Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How flat-faced cats have more breathing and stomach problems
By Gleason, Hadley E et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2023·Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Influence of feline brachycephaly on respiratory, gastrointestinal, sleep, and activity abnormalities.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that brachycephalic cats, like Persians and Bulldogs, often experience serious breathing problems, including snoring, sneezing, and coughing. These cats also tend to have lower activity levels and may struggle with chewing their food. Owners reported that their brachycephalic cats showed more signs of distress during physical activity and took longer to recover afterward. If your cat is brachycephalic and showing these symptoms, it might be worth discussing medical or surgical options with your veterinarian to help improve their quality of life.
People also search for: why is my cat sneezing · brachycephalic cat breathing problems · cat coughing treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of brachycephaly on respiratory, gastrointestinal, sleep, and activity-related parameters in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective questionnaire-based study. ANIMALS: A total of 194 BC and 1003 non-BC cats. METHODS: Owners completed an online questionnaire regarding respiratory, gastrointestinal, sleep, and activity-related parameters. Response options were scored, and individual scores summed to give a total clinical severity score for each cat. RESULTS: Brachycephalic cats had more frequent snoring (odds ratio [OR] 6.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.06-9.41), sneezing (OR 6.52; CI: 4.75-8.98), nasal discharge (OR 8.26; 95% CI 5.77-11.85), coughing (OR 1.75; CI: 1.17-2.59), and dyspnea (OR 5.32; CI: 3.42-8.28); shorter activity before becoming dyspneic (OR 2.71; CI: 1.93-3.79), slower recovery from activity (OR 3.17; CI: 2.19-4.57), lower activity levels (OR 2.16; CI: 1.59-2.95), and increased respiratory noise (OR 6.68; CI: 4.71-9.52); and more hypersalivation (OR 2.50; CI: 1.47-4.16), halitosis (OR 1.40; CI: 1.00-1.95), and difficulty chewing (OR 5.19; CI: 3.65-7.38). Median clinical severity scores were higher for BC cats than non-BC cats (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Brachycephalic cats (BC) were at risk for respiratory, gastrointestinal, and activity-related symptoms compared to non-BC cats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Some BC cats exhibit clinically relevant symptoms and behaviors as reported by owners. Medical or surgical interventions may improve these symptoms and warrant investigation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36582029/