An experimental cleft palate（CP） animal model simulating clinical congenital deformities is one of the most important ways for its etiology, embryonic development, epidemiology and clinical therapeutics. Among those animal model establishing methods have been introduced, the rodents animal models in rats and mice have been already quite stable and mature. However, to establish big animal model in such as goats, pigs, dogs, monkeys or cats is still on exploring stage. They are poor in reproducibility and stability. This review outlined the categorization, establishing methods, applications and evaluations of the mentioned experimental CP models in big animals, in order to provide reference for selecting suitable animal model for CP etiologic and therapeutic studies.
