Britain Is Falling Behind on Feline Welfare
In January, the Netherlands took a decisive step to improve feline welfare by banning the breeding of cats bred with folded ear cartilage, such as Scottish folds, or hairlessness, including sphynxes. Building on an existing breeding ban, it is one of the strongest legislative responses yet to welfare challenges created by breeding for appearance over health.
The UK should take note. England and Wales are not immune to the same trends and, in key respects, are already lagging behind.
Breeds such as Scottish folds and sphynxes have surged in popularity in recent years, driven in part by celebrity ownership and the amplifying effect of social media. Scottish folds, often portrayed online as docile and “easy” pets, have become increasingly desirable, while sphynx cats entering our animal centres have risen by 66 percent since January 2020. This popularity rests on a lack of public awareness that these cats are deliberately bred with physical traits that cause lifelong suffering, often resulting in significant financial and emotional costs for their owners.
Welfare concerns around selective breeding have been discussed far more prominently in dogs, which feature in the UK Government’s animal welfare strategy and devolved legislation. By contrast, cat welfare has received far less attention, despite 10.8 million cats in the UK - owned by around 26 percent of households.
Scottish folds’ distinctive ears are not a harmless aesthetic feature. They are the outward sign of - Scrabble bonus points klaxon - osteochondrodysplasia, a genetic disorder affecting cartilage formation throughout the body. Every Scottish fold has this condition, which leads to abnormal bone development, chronic pain and, in many cases, severe lameness. There is no cure.
Hairless cats, such as sphynxes, face welfare challenges linked to their lack of fur. They are vulnerable to skin damage, UV exposure, and may struggle to regulate body temperature. Without fur, natural oils can build up, requiring frequent washing, which most cats find stressful. Some also lack whiskers, vital for navigation and communication. Because of these vulnerabilities, hairless cats are often kept permanently indoors, which can frustrate their natural instincts to roam, explore, and defend territory.
The Netherlands’ legislation addresses these issues directly. Cats born on or after 1 January 2026 with these harmful traits may not be kept; older cats are exempt if microchipped. Crucially, the law avoids creating additional welfare harms. Cats in registered shelters, veterinary practices or rehoming facilities may continue to be cared for and rehomed, ensuring the legislation does not drive abandonment or overwhelm rescue services. There is no requirement for euthanasia, and the phased approach allows existing cats to live the remainder of their lives, while prioritising healthier cat breeding long term. Fines for non-compliance can reach €1,500, and cats with these traits are barred from competitions and exhibitions regardless of age.
Crucially, the Dutch approach targets harmful traits rather than named breeds. Unlike breed-specific bans used elsewhere, a trait-based framework reduces the risk of new “designer” types emerging to bypass regulation while perpetuating the same welfare problems.
Cat breeding in England and Wales remains largely unregulated. There are no limits on litters, no maximum breeding age, and no clear prohibition on extreme traits that compromise health. The consequences are already clear: over the past five years, purebred and pedigree cats have outnumbered non-pedigree “moggies” for the first time. Around two percent of UK cats - about 204,000 - are now Scottish folds. Between 2021 and 2024, RSPCA cruelty cases involving Scottish folds rose 113 percent, and cases involving hairless cats increased 227 percent, including dumped kittens, cats rescued from unsuitable breeding, and animals with complex, lifelong health problems.
There are signs of progress. Scotland has banned licensing to breed Scottish fold and munchkin cats, and requires that breeding of other extreme types does not negatively affect welfare. The UK Government has committed, in its animal welfare strategy, to researching cat breeding practices in England and reviewing regulation accordingly.
However, ambitions to end harmful selling and breeding of pets will not be achieved without clear limits - and consequences - for intentionally producing animals with traits likely to cause harm. The Netherlands has shown that decisive intervention to prevent large-scale future suffering is possible, while protecting existing animals. As the Dutch State Secretary for Animal Welfare, Jean Rummenie, has said, cats must not be forced to suffer unnecessarily because of physical traits humans find desirable. UK nations must face up to the same moral and policy challenge.
Alice Potter is the cat welfare expert for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
