At last! I’ve been writing about this as have other online authors for many years. It’s actually a well-known problem but it is the first time in my recollection that a mainstream newspaper of the quality of The Times has written about the problem on page 3.
It concerns the cartilage problems suffered by the popular Scottish Fold cat breed. Taylor Swift is famously known to have two Scottish Fold cats named Meredith Grey (inspired by the character from Grey’s Anatomy) and Olivia Benson (named after the character from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). Both cats are often featured in her social media posts and are beloved by her fans.
They have enormous followings on social media and they have been highly beneficial to Taylor Swift’s career. It’s my belief that Taylor Swift made her decision to adopt a couple of these cats partly because she knew that they would benefit her career.
There is no suggestion here that Taylor Swift is anything other than a decent, intelligent woman and of course unusually talented. She’s the most successful in monetary terms as I recall current pop star in the world. Or perhaps of all time.
I think she has surpassed US$1 billion in wealth. Ed Sheeran is also hugely talented and wealthy. But both of these individuals have a responsibility towards animal welfare because they are both so influential. All of humanity has a responsibility towards supporting the natural world and animals. They are dependent on us for welfare. High profile celebs and influencers have an added responsibility.
Arguably they have self-indulgently adopted a cute looking cat made cute by cartilage development defects due to a genetic mutation carried by this breed first discovered in Scotland. The first Scottish Fold was a single white barn cat named Susie. She was found at a farm in Coupar Angus. We know that people like the unusual. They like rarity.
And humans are very much into visuals. By this I mean they are attracted to the appearance of things. The human world is the visual world. And humans like to possess rare objects. And without wishing to be too unkind on humans we also like to play God and create rare objects and in this case that object is a sentient being able to feel pain and distress which has been propagated through selective breeding over many years.
And this genetic mutation can cause pain and distress through cartilage defects. This inherited problem is so serious that Scottish Fold breeders are not allowed to breed Scottish Fold with Scottish Fold because the resultant offspring will die due to this defect.
The word “Fold” in the description of this breed is because the ears fold forwards and don’t sit up erect as they should do to capture sound. And the reason why they fold forward is because the cartilage is not strong enough to keep them erect. And that’s due to this genetic defect. The cartilage develops in the infant cat incorrectly.
This does not cause pain per se but cartilage is found throughout the cat and in other places where it is found it can cause pain as it is defective.
There is a very cogent and powerful argument that this breed should never have been created in the first place. And occasionally animal welfare organisations and charities return to that central argument which would now mean that the breed should be discontinued perhaps under a change in legislation. The Scottish Fold cat should be phased out in the interests of animal welfare.
There is a secondary problem to this argument. There are many social media influencers who have used animals to their benefit. They can be amusing, fun and entertaining. I have no truck with that whatsoever. People need a bit of fun in their lives but animals should not be used and exploited in an arguably immoral way. That’s what has happened with the Scottish Fold.
Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran have conveniently totally ignored the health problems mentioned on this page. You’ll see charming photographs of them with their cat. All is well and beautiful in the world. But it’s not, and there’s a need to inject a bit of reality into this scenario. Social media tends to gloss over reality which in itself is an issue.
Influencers tend to project an idealised world which can encourage vulnerable young people to try and attain the impossible which can lead to mental health issues.
That is another very big story but today, as mentioned, The Times has I think usefully written an article headed with the title “The painful truth behind Taylor Swift’s favourite cat”.
There is, the author argues, a growing concern over the Scottish Fold and cat breeds such as the dwarf cats. The dwarf cats, all of which are based on the Munchkin inherit a couple of health problems once again due to an inherited genetic mutation.
Wouldn’t it have been lovely if Taylor Swift had adopted a couple of rescue cats? A couple of ordinary, mundane and regular-looking rescue cats such as on tabby cat and one black-and-white cat. Totally bog standard coat types and appearances. She could have promoted the concept of animal rescue. She could have used her considerable influence to encourage people to adopt from rescue centres rather than buying inherently unhealthy purebred cats.
There is no suggestion here that all purebred cats are unhealthy. Many are perfectly healthy but there are some cat breeds based on unhealthy traits to mark them out as different. In Germany they call this torture breeding and they are banned. Germany is ahead of the UK in animal welfare despite the projected image that the citizens of the of the UK are all animal lovers. Clearly not.
One of the world’s best-known cat charities and rehoming networks, Cats Protection, has been calling on the UK government to urgently introduce regulations to licence cat breeding. The same incidentally can be said about dog breeding. There are also unhealthy dog breeds; ironically these are often the most popular such as the French Bulldog. This dog breed is the most unhealthy of them all with an approximate seven year lifespan which is less than half that of the average cat.
I’m afraid it’s time for Taylor Swift to own up to her bad decision-making in adopting this cat breed. It isn’t just the breed. I’ve seen photographs of her carrying one of her cats under her arm when leaving perhaps a hotel. This is impliedly treating the domestic cat as an accessory not much different to a handbag. This is another tendency of influencers; to use cat and dog companions as accessories which nullifies the fact that they are sentient beings. Toy dogs are used for this purpose and fancy looking cats.
It’s time for a change and The Times has usefully picked up on this.
Below is some detail on the health problem mentioned:
Scottish Fold cats are known for their distinctive folded ears, a trait resulting from a genetic mutation affecting cartilage. While the folded ears make them popular for their unique appearance, the same genetic mutation responsible for the folds also predisposes them to severe cartilage-related health problems, primarily a condition called osteochondrodysplasia. Below is a detailed outline of the cartilage issues affecting Scottish Folds:
1. Genetic Mutation and Cartilage Abnormality
- The mutation in the gene (likely FOXD1) that causes the folded ears also weakens cartilage throughout the cat’s body.
- This cartilage weakness affects not only the ears but also the cartilage in the joints and spine, leading to systemic issues.
2. Osteochondrodysplasia
This is a developmental disorder affecting bone and cartilage growth, which is present in all Scottish Folds, regardless of whether they are heterozygous (one copy of the gene) or homozygous (two copies of the gene). Its effects include:
a. Joint Malformations
- Joint cartilage in affected cats is abnormally structured, leading to misshapen bones and impaired joint function.
- Common areas affected include the ankles (tarsus) and wrists (carpus).
b. Pain and Stiffness
- Scottish Folds often exhibit stiff, inflexible joints, causing pain and limiting movement.
- Early signs can include a reluctance to jump, reduced activity, or an abnormal gait.
c. Progressive Arthritis
- Osteochondrodysplasia leads to severe arthritis even at a young age.
- Arthritis results from the cartilage breaking down and bones rubbing against each other, exacerbating pain and inflammation.
3. Deformities
- Shortened or thickened tails with limited flexibility are common, a visible sign of cartilage deformities.
- The limbs, particularly the rear legs, can appear bowed or thickened, contributing to gait abnormalities.
4. Homozygous vs. Heterozygous Cats
- Homozygous Scottish Folds (inheriting two copies of the mutated gene) experience much more severe cartilage and bone issues than heterozygous cats.
- Homozygous individuals often develop debilitating conditions early in life, requiring significant medical intervention or euthanasia in extreme cases.
5. Secondary Health Complications
- Chronic pain management issues: As cartilage deteriorates, affected cats require lifelong pain management, often with NSAIDs or other medications.
- Reduced quality of life: Many Scottish Folds struggle with mobility, limiting their ability to engage in natural feline behaviors like jumping or running.
6. Ethical Concerns
The widespread cartilage problems have led to significant ethical debates about the breeding of Scottish Folds:
- Critics argue that knowingly breeding cats with a genetic predisposition to pain and disability is unethical.
- In some countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, the breeding of Scottish Folds is restricted or banned due to animal welfare concerns.
7. Management and Treatment
While there is no cure for the genetic defect, management strategies focus on minimizing pain and preserving mobility:
- Pain relief: Regular medication to manage arthritis-related discomfort.
- Physiotherapy: Light exercises to maintain joint function.
- Weight management: Keeping the cat at a healthy weight reduces stress on its joints.
- Surgical interventions: In severe cases, surgery may be required to address joint malformations.
In conclusion, the genetic mutation that gives Scottish Fold cats their characteristic ear folds also results in systemic cartilage and joint problems, primarily osteochondrodysplasia. The condition is painful and progressive, often requiring significant medical care, and raises serious ethical questions about the continued breeding of this breed.
