Scottish Folds, a cute breed that suffers constant pain

[Catherine]

Scottish fold cats come from a single mutation in a single cat in 1961. A weakness in the cartilage cases the ear to fold. It really is cute.
However the same mutation causes osteochondrodysplasia. The means the cat will have abnormal bone growth, arthritis and severe pain.
They are a very docile breed, but that could be because they are in pain all the time.

The breeding of Scottish Folds is banned in Scotland. Other countries have restricted them.

The singer/performer Taylor Swift has Scottish Folds. She is quite public about them and the popularity of the breed has surged. 
There are now over 100,000 Scottish Folds in the UK. Their numbers are increasing even though the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy refuses to register them. 


https://www.theguardian.com/world/articl...ttish-fold

I remember the mutation. Everyone thought it was so cute and they wanted one. We had no idea that the cats would have other physical defects.
Who thought about those things back in the 60s. We know now. A defect that causes the ears to fold, would effect cartilage in other parts of the body.
We should never want to breed animals with physical defects that cause them suffering. Cute, but in constant pain is not really that cute.

If she is going to be a responsible pet owner, Taylor Swift needs to publicly address this and encourage people to choose healthy pets, preferably from an animal shelter.  It is one thing to take on a physically  damaged pet and give it a good home in spite of its health issues. It is another thing to choose a damaged pet because it is cute and encourage the breeding of pets that will suffer.