Do cats have belly buttons? This question sounds somehow odd. But from time to time it has been cropped up. We know well that cats are mammals and all mammals do have a placenta. Although it is difficult to let others understand the connection that whether cats have belly buttons or not.
Many times, you have heard about the belly distress problems among cats while locating the belly button is somehow difficult. Have you ever heard about a cat eating Cheetos?
If you are owning a cat or cats, you must be curious about the cat’s body and how does it work. People look amazed after finding many similarities as well as differences between cats and humans. Especially relevant to the naval or belly button.
Furthermore, this arises the query “do cats have belly buttons?”. The simple and straight answer is yes, they do have though you cannot find it easily. The unborn kittens are connected to the mother cats by the umbilical cord.
A region surrounding this cord is known as the belly button. The baby cat receives nutrients via this cord.
Finding the belly button is more difficult in female cats than in male cats. This is because of the spay scar on that area. Even, professional vets also take time to find the difference between the scar and the belly button.
Your all queries regarding “do cats have belly buttons?” will be resolved through this article.
Do Cats Have Belly Buttons or Umbilical Cord?
The umbilicus is a scientific word used for the belly button. It is also known as the path of entrance for the nutritive blood from the mother to the unborn baby inside the womb.
The strong lining of the cord filled with arteries and veins protect it through the pregnancy as well as during birth. This safety is until the fetus grown into a baby and able to breathe.
Placenta attached to the umbilical cord filters the mother’s blood before letting it to the baby cat.
Inside the cat’s womb, there is more than one kitten usually. This shows the presence of multiple umbilical cords and placenta inside. While supplying oxygenated blood to these multiple kittens, a cat’s heart may suffer extreme pressure through the pregnancy period.
Fortunately, the umbilical cords are not long enough and do not become entangled too. Kittens also remain closer to the placenta. Thus, the mother cat pumps blood within a shorter period and the heart gets a bit of relief.
Cats’ Umbilical Cord Removal:
Kittens, puppies, or like any other mammals’ babies when born and become able to breathe in and out themselves, then there is no need for cord as well as placentae. The cord will be removed leaving a small part on the baby’s belly. That area is called a belly button.
If you have cats and wondered about removing the remaining umbilical cord or the rest of the cord is painful. Do not worry. After birth, the cord is separated from the placenta will remain on the kitten until it falls off, shrivels, and dries.
Although it is not good to look at, you do not need to interfere with the recovery process. There is the possibility that the cord is holding nutrients that have not been absorbed yet. Let the cord drop off on its own. The wound will less likely to be opened.
Otherwise, there is a risk of infection in the cat’s belly button. If the region gets some infection, do contact the vet for treatment as soon as possible.
Because kittens are not as immune and very minor bacterial attacks can result in a serious infection. So, take precautions for your young cats.
If you are worried about what to feed your cat then you can try giving them pancakes or marshmallows, they may serve as a healthy diet for your cat.
Do Cats Have Belly Buttons – Find It If Your Cat Has
Belly buttons in humans are easier to find. They have a protruding or hollow region. This region is present in the middle of the stomach area. Though the belly button is present differently in cats.
However, in some cases there, not a prominent belly button is present on your cat’s body, or maybe something alike is present in that area. On cats’ stomachs, you can find the belly button.
The more specified region of the belly button is the center of the stomach, beneath the rib cage, and just halfway down the abdomen. Whether it is a male cat or a female cat, all do have this region or like the small scar on the stomach.
After birth, the umbilical cord falls off the kitten’s stomach. A small scar leaves behind. This is a belly button. Cats retain this scar throughout life just like humans have a belly button until it gets damaged.
If a scaring is damaged or removed there is a high risk of infection in kittens. In this way do not let the young cats lick themselves or other’s bellies.
In comparison to humans, a cat’s belly button heals progressively. This the main reason behind not spotting the belly buttons in cats easily. The belly button continues to heal through life as time passes. Thus, it is easier to find a young kitten’s belly button than an older cat.
Sometimes, you may be untrained and inexperienced so, could not find and remain curious about “do cats have belly buttons?”
Do Cats Have Belly Buttons? – Why can’t you find it?
If your cat is fully grown then you might face some hurdle to find the belly button. As we have already mentioned the exact location but as a beginner, your hunt may disappoint you.
Additionally, you have to compete with the fur on the cat’s body. In the stomach region, your cat may not feel comfortable with your shredded hands.
Havier the cat, the more difficult it to find the belly button. Because the scar gets to stretch and becomes thinner due to heavy fat.
Perfect Time To Find The Belly Button Of Your Cat:
The perfect time to find your cat’s belly button is when he or she is sitting silently beside you or rolling around comfortably. While your cat is rolling on you to show affection and trust, there is a chance to get access to the cat’s stomach and find the belly button.
But be aware and do not take advantage for a long time not even with a non-familiar cat if rolling around you.
Cats generally have belly buttons higher than humans just below the rib cage. Usually, the size of the belly button in cats is about 5mm long. If you are failed to find it, do not make your cat feel discomfort by moving fur harshly instead you must try next time.
It is difficult to find belly buttons on cats even for experienced vets. The main reason is that cats do not have protruding or hollow naval like us. Instead, a flat scar appears and gets completely heal over time. Thus, you can easily identify this scar on kittens rather than on adult cats.
One more most noteworthy reason is the nipples. There are about 4 or 8 nipples on both male or female cat’s body. These nipples are present close to the belly button. Thus, one may be unable to find the difference between these two particularly along with fur.
There is an extra challenge while finding the belly buttons in female cats. The presence of a spaying scar may confuse you. Because it is almost in the same place where the belly button is. So, it seems impossible to virtually observe the difference.
Now vets use tattoo ink to mark the spaying scar to clear the difference between the spaying mark and the belly button on cats.
Do Cats Have Belly Buttons Like Innie or Outie?
Humans have the belly buttons as innie or outie but cats do not have. Instead, there is not the shape of a button but a flat scar appears. Why we do not have similar belly buttons? There are multiple relevant factors. For example, our skin is thicker than cats so the healing process gets interfered with.
Another factor that impacts this difference is the way kittens get separated from the mother cat in comparison to a human baby does. Professionals tied the umbilical cord during separating the human baby.
While the mother cat bites the umbilical cord in this process and lets the remaining part fall off. Consequently, a flat scar appears instead of protruding or hollow naval.
Do Cats Have Belly Buttons as Outie:
If you have found a belly button in your as outie. This is is a hernia, not a belly button. According to experienced vets, this hernia forms when the umbilical cord is not healed properly.
As a result, a soft pouch is created in the abdominal wall like a small opening. This pouch bulges in place of a scar in form of an outie. In most cases, such an umbilical hernia recovers on its own without any stress.
Nevertheless, hernias can be worsened over time and susceptible to infections, particularly when the cat suffers from physical exertion.
I hernia does not turn into a belly button or a scar within 3 or 4 months, it must undergo neutering. If hernias remain untreated, these may cause life-threatening problems.
Conclusion:
We have discussed in this article in complete detail that do your cats have belly button or not? we have discussed different concepts related to it. In the end, we came to the conclusion that cats do have a belly button.
Thus, your cats do have belly buttons. You will find it sooner or later in the form of a scar but not as a button present in humans.