By Arna Cohen and Karen E. Lange
It began with selective breeding to achieve large eyes in Persian cats.
This created a skull that nature would never have produced: a face as flat as a pancake that can saddle cats with a lifetime of poor health and pain.
Breeding has led to mutations in the cranium: wider, shallower heads and dramatically shortened muzzles and jaws. Modern cat show standards set by the Cat Fanciers’ Association require that the forehead, nose and chin in profile appear to be in vertical alignment, with the break of the nose centered between the eyes.
The medical term for this unnatural shape is brachycephalic, Greek for “short head.” Just as with flat-faced dogs, Persian cats and related breeds, such as Himalayan, exotic shorthair, Burmese and British shorthair, often suffer from genetically linked health problems such as respiratory and heart issues, dental disease, and eye and skin conditions. They can also struggle simply to breathe, a condition known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
Their nasal openings are so small that they’re basically breathing through a straw.”
Dr. Ashlie Saffire, Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic
“Their nasal openings are so small that they’re basically breathing through a straw,” says Dr. Ashlie Saffire, a veterinarian and feline specialist at Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic in Dublin, Ohio. “Add that to a really short muzzle and [often] an elongated soft palate, this leads to breathing problems as well.”
Humane World for Animals and Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance both condemn breeding for these traits, says Danielle Bays, Humane World senior program manager for cat protection.
Some owners assume their cat’s wheezing, snorting and snoring are simply normal for the breed. But none of this is “normal,” Saffire says.
Chouchou’s happy ending
Hannah Shaw/KittenLady.org
In February 2022, Hannah Shaw, known as the “Kitten Lady,” took in a brachycephalic 5-day-old white Persian, Chouchou, who weighed only 60 grams. The kitten’s palate was completely open to his nasal cavity. He couldn’t be bottle-fed due to the risk of formula getting into his lungs, so Shaw had to tube feed him every two hours.
Over the next nine months, Chouchou endured the removal of his upper molars and premolars, a five-hour surgery to fix his cleft palate and additional procedures to refine the surgical site so he could eat normally. Shaw warned her followers on her Facebook page: “His story is about why no one should ever, ever support the breeding of Persian cats.”
Three years later, Chouchou underwent yet another surgery, this time to enlarge his undersized nostrils to improve his airflow. He will need more dental extractions so his teeth align properly and he can chew his food effectively. But Shaw has managed to give him the life she believes all cats deserve, “to be able to eat, to breathe, to walk, to jump, to play.”
How to care for your brachycephalic cat
nickpo/Getty Images
If you own a Persian or other flat-faced cat breed or choose to adopt one, learn about the breed and find a vet who specializes in cats, Saffire says.
Your cat may tire easily and be prone to inactivity and weight gain, she says. What looks like an easy-going disposition may instead be trouble breathing and fatigue from heart problems. You should understand that flattened skulls mean tear ducts don’t develop normally, and teeth don’t have enough space to come in properly.
Our experts suggest these strategies to maintain your cat’s health:
- Monitor your cat’s weight. If it starts increasing, slowly and steadily reduce the amount fed and add or increase gentle play with your cat.
- Watch for weakness in your cat’s back legs, which could be a sign of joint issues.
- Keep your cat cool and dry in hot, humid weather and avoid air travel.
- Carefully clean the area around your cat’s eyes, where tears may spill onto the face and irritate the skin. Also clean and dry the folds in your cat’s face.
- Check your cat’s teeth for overcrowding or possible signs of dental disease.
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