Cleft lip and palate are defects that are already present upon birth. This occurs when there is failure of the kitten’s lip or mouth to form properly during pregnancy. These birth defects are collectively called “oro-facial clefts”. These defects generally occur during the early part of pregnancy. The word “cleft” refers to a part that is split or partially divided in two. A cat can have a cleft palate, cleft lip, or both.

The slit of a cleft lip may be very small or may be large enough to extend into the nose. On the other hand, the defect associated with cleft palate is the failure of the roof of the mouth to joint together completely.

Oro-facial clefts are more common in female kittens and tend to be higher in purebred cats, particularly the Siamese.

In addition to the obvious physical signs, a kitten with a cleft palate or lip may suffer from sneezing, coughing, passage of milk through their nostrils during nursing, and chronic infections affecting the sinuses.

Take your kitten to your Coon Rapids, MN vet so it can be examined and the problem assessed thoroughly. Read more for additional information.