Bullycats have attracted ‘a disturbing following’ on social media (Picture: Getty Images)
The public has been told not to buy a certain breed of hairless cat that experts say is likely to suffer serious heath issues.
People should avoid a ‘new fad’ for bullycats, a sphynx-like breed with short, bowed legs and heavily wrinkled skin, according to animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation.
The organisation said that due to their ‘exaggerated and unnatural appearance’ there’s a high chance they will endure a range of health problems such as sunburn, skin infections and mobility issues.
Bullycats have attracted ‘a disturbing following’ on social media platforms in recent months, it added, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
The breed, so-called due to its resemblance to bully dogs, appears to have originated in the US, but is now also being bred in the UK, said the charity.
A spokesperson for Naturewatch Foundation said, “It’s shocking to see that these poor cats are starting to emerge in the UK.
‘We’ve seen increasingly extreme breeding practices in the dog world in recent years, and it appears unscrupulous people are now turning their attention to exploiting cats in the same way, all in the pursuit of greed and social media likes. It’s an animal welfare disaster and this kind of breeding is just cruel.’
Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), agrees.
Bully cats are likely to suffer from various health issues, say experts (Picture: Michael Mccarthymet)
He said: ‘The RVC has generated volumes of research over the past decade showing the enormous suffering that humans have imposed on dogs because of our fascination with extreme body shapes. It is heart-breaking to now see the same suffering being visited on cats by the invention of the bullycat.
‘Bullycats are likely to suffer the same shortened lives reported from a recent RVC VetCompass paper in Sphynx cats, that lived 6.7 years compared to an average of 11.7 years in cats overall.
‘Deliberately selecting for disease mutations, such as hairlessness that leads to sunburn, dwarfism that leads to mobility issues and joint pain, and folded skin that leads to lifetimes of skin infections means that the lives of many bullycats will permanently be blighted by suffering.’
The Naturewatch Foundation spokesperson added: ‘If you’re thinking about getting a cat, don’t buy into these harmful designer fads, as you’ll pay a high price in vet fees and you’ll have to endure the pain of seeing your beloved pet suffering from lifelong health issues.
The bullycat is named after bully dogs due to their similarities (Picture: Michael Mccarthymet)
‘There are lots of wonderful cats out there who need a home, so please go to a reputable rescue instead and choose a cat or kitten with a natural body shape.”
The charity is also urging people to boycott social media accounts that promote bullycats.
Members of the public concerned about low-welfare or unlicensed pet selling,should report what they know to their local authority’s licensing department.
Naturewatch Foundation also investigates tip-offs about the illicit pet trade. Visit their website for more information.
In 2022, a campaign was launched for a legal ban on the breeding of exotic cats with domestic cats.
The Wildheart Trust, backed by Chris Packham, said the trend for ‘designer cats’ was fuelled by social media, causes health issues for the pets and threatens the future populations of wild felines.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
