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What is a primordial pouch?
All cats – even big cats like lions and tigers – have a primordial pouch. At around the age of 6 months, cats develop a saggy flap of skin that runs from their lower abdomen to their hind legs.
While the primordial pouch looks like your cat just lost a lot of weight and was left with some excess skin, the abdominal flap serves various important purposes.
Why does my cat have a primordial pouch?
There are various great reasons for cats to have a belly pouch:
Protection
When cats get into fights with other cats or animals, the loose skin and fatty tissue of the pouch act as a shield for vital organs, such as the liver. Cats often use their back legs to ‘bunny kick’ during fights, and the pouch adds an extra layer of defense between sharp claws and their internal organs.
Interestingly, the primordial pouch is a lot like the scruff on the back of a cat’s neck. Mother cats carry their kittens by the scruff, and the extra skin keeps the kittens safe from her sharp teeth.
Flexibility
The loose skin of the primordial pouch helps cats stretch their back legs all the way when they run or jump, letting them take longer strides and leap higher. It also makes it easier for them to twist in mid-air, which is why they’re so good at landing on their feet!
Food storage
The primordial pouch also comes in handy when a cat eats a big meal. It lets their belly expand, kind of like how we might loosen a belt after stuffing ourselves.
Pet cats usually prefer small, frequent meals, but wild cats sometimes have to eat as much as they can when food is scarce. The pouch gives them extra room to store that food, just in case they don’t know when their next meal will be.
Does a big pouch mean that my cat is fat?
The size of your cat’s primordial pouch doesn’t always match their overall weight. Some breeds, like the Pixie-Bob, just have a naturally bigger pouch, while others have a smaller one. Plus, older cats tend to have a larger pouch because their skin has stretched over the years.
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