Squish face cat skin#
The depth of these folds prevents adequate cleaning by the cat, which can lead to bacterial and/or fungal skin infections. Severely brachycephalic cats often have deep, excessive skin folds on their faces. These cats often cannot bite and chew properly, leading to dental problems and difficulty eating. The malformation of the head in brachycephalic cats can affect the jaw, causing the teeth and jaw to be misaligned. Other problems for flat-faced cats Flat-faced cats, like the British Shorthair, face dental issues, too. There is no data for brachycephalic cats however, the similarities in facial conformation between brachycephalic dogs and cats gives one pause. are very low, brachycephalic dogs are at significantly higher risk for death compared with other breeds. This does not come naturally to cats, and affected cats clearly are miserable.Ī study of pets and air travel revealed that while incidences of pet loss, death, illness or injury aboard flights in the U.S. If a respiratory infection occurs, the smallest bit of nasal discharge is enough to completely occlude their tiny nostrils, forcing these cats to breathe through their mouths. Because these cats are born this way, they usually learn to adapt to a life of respiratory hardship, but many of these cats are obviously uncomfortable. In addition to tiny, little nostrils, they often have very narrow nasal passages and a longer-than-normal soft palate. Affected cats have difficulty breathing, mainly due to stenotic nares, the medical term for extremely narrow nostrils. The most significant concern is a condition called brachycephalic airway syndrome, a condition commonly found in flat-faced cat breeds. Persistent tear staining and an increased incidence of eye infection is the result.īreathing bothers for smushed-face cats Himalayans have flat, or brachycephalic, faces. In flat-faced cats, the path of the tear ducts is abnormal due to the changes in the shape of the skull, making tears unable to drain properly.
Normally, the tear ducts drain the tears from the eyes into the nasal cavity. Persistent eye discharge is also frequently seen in brachycephalic cats. It’s an uncomfortable condition that requires surgical intervention. These cats may develop keratitis (corneal inflammation), and it may predispose Persians to a condition called corneal sequestrum, in which black pigment develops on the cornea. When they blink, their eyelids often do not close completely, resulting in increased exposure of the cornea. Photography ©Getty Images.īrachycephalic cats have large, protruding eyes. Eye issues in flat-faced cats Persians are among the flat-faced cat breeds. Sadly, this has resulted in severely brachycephalic cats with markedly malformed heads and a variety of medical issues. In the last several years, some flat-faced cats, or brachycephalic cats, have been bred with flatter and flatter faces, perhaps in a misguided attempt to create the next “internet celebrity” cat. Their look is unmistakable: short muzzles, flat faces and big, bulging eyes. These breeds are known as brachycephalic breeds. Their medical issues, however, make them more of a nightmare. Their sweet personalities and calm temperaments make them a dream. As a doctor in a cats-only practice, I love seeing Persian, Himalayan and Burmese cats.
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