Brachiocephalic Cat Breeds and Their Common Health Problems

The term "brachiocephalic" literally means a short head. When used to describe cats in a medical manner, it basically means that they have a "smushed in" appearance of their face. They have a short nasal passages. There are many popular brachiocephalic cat breeds that have won the hearts of cat fanciers everywhere. Cat breeds with short faces are unfortunately prone to a number of health problems. Here is a list of some brachiocephalic cat breeds, mostly all of them originally coming from the popular Persian cat.

Persian Cat.
Photo via khanb1

• Persian
• British Longhair and Shorthair
• Exotic Shorthair
• Chinchilla
• Himalayan

Breathing Problems for Brachiocephalic Cats

Anyone who's ever owned a brachiocephalic breed of cat is probably familiar with their breathing. Some of the cats can be heard snorting and wheezing. This is because their nasal passageway is so short. The anatomy of their face causes shortness of breath, leading to a higher respiratory rate. They also seem to be more prone to nasal discharge and upper respiratory infections. 

Eye Conditions

These types of cats are also prone to a number of eye conditions. Most of which is excess ocular discharge. Their tear ducts may not be formed properly which causes an excessive amount of tear production. This causes that reddish-brown stain underneath the eyes that can be seen in many brachiocephalic cats. Thankfully, this problem is pretty much only cosmetic. 

Entropion is another common eye condition for these breeds. Entropion is when the eyelids fold inward and cause the eyelashes to rub against the cornea of the eye. It can be a painful experience and cause ulcers or scratches on the cornea, ultimately damaging the eyes. 

Skin Conditions Due to Tear Production

As mentioned above, brachiocephalic cats produce a lot of tears. The tears run down the face and cause staining, but sometimes this stuff can become gunky, sticky, and cause infection in the skin. These breeds of cats do have skin folds on their face that need to be cleaned properly or else they can be at risk for skin infections in these places. If the fur isn't cleaned on a regular basis, the fur around the eyes can also become matted. Matted fur is painful, particularly in such a sensitive area of the body. 

Exotic Shorthair cat. 
Photo via Charlyn W

Regardless of what these felines look like, they are all beautiful cats with big hearts. Have you ever owned a brachiocephalic cat before?