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Posted: 3rd July 2026

Study explores feline dystocia in emergency practice
The Devon Rex is the breed with the highest risk of feline dystocia.
The condition poses continued risk to feline welfare and survival.

A new study has highlighted the substantial risk which feline dystocia poses to feline maternal and neonatal welfare and survival.

Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College and Vets Now, exploring the cases from an emergency practice perspective, have reported a higher level of risk for purebred, brachycephalic and younger aged cats.

Feline dystocia refers to a difficult or abnormal labour for cats giving birth. It is considered a life-threatening emergency, requiring immediate veterinary attention.

The research team analysed the health records of over 118,000 queens in UK primary emergency veterinary care. Of these patients, 1,102 were diagnosed as dystocia cases – consisting 0.93 per cent of queens presented for emergency care.

Statistical analysis found that purebred queens were 2.5 times more likely to experience dystocia than crossbred queens. Cats which are under three years old were also significantly more likely to present with dystocia than a cat aged 3- 5.9 years.

Meanwhile, brachycephalic queens were three times more likely to experience dystocia compared to non-brachycephalic queens. Researchers say this link especially supports previous evidence against breeding for extreme conformation.

The breeds with the highest odds of dystocia, when compared with crossbred queens, included the Devon Rex, Tonkinese, Birman, Exotic and British Short Hair.

The clinical management of feline dystocia often includes oxytocin, which was used in 35 per cent of cases. A caesarean section was performed in 35.8 per cent of cases, with large litter sizes posing a risk factor.

Litters of 5 to 6 kittens had more than six times the odds of a caesarean section when compared to litters of 1 to 2.

In emergency care, 3.5 per cent of dystocic queens and 38.5 per cent of kittens died before discharge. Researchers say this highlights a need for urgent intervention, as well as improved awareness among high-risk groups.

Prof Dan O’Neill, professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC, said: “A century after the breed-revolution in dogs, humanity now appears to be entering the era of breed-revolution in cats with hugely increasing public demand to own cats of a named breed.

“As with dogs, deviation from the innate conformation of the species appears to herald many new health issues for cats including higher levels of dystocia. Veterinary professionals now have the clinical evidence to explain these risks to clients intending to breed from their cats so that appropriate mitigation plans can be put in place.”

The full study can be found in the Journal of Small Animal Practice. 

Image © Veera/Shutterstock.com



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