Thursday, July 28, 2016

Ask a Vet: Why does my cat have a droopy tummy?


Claudia who has been at at Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter since March 2015
A cat at Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter

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
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.

source 

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