Mary Allen
If your cat has a saggy belly, it doesn’t usually mean that you have to worry. A little “reserve skin” on the belly is normal. However, a significant sagging belly can also be the result of being overweight or a symptom of an illness. You can read here when it is better to visit a veterinarian.
Have you discovered a kind of fanny pack or a fur pouch between the hind legs of your cat? Don’t worry, such a sagging belly in cats is part of the cat’s anatomy and fulfills important protective functions. In certain cases, however, it may be necessary to observe or feel the belly of your velvet paw more closely.
Why Do Cats Have a Saggy Belly?
Cats have extra skin between their hind legs, which looks like a small sagging belly when they walk and swing happily back and forth. This “reserve skin” has two functions: it serves to protect the sensitive abdomen and ensures greater mobility.
When two cats fight, they often kick their opponent’s stomach with their hind paws. Without the hanging belly as a protective layer, your cat could quickly suffer serious injuries in such a fight.
In addition, the fanny pack is particularly stretchy, so your cat can stretch better thanks to it. In this way, she succeeds in making further and higher jumps.
Some cat breeds also have a slightly larger belly pouch than others, such as the Egyptian Mau or the Bengal cat.
Cat Has a Sagging Belly After Castration: Why is That?
After the neutering operation, cat owners often notice that their fur nose gets a sagging belly. In this case, you should keep an eye on your cat: instead of the usual “reserve skin”, obesity may gradually become noticeable. But why is there more weight gain after neutering?
The reason: the operated cat no longer produces sex hormones. Her metabolism changes and she no longer burns as many calories as she did before she was castrated. If you feed them the usual food in the usual portion sizes, this will gradually lead to obesity. Since the connective tissue in the abdominal area is not so tight, excess body fat shows up there particularly quickly.
The good news: You can easily do something to get rid of your cat’s pronounced sagging belly or not to let it get out of hand in the first place. If your cat tends to have an enlarged sagging belly after the operation, you should slowly reduce the calorie intake for your cat. The best way to reduce calories is to use a calorie-reduced complete feed that has a higher proportion of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Your vet can advise you on this.
With age, the connective tissue on the cat’s belly becomes weaker. This is why castrated, older cats have a more noticeable sagging belly than young cats.
When to Take Your Cat to the Vet
Does your cat’s fanny pack look like a half-empty water balloon, and is it otherwise fit, lean, and agile? Then everything is fine. If, on the other hand, you can feel a clear layer of fat on your stomach or if your cat seems more lethargic than usual, take her to the vet immediately. Among other things, the veterinarian checks whether the weight of your house cat is still within limits.
Does your cat’s pot belly suddenly swell or enlarge even though you’ve adjusted the diet to suit their needs? Then this is also a reason for an immediate visit to the veterinarian. In this case, the cat’s sagging belly may be due to one of the following:
- worms
- cat ate something intolerant or poisonous
- injury with internal bleeding – increased risk in outdoor cats
- tumors in the abdomen
- organ diseases such as liver failure or heart problems, which are manifested by water retention – increased risk in cat seniors
- feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is also characterized by fluid retention
Other warning signs of more serious conditions associated with a sagging abdomen include:
- loss of appetite
- apathy
- diarrhea
- constipation
- behavior changes
- the animal’s abdomen feels hard
When it comes to the health of your velvet paw, the following applies: When in doubt, it is better to go to the vet once too often!