Rear Under Belly Mass & Fur

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Steve Giannoni - 22 May 2007 00:06 GMT

Just under 2 years old and very healthy. However, he has always had
extra long fur and a soft mass of tissue kind of hanging loosely in
this area. No nodules or other ominous texture to the mass. I think
I've seen this on other cats but would appreciate other's perceptions,
etc., & thanks ....

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Noon Cat Nick - 22 May 2007 00:51 GMT

>Just under 2 years old and very healthy. However, he has always had
>extra long fur and a soft mass of tissue kind of hanging loosely in
>this area. No nodules or other ominous texture to the mass. I think
>I've seen this on other cats but would appreciate other's perceptions,
>etc., & thanks ....
>

Many cats will have longer, looser fur in that area, called the tuck up.
One obvious purpose of fur is to protect the cat's external form, and
nature often chooses to put more fur where more protection is needed.

That pocket of fat hanging from the tuck up is called a lion's pouch.
Many cats develop them, particularly (but by no means exclusively)
overweight ones. AFAIK, it provides a store of food so that the cat,
hunting in the wild, can go at least a while without eating just in case
pickings are slim and it can't always meet its daily kill quota.

Neither trait is uncommon in cats, just not universal among them.

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kraut - 22 May 2007 13:43 GMT

>>Just under 2 years old and very healthy. However, he has always had
>>extra long fur and a soft mass of tissue kind of hanging loosely in
>>this area. No nodules or other ominous texture to the mass. I think
>>I've seen this on other cats but would appreciate other's perceptions,
>>etc., & thanks ....
>>

>Many cats will have longer, looser fur in that area, called the tuck up.
>One obvious purpose of fur is to protect the cat's external form, and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Neither trait is uncommon in cats, just not universal among them.

My females have this excessive belly flap and they did not develop it
until after they were spayed. I personally think it has something to
do with when they were spayed.

I asked the vet once and she said the when they are spayed it weakens
their muscles there thus it sags. They were a couple older female
strays that were not fixed and they did not have that sag so maybe she
was right.

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.._.. - 22 May 2007 15:32 GMT

Three out of four of my cats have this, all four are overweight. The one
that doesnt have it, is male, two that do are female, and one male has it.
(They are all fixed.)

It's basically the kitty version of a beer belly. I wouldn't worry about it
as long as it doesnt have any matting.

>>>Just under 2 years old and very healthy. However, he has always had
>>>extra long fur and a soft mass of tissue kind of hanging loosely in
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>
> *****************************************************

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MaryL - 22 May 2007 20:05 GMT

>>>Just under 2 years old and very healthy. However, he has always had
>>>extra long fur and a soft mass of tissue kind of hanging loosely in
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> strays that were not fixed and they did not have that sag so maybe she
> was right.

My first cat developed this. It is sometimes called "spay sway" and is not
a problem.

MaryL

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oldhickory - 23 May 2007 03:28 GMT

"Spay Sway" that's clever!

But it's hilarious to watch when they run down the hallway towards us...one
of ours has earned the nickname "tummy cat" because of it.

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>>>>Just under 2 years old and very healthy. However, he has always had
>>>>extra long fur and a soft mass of tissue kind of hanging loosely in
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> MaryL

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