Short legs, no hair, and a scary look. Mutant cat breeding is a fashion in the UK: what are the dangers

In the UK, the fashion for breeding mutant cats is gaining momentum. This involves the deliberate combination of genetic mutations to create cats with a specific look. They are a mix of Munchkin and Sphynx cats, meaning they are both hairless and have short legs.

The XL Bully Cat originates from the United States but is slowly making its way to the UK, where social media accounts have appeared promoting the mutant breed. The cats have a fearsome appearance, but in fact, it adds to their health problems, MailOnline writes.

XL bully cats are at high risk for several health problems related to their lack of hair and short legs. Kittens already have a limited ability to regulate their body temperature, and this is compounded by the lack of hair and makes them more susceptible to respiratory infections.

"Short legs limit their ability to jump, can put cats at a disadvantage in fights, and can lead to painful health conditions. And the lack of fur can lead to sunburn and skin cancer in hairless cats," says Grace Carroll, a lecturer in animal behavior and welfare at Queens University.

In addition, mutant cats, like sphinxes, lack whiskers, which can lead to problems with communication, navigation, and spatial dimension measurement.

Unfortunately, while the average cat in the UK lives to be 12 years old, the average Sphynx only lives for 6-7 years. Accordingly, this breed will also have a shorter lifespan.

"Bully cats, being hairless and short-legged, can face twice as many challenges as sphynx and munchkin breeds," says Dr. Carroll.

Nevertheless, many XL Bully Cat breeders claim that their pets are healthy and receive regular checkups. But while regular check-ups can help prevent health problems, Dr. Carroll argues that the broader health and welfare issues associated with breeding mutants cannot be ignored.

"People generally think of features like round eyes and short noses as particularly cute. But breeding animals without hair and with shorter legs is better aligned with the concept of breeding for curiosity," the expert believes.

She believes that in this case, the similarities between bully cats and dogs have more to do with human design, where appearance is a priority.

"It seems that the bully cat was deliberately bred to resemble a bully dog, perhaps because young people see it as a kind of status symbol," Carroll adds.

She urges potential buyers not to consider purchasing XL Bully Cats: "We can prevent breeders from prioritizing aesthetics over animal health and welfare by refusing to buy breeds with extreme traits. A fashion for ethical breeding can ensure that future cats will be healthier, happier, and free to enjoy natural feline behaviors like climbing, jumping, and relaxing in the sun. We must allow cats to be cats," she summarized.

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