Our Commitment to Health and Well-Being

The health, comfort, safety, temperament, and overall well-being of my cats and kittens are at the heart of everything I do.

I take my responsibilities as a breeder very seriously and do everything humanly possible to give each kitten the healthiest and happiest possible beginning. Every cat and kitten in my care is raised in a clean, safe, loving, and nurturing environment. I provide high-quality nutrition, attentive daily care, appropriate veterinary care, enrichment, affection, and careful socialization.

I closely observe each kitten’s appetite, growth, activity level, behavior, physical condition, and general development before the kitten is permitted to leave my care. My goal is to place healthy, confident, well-socialized kittens with families who understand that welcoming a kitten is both a privilege and a lifelong commitment.

Despite every reasonable precaution, no breeder can see inside a living animal or foresee every condition that may arise. A kitten may appear completely healthy while carrying an internal condition that is not visible to the naked eye and cannot be detected during a routine veterinary examination. Some conditions produce no symptoms during kittenhood, while others may not develop or become detectable until adolescence, adulthood, or the senior years.

Responsible Breeding and Genetic Diversity

Every breeding decision at Kyatwo Birmans is made thoughtfully and responsibly. I carefully research pedigrees and select breeding cats from diverse bloodlines to support genetic diversity and the long-term health and vitality of my breeding program. Consideration is given to each cat’s health, temperament, physical qualities, pedigree, family history, and compatibility with a potential breeding partner.

Genetic diversity is an important component of responsible breeding, but it cannot eliminate all potential health risks. All living creatures carry genetic variations. Even kittens produced from carefully selected, healthy parents with diverse pedigrees may develop a hereditary, congenital, developmental, infectious, immune-mediated, or acquired medical condition.

Some conditions may occur spontaneously without having been identified in either parent or anywhere within the known pedigree. Others may be influenced by a combination of genetics, immune response, age, environment, stress, exposure, and factors that veterinary medicine does not yet fully understand. No pedigree—regardless of how carefully researched—can guarantee lifelong health.

Conditions That May Not Be Visible or Predictable

Potential health concerns may include, but are not limited to:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other forms of heart disease
Feline infectious peritonitis and other infectious illnesses
Congenital or developmental abnormalities
Kidney, liver, digestive, respiratory, or urinary tract disease
Neurological, seizure, immune-mediated, or autoimmune disorders
Cancer, abnormal growths, allergies, or chronic inflammatory conditions
Eye, dental, joint, bone, mobility, reproductive, or hormonal conditions
Adverse reactions to food, medication, vaccination, or anesthesia
Unidentified hereditary conditions or conditions arising spontaneously without a known or preventable cause
This list is not exhaustive. Veterinary knowledge continues to develop, and not every feline illness has a known cause, reliable screening test, preventive measure, or predictable outcome. Physical examinations, bloodwork, imaging, cardiac evaluations, genetic testing, and other diagnostic procedures are valuable tools, but all have limitations. A cat may have normal findings at one examination and develop a detectable abnormality months or years later.

If I become aware of a known health concern that may materially affect a kitten before placement, I will communicate that information honestly. However, I cannot disclose, diagnose, or predict a condition of which I have no knowledge and which has produced no visible symptoms or detectable findings.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM is a condition in which the muscular walls of the heart—most commonly the left ventricle—become abnormally thickened. This thickening can interfere with the heart’s ability to relax, fill properly, and pump blood efficiently. The severity and progression of HCM vary considerably. Some affected cats may live for years without noticeable symptoms, while others may eventually develop congestive heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, blood clots, breathing difficulties, weakness, collapse, or sudden death.

One of the greatest challenges associated with HCM is that an affected cat may appear completely healthy. Some cats have no visible symptoms, and a routine veterinary examination may not reveal the condition. A heart murmur may sometimes be detected, but not every cat with HCM has a murmur, and not every heart murmur is caused by HCM.

What HCM Screening Can—and Cannot—Tell Us

An echocardiogram performed and interpreted by a veterinary cardiologist is one of the most valuable tools available for evaluating the structure and function of a cat’s heart. However, an HCM screening provides information about the condition of the heart only at the time the examination is performed. A normal result means that no evidence of HCM was detected on that particular date; it does not provide a lifetime guarantee.

HCM can develop at different ages and stages of life. A cat may receive a normal cardiac screening when young and develop detectable changes months or years later. The age of onset, progression, and severity cannot be predicted with certainty. For this reason, even a kitten produced by two parents with normal cardiac screening results may develop HCM later in life.

HCM is believed to have a hereditary component in certain cats and breeds, but its inheritance can be complex. The absence of known HCM in the parents or pedigree does not eliminate the possibility that a kitten may eventually develop the disease. Genetic tests identify only specific known variants in certain breeds; they do not rule out every possible genetic or non-genetic cause of feline HCM and cannot replace an appropriate cardiac evaluation.

No breeder, veterinarian, echocardiogram, genetic test, or pedigree analysis can predict with absolute certainty whether a cat—or any offspring it produces—will remain free from HCM throughout its lifetime. The later development of HCM does not necessarily mean that a breeder failed to screen responsibly, ignored a known condition, or could have predicted the diagnosis. It reflects the limitations of veterinary medicine and the biological uncertainty involved in breeding and caring for living animals.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Feline infectious peritonitis, commonly known as FIP, is a complex illness associated with feline coronavirus. Feline coronavirus is widespread among cats and, in most cases, causes no symptoms or only mild, temporary digestive or respiratory symptoms. Exposure to feline coronavirus does not mean that a cat has FIP or will ever develop FIP.

In a small percentage of cats, changes involving the virus and the individual cat’s immune response may lead to the development of FIP. The disease may occur in an effusive or ‘wet’ form, involving an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or chest; a non-effusive or ‘dry’ form, which may affect organs and other tissues; or a form involving the eyes or nervous system. Some cats show characteristics of more than one form.

Possible signs include a persistent fever, reduced appetite, weight loss, lethargy, poor growth, abdominal swelling, breathing difficulty, anemia, jaundice, eye inflammation, weakness, lack of coordination, seizures, or other neurological changes. These symptoms are not unique to FIP and may also occur with many other illnesses, which can make diagnosis challenging.

Why FIP Cannot Be Reliably Predicted

There is no simple routine test that can examine a healthy kitten and reliably predict whether that kitten will develop FIP in the future. A positive feline coronavirus test shows only that a cat has been exposed to coronavirus; it does not establish that the cat has FIP or will later develop the disease. Likewise, a negative result at one point in time cannot guarantee that a cat will never be exposed.

A kitten may appear completely healthy when it leaves the cattery and develop FIP weeks, months, or, less commonly, years later. Neither a breeder nor a veterinarian can foresee which apparently healthy cat will develop the disease. FIP can occur even when kittens have been carefully bred, properly nourished, raised in a clean environment, examined by a veterinarian, and provided with excellent care.

Because FIP results from a complicated interaction involving the virus, the individual cat’s immune response, genetics, age, environment, stress, and other factors, an unforeseen diagnosis is not necessarily evidence of negligent breeding, inadequate care, poor sanitation, concealment, or a condition that a breeder could reasonably have detected or prevented before placement.

FIP Is Now Treatable—and Often Curable

For many years, a diagnosis of FIP was considered almost invariably fatal. Major advances in antiviral treatment have dramatically changed that outlook. FIP is now a treatable disease, and many appropriately diagnosed cats can achieve sustained clinical remission and may be considered cured after completing treatment and the required veterinary follow-up. A diagnosis of FIP is therefore no longer automatically a death sentence.

GS-441524 is one of the antiviral medications that has transformed the treatment of FIP. A compounded oral formulation of GS-441524 can now be legally prescribed by veterinarians in the United States. Other antiviral protocols, including remdesivir in appropriate circumstances, may also be considered by the treating veterinarian.

Successful treatment depends on several factors, including:

Obtaining an accurate diagnosis and beginning appropriate treatment promptly
The form, severity, and progression of the disease
Whether the eyes or nervous system are involved
Selecting the appropriate medication, dosage, and length of treatment
Administering every dose consistently and exactly as directed
Monitoring the cat through veterinary examinations and laboratory testing
The cat’s overall health and individual response to therapy
Recognizing and addressing complications, inadequate response, or relapse
Although treatment outcomes are often very encouraging, no medication can guarantee recovery in every case. Some cats may already be critically ill when diagnosed, may have neurological or ocular involvement requiring a different approach, may experience complications, or may not respond as expected. Relapse or treatment resistance may also occur in some cases.

FIP remains a serious condition requiring prompt veterinary care, but families receiving this diagnosis now have genuine reason for hope. Many treated cats recover and go on to enjoy healthy, happy lives.

Any cat suspected of having FIP should be evaluated by a veterinarian without delay. Early recognition and prompt treatment can be extremely important. Owners should not attempt to diagnose or treat FIP without veterinary guidance or obtain medication from unverified sources, because the identity, concentration, quality, purity, and safety of such products may be uncertain.

Health Changes After a Kitten Leaves the Cattery

Once a kitten leaves Kyatwo Birmans, many factors outside my control may influence its health and development. These may include the stress of leaving its mother and littermates, travel, changes in food or water, exposure to unfamiliar animals, parasites, viruses, bacteria, household hazards, toxic plants, chemicals, injuries, accidents, vaccination reactions, improper nutrition, or delayed veterinary treatment.

Moving into a new home can temporarily affect a kitten’s appetite, digestion, behavior, energy level, and immune response. New owners are responsible for carefully following the feeding and transition instructions provided, maintaining a safe indoor environment, arranging timely veterinary examinations, continuing recommended vaccinations and parasite prevention, and promptly obtaining veterinary care whenever a concern arises.

Because I cannot control a kitten’s environment, nutrition, exposure, veterinary care, or daily supervision after it leaves my care, I cannot accept responsibility for every illness, injury, infection, or medical condition that arises or becomes apparent after placement, except as specifically provided in the signed sales contract.

Understanding the Nature of Living Creatures

Cats and kittens are living creatures—not manufactured products. Their bodies, immune systems, genetic inheritance, and responses to their environments are individual and complex. No ethical breeder can truthfully promise that a kitten will never become ill or guarantee that it will live for a particular number of years.

The health of a living creature can change unexpectedly even when that animal has received excellent nutrition, careful breeding, appropriate health screening, attentive veterinary care, and a loving home. An unforeseen diagnosis does not automatically mean that a breeder acted irresponsibly, concealed information, or could have predicted or prevented the condition.

Financial Responsibility and Veterinary Expenses

Although I make every reasonable effort to breed and place healthy, well-adjusted kittens, I cannot guarantee that a cat or kitten will remain free from every illness, disease, congenital abnormality, hereditary condition, developmental problem, or other medical concern throughout its lifetime.

Unless expressly stated otherwise in the signed sales contract, Kyatwo Birmans does not provide financial reimbursement for:

Veterinary examinations, consultations, or emergency treatment
Diagnostic tests, bloodwork, imaging, or specialist evaluations
Medication, prescription diets, hospitalization, or supportive care
Surgery, procedures, or ongoing management of a medical condition
Treatment or monitoring for HCM, FIP, or any other illness or disease
Travel, transportation, lost wages, emotional distress, or related expenses
The loss of a cat or kitten due to an unforeseen illness, disease, accident, or medical complications
The decision to proceed with diagnostic testing, treatment, hospitalization, surgery, or specialist care is made between the kitten’s owner and the attending veterinarian. Those decisions and their associated costs remain the responsibility of the owner unless the signed sales contract specifically states otherwise.

A veterinary diagnosis or the later development of a medical condition does not automatically establish that the condition was present, detectable, inherited, preventable, or known before the kitten left the cattery.

Pet Health Insurance

New owners are strongly encouraged to obtain comprehensive pet health insurance as soon as possible after bringing their kitten home and before any illness, symptom, or medical concern is documented. Insurance companies may exclude pre-existing conditions or impose waiting periods.

Pet ownership includes both emotional and financial responsibilities. Veterinary emergencies, chronic illnesses, accidents, and unexpected diagnoses can occur at any age and may involve substantial expense. Every prospective owner should be financially prepared to provide appropriate veterinary care throughout the cat’s lifetime.

Our Continuing Commitment

This policy does not lessen my dedication to responsible breeding or diminish how deeply I care about every kitten born at Kyatwo Birmans. I remain committed to thoughtful breeding decisions, diverse pedigrees, health screening, honest communication, responsible placement, and providing each kitten with the very best beginning within my ability.

It simply acknowledges an unavoidable biological reality: despite careful breeding, attentive care, veterinary examinations, health screening, thoughtful pedigree selection, excellent nutrition, and the very best intentions, the future health of any living creature can never be predicted or guaranteed with absolute certainty.

The specific rights, responsibilities, guarantees, limitations, and remedies applicable to the purchase of a Kyatwo Birman kitten are outlined in the written sales contract signed by the breeder and buyer.

Veterinary Information Sources

The medical information in this statement is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. Owners should consult their veterinarian or a veterinary specialist regarding the health of an individual cat.

Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: ‘Feline Infectious Peritonitis’ and ‘FIP Treatment GS-441524—Now Available in the U.S.’