05/05/2025
Did you know that our cat's belly flaps have nothing to do with fat? 🧐
It is actually loose skin which is called "primordial pouch", and is there as heritage from the felines' ancestors.
The primordial pouch serves three interesting purposes:
1. Protection: This extra skin acts as a shield of protection for vital organs located in this region. And it can be very useful during a fight, especially since cats tend to turn belly-up at some moments in the fight, using their hind legs to kick their opponent.
2. Flexibility: Excess skin in this area allows the belly to stretch more and facilitate the necessary movements during jumps and runs.
3. Abdominal Expansion: The primordial pouch also helps expand the abdomen, allowing cats to store large quantities of food. Of course, this function is more useful in nature for wild cats, where they can stay several days without finding a potential hunt. When they do finally find food, it's better if they are able to ingest large volumes of it.
