THE disturbing world of hairless “XL Bully” cats where felines are bred to resemble muscular beasts has been exposed, as experts slam the trend.
Experts say anyone considering getting a pet moggy should not get a new breed of hairless cat as they are likely to suffer serious health issues which can affect their behaviour.
A new breed of ‘bullycats’ are likely to suffer from a range of health problems, animal charities warn[/caption]
The growing fad for ‘bullycats’ is thought to have originated in the US but has spread to the UK[/caption]
There is a new, growing trend for so-called bullycats, a sphynx-like breed which have short, bowed legs and lots of wrinkled skin.
Due to their appearance, the cats have been compared to the XL Bully dogs, which have been banned due to their aggressive behaviour.
Demand for these cats is thought to have shot up in recent months and breeders can charge as much as £4,000 for one.
The trend is thought to have started off in the US but is now gathering pace over here, fuelled by social media posts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
As there is no regulation surrounding the breeding of these cats it is not know exactly how may bullycats there are but while there might be relatively small numbers currently they have become more visible in recent months.
Breeder Rob, who is known by the name BadBoyBullyCats online, says his animals are “healthy” and they make for “affectionate, nurturing” pets.
Rob told the MailOnline all his cats are “entirely healthy and function just like any typical cat”.
He claimed his cats are “active, engaging in running, jumping, and climbing” without any problems and that people should “observe these cats in person before forming an opinion.”
But animal welfare charities have lined up to blast bullycat breeders.
They’ve raised concerns about their health, adding that breeders have put profits before the welfare of the animals, and warned that because of those health issues, owners could be lumbered with costly vet bills.
While poor health is the main concern, experts have warned these types of cats could also be more likely to lash out.
Jeff Knott, advocacy and influence director at the Cats Protection League, told Sun Online: “The main issue is their health rather than being aggressive but they are likely to be in pain so they will be harder to socialise and so more likely to lash out.
“They aren’t inherently more aggressive though.”
The charity said it first became aware of the breeds around six months ago, but thought at first they couldn’t be real.
These types of cats’ lack of fur can lead to skin problems such as sunburn and skin infections.
Their stumpy legs mean they’re more likely to suffer from joint pain and arthritis.
Jeff said: “They are basically a deformed cat and have unacceptable suffering.
“They are being breed for profit. They are designer cats where profit is being put over the cat’s welfare.”
“It [their condition] can be life limiting. It’s inhumane.”
Cats Protection has also called on the government to take action and outlaw these extreme breeds.
Jeff added: “Government needs to ban these breeds with proper regulation.”
“We and other charities have plenty of cats that need adopting and we urge anyone thinking of having a cat to look beyond the visual and see the harm underneath.”
A spokesperson for the RSPCA told The Sun Online: “We love all cats but we’re very concerned about the recent trend of so-called ‘bully cats’ as these felines are bred to have exaggerated physical features which could cause them serious welfare issues.
“These exaggerated Sphynx cats are bred with very short legs which could put a strain on their joints, and they also appear to have excess skin folds making them vulnerable to skin conditions which can cause a great deal of discomfort.
“Such ailments could also result in trips to the vet leaving owners with costly vet bills too.”
The charity warned that the cats are bred to only have a fine covering of downy hair and some may not have any eyelashes or whiskers.
The RSPCA added: “This lack of fur can leave cats vulnerable to harmful ultraviolet light, cause difficulties keeping warm and means they won’t be able to use their hair and possibly their whiskers to explore their environment.”
They will also need to be regularly washed as they are virtually hairless because oil can accumulate on their skin.
The RSPCA also warned there could be further health issues with the cats being bred from a limited gene pool.
It added: “We understand that their emerging presence on social media may fuel a demand for these kinds of cats but we would urge fellow cat lovers to consider adopting the many rescue cats in our care instead of buying from a breeder.
“We would also urge breeders to prioritise the health and welfare of any animal over the way they look.”
Juliette Jones, behaviour and training specialist at Woodgreen pets charity, warned the pets were being bred for their “extreme physical traits” which prevented them from carrying out their “normal behaviour”.
She told The Sun Online: “We strongly condemn this detrimental practice and urge both breeders and pet lovers to prioritise the health and wellbeing of animals, rather than supporting trends that negatively impact the quality of life of cats.
“We are deeply concerned about the rise in these so-called Bully cats, which are dangerously bred for extreme physical traits purely for appearance.
“They suffer from physical deformities and defects that can prevent them from carrying out normal behaviour.
“This alarming surge in the breeding and promotion of Bully cats has raised serious concerns among animal welfare advocates as breeding for extreme conformation presents significant welfare issues for the cats.
“These cats often suffer from significant health issues, including joint pain, mobility restrictions, and skin infections due to their exaggerated features, such as shortened legs and excess skin.
“This type of vanity breeding places appearance over the welfare of the animal, often causing unnecessary pain and long-term suffering.
“We are against the promotion of extreme breeding in cats being promoted in any way, whether that’s on social media or being present at cat shows.
“We strongly urge the public to avoid buying these cats under any circumstances; it’s not only irresponsible but promotes popularity and may lead to this dangerous practice continuing, with more cats being born to suffer.”
Becky Thwaites, head of public affairs at national pet charity Blue Cross, said the organisation had concerns about the long term health issues caused by “genetic abnormalities”.
She said: “We have serious concerns about the selective and extreme breeding of cats with exaggerated features, which we know lead to lifelong health and welfare problems and genetic abnormalities.
“Blue Cross have long argued for the regulation of cat breeding in England and Wales and would like to see provisions in these regulations which would prevent this type of extreme breeding practice.”
Naturewatch Foundation says the breed has an ‘exaggerated and unnatural appearance’[/caption]
