Pet charity concerned Hollywood film leads to surge in desire for Scottish Fold cats

National pet charity, Blue Cross, is urging people not to purchase or adopt Scottish fold cats following their appearance in upcoming Hollywood film – Argylle. The charity is concerned that the breed’s new found fame is going to spark a trend in the purchasing of such cats, without being aware of the significant health risks and suffering associated with the breed. The film’s leading cat, Chip, was also pictured on the red carpet at the film’s premiere last night, being transported in a ‘catpack’ by owner, Claudia Schiffer, which Blue Cross strongly advises against.

Scottish fold cats have significant health issues due to a mutation that affects the development of cartilage, most obvious in the cat’s ear fold which bends forward, giving them their famous appearance. This causes defective bone and cartilage development known as Osteochondrodysplasia and leads to severe and painful arthritis. Furthermore, these characteristics may impact communication between cats due to the breed not being able to move their ears ‘normally’, and likewise, owners not being able to understand how their pet is feeling.

Caroline Reay, Veterinary Research, Standards and Communications Lead at national pet charity Blue Cross, said: “Not only is Osteochondrodysplasia incredibly painful for the cat and potentially impactful on the cat’s behaviour, but potential owners can also often be unaware of the associated veterinary costs that arise from such conditions. These can sometimes be prolonged and allowed time to worsen, as cats naturally tend to ‘hide’ pain. Blue Cross urges all breeders not to breed Scottish fold cats and asks all potential owners to prioritise the health and future of a pet over their appearance”.

Schiffer’s cat was also pictured being transported around the red carpet inside a ‘catpack’ with a small, covered hole for it to look out of, which is also seen in the film’s trailer. Whilst ‘catpacks’ have grown in popularity in recent years, Blue Cross is asking people not to follow this trend. Explaining the reasons for this, Claire Stallard, Behaviour Welfare Research Policies and Training Standards Lead at national pet charity Blue Cross, said: “Cats are naturally very attached to their own home territory as it’s where they feel safe – most dislike being away from home, even for short periods. The design of this bag is very restrictive, and the cat inside cannot lie down comfortably or hide away from the bright lights and attention. Being put in this situation is very likely to have been incredibly stressful for the cat and completely unnecessary given the context. We would ask cat owners to reserve taking their cat away from home for essential visits only, for example to the vet - in a suitable carrier to minimise stress as much as possible”.

If people are required to travel with their cat, Blue Cross recommends using a carrier of a suitable size that allows the cat enough space to turn around inside. It should also be able to come apart, with the top half able to be removed from the bottom half. The advantage of using this type of carrier is that if a cat is nervous, people can unclip the top half of the carrier and lift the cat out gently when needed. This makes it easier and less stressful for both the person and the cat and diminishes the risk of the cat becoming defensive due to fear.

Notes to Editors

• Images, video and spokespeople available for comment contact the media team
• Blue Cross is a national charity that has been helping sick, injured, abandoned and homeless pets for over 120 years. We help thousands of pets in need every month by providing veterinary care, expert behaviour help and find them loving homes. We also offer education for current and future pet owners plus pet bereavement support for those who have lost their pet companion. Pets help us in so many ways and they depend entirely on us, with your support we can give back to more pets in need. Pets change lives. We change theirs.

Media contact

Rebecca Hart, Media Officer 0757968720 /  [email protected]

Blue Cross media team: 0300 777 1950 / [email protected]