Cat glossary
The abbreviations on vet reports, the terms breeders use, and what they actually mean.
Health
- BUN 血尿素氮
- Blood urea nitrogen, a waste product filtered by the kidneys. Rises with dehydration, high protein meals or kidney disease.
- CKD 慢性肾病
- Progressive, irreversible loss of kidney function, common in older cats. Early signs are weight loss, dilute urine and raised SDMA.
- CREA 肌酐
- Creatinine, a muscle breakdown product cleared by the kidneys. A standard marker of kidney function, but late to rise.
- cryptorchid 隐睾
- A tom with one or both testicles retained in the abdomen. Inherited, so such cats should not be bred; retained testes may turn cancerous.
- FCV 猫杯状病毒
- A common cause of mouth ulcers, sneezing and lameness. Some strains cause severe systemic disease with high mortality.
- FeLV 猫白血病病毒
- A retrovirus spread by saliva and close contact that suppresses immunity and causes anaemia and lymphoma. Vaccination is available.
- FHV-1 猫疱疹病毒 1 型
- The main cause of feline herpesvirus infection: sneezing and eye disease. Latent virus reactivates during stress, causing recurrences.
- FIP 猫传染性腹膜炎
- A usually fatal disease caused by a mutated feline coronavirus. Presents as fluid in the abdomen or as neurological and eye lesions.
- FIV 猫免疫缺陷病毒
- A retrovirus that attacks the immune system, similar to HIV in people. Spread mainly by deep bite wounds between cats.
- FLUTD 猫下泌尿道疾病
- An umbrella term for bladder and urethra problems: cystitis, stones, and blockage. A blocked male cat is an emergency.
- GM1 GM1 神经节苷脂沉积症
- A rare inherited storage disease causing neurological decline in kittens, seen in Siamese and Korats. No treatment; DNA testing exists.
- HCM 肥厚型心肌病
- Commonest feline heart disease: thickened heart muscle causing murmurs, heart failure or sudden death. Screen Maine Coons and Ragdolls.
- IBD 炎症性肠病
- Chronic inflammation of the gut causing vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Diagnosed by biopsy; often managed with diet or steroids.
- PKD 多囊肾病
- An inherited kidney disease in which fluid-filled cysts replace kidney tissue. Common in Persians; a DNA test identifies carriers.
- PRA 进行性视网膜萎缩
- Inherited degeneration of the retina causing night blindness, then total blindness. DNA tests exist for many breeds.
- pyometra 子宫蓄脓
- A pus-filled uterus in an entire queen, usually after estrus. Signs include discharge, fever and collapse; treatment is emergency surgery.
- SDMA 对称二甲基精氨酸
- A kidney biomarker that rises earlier than creatinine, detecting around 40 per cent of kidney function loss rather than 75 per cent.
- T4 甲状腺素
- Thyroxine, the thyroid hormone. A raised T4 diagnoses hyperthyroidism, a common cause of weight loss and a racing heart in older cats.
- URI 上呼吸道感染
- Upper respiratory infection: sneezing, discharge, conjunctivitis and fever, usually from herpesvirus or calicivirus. Highly contagious.
breed
- agouti 刺鼠色基因
- The gene that produces banded hairs and the underlying tabby pattern. Every tabby cat is agouti; a solid cat is non-agouti.
- CFA 国际爱猫联合会
- The Cat Fanciers' Association, a US-based registry founded in 1906. Recognises a smaller, stricter list of breeds than TICA.
- cobby 短壮型
- A body type with a short, compact torso, heavy bone and broad chest, as in Persians and Manx. Contrasts with svelte and foreign types.
- colorpoint 重点色
- A pattern where colour develops only on cooler extremities — face, ears, legs and tail — because the pigment enzyme is heat-sensitive.
- FIFe 欧洲猫联合会
- Federation Internationale Feline, the main European registry, covering most of continental Europe and parts of Asia and Latin America.
- polydactyl 多趾
- Extra toes, usually on the front feet, caused by a dominant gene. Common in Maine Coons and the Key West cats; usually harmless.
- polygenes 多基因
- Many genes each with small effect, together producing traits such as size and boning. Unlike single-gene traits, they cannot be tested for.
- rumpy 无尾
- The tail-less form of the Manx, with a rounded rump. Rumpy risers have a small tail stub; the gene can cause spinal defects.
- tabby 虎斑
- A striped, spotted or swirled coat pattern, not a breed. Every cat carries tabby genes; blotched and mackerel are the classic forms.
- TICA 国际猫协会
- The International Cat Association, one of the largest registries. Publishes breed standards and runs championship and household-pet shows.
- torbie 玳瑁虎斑
- A coat combining tortoiseshell patches with tabby striping, typically in females because it needs two X chromosomes.
- WCF 世界猫联合会
- World Cat Federation, a Germany-based registry with a large European and Russian membership and its own show rules.
- wedge head 楔形头
- A head tapering from wide cheekbones to a narrow muzzle in straight lines, characteristic of Siamese and other Oriental breeds.
Behavior
- bunting 蹭头
- Pushing the head and cheek against a person or object to deposit facial scent. A greeting and an ownership claim, not aggression.
- chatter 咔咔叫
- A rapid stuttering jaw movement made at birds or insects through a window, linked to frustrated hunting excitement.
- kneading 踩奶
- Rhythmic pushing of the front paws on soft surfaces, retained from kittenhood suckling. Signals comfort; claws may extend.
- slow blink 慢眨眼
- A deliberate half-close and reopen of the eyes, read as a relaxed, non-threatening signal. Blinking back often gets the same response.
- trill 颤音
- A rolled, chirruping call used as a greeting between familiar cats, or by a mother calling kittens. Softer than a meow.
general
- estrus 发情期
- The fertile phase of the reproductive cycle, called 'in heat'. Queens may call loudly, roll, and hold their tail aside for days.
- pedigree 血统证书
- A registry document recording several generations of ancestry. It certifies parentage, not health or quality; screening tests are separate.
- queen 母猫
- A female cat used for breeding, or any entire female. In catteries the word usually implies a cat that has had or will have litters.