“>Admittedly, the terms primal belly or potbelly don’t sound very friendly – and actually the movable flap of skin on the underside of the abdomen has nothing to do with it either to do with a real “belly”.Between the navel and the hind legs in all cats – male and female – develops from about the a loose fold of skin from the sixth month of life, which swings casually back and forth when moving. It consists of skin, fur and some stored fat.
All wild cats (e.g. lions or tigers) also have such a primal belly no peculiarities occur, no cause for concern .
Why do cats have a primal belly?
“>There are several theories about the primal belly. Since all cats have it, it must have a evolutionary meaning. Even if none of the following explanations been proven so far, they all sound conclusive and are probably all right in some way: “>When cats fight for a territory, things can get violent – there is scratching, biting and kicking that the rags just fly.The abdominal cavity contains vital organs that could easily be injured in such a fight by a violent impact, bite or scratch, so experts believe that the soft abdominal fold may help the function as has additional protection, is almost an extra buffer that is supposed to protect the vital abdominal organs from serious injuries.
The primal belly of the cat provides more mobility, protects sensitive organs and serves as a fat store “>Cats are real top athletes and can make very long jumps in relation to their body size. This is important when escaping, on the other hand and especially when catching prey.Since the extra fold under the abdomen is not connected to the abdominal wall, this feature gives the cat greater flexibility and extensibility in jumping and sprinting so that she can stretch to the maximum. “>Especially in the case of wild cats, their daily diet depends crucially on their hunting luck. If they are unlucky and cannot get hold of any prey, they must inevitably fast because there is no human can opener to fill their food bowl.
It is therefore assumed that the fat pads in the skin fold on the lower abdomen act as energy reserves for bad hunting days serve.Here you can already guess that our house cats are always well taken care of , this actually very useful fat reserve can easily become a problem if too little energy is consumed and too much fat is stored there. Your cat should be long stay healthy?
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“>Even if every adult cat has the primal belly on the underside of its abdomen, it does not have to be clearly developed in every animal. The fatty apron or “primordial pouch”, as it is called in English, is often not noticeable, especially in young, slim house cats .The older the animals get, the more clearly the belly can be seen, since the elasticity of the connective tissue decreases with age. In addition to age, breed and hormone status also have an influence on the flabby belly in cats: Egyptian Mau, Bengal or Ceylon cats have a particularly pronounced flap of skin under the belly due to breeding. In some breeds of cats, such as the Bengal cat , the hanging belly is particularly pronounced And a castration of a cat or tomcat to avoid unwanted reproduction also often leads to the abdominal area hanging down much more clearly over time than before the operation.This phenomenon is not directly related to the surgical intervention – in female animals only a small incision on the stomach is necessary for castration, in males the scrotum and not the abdominal wall is opened – but depends on the changed hormonal status together after the gonads removal. Since the metabolism no longer has to provide energy for the production of sex hormones, fewer calories are simply consumed.
The velvet paw will nevertheless fed exactly as before the procedure, there will soon be an excess of energy and thus accumulations of fat on the abdomen.
Therefore, with castrated cats to pay special attention to their diet, they either need less food or a low-energy variety. With nutritional advice, the veterinarian can give good tips for avoiding obesity and sagging belly in cats When is the Urwampe a cause for concern? “>The sagging belly of cats is not always harmless. If the cat’s abdominal circumference increases significantly within a short time, local thickening in the abdominal fold is noticeable or the entire abdomen becomes hard, then your house cat should be presented to the veterinarian soon.
Because some cat diseases can be the cause of a big belly in cats:
Parasites (worms) Obesity (severe overweight with fat deposits) Gastrointestinal problems Foreign body Tumor Heart disease (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity) Renal Insufficiency Liver Disease FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) Internal injuries Poisoning “>Most of the time, such a disease is not only noticeable through the increase in circumference on the abdomen, but your cat also shows other symptoms such as:
“>If you are unsure whether your cat’s flabby belly is normal or indicates an illness, then do not hesitate and ask the vet for advice. Because many serious illnesses can usually be treated well, if they are recognized in time. “>Conclusion The primal belly in cats is a normal phenomenon that occurs in all cats from the age of six months more or less obvious. The small hanging belly even fulfills some important functions and offers the cat advantages, such as the protection of internal organs or better mobility when running.
In some cases, when the cat’s belly is noticeably thicker or even tight and hard, it’s time for a visit to the vet, because an unnaturally large sagging belly in cats is either a sign of something unhealthy Obese or already a symptom of a health impairment or disease. What does “primal belly” mean in cats ? “>The term “primal belly” or “under pouch” refers to a loose fold of skin on the belly of cats, which develops from around the sixth month of life and can be found in both tomcats and cats.
9652397 Is a sagging belly dangerous for a cat? “>In fact, all cats have a sagging belly, which can vary in severity, but this has nothing to do with the health of the cat. This primal belly fulfills important functions. But if the cat’s stomach is very thick or even hard, then one could serious illness may be the cause. What can I do about my cat’s belly? “>All cats are naturally designed to have a small pot belly and this is no cause for concern. However, if the original belly is significantly enlarged, you should have your animal thoroughly examined – obesity and stored fat are often the reasons for this.
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