VA 53% pouches, but they vary greatly in size; some are almost undetectable. It's easiest to see a small pouch when it flops back and forth as a cat runs. There are three main theories as to why cats have primordial pouches, Arce told Live Science. The first is that it protects the internal organs in a fight by adding an extra layer between claws or teeth and the feline's insides. A second theory is that the pouch allows cats to move faster. It stretches as the felines run, giving them extra flexibility and the ability to go farther with each bound - qualities that can help them evade predators or catch prey. Another possibility is that the pouch is an extra space for storing food after a big meal. In the wild, cats don't get two square meals a day; they eat when they can and may store fat from a large kill in their pouch for sustenance days later. Primordial pouches aren't unique to domestic cats. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, have them for the same reasons, Arce noted. In house cats, the pouch starts to develop around 6 months of age in both males and females. It's important to be able to tell whether your cat
