Cute cats have become social media stars as of late, with many people – celebrities included – showing off their felines with photos and videos that have received millions of hits.
Pop queen Taylor Swift’s round-headed, big-eyed cat, a Scottish Fold, is a celebrity in its own right, and model and actress Claudia Schiffer brought her own Scottish Fold to the premiere of a film – which also featured the feline.
There is, however, a darker side to this trend.
For example, animal welfare advocates say Scottish Folds, known for their folded ears, are the result of harmful breeding practices.
Animals bred for specific traits, like big eyes, a flat nose or unique coat colours, can struggle with health problems for their entire lives. Some may have difficulty breathing or other physical problems.
Achim Gruber, a Germany-based veterinary pathologist, calls this “defect breeding”. He says animals are being deliberately bred with genetic defects to achieve an extravagant or cute appearance, even though the health consequences for the animals have been known for decades.
