Leading animal charities have issued a stark warning about"Frankenstein cats"

Scottish folds and Sphynx cats are increasingly being bred for extreme features.

Animal welfare charities are calling on UK governments to take urgent action on cruel cat breeding practices, following a surge in felines bred with extreme physical traits.

According to the RSPCA, demand for certain breeds has jumped by 200 per cent in recent years. Breeds causing the most concern include Scottish folds, Sphynx cats, Persians, and new XL Bully cats, which are being bred for hairlessness, folded ears, shortened limbs, and missing tails.

Madison Rogers, associate director of advocacy at Cats Protection, said: “Cats’ body shapes have remained broadly similar for hundreds of years, but in a relatively short space of time this has dramatically changed.

“Scottish folds now account for two per cent of the UK cat population, while the XL bully cat - which combines multiple extreme traits – first appeared in 2024 and has seen booming popularity.

“If action is not taken quickly, we are likely to see more alarming examples of what we are calling ‘Frankenstein’ cats - who bear no resemblance to our beloved moggy and, tragically, come with multiple health issues.”

Unlike dog breeding, there are no specific restrictions for breeding harmful inherited traits in the UK — except in Scotland, where licensing rules apply to breeders with three or more litters a year. This legal loophole leaves unscrupulous, unregulated breeders free to create unhealthy cats that not only look different to moggies, but also often have painful health conditions that prevent them from exhibiting natural behaviour.

Madison adds: “We’re urging the governments across the UK to regulate cat breeding and ban the breeding of cats with known harmful traits. But the public can do their bit too; we are by not buying these poor cats, and signing our petition calling for action”. 

Image (C) RSPCA.