They may be attracted to a cute or unusual look for example, but cats bred to have an extreme body type, with characteristics including hairlessness, short legs, or an extremely flat face, can leave owners with expensive vet bills as well as cats with complex needs and a poor quality of life.

“Often, these issues are hidden at the start of a cat’s life and require the buyer to really do their homework before committing to a purchase. Cats Protection wants to support all cat owners in giving their pets the best possible life, including those who choose to own pedigrees. To do that, its vital new owners do their research to understand what they are taking on.”

“For instance, Scottish Fold cats such as those owned by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift are bred for their curled or folded ears, but they suffer from degenerative joint disease and usually go on to develop painful arthritis. Vets may advise euthanasia in some cases due to the profound effects of this disease.”    

Recently Cats Protection Worthing (in Sussex) was asked to take in an ultra flat-faced Persian cat called Bumble after her owner was unable to go on looking after her. Bumble has an eye condition common in Persians called a corneal sequestrum. This means some of the tissue on the surface of her eye has died and formed a clump of dead tissue which often presents as a visible black circular area. It can be painful and cause the eye to become watery, red and inflamed.

Bumble is currently under treatment for the condition which impacts both eyes and it is yet to be established whether her most affected eye can be saved. Bumble will need considerable vet care before she can be given a clean bill of health and found a new home. 

The charity’s top tips are:

• Before buying a pedigree, look into any health and welfare concerns that may affect your chosen breed. Choose a breeder carefully and ask questions, such as whether the parents have been screened for genetic illness, as appropriate for the breed. It’s a good idea to talk to a vet or a cat behaviourist before making a decision 
• If you’re buying a kitten, refer to the Kitten Checklist here, put together by leading cat experts to help you avoid scams and choose a healthy, happy cat
• Consider the benefits of adopting a moggie, as they have just as much love and companionship to offer as a pedigree cat
• To read the Cats And Their Stats Report 2024 then please click here and for more details on caring for cats, visit www.cats.org.uk

Photos of Bumble the Persian Cat can be found here

For further information or an interview, please contact Cats Protection Media Office on 01825 741 911, at media.office@cats.org.uk, or @CPMediaTeam on Twitter.