New analysis by the nation’s main cat welfare charity exhibits a worrying rise in folks buying pedigree cats. Pedigrees – akin to Sphynxes or Bengals – typically have extremely particular care wants and might include enormous added prices or well being issues.
Cats Safety says that 38% of cats acquired in 2022 (or 600,000 cats) had been pedigrees akin to Ragdolls or Scottish Folds whereas 47% (or 750,000 cats) had been moggies – a cat produced by means of non-selective breeding akin to a tabby or a ginger. That is the narrowest hole in dwelling reminiscence.
Worryingly, almost a 3rd of pedigree house owners (29%) mentioned they selected their cat as a result of they might get social media likes for them in comparison with simply 5% of moggy cat adopters. 31% of pedigree house owners arrange a social media profile for his or her cat in comparison with simply 7% of moggy house owners.
Pedigrees may also include elevated dangers of well being issues, with nearly half of pedigree cat house owners (47%) reporting their cat later had a identified well being challenge in comparison with round almost a 3rd of moggy cat house owners (29%). Well being points included a respiratory dysfunction or bronchial asthma (10% vs 3%), arthritis (6% vs 2%) and weight problems (7% vs 3%).
Behavioural points had been increased too together with chewing family cables (13% vs 7%), aggression to household or friends (14% vs 6%) and hiding (18% vs 12%). 39% of pedigree cat house owners mentioned their yearly vet invoice got here to greater than £500 annually in comparison with simply 12% of moggy cat house owners.
Pedigree house owners additionally forked out extra cash for his or her prized pets. Almost two-thirds (64%) paid a payment of between £101 and £2,000 for his or her pet in comparison with one in 5 (23%) moggy cat house owners who paid over £101.
Following these findings, Cats Safety has launched its Extra Than Simply A Moggy marketing campaign to remind folks of the optimistic qualities that moggies convey to a house and supply extra particulars of the dangers round adopting a pedigree cat.
“Whereas moggies nonetheless make up nearly all of cats in UK houses, it’s clear that pedigrees are coming increasingly in vogue,” says Nicky Trevorrow of Cats Safety’s Behaviour crew.
“Breeds akin to Persians, Sphynxes and Scottish Folds could be trending, however these cats usually have a better price ticket and a better threat of well being and welfare issues.
“Moggies total are cheaper to accumulate and take care of, they usually provide their house owners the identical love and companionship as pedigrees can. There are millions of moggies ready for brand spanking new houses throughout our branches and centres and all are vet-checked, microchipped, neutered if sufficiently old and include 4 weeks’ free insurance coverage which is a giant plus for anybody searching for a brand new cat. Each penny counts in terms of caring for felines.”
Additional particulars of Extra Than Simply A Moggy may be discovered at www.cats.org.uk/morethanjustamoggy whereas particulars of the areas of warning to pay attention to when buying a pedigree may be discovered at www.cats.org.uk/pedigrees
To undertake a cat from Cats Safety, please go to www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat
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