What is Rreesha Eek?
Rreesha Eek - 'Small Ear' is a rare genetic disease, which causes the ears to fold over themselves rather like the ears of a Scottish Fold cat. It's mostly harmless, usually only contributing to a rather odd appearance. However, the kat is slightly more at risk of ear infections, although not greatly so.
What are the symptoms?
The disease is not apparant at birth. If a kit has Rreesha Eek, it will begin to show when he or she is about five years old. The ears will slowly bend over the course of about a year. It will not affect any part of the body other than the ears.
What causes it?
Rreesha Eek is caused by a rare recessive gene, and can only be passed from parent to kit.
How is it spread?
A kat can only contract Rreesha Eek by inheriting the gene for it from both parents. It cannot be passed from kat to kat.
Where is it found?
This disease may be found all over Tryne. It is most often found in breeds with smaller ears such as Mountains, Beaches, Tundras and Marshes, although it can appear in any species of kat.
How can it be prevented?
There is no prevention for Rreesha Eek, and because of the gene being recessive, it is not usually possible to tell which kats are carrying it.
How is it treated?
There is no known treatment. However, as stated above, Rreesha Eek is not serious, and, besides the strange appearance, it won't affect the kat any more than a slightly increased chance of ear infections due to warm, dark and damp conditions inside the ear which are ideal for bacteria. These can be prevented by bathing the ear often, then drying it thouraghly.
What are your chances of getting it?
Rreesha Eek is a very rare disease, and there is perhaps only a 3% or so chance of contracting it in most breeds, rising to about 6% in Mountains, Beaches, Tundras and Marshes. The disease does not affect minena.
Contributed by Kate Harper
