#Squish face cat skin#

The research confirmed that flatter-faced cats (of breeds such as the Persian or Exotic Shorthair), were more likely to have breathing problems and that the breathing difficulties were also associated with increased tear staining and a more sedentary lifestyle.Ī previous paper, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS) 2 showed dramatically, and graphically, how the skulls of brachycephalic cats are actually deformed, especially the nose and jaw (picture 4). The University of Edinburgh study, published in the journal PLOS ONE – saw hundreds of owners submitting photographs of their cats and completing a detailed health survey so that researchers could measure the facial features of the cats and assess breathing abnormalities (noisy breathing or difficulty breathing after exercise). This has been a common problem in many brachycephalic breeds of dog such as the pug and bulldog, but there have been increasing calls from veterinary and welfare organisations to recognise the suffering this causes in both dogs and cats. Impaired breathing in these animals – part of a condition called brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) – can lead to health problems throughout animals’ lives and is often life limiting. In pursuit of a look or fashion, breeders of some cats and dogs are selecting ever-shorter muzzles that inevitably result in serious welfare issues.

Shamefully this is a man-made condition (picture 3). In extreme cases, brachycephalic animals will have serious respiratory disease, causing significant suffering. Many affected cats also have difficulty in picking up food, as the jaw is also malformed, with teeth and jaw being misaligned.

#Squish face cat skin#

The eye and facial abnormalities can result in chronic inflammation of the eyes and problems with skin infections in the folds around the flattened nose and across the face. In addition, the tear fluid cannot drain normally from the eyes, explaining why such cats have permanent eye discharge and tear staining of the face (picture 2). The revised animal protection law in Switzerland has strengthened regulations against intentional breeding to produce specific traits that compromise the health and wellbeing of an animal.īrachycephalic animals have a shortened muzzle which constricts nasal passages and can result in respiratory and feeding problems. This comes on top of a recent successful prosecution in Switzerland under the Animal Protection Act, brought against two people who bred extreme bracycephalic cats. This includes breathing problems, eye inflammation, skin infections and difficulty eating.Īmongst the latest evidence is a new scientific paper from the University of Edinburgh 1 which concluded that flatter-faced cats were more likely to have breathing problems and that the breathing difficulties were also associated with increased tear staining and a more sedentary lifestyle. There is growing evidence to show that flat-faced or brachycephalic cats (picture 1), including most modern Persians or Exotic Shorthairs, are suffering from a number of health problems, leading to lifelong suffering as a direct result of being ‘designed’ to have a very flat face.