Rise of the XL Bully CAT: Warning over hairless felines with ‘exaggerated’ features that are being bred in the UK despite serious health issues

Hairless ‘Bullycats’ with ‘exaggerated’ options are being bred in Britain and are gaining a ‘disturbing following’ on social media. 

The ‘unnatural’ sphynx-like breed has brief bowed legs and closely wrinkled pores and skin – very similar to a bully canine – as specialists warn concerning the ‘horrifying’ rising designer fad regardless of the felines more likely to go on to endure critical well being points. 

Cat lovers are being warned to not purchase them and to boycott the breed as they may ‘endure lives blighted by struggling’.

It’s thought the so-called Bullycat originated within the US nevertheless it has now made its method throughout the Atlantic with the pattern constructing a ‘disturbing following’ on social media websites similar to Fb, TikTok and Instagram. 

Animal welfare charity Naturewatch Basis despatched a transparent message to these trying to purchase a cat: ‘In case you’re eager about getting a cat, do not buy into these dangerous designer fads.’

The muse mentioned: ‘It’s surprising to see that these poor cats are beginning to seem within the UK. 

‘We’ve seen more and more excessive breeding practices within the canine world lately, and it seems unscrupulous individuals at the moment are turning their consideration to exploiting cats in the identical method, all within the pursuit of greed and social media likes. 

‘Bullycats are an animal welfare catastrophe unfolding earlier than our eyes and this type of breeding is simply merciless.’

Dr Dan O’Neill, affiliate professor of companion animal epidemiology on the Royal Veterinary Faculty (RVC), mentioned it was ‘heartbreaking’ to see cats now going below the identical struggling as canine by people fascinated by ‘excessive physique shapes’. 

‘Bullycats are more likely to endure equally shortened lives to these reported from a current RVC VetCompass paper in Sphynx cats that lived simply 6.7 years in comparison with a mean of 11.7 years in cats total,’ he mentioned.

‘Intentionally choosing for illness mutations, similar to hairlessness that results in sunburn, dwarfism that results in mobility points and joint ache, and folded pores and skin that results in lifetimes of pores and skin infections implies that many Bullycats will endure lives blighted by struggling.

‘The recommendation to anybody considering of buying a cat or a canine is to at all times put the welfare of the animal first and to cease and assume earlier than buying an animal with an excessive and unnatural physique form that doesn’t exist generally in nature.’ 

Cat lovers are being warned to not purchase them and to boycott the breed as they may ‘endure lives blighted by struggling’

The so-called Bullycat breed is believed to have gotten its title attributable to their resemblance to bully canine (Pictured: An American unique bully sitting on the inexperienced grass within the park)

A RSPCA spokesperson instructed MailOnline they have been ‘very involved’ concerning the current pattern of Bullycats saying it ‘might trigger them critical welfare points’.

‘These exaggerated Sphynx cats are bred with very brief legs which might put a pressure on their joints, and so they additionally seem to have extra pores and skin folds making them weak to pores and skin situations which might trigger a substantial amount of discomfort, the charity warned.

‘Such illnesses might additionally lead to journeys to the vet leaving homeowners with pricey vet payments too.

‘These Sphynx-like cats are additionally bred to have solely a high-quality overlaying of downy hair and a few could not have eyelashes or whiskers.

‘This lack of fur can go away cats weak to dangerous ultraviolet mild, trigger difficulties maintaining heat and means they will not be capable to use their hair and probably their whiskers to discover their surroundings.

‘The shortage of a fur coat additionally means they should be commonly washed as oil can accumulate on their pores and skin.

‘There is also additional well being points related to these cats being bred from a restricted gene pool.

‘We perceive that their rising presence on social media could gasoline a requirement for these sorts of cats however we might urge fellow cat lovers to think about adopting the various rescue cats in our care as a substitute of shopping for from a breeder.

‘We’d additionally urge breeders to prioritise the well being and welfare of any animal over the way in which they give the impression of being.’