Meg Hennessy

If he could, my husband would have 100 rescued cats living in our house. Although I share in the sentiment that cats are incredible, I’ve explained many times that two rescued cats are plenty for our household at the moment. 

Regardless, we never pass up an opportunity to gawk at other people’s fabulous felines and recently attended a cat show/adoption event in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

The moment we walked in the door, my husband pointed at a woman walking around proudly with what I can only describe as a trophy cat. 

The cat looked like a deity reincarnated from ancient times, with piercingly wise orange eyes and a black coat that was carefully brushed to a mirror-finish. As people began to crowd around, the owner sternly told everyone they weren’t allowed to touch the cat, but they could take one of her business cards if they were interested in purchasing kittens from her breeding operation. The waitlist was more than 3 years long.  

I rolled my eyes and turned around, seeing the stacked rows of shelter cats in their small cages, peering out at the crowds and waiting to be noticed. 

It seemed almost cruelly unfair…how did those common cats stand a chance against the Angelina Jolie of felines? A cat whose genes had been selectively chosen for generations by humans who had a specific aesthetic as an end goal. 

No wonder shelters are facing a euthanasia crisis—850,000 dogs and cats were killed in our nation’s shelters in 2023, according to Shelter Animals Count. Of the total number—330,000 were cats.

While most pet cats are still classified as cross-bred, recent years have seen an explosion of new breeds with very specific physical characteristics, such as the hairless Sphynx, the soft, curly-coated Rex and the tailless Manx. The Ragdoll, Maine Coon and Bengal seem to be particularly popular. 

As with pedigree dogs, these cats have an element of predictability with certain types of personalities and distinctive appearances. But as with any situation where there is an increase in interest and numbers of a particular type of pet, there is a marked increase in health and lifespan issues.

“In cat breeds, physical mutations that were previously allowed to perish are now being developed merely for the sake of difference,” Roger Tabor, biologist and author of “The Rise of the Cats,” explains in his book. “…some are achieved at considerable cost to the cat.”

The Munchkin breed is a good example. This type of cat was developed after a very short-legged, black feline was found living under a trailer in Louisiana in 1983. This cat was pregnant when she was taken in and half of her kittens were also born with abnormally short legs. One of the kittens was then used for breeding, becoming the founder of a breeding program that went on to establish the Munchkin cat breed in North America.

It should come as no surprise, however, that new breeds who are bred purely for aesthetic reasons, also have a high incidence of genetically linked abnormalities and diseases. If you examine the genetic background of the Munchkin breed, it becomes clear that the signature short legs exist because of a genetic mutation causing achondroplasia. As well as causing cats to have short legs, this mutation makes them prone to joint problems, joint pain and arthritis.

Persian cats are another example. Persians have long been associated with luxury, but centuries of selective breeding for show have left them with more than just their signature flat faces. 

Like many brachycephalic dog breeds (such as pugs and bulldogs), these beautiful cats suffer from numerous health issues. Their flattened skulls contribute to respiratory problems, birthing challenges and frequent eye infections. As a result, the average lifespan of a flat-faced Persian is only 10 to 12.5 years—significantly shorter than that of the average cat.

The bottom line is that breeding animals to match our arbitrary preferences is cruel and unethical, especially when it compromises their health and well-being. 

Plus, every kitten sold by a breeder takes away a home from a cat in urgent need at your local shelter. Millions of cats are waiting in shelters or fighting to survive on the streets—3.3 million cats entered shelters and rescues in 2023, according to SAC.

If you’re in a place in your life where you’re able to emotionally and financially take care of a cat for the remainder of their life, adoption is the only compassionate option.