Comparison of short-faced, flat-faced or brachycephalic rabbit with normal rabbit.

Experts show why it's not just dogs we need to worry about

Three animal welfare charities have joined forces to raise awareness of brachycephaly in cats and rabbits.

International Cat Cate (iCatCare), the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) and the RSPCA have come together to raise awareness that breeding cats and rabbits with exaggerated flat faces can cause health and welfare problems.

Short-faced cats like Persians can have all the same issues as dogs: breathing and dental problems, skin fold infections and problems giving birth, said iCatCare.

"It is very depressing to see the life which has been deliberately dealt to some breeds of cats because of a human desire to develop a certain look. I urge cat lovers to speak out and help others to understand that this is not something we should be doing to cats, and not something we should be tolerating,” explained Claire Bessant, chief executive of iCatCare.

Richard Saunders, head vet at RWAF added that rabbits have also fallen foul of the human desire for shorter, ‘cuter’ faces.

"Breeds like the Netherland dwarf and the popular Lionhead breed have become more and more brachycephalic,” he said. “The short face means the bottom jaw is longer than the top one, just the same as in bulldogs and pugs and the teeth do not line up. Teeth soon overgrow causing chronic pain, lacerated mouths, abscesses and in many cases death.”

The tear duct is also distorted, he said, and the rabbits often have tears and pus overflowing onto their faces.

“Hand in hand with the short faces come the lop ears, rather than the wild, natural upright ears. These rabbits have a high level of middle ear infections and can't communicate with other rabbits normally, leading to behavioural problems,” he continued.

"We would like to see an end to selection for "cute" faces and lop ears, and to preferentially breed rabbits with a more "wild type" face shape, which is associated with far fewer genetically induced diseases."

RSPCA dog welfare expert Lisa Richards said:  "We are very concerned that these issues are now being seen in other species and would urge everyone concerned, from breeders to buyers, to do what they can to reduce the demand for such extremes."

Image (C) RWAF