. An ISAG approved core panel of SNPs for use in cat identification and parentage analyses is presented. SNPs (n = 121) were evaluated by different university‐based and commercial laboratories using 20 DNA samples as part of the ISAG comparison testing procedures. Different SNP genotyping technologies were examined, including DNA arrays, genotyping‐by‐sequencing and mass spectroscopy, to select a robust and efficient panel of 101 SNPs as the ISAG core panel for cats. The SNPs are distributed across all chromosomes including two on the X chromosome and an XY pseudo‐autosomal sexing marker (zinc‐finger XY; ZFXY). A population study demonstrated that the markers have an average polymorphic information content of 0.354 and a power of exclusion greater than 0.9999. The SNP panel should keep testing affordable while also allowing for the development of additional panels to monitor health, phenotypic traits, hybrid cats and highly inbred cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many dogs and cats are affected by chronic diseases that significantly impact their health and welfare and relationships with humans. Some of these diseases can be challenging to treat, and a better understanding of early-life risk factors for diseases occurring in adulthood is key to improving preventive veterinary care and husbandry practices. This article reviews early-life risk factors for obesity and chronic enteropathy, and for chronic behavioral problems, which can also be intractable with life-changing consequences. Aspects of early life in puppies and kittens that can impact the risk of adult disorders include maternal nutrition, establishment of the gut microbiome, maternal behavior, weaning, nutrition during growth, growth rate, socialization with conspecifics and humans, rehoming and neutering. Despite evidence in some species that the disorders reviewed here reflect the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), developmental programming has rarely been studied in dogs and cats. Priorities and strategies to increase knowledge of early-life risk factors and DOHaD in dogs and cats are discussed. Critical windows of development are proposed: preconception, gestation, the suckling period, early growth pre-neutering or pre-puberty, and growth post-neutering or post-puberty to adult size, the durations of which depend upon species and breed. Challenges to DOHaD research in these species include a large number of breeds with wide genetic and phenotypic variability, and the existence of many mixed-breed individuals. Moreover, difficulties in conducting prospective lifelong cohort studies are exacerbated by discontinuity in pet husbandry between breeders and subsequent owners, and by the dispersed nature of pet ownership., Competing Interests: FP and VG are employees of Royal Canin SAS. SC is a French Government Agent and head of NeoCare ENVT, a Public Research Unit. NeoCare Unit was partially funded by Royal Canin Research Division from 2012 to 2021. As such, SC has presented research results and clinical recommendations at Royal Canin-sponsored conferences. GE provides veterinary clinical advice to Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Leicestershire, UK. OF is an employee of Wisdom Panel (Kinship), a Mars Petcare Company. AG is an employee of the University of Liverpool, but his post is financially supported by Royal Canin, has received financial remuneration for providing educational material, speaking at conferences, and consultancy work from Royal Canin, and is also a member of the Guide Dogs Scientific Advisory Group. JS is an employee of the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University, which offers diagnostic testing on a fee-for-service basis, and has received speaker honoraria and consulting fees from Royal Canin SAS, Nestle Purina Petcare, ExeGI Pharma, Nutramax Laboratories, and Hill's Pet Nutrition. CV has done consulting work for a variety of pet food companies (Nestlé Purina PetCare, Royal Canin, Mars Pet Care, and Dechra Specific), has participated as an investigator in clinical trials sponsored by Royal Canin and Affinity Pet Care, develops educational materials for Morris Institute, is part of the Scientific Advisory Board of FEDIAF and a member of the Global Nutrition Committee of the WSAVA, and participates as a speaker or attendee in continuing education events sponsored or organized by Royal Canin, Nestlé Purina PetCare, and Hill's Pet Nutrition. The remaining author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer AW declared a shared affiliation with the author GE to the handling editor at the time of review., (Copyright © 2022 Gaillard, Chastant, England, Forman, German, Suchodolski, Villaverde, Chavatte-Palmer and Péron.)