Corneal ulcers appear significantly more common in brachycephalic cats than in other feline breeds, according to a retrospective study analysing nearly a decade of referral ophthalmology cases.
The research, published in Veterinary Ophthalmology, compared the prevalence and clinical characteristics of feline ulcerative keratitis (UK) and corneal sequestra (CS) in brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic cats.
The study
Researchers reviewed medical records from a referral ophthalmology centre in France covering cases seen between January 2013 and December 2022.
A total of 392 cats met the study criteria, including 290 with ulcerative keratitis and 102 diagnosed with corneal sequestra. Data collected included breed type, lesion location, severity, predisposing factors and treatments performed.
Cats were categorised as brachycephalic or non-brachycephalic based on recognised breed classifications.
The methodology
All cats underwent a full ophthalmic examination, typically including neuro-ophthalmic reflex testing, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry and fluorescein staining.
Ulcerative keratitis was graded by depth (superficial, stromal or descemetocele/perforation), while corneal sequestra were classified according to whether infectious keratitis was present.
The researchers then compared disease prevalence, lesion characteristics and management between skull types.
The results
Within the study population, 36% of brachycephalic cats were diagnosed with ulcerative keratitis compared with 15% of non-brachycephalic cats (p < .001).
However, ulcer severity did not differ significantly between the groups. Brachycephalic cats were more likely to develop central or paracentral corneal lesions, while non-brachycephalic cats more commonly showed corneal vascularisation.
Surgical approaches also differed: keratoplasty procedures were performed more often in brachycephalic cats, while entropion surgery was more frequent in non-brachycephalic cats.
Key takeaway
For veterinary teams, the findings add to evidence linking brachycephalic conformation with corneal disease risk in cats. Brachycephalic breeds were more than twice as likely to develop ulcerative keratitis and tended to present with centrally located lesions, although lesion severity was similar between groups.
Because the study was retrospective and based on a referral caseload, the results may reflect a population with more complex disease than typically seen in general practice. Nevertheless, the data reinforce the importance of early assessment and monitoring of ocular surface disease in brachycephalic feline patients.
Source: Veterinary Ophthalmology, “Prevalence and Characteristics of Feline Ulcerative Keratitis and Corneal Sequestra in a Referral Population and Comparison Between Brachycephalic and Nonbrachycephalic Cats,” Frejlich M, Payen G, 2025. DOI: 10.1111/vop.70048.
