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Limiting their physical activity can help with BOAS, but it can lead to other health problems. It’s typical for Persians to get out of breath after bursts of activity.
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Heatstroke is a real risk, so owners should know how to keep their cats cool in the summer months. This is made worse by the fact that Persians have long coats. When flat-faced cats become overheated, they may pant and struggle to catch their breath. These cats prefer to stay cool and relaxed because heat and exercise can flare up their breathing problems. Some people think flat-faced cats are lazy, but this isn’t the case. Respiratory diseases can be severe in Persian breeds, so disease prevention is essential.
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Why Do Flat-Faced Cats Struggle to Breathe? Extreme breeds are more likely to have respiratory problems.
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Using this info, they concluded that cats who have the greatest disparity between their face and nose size have the most health problems. Experimenters asked 239 cat owners to measure the width and length of their cat’s nose and the height and width of their cat’s face. The medical term for this is Brachycephalic Obstructive Airways Syndrome (BOAS).Īccording to PLOS, the smaller the cat’s nose relative to its face, the more likely it is to have BOAS. Breathing Issuesīreathing issues are common in flat-faced cats. These breeds are still more prone to illness than regular cats. They are not the same as show-type Peke-faced Persians.
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Mildly brachycephalic cats have fewer health problems because their faces are not drastically altered. When you view a Peke-faced Persian from side-on, their forehead, nose, and chin are in perfect vertical alignment. Peke-faced Persians have been selectively bred over decades to create extreme features. The breeds that suffer the most are Persians, especially Peke-faced Persians and Exotic shorthairs. Do all Flat-Faced Cats Have Health Issues?
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