Can cats be born with a cleft lip?

A newborn cat can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both a cleft lip and cleft palate. The word “cleft” pertains to split or partially divided in two. Cleft lip occurs if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth.

Can a cleft lip be passed down?

If either you or your partner were born with a cleft lip or palate, your chance of having a baby with a cleft is also around 2 to 8%. The chances of another child being born with a cleft or of a parent passing the condition to their child can be higher in cases related to a genetic condition.

Does cleft lip run in families?

Several factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate, including: Family history. Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft.

What causes cleft palate in kittens?

Cleft palates can also be caused by exposure of pregnant female cats to teratogenic chemicals (chemicals that interfere with normal embryo development). These chemicals include griseofulvicin and excessive vitamin A and vitamin D. In these cases, the kittens may be born with cleft palates.

Can a kitten have a cleft palate survive?

This defect can affect the hard, bony portion of the palate, the soft flexible area that is used for swallowing, or both. The condition occurs during gestation and is usually fairly obvious at or soon after birth. Left untreated, it is unlikely that an affected kitten will survive.

Is cleft lip caused by inbreeding?

Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications she uses during pregnancy.

Does alcohol cause cleft lip?

No significant association was found between alcohol use and isolated cleft palate or clefts in children with multiple birth defects. Alcohol use during pregnancy may be a cause of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

Is cleft lip from inbreeding?

Can cats survive with a cleft palate?

How do you know if your kitten has a cleft palate?

Kittens with cleft palate will exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

  1. Sneezing.
  2. Coughing.
  3. Running nose.
  4. Difficulty nursing.
  5. Milky discharge from nose when eating.
  6. Difficulty breathing.
  7. Weight Loss.
  8. Slow Growth.