Brachycephaly in cats

Brachycephaly, morphological trait characterised by a shortened skull relative to its width, is a prominent feature of certain feline breeds, including Persians, Exotic Short-hairs, Himalayans. British Shorthairs, British Longhairs, and Scottish Folds. While se-lective breeding has favoured this trait due to human preferences for neotenous ap-pearances, severe brachycephaly is associated with a wide range of health complica-tions. These include neurological, respiratory, ocular, dental, gastrointestinal, repro-ductive, and dermatological disorders. This literature review explores the systemic im-pact of brachycephaly on feline health, highlighting the need for ethical breeding prac-tices and improved veterinary care to mitigate its negative effects.