Chubby cheeks in cats refer to full, round facial features that give the appearance of “chipmunk cheeks.” This trait is often seen in certain breeds that have a tendency for flat or short facial structures. The chubby cheek look is prized in some breeds and is considered a desired physical characteristic. Breeds like the Persian and Exotic Shorthair are specifically bred to accentuate the big eyes, flat face, and full cheeks. Other breeds like the Scottish Fold and British Shorthair tend to naturally exhibit chubby cheeks due to their genetics and facial structure. Beyond aesthetics, extensive chubby cheeks can sometimes cause health issues in flattened-faced cat breeds.
In this article, we will provide an overview of popular cat breeds known for their prominent, chubby cheeks and discuss why certain breeds exhibit this facial feature more than others.
British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is one of the most popular breeds of domestic cat in the United Kingdom. The breed originated in Great Britain and has a distinctively stocky body, dense coat, and broad face. British Shorthairs are known for their calm, friendly personalities and plush, round teddy bear faces.
The British Shorthair breed has existed in Britain for centuries, but the first documented breeding program began in the late 1800s. Breeders selected cats with the desired stocky build and dense, plush coats. Over time, the round face and chubby cheeks that British Shorthairs are known for today became fixed traits through selective breeding.
One of the most defining features of the British Shorthair is its broad, round face and full cheeks that give it a cherubic appearance. The large, round eyes and cheeks combined with the dense fur creates the impression of a “chubby face.” The British Shorthair has even been nicknamed the “British teddy bear cat” because their sweet expression resembles a cute stuffed animal.
Persian
Persians are one of the most popular cat breeds in the world, known for their long, lush coats and baby-doll faces with large round eyes and flat noses. They originated in the Middle East, and were brought to Europe in the late 16th century by Italian traders. Their popularity exploded in the Victorian era, when exotic pets were in vogue.https://www.spreadshirt.com/shop/home-living/mouse-pads/chubby+cheeks/
The Persian’s unique facial features are the result of selective breeding over many years. Breeders sought to accentuate the foreshortened face, large eyes, and chubby cheeks into an exaggerated baby-doll appearance. This was achieved by combining longhaired cats carrying the mutation for flat faces. The process narrowed the nasal passages, resulting in breathing issues that can affect the health of some Persians today.
The Persian retains its sweet, gentle temperament despite its brachycephalic issues. Their long, luxurious coats require daily grooming to prevent matting and shedding. The Persian thrives as a pampered house cat, though their inactive nature can lead to obesity if not properly managed.
Exotic Shorthair
The Exotic Shorthair is a breed that was developed from the Persian cat to have a short, dense coat that would be easier to groom and maintain. Exotic Shorthairs have the same beloved “doll face” look of Persians, with big round eyes and flat noses, but their coats are only an inch or two long. This gives them a rounded, chubby cheeked appearance that many find adorable. While Persian cats need daily grooming to prevent mats, Exotic Shorthairs only require weekly brushing. Their plush coat comes in all the same colors and patterns as Persians. Underneath the short fur, Exotics have a cobby, muscular build similar to Persians as well. They tend to be calm, easygoing, and affectionate. The shorter coat makes them a bit livelier and playful than the very laidback Persians.
Scottish Fold
The Scottish Fold originates from Scotland in the 1960s. It is characterized by its unique forward-folding ears, caused by a genetic mutation that affects the cartilage in the cat’s ears. While the folded ears are the breed’s defining physical characteristic, Scottish Folds are also known for their rounded, chubby cheeks and teddy bear facial features.
The gene that causes the fold in the Scottish Fold’s ears also affects the development of cartilage throughout the cat’s body, including in the face. This results in the cat having full, round cheeks and large, round eyes that give it a sweet, childlike facial expression. The chubby cheeks are part of the Scottish Fold’s neotenic features – traits that make the cat retain its kittenish appearance into adulthood.
Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is a breed of cat known for its chubby cheeks. The breed originated in California in the 1960s. The name “Ragdoll” comes from the tendency of these cats to go completely limp when picked up, much like a ragdoll.
Ragdolls have round heads with prominent, chubby cheeks. Their large eyes and pointed ears give them a sweet, puppy-like appearance. The Ragdoll’s semi-long, plush coat accentuates its rounded head and chubby cheeks. This breed is known for being very affectionate and relaxed.
The development of the Ragdoll involved crosses with long-haired breeds like Persian and Birman to introduce the long coat and deep blue eyes. The rounded head and cheeks are distinguishing features passed down from the founding cats.
Himalayan
The Himalayan is a breed of cat originating from crosses between Persians and Siamese cats. Like Persians, Himalayans have a round head and full, chubby cheeks. This is due to their Persian ancestry, as Persians are known for their round heads and flat faces that give them a sweet, chubby-cheeked look.
Himalayans have the long, silky coat of a Persian but with Siamese-style colorpoints. Their bodies are white or cream while the points (face, ears, legs and tail) are seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, cream or tortie. They have striking blue eyes. The combination of the colorpointed pattern with their Persian-like round heads and cheeks gives Himalayans a distinctly endearing appearance.
While the chubby cheeks are part of the natural look of the breed, they can become more pronounced in unneutered males due to hormones. Like other breeds, neutering a male Himalayan cat will prevent the enlargement of the jowls and cheeks.
Birman
The Birman breed originated in Burma (now known as Myanmar) where they were considered sacred cats. According to legend, the first Birman cat was a temple cat named Saga who saved the life of a priest named Mun Ha by wrapping his long white tail around him to carry him to safety during an attack1. All Birmans today descend from temple cats in Burma. Birmans are medium-sized cats that have a stocky yet elegant body with semi-long, silky fur. They have a distinctive rounded, full-cheeked face which gives them a sweet expression2. Their cheeks are padded, emphasizing the breadth of their round heads. The overall impression of the Birman’s face is one of sweetness and serenity.
Ragamuffin
The Ragamuffin is a relatively new breed of cat that was developed in the 1990s. According to Cats.com, the Ragamuffin was created by crossing a long-haired domestic cat with a Ragdoll. The goal was to maintain the sweet personality of the Ragdoll while developing a heavier-boned cat with a plush coat. Like Ragdolls, Ragamuffins are known for their docile temperaments and affectionate natures.
One of the most distinguishing features of the Ragamuffin, like the Ragdoll, is their chubby cheeks. Ragamuffins have full, round heads with puffy cheeks that give them a cuddly teddy bear appearance. Their cheeks are especially prominent in unneutered male Ragamuffins. According to Daily Paws, the “jowly” cheeks are caused by hormones in unneutered tomcats. So while chubby cheeks can occur in Ragamuffin females and neutered males, they are most pronounced in intact males.
Overall, the Ragamuffin’s chubby cheeks are characteristic of the breed and link back to their Ragdoll heritage. The stuffed animal facial features help give Ragamuffins their sweet, endearing look.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several cat breeds that are prone to having chubby cheeks due to their facial structure and genetics. Breeds like the Persian, British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, and Exotic Shorthair tend to have round, chubby faces and cheeks. Other breeds such as the Ragdoll, Himalayan, and Birman can also develop full, chubby cheeks as they mature.
A cat’s adorably chubby cheeks are often considered one of their most endearing physical traits. When paired with their naturally cute and playful personalities, it creates an irresistibly lovable companion for many cat owners. While some may value a cat’s looks above all else, it is important to select a breed based on overall health, temperament, and care requirements. Every cat has their own unique charm.