Recent studies by the International Congress of Feline Pathologists (ICFP) are showing that genetic changes in the “deep brain” of common domestic cats are altering their instinctive behavior in ways that threaten the long term survival of the whole species.
It is widely accepted that cats domesticated themselves thousands of years ago when, motivated by the rats, mice, and other vermin cohabiting with humans, they came first into our graineries and, eventually, into our homes. As time passed the cats first lost their fear of humans, then came to trust them, later to have affection for them; then, in the later stages of domestication, to feel superior to them, culminating in the apparent complete disdain for humans seen in the current generation of adult domestic cats. The changing nature of the feline/human relationship took place over millennia and was accompanied by genetic changes that from generation to generation hard-wired domestic behavior into cats. This is how predators became pooties.
The ground breaking study just released by the ICFP points to evidence that the shift in gene-driven behavior has not stopped. There is now a growing body of scientific data that shows a new behavioral trend is emerging that, left unaddressed, will mean death by malnutrition of all domestic cats. This is happening now — all three of my cats are affected.
BDIMS (pronounced ‘Beedums’ by researchers of feline genetic based behavior) stands for —
Brushing Deficiency Induced Malnutrition Syndrome
Since the invention of the modern hair brush by Giuseppe Boyardee in 1473, humans have brushed their cats. This seemingly innocuous activity was ignored by researchers until the emergence of ‘fluffy’ breeds, like Persians, in the mid 19th century. This was shown by Dr. Jean Poole, in her 1921 paper, to be the result of genetic evolution driven by human brushing of the affected population.
Dr. Poole’s groundbreaking paper, “Genetic Effects of Sustained Mechanical Manipulation of Feline Follicles”, marked a new era in feline studies and raising the question: if a physical characteristic of a feline population could become genetically altered by interaction with humans, might it be possible that instinctive feline behavior, such as stalking, pouncing and narcissistic reverie, could be altered in the same way, or even that new behaviors could emerge? Now work done by Dr. Claude Foote and Prof. Drew Blood for the ICFP has brought us a troubling answer.
BDIMS is a subtle disease; the behavior that leads to it, like smoking in humans, usually begins in young adulthood. It starts with hand petting, which along with feeding, probably represents the first human/feline interactions. Through the ages hand petting has affected feline behavior in only positive ways. It is when some young adult cats are brushed that they begin to show an obsessive/compulsive reaction. This does not manifest itself gradually in cats at risk for BDIMS, they instead seem to be instantly addicted to being brushed. The almost immediate onset of this behavior is indicative that it is not learned, but rather originates from a pre-existing obsession with being brushed that, according to the Foote-Blood paper, is passed genetically and is emerging in feline populations world-wide.
As the brushing continues over a period of weeks, or sometimes only days, the affected cat will demand to be brushed with increasing frequency, often requiring as many as 11 sessions per day and as many as 109 strokes (another finding of the Foote-Blood paper is that cats prefer prime numbers). As the need to be brushed gains control, the cat becomes unable to begin eating without receiving ‘priming brushies’ and eventually must be brushed continuously while eating or drinking. It is in this stage that the cat becomes vulnerable to BDIMS.
BDIMS is disease of starvation. Able to take nourishment only while being brushed, the affected cat may, at first, maintain their health, but as time passes the risks increase. Typical cases take one of two courses. In the first the food/brushy provider’s ability to provide the stimulation required in order for the cat to eat degrades due to fatigue (cats in the latter stages typically require brushing hourly all night long). As the provider’s fatigue level increases their ability to maintain gainful employment decreases. This results in a downward spiral resulting in severe malnutrition for both the cat and their human provider.
The second path taken by the disease is faster paced. In these cases the human providers abandon the cat either by turning them out of the home or, in some rare cases, the provider themselves leave. In either the case the cat is left without appetite stimulation and the onset of malnutrition is rapid.
The fight against BDIMS begins, like many fights do, at home and the first step is to “just say NO”. It is true that most cats have no conception of that word but we must persist in in our efforts and break their hearts in order to save their lives.