New information and research has shown that this disease does indeed exist in the cat and is likely an inherited disorder. No single gene is thought to be responsible for hip dysplasia in either the dog or the cat, but rather a complex interplay of several genetic factors is involved. We do know that if a cat or dog is found to have hip dysplasia, then both its parents must be either affected or carriers of the defect. Using new information, cat breeders are able to develop breeding programs to minimize the incidence of this problem in their breed. Hip dysplasia is a disease of the hip joint.
Dysplasia is a word that means abnormal development of a tissue.
The hip is a ball and socket type of joint. A normal joint has a close fit of the femur s head into the acetabulum, so that the joint functions smoothly and efficiently. The large muscles of the hip and pelvis help hold the joint in place and allow it to function properly. In hip dysplasia, parts of the hip joint are abnormally shaped, so that the fit of the ball into the socket is poor. Over time, chronic changes develop in the bones of the hip joint from this abnormal movement and degenerative joint disease may result.