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Increased Rates Of Dystocia In Brachycephalic Cats Highlight Growing Welfare Concerns, New UK Study Finds
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Emergency veterinary data reveals increased risk of dystocia in brachycephalic and purebred cats, with over a third of kittens in dystocia cases not surviving to discharge from emergency care.
A new UK study analysing more than 1,100 cases of feline dystocia has highlighted some serious health and welfare risks associated with giving birth in cats, with particular concern identified in brachycephalic and purebred breeds.
The research, published in April 2026 in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and conducted using data from over 60 Vets Now out-of-hours emergency clinics, assessed 1,102 dystocia cases from a population of 118,168 queens presented for emergency care between 2017 and 2023.
Key findings
- Dystocia affected 0.9% of female cats attending emergency clinics.
- After adjusting for neuter status, the true risk in entire queens under emergency care may be as high as 6.2%.
- Purebred cats had 2.5 times higher odds of dystocia compared to crossbred cats.
- Brachycephalic cats had 3.3 times higher odds compared to non-brachycephalic cats.
- 35% of dystocia cases required caesarean section.
- 3.4% of dystocic queens and 38.5% of kittens born died before discharge from emergency care.
The study also found that oxytocin was administered in 35% of cases, with over a quarter of these queens subsequently undergoing surgical intervention. Caesarean section was significantly more likely in queens with larger litters.
These findings provide one of the most detailed UK evidence bases to date on feline dystocia in an emergency setting, giving veterinary teams clearer data to inform risk discussions with owners, particularly around breed choice, breeding decisions and periparturient planning.
Breed-related risks in focus
The findings add to a growing body of evidence around the impact of conformation on animal health and provide practical insight to support more informed breeding and client conversations in practice.
Lucy Leicester, Internal Auditor at Vets Now, who originally conducted the study as part of a BSAVA Masters in Clinical Veterinary Research, said: “This study highlights that dystocia is not uncommon in cats and can have serious consequences for both queens and their kittens. The increased risk we observed in brachycephalic and purebred cats raises important welfare considerations, particularly as these breeds remain popular.”
Professor Dan O’Neill, Royal Veterinary College, co-author and academic supervisor to Lucy, and expert in companion animal epidemiology, added: “These findings align with wider evidence on ‘innate health’ and the importance of prioritising functional conformation. While much of the research focus to date has been on dogs, this study reinforces that major welfare concerns apply to brachycephalic cats. Breeding decisions should place greater emphasis on health and ease of parturition, and this kind of data helps support more informed conversations between vets and owners.”
Implications for clinical practice
The scale of intervention required in these cases underlines the importance of rapid access to emergency care and informed decision-making around treatment options.
Zara Kennedy, Head of Veterinary Standards at Vets Now said:
“At Vets Now, we’re committed to using our clinical data to improve patient outcomes and support the profession with robust, real-world evidence. This study, which analysed over 1,000 real-world emergency cases, is an important step in helping veterinary teams identify higher-risk cases earlier, guide client decision-making, and ultimately reduce avoidable complications associated with dystocia.”
Supporting better outcomes
With over a third of kittens not surviving dystocia cases, the findings reinforce the need for proactive risk assessment, early intervention and informed breeding decisions. By providing robust UK data at scale, the study offers veterinary professionals a stronger evidence base to support these conversations in practice.
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