A popular breed of 'designer' cat should be banned because it's prone to a number of genetic defects that make its life a misery, says a leading veterinary organisation.
The Scottish fold cat, whose celebrity following includes singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, is notable for its overturned floppy ears. First bred in the 1960s, the breed has surged in popularity with pet owners in recent years.
But Gudrun Ravetz, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), says the breed's "cute" appearance is the result of serious genetic abnormalities.
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"People are wanting to have these cats because of that, but unfortunately it is another example of us prioritising how a pet looks rather than their quality of life," she says.
The defect that gives the breed its distinctive ears, which are caused by misshapen cartilage, also means that Scottish fold cats often have a reduced lifespan and are vulnerable to a host of medical problems.
"These genetic mutations, which all the Scottish fold cats will have, develop into lifelong incurable and painful diseases such as a type of arthritis," says Ravetz. "We should not be breeding pets that can have these problems."
Celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift have shared pictures of their pets with their legions of social media followers and this is thought to have contributed to demand, the BBC reports.
Swift's two Scottish fold cats, Meredith and Olivia – named after characters from Grey's Anatomy – are a regular feature on the singer's Instagram account.
The BVA's call to outlaw Scottish fold breeding follows similar comments made last month by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).
The organisation warns that joint problems associated with genetic defects lead to "reluctance to move, abnormal posture and gait, lameness and short, misshapen limbs".
"We welcome any change to legislation to prevent the breeding and sale of Scottish fold cats," the society told The Times.
