Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Breed-Specific Health and Welfare Reform

Breed-specific health problems in cats mirror those in dogs, with flat-faced breeds and extreme body conformations causing preventable suffering.

Key Facts

Persian and Exotic Shorthair cats have brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
Polycystic kidney disease affects up to 38% of Persians without genetic testing
Scottish Fold cats develop painful osteochondrodysplasia from the fold mutation
Manx cats suffer from spinal abnormalities related to the taillessness mutation
DNA testing programs and breeding reform are reducing inherited disease in some breeds

Welfare Considerations

Breeding cats with extreme features that cause suffering is ethically indefensible. Consumer demand for flat-faced cats perpetuates preventable suffering. Breeding reform through consumer education, kennel club standards, and breeding health tests reduces inherited disease burden.

What You Can Do

Do not purchase brachycephalic cat breeds with extreme flat faces
Support breed health testing programs and breeders committed to health testing
Advocate for mandatory health testing requirements for high-risk cat breeds