Congenital defects in cats associated with irresponsible breeding practices including polydactyly complications, ear fold deformities, and skeletal dysplasia cause lifelong welfare compromise.
Cats bred with harmful conformational mutations experience welfare compromise caused directly by the breeding choices of humans. Scottish Fold cats regardless of their apparent health carry skeletal abnormalities that cause progressive arthritis, joint pain, and lameness throughout life. The characteristic folded ears that make the breed popular in cat shows and on social media are produced by the same gene mutation that causes painful skeletal disease throughout the body. Munchkin cats with very short legs face challenges that develop with age as the skeleton bears weight inappropriately. These conditions are fully preventable through responsible breeding decisions, making their continued prevalence an ethical failure.