April 11, 2025 — Two papers based on a Morris Animal Foundation-funded study highlight important differences in disease risk between purebred and mixed-breed cats, offering valuable information for cat owners, veterinarians and researchers.
In a paper published in VetRecord in 2023, researchers from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, examined data from Agria Pet Insurance Company – the largest pet insurance provider in Sweden. The team analyzed insurance policies, claims, and breed, age, and sex data for about 550,000 cats.
The study found that purebred cats were more likely to develop diseases across most categories compared to domestic crossbreeds. Disease categories with the highest relative risk for purebred cats included:
- Female reproductive issues
- Heart disease
- Complications from surgery
- Lower respiratory infections
- Immunological diseases
"This study’s findings provide important insight for cat owners, veterinarians, breeders and researchers," said Dr. Barr Hadar, one of the papers' authors. "Information on feline disease frequency and risk is a valuable tool that can guide clinical decisions, breeding plans and education efforts."
Interestingly, the study also found that domestic crossbred cats were more likely than purebreds to develop endocrine, skin and mobility issues. “One potential explanation is that domestic cats might have greater access to the outdoors, leading to more injuries, skin conditions and movement-related issues,” Hadar said. He also noted that some purebred cats may be at lower risk for hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus — the two main causes of endocrine disease in cats.
Building on this work, a second paper recently published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science applied machine learning models to the same insurance dataset. Researchers developed prediction tools that forecast the risk of several common diseases in cats based on breed, age and sex.
The diseases modeled included:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hyperthyroidism
- Chronic kidney disease
The models accurately predicted disease risk across many cat breeds, providing a tool to help veterinarians and owners identify high-risk cats earlier. “Our predictive models could be used to personalize veterinary care and help owners make better health decisions for their cats,” said Hadar.
Together, these findings offer new ways to understand feline health, showing both the differences in disease risk between purebred and mixed-breed cats, and the potential of predictive tools to improve early detection and care.
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