THE ‘BULLY CATS’ BRED TO RESEMBLE AMERICAN BULLY DOGS AND HOW FASHION IS CREATING MUTANT PET BREEDS

Pedigree cat breeding has faced its share of controversies, but a new trend involving cats bred to resemble American Bully XL dogs raises serious concerns.

Known as “bully cats,” this phenomenon originated in the US and stems from mutant breeding practices. Unlike traditional pedigree breeding, which aims to maintain purebred lines, mutant breeding intentionally combines genetic mutations to create cats with specific physical traits. In this case, breeders mix the gene for hairlessness found in Sphynx cats with the gene responsible for the short legs of Munchkin cats, resulting in a crossbreed of Munchkin and Sphynx.

Bully cats closely resemble Bully dogs, which are characterized by their stocky build, wide bodies, and short coats. Notably, American XL Bully dogs were banned in the UK in 2023. Recently, bully cats have started appearing in the UK, accompanied by social media accounts promoting this controversial new breed.

Marjan van Hagen and Jeffrey de Gier, animal welfare and reproduction experts at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, warn that the genetic mutations associated with “bully cats” can lead to serious health issues and restrict their mobility. Kittens, in particular, already struggle to regulate their body temperature, and hairlessness exacerbates this vulnerability, making them more prone to respiratory infections.

Additionally, the lack of fur increases the risk of sunburn and skin cancer in hairless cats. Like Sphynx cats, bully cats also lack whiskers, which are crucial for communication, navigation, and spatial awareness.

Short-legged cats face their own set of challenges. Their reduced ability to jump can hinder their mobility, place them at a disadvantage in confrontations, and lead to painful health conditions. While some breeders assert that bully cats are healthy and long-lived, it’s still too early to assess their long-term health and welfare.

Some breeders claim to screen their cats for conditions like heart disease to mitigate potential health problems. However, this cannot fully address the broader health and welfare concerns associated with mutant breeding.

A May 2024 study by veterinary epidemiologist Kendy Tzu-Yun Teng and colleagues found that the average lifespan of UK cats is nearly 12 years, while Sphynx cats have the shortest lifespan at just 6.7 years. Given their hairlessness and short legs, bully cats may face even greater challenges than Sphynx and Munchkin breeds.

In the wild, unrelated species facing similar environmental challenges often develop analogous traits through a process called “convergent evolution.” For instance, the sugar glider from Australia resembles the flying squirrel from the US in both appearance and behaviour, despite being a marsupial while the latter is a mammal. Both species evolved similar adaptations to navigate forest canopies efficiently.

Similarly, many domesticated animals exhibit shared characteristics known as “domestication syndrome,” which includes traits like increased tameness, juvenile behaviour, floppy ears, and smaller teeth. These features have helped them adapt to living with humans. However, the resemblance between bully cats and dogs does not stem from this gradual, natural process. Instead, it arises from selective breeding focused on aesthetics.

Veterinarian and animal welfare scientist Wenche Farstad highlights this in her 2018 paper on ethical breeding, noting that such breeding often aims for traits driven by “curiosity or cuteness.” While features like round eyes and short noses are typically viewed as adorable, breeding for hairlessness and shorter legs aligns more with the pursuit of curiosity.

In this context, the similarity between bully cats and dogs reflects human intervention, where appearance takes precedence. The bully cat seems to have been intentionally bred to mimic the bully dog, potentially appealing to young men who see these animals as status symbols.

But could bully cats thrive without human intervention? In nature, mutations that impair survival and reproduction usually become rare. However, humans circumvent natural selection by selecting which animals to breed, allowing traits that would be detrimental in the wild to endure.

Crossbreeding programs can enhance genetic diversity and reduce harmful traits in many breeds. However, for mutant breeds like the bully cat, characterized by hairlessness and short legs, this isn’t a feasible solution.

Prospective pet owners should be aware of the risks linked to owning mutant and experimental breeds. Consumers have the power to influence the market. By choosing not to buy breeds with extreme traits, we can discourage breeders from prioritizing aesthetics over the health and welfare of the animals.

A shift towards ethical breeding could lead to healthier, happier cats that can engage in natural behaviours like climbing, jumping, and basking in the sun. Ultimately, we should let cats be cats.