Caring for cats with brachycephaly
As a current, new or hopeful owner of a flat-faced cat, having the right information can help you give your pet a better chance at a happier life. Caring for a brachycephalic cat is a big responsibility; they can suffer from many health issues that may impact you both financially and emotionally.
On this page, you’ll learn more about cats with brachycephaly, how best to care for them and the most common issues they experience.
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Cats with brachycephaly
Brachycephalic cats are also commonly referred to as ‘flat-faced cats’ or as having ‘squished faces’. They’ve been intentionally bred to have a shortened skull, which causes their distinctive appearance, via selective breeding; choosing a desired characteristic and reproducing this as a way to ensure it’s passed onto kittens.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is the term used to describe breathing problems that are a result of this skull shape. BOAS can cause lifelong health conditions, and many cats with flat faces experience health and welfare problems. They often require regular veterinary treatment and are sometimes even euthanised to end their suffering. Cats often hide their pain and discomfort, so noticing they are suffering can be difficult.
Important information
All animals with BOAS require extra care and attention, as the health issues that extreme conformations like brachycephaly cause can result in lifelong suffering. Some may be more apparent, like breathing issues, while others may be subtle or appear later in life, such as dental problems.
Cats with natural features are able to interact with their environment displaying a full range of normal behaviours. Brachycephalic cats experience chronic pain and behavioural inhibition creating a social silence.
General cat care advice
The best thing you can do for your cat, regardless of whether they’re brachycephalic, is to keep your eye on them, monitor any changes to their behaviour or everyday functioning, and try to make them as happy and comfortable as possible. To do this:
- Take them for regular vet checks: Even if there are no apparent problems – some issues are harder to spot
- Monitor their breathing: Reach out to your vet for advice on breathing issue management
- Keep them cool when it’s hot: Brachycephalic animals overheat more easily, so keep them out of the sun and ensure they’re hydrated
- Keep their weight down: With a healthy diet and the right amount of exercise – consult your vet on their specific needs
- Check their skin regularly: Ensure they’re clean and dry, keeping an eye out for any infections
- Check their teeth regularly: Take them for regular dental checkups
- Get to know your cat’s normal behaviour: The more you know your cat and their body language, the more likely you’ll notice if something is out of the ordinary
- Seek professional advice: If anything seems unusual, you think your cat might be suffering, or you have any concern or uncertainty about their brachycephaly, contact your vet
Could your cat suffer from brachycephaly?
Subtle signs that your cat may be suffering from problems which occur with brachycephaly include:
- Noisy breathing such as snorting or snoring
- Laboured breathing
- Difficulty sleeping
- Exercise intolerance
- Gagging, retching or vomiting
- Collapse or fainting
- Skin issues
- Eyes issues
- Dental issues
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Watering eyes
- Changes in their eating habits (e.g. avoiding their usual foods)
Common brachycephalic cat issues
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is the clinical term to describe breathing difficulties that occur due to a shortened muzzle and flattened face. Cats with brachycephaly have the normal amount of soft tissue in the mouth and throat, but in a much smaller space due to their shortened skulls. This restricts movement of air when breathing. Specific physical features include narrow nostrils, a long soft palate and a narrow windpipe.
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BOAS symptoms can be difficult to spot in cats, but common signs include:
- Noisy breathing (wheezing, rasping, snorting or snoring)
- Disrupted sleep
- Increased breathing effort
- Collapse or fainting, especially after playing or exercise
- Open-mouth breathing
- Coughing, gagging, retching or vomiting
If you think your cat is suffering from BOAS, contact your vet.
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When caring for cats with brachycephaly:
- Be extra cautious during warm weather: Try to encourage cats to stay indoors, or somewhere cool, during the hottest parts of the day. Keep them cool by ensuring they have access to plenty of shade and water.
- Regular grooming: Their facial structure can make this difficult for them, especially around the back legs
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Many vets offer weight check appointments and advice with a veterinary nurse to help support their healthy weight loss
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Dental problems
While dental issues can affect all animals, cats with brachycephaly are more likely to suffer from them, compared to those with normal-length skulls. This is due to overcrowding in the mouth. They have the same number of teeth but a much smaller jaw, so the teeth overlap or don’t erupt, causing periodontal disease (infection and inflammation of the gums and teeth).
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Symptoms of dental problems include:
- Pawing at the mouth
- Head shaking
- Jaw chattering
- Dropping food when eating
- Difficulty eating (they may chew on one side only)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Drooling
- Bad breath
- Red/bleeding gums
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
- Plaque and tartar on the teeth
- Wobbly teeth
- Facial swelling
If you think your cat is suffering from dental problems, contact your vet.
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Clean your cat’s teeth daily, just like we do ours. Many vets offer dental clinics, sharing teeth cleaning advice and demonstrations. The advice on cleaning dogs’ teeth here also applies to cats.
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Eye conditions
Brachycephalic animals are at increased risk of eye problems, such as ulceration, dry eyes, eyelash growth abnormalities, and physical trauma to the eye as they’re more susceptible to injury. Left untreated, vision can be permanently impaired. Research has found that 15.3% of Persian cats were diagnosed with eye problems, making this the second most prevalent disorder after coat problems such as matting.
The term Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome (BOS) is used to describe eye problems that occur due to an animal's skull shape. As the skull shape is flattened, the eye socket becomes shallow, causing the eyes to bulge forward. This means the eyelids don’t properly cover the eyes when the animal blinks, reducing protection and lubrication.
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Symptoms of eye conditions include:
- Rubbing their eyes
- Discharge
- Irritation
- Blinking/winking frequently
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Cloudy eyes
- Watery eyes and excessive tear production (often shown by brown stained fur in the corner of the eye)
If you think your cat is suffering from eye conditions, contact your vet.
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Check your cat’s eyes each day, to monitor for any problems or changes. Clean around their eyes using a damp cloth and cooled boiled water or saline, and clean their paws after time outside to remove any irritants that may transfer to the eye when scratching.
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Skin disease
Brachycephalic animals are more likely to suffer with skin disease such as skin fold dermatitis.
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Symptoms of skin disease include:
- Itching, scratching, rubbing the body against objects or surfaces
- Hair loss
- Redness
- Odours from the skin
If you think your cat is suffering from skin disease, contact your vet.
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Clean and dry in between skin folds daily, using cooled boiled water or saline and a clean cloth. If this doesn’t help, contact your vet for advice.
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Difficulty giving birth
It’s been reported that brachycephalic cats are be less able to give birth naturally, due to the size of their pelvis; it may be too small to accommodate the larger head sizes of their kittens. This means that babies can’t pass through without medical or surgical treatment. There’s little research available on brachycephalic cats and birth difficulties, however this is a common health problem in dogs.
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Symptoms of difficult births include:
- Prolonged contractions without delivery
- Long gaps between delivery of each offspring in the litter
- Black or green discharge from the vulva
- Prolonged gestation
Difficulty giving birth is a veterinary emergency. If you think your cat is suffering from any of these signs, contact your vet immediately.
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We don't support breeding animals with extreme conformations unless it’s part of a strategic outcrossing programme conducted to improve the health and welfare of future generations. Anyone considering breeding from their cat should conduct comprehensive health and conformational screening tests and work closely with their veterinary surgeon.
There are hundreds of cats in our care who need loving homes. If you are looking for a specific type of kitten, they may already be here.
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