DSS : Double Silky Syndrome

DSS is a lethal syndrome known in Shedu cats that can happen in Silky Maned Offspring. So far it has only been located from breeding where both parents have a Silky mane gene, thusly producing offspring who receive two copies of the Silky gene, giving it the name "Double Silky Syndrome".

No testing of living animals is needed, as all cubs who have been born with two copies of the Silky Gene have been stillborn. Any living Silky mane Shedu is a carrier of a single copy of the gene and is considered to be perfectly healthy with their one gene.

(In game this means, that admins will notify you if your cub is still born due to DSS.) 


Notice that at this time it is thought that Silky Singtoo and Silky Komainu manes are to be modifications of the Silky gene, and thusly, its thought that pairings with these are also deemed unsafe.

( Silky x Silky Singtoo / Silky Singtoo x Silky Singtoo / Silky x Silky Komainu / etc. )


As there was no adverse effects found during the initial case study HELIX published that there was no just cause to not breed a silky to silky.

Cub Statuses :

DSS = cub either stillborn, or died a few hours after birth.

Silky Maned Cubs with DSS Siblings = healthy cats that may possess only one copy of the silky mane gene.

It has been noted that Rapunzel Mane Shedus seem to not share the DSS as other Silky Manes are thought to.

Thusly many breeders have started breeding Rapunzel to Silky maned Shedus in attempts to avoid DSS mutating into further generations.

THIS IS AN ASSUMPTION and thus, breeding strategy is yet unconfirmed.

For the Ease of Reading:

The silky mutation is a defect located on the locus responsible for the mane and tail hair.

It has appeared in the lineage when two specific individuals breed without any silky individuals within their lineage - confirmed.

When these individuals were genetically tested they showed no signs of this anomaly on the identified locus.

Upon further testing on their silky offspring the faulty gene was located on the locus in its heterozygous form and no health issues were recorded in the individual except for the dominant white displaying on a brown base (causing deafness) - Deff Leppard.


As there was no adverse effects found during the initial case study HELIX published that there was no just cause to not breed a silky to silky.


This was widely believed until stillborn and weak silky cubs - from a litter produced by two silky parents began appearing in OESR shedus. The Elsevier donated Test Subject 19 to identify the cause of death.


TS-19 ;
 newborn female that died suddenly without identifiable cause at 2 hours, one minute and seven seconds.

Silky mutation - confirmed.

Status of parents - both display the silky hair mutation.

Heterozygous for Silky - confirmed for both sire and dam.


Status of Silky mutation of TS-19 - Homozygous.

Cause of death - unconfirmed but believed to be linked to her homozygous status of the Silky gene.


Further tests were conducted on TS-19 and other individuals - all showed poor health, low or no immune system even after ingesting the colostrum from the Mother or was born stillborn - all were tested and all found to be homozygous for the silky mutation allele on the Mane and Tail Locus. Cubs born blind and/or deaf caused by homozygous silky - unconfirmed but speculated. Similarities seen in Double Merle individuals in certain breeds of dogs - Helix needs to expand testing on the Silky gene and underlining factors.

With the overwhelming evidence supporting the theory that the presence of homozygous silky causes stillborn cubs, sickly cubs or sudden death syndrome in seemingly healthy individuals, Helix amends its previous statement and advises all breeders to avoid breeding silky to silky when possible.