August 17, 2024, 8:07 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
Many cats are slim and healthy, but they still have a small pot belly between their hind legs. This is completely normal in most cases, and no cause for concern.
Cats are very agile animals that can squeeze through many narrow cracks and crevices thanks to their flexibility. But even the most athletic cats sometimes have a visible, sagging belly. There are various reasons for this extra skin and fat in the belly area. In most cases, a pot belly in cats is completely normal. PETBOOK explains what the skin fold, also known as a primordial pouch, looks like in cats and what harmless or concerning reasons there may be for this phenomenon.
Overview
What does a pot belly look like in cats?
A small, sagging belly, also sometimes referred to as a primordial pouch, is clearly different from a round belly, which a cat gets when it is overweight. If the cat is slim and agile, but still has a loose fold of skin between its hind legs, the slightly sagging belly is no cause for concern. Rather, it serves useful purposes or arises from various causes in the course of a cat’s life.
Harmless reasons for a pendulous belly in cats
Protection of the organs
In its original form, the pot belly in cats actually developed through evolution. The small protuberance on the lower abdomen generally serves to protect their important organs underneath, especially the intestines and reproductive organs. These are particularly at risk during territorial fights, which involve a lot of biting and kicking. Cats like to kick their opponents’ soft stomach area with their hind legs, which can lead to serious injuries. For this reason, one of the most important functions of the evolutionarily developed extra layer of fat in our domestic cats is to protect the organs that are not located in the rib cage.
Mobility
However, the sagging belly not only serves as protection for cats, but also helps them to be more agile. If a cat suddenly starts to jump, the bit of extra skin under their belly can cushion the force of the forward pressure. Their movements are also more flexible thanks to the stretchy fold on the belly. The stretchy skin is therefore also very useful when climbing. In fact, big cats such as tigers and lions also have pendulous bellies for reasons of mobility. Some domesticated cat breeds, such as the Egyptian Mau, the Maine Coon and the Bengal cat, also tend to develop a pendulous belly.
Fat reserve
The sagging belly gave cats other evolutionary advantages. When there was little prey to catch, they would always have a reserve in their loose belly fat, which they could fall back on in phases when they found only a few mice or were rearing their kittens. Even today, free-range cats in particular tend to build up a small reserve before the cold months for foraging in low temperatures.
Castration and connective tissue
The only “man-made” reason for cats to develop a sagging belly is neutering. After a sterilization or castration procedure, female cats, in particular, sometimes have a more pronounced pot belly than before. This is because the tissue in the abdomen is severed during the procedure. The connective tissue is therefore damaged. Many vets therefore stitch the cat’s abdomen with self-dissolving sutures or mesh from the inside and durable sutures from the outside.
In many cases, a pot belly after castration is also more pronounced than before due to hormonal changes in the cat. A lack of hormones can also weaken the connective tissue. This is not a cause for concern as long as the cat can still perform all movements without the skin becoming sore or weeping due to friction.
Whether a “primordial pouch” or a bit of flab, my cats have a primordial pouch
The small pouch in cats is called a “primordial pouch” and I personally find this term much more endearing than “pot belly” or the even less flattering “flabby belly”. But no matter what you call it, my cats have it. In Minka’s case, however, it only appeared after she was neutered and then even got a little bigger as her connective tissue started to lose weight. However, it never really bothered her.
With Remo, who spent the first year of his life as a street cat, it was good that he already had a relatively large belly when he was young. Because he was considered a little hooligan at the shelter, who liked to mess with every cat there. All the better that his pot belly protected his internal organs from injury during fights.
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Concerning reasons for a sagging belly in cats
Obesity
A sagging belly in cats is a cause for concern if the cat is generally overweight. This can easily be seen if their backs and legs are also stocky and broad. If you cannot feel the cat’s ribs with your hands and the cat does not have a waist when viewed from above but a broad, straight back, it is overweight. If the cat’s belly is also too big, this can be detrimental to their health. You should clarify with your vet whether your cat is really too fat and ask for advice on a diet for cats. Under no circumstances should an overweight cat lose weight too quickly, as this could have serious health consequences.
FIP
A sagging belly in cats can also be caused by the common disease FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). This is a disease caused by a specific coronavirus that affects cats. As a result of the disease, fluid can accumulate in the cat’s abdomen, among other things.
Other diseases that can cause a pot belly in cats are:
- Problems with the kidneys, liver, or other organs that lead to water retention in the abdominal area
- Parasites and worm infestation
- Tumor formation in the abdominal area
- Persistent, inflammatory diarrhea or constipation
- Intolerance or poisoning
If one or more of these symptoms occur suddenly, or the cat also seems exhausted or no longer eats, it is best to take your cat directly to the vet and clarify the causes for the change in behavior.