Q: We got Daisy, a two-year-old female cat, from a
rescue centre who didn’t know much about her life before coming to them.
Daisy has a very droopy tummy, it’s quite close to the floor. She isn’t
overweight and everything else about her is fine apart from her stomach
hanging. Is this because of her having kittens early in life or could
it be something worse?
Sarah Willis, North Shields
Vet Rory Thomson, from St. Clair Veterinary Care, in Blyth
A: Many cats have this sagging abdominal skin known
as the primordial pouch. It is more prominent in some cat breeds, such
as the Bengal, so genetics influence the shape and size of it.
Environmental factors such as excess fat storage and loss of skin
elasticity as the cat ages can also affect the appearance, making the
pouch sag lower.
Fighting cats often kick their opponents
abdomen with their hind legs and this extra layer of skin provides some
protection against injury. The extra skin also allows more flexibility
and freedom of movement when a cat is running and jumping.
If you
look at some of the big cats, you will notice they also have this layer
of sagging skin. One theory is that this saggy skin enables the stomach
to stretch in the wild ancestors of our domestic cat as they consume
larger, more irregular meals.
As long as this droopy tummy just
feels like excessive skin with no lumps or bumps and is not causing any
pain or discomfort, it is unlikely to be anything to worry about. If,
however, the whole abdomen is drooping it is worth getting it checked
out by a vet as abdominal distension would be more concerning. It may
reduce in size with good nutrition and exercise as this may help tighten
some of the excess skin while promoting loss of excessive fat.
Please
note that advice in this section is for general guidance, and if your
pet is very unwell you should contact your veterinary surgeon as soon as
possible as this advice does not replace the need for a clinical
examination of your pet.
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