Dear Dr. John,

With the holidays approaching we seek your advice. We are considering purchasing a kitten for our daughter. She has given us the names of a few different breeds including Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Scottish Fold, and Himalayan. Which would be a good docile breed? We have heard that some of these breeds have short faces and breathing problems and we wonder if this is something we should be concerned with. What complications or problems might we expect if we get a Persian cat because of this facial presentation? C.M.

Dear C.M.,

The condition of a shortened face and head is called brachycephaly and some of the breeds you mention are brachycephalic. People have bred cats, and dogs, for various physical traits and presentations based on looks with little or no thought given to what problems might be created. Several organizations worldwide are seeking to reduce or ban the breeding of brachycephalic pets due to the associated health problems that are created and the challenges these pets face.

These include breathing problems caused by narrowed nares or nostrils, long soft palates in the roof of the mouth, and a shortened and narrow passage for air which leads to snoring, shortness of breath, and even difficulty breathing when exerted too much or in the heat. These breeds also have ocular problems such as exophthalmos or bulging eyes which can predispose to dry eye, conjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers. They also can often have malformed nasolacrimal ducts leading to overflow of tears on to the face causing staining.

Despite all of this, many of these brachycephalic cats lead relatively comfortable and happy lives. Maine Coon cats and Ragdolls are not afflicted with short faces, with Ragdolls being more docile, so you might lean in that direction. You might also want to consider adopting a long-haired cat that needs a good loving home from a shelter. Choose wisely and happy holidays!

Dr. John de Jong is President of the World Veterinary Association. He owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic and can be reached at 781-899-9994.