Taylor Swift’s cats are nearly as famous as she is, often appearing in her TikTok posts, and are loved by her millions of social media followers. However, as her much-anticipated Eras tour is set to arrive in the UK next month, animal welfare experts are advising her fans to reconsider imitating her choice of pet.
Taylor Swift owns three cats, two of which, Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey, are Scottish Folds. This breed is known for its unique “owl-like” look due to a genetic mutation that causes their ears to fold flat. Unfortunately, this same mutation also causes osteochondrodysplasia, leading to abnormal bone growth, arthritis, and significant pain.
Breeding Scottish Folds is banned in several countries, including Scotland
Ironically, in Scotland, where the breed originated and where Taylor Swift will begin her UK tour in Edinburgh on June 7, breeding Scottish Folds is effectively banned. Other countries, such as the Netherlands, Australia, and Norway, have also banned the breed for animal welfare reasons.
Despite these issues, Scottish Folds have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to Cats Protection, a UK cat welfare charity, about 1% of the UK’s 10.6 million cats, approximately 100,000, are now Scottish Folds. Their survey also found that 3% of cats acquired last year were of this breed.
“We are not saying that Taylor herself is at fault for owning them,” said Sarah Elliott, Cats Protection’s central veterinary officer. “For most owners, the breeders are not giving them the information that they need. This is something owners find out later, and often it’s quite devastating to discover that your cat has this condition that can’t be cured and will cause them pain for life.”
Fellow musician Ed Sheeran also owns a Scottish Fold named Calippo, and the breed was recently featured in the film “Argylle.” This has led several cat welfare charities to raise awareness about the breed’s health issues.
