A breeder of controversial ‘Bullycats’ has slammed critics of the animal for comparing it to XL Bully dogs and insists his animals are ‘healthy’ despite concerns from experts.
Rob, who goes by the name BadBoyBullyCats online, says those who object to breeding the cats are peddling misinformation about their welfare and that those who buy them are getting ‘affectionate, nurturing’ pets.
Demand for kittens of the breed has soared over the last year, with some sellers charging more than £4,000 per animal despite their ‘polarising’ appearance.
The cat, which has been formed after cross-breeding hairless sphynxes, short-legged Munchkins and American Curl cats, has left it with a distinctive look that is highly prized in certain circles.
However, experts have slammed those selling and breeding the pets for ‘putting profit over pain’ and claim the animals have the potential to be beset with a host of health problems from birth.
Experts warn the type is more likely to develop health problems and die at least six years earlier than regular cats.
One breeder called Rob, who goes by the name BadBoyBullyCats online, says the animals are misunderstood. Pictured: A Bullycat called Nerfertiti
Rob told MailOnline that despite concerns from experts the animals are ‘healthy’. Pictured: A Bullycat called Pharaoh wearing a thick jacket while outside
With its squat, muscular appearance similar to that of XL Bully dogs, the Bullycat has also drawn unfavourable comparisons to the banned canine breed, with some even calling them ‘XL Bully Cats’.
While the XL Bully dog breed was banned earlier this year following a series of fatal attacks on humans, there is no such prohibition on Bullycats, which breeders say are incredibly mild-mannered.
Rob, who has been breeding the cats since the start of the year, dislikes the comparison greatly and insists that Bullycats make for great pets.
He told MailOnline: ‘The name ‘BULLYCAT’ is derived solely from their resemblance to bully breeds, characterised by their structure, stance, and muscle definition.
‘It [the comparison to XL Bully dogs] is entirely reliant on appearance.
‘It is astonishing that people are drawing comparisons between the behaviour or temperament of a small domestic cat and that of a large dog breed, as there is no valid basis for such a comparison.’
The breeder, who is based in North West England, said that the lack of knowledge around the animals meant it was easy for people to make incorrect assumptions about them.
The popularity of the hairless cats has gone up in recent months with the animals highly prized in certain circles. Pictured: Two Bullycats together outside
Breeders have slammed unfavourable comparisons between the breed and XL Bully dogs. Pictured: A Bullycat and a Staffie-type dog on a bed
Experts have said they are concerned that the appearance of Bullycats could belie a series of health problems that are often associated with the traits they have including arthritis, breathing difficulties and skin diseases.
But Rob says that all of his cats are ‘entirely healthy and function just like any typical cat’.
He added that the Bullycats he sees and breeds ‘are active, engaging in running, jumping, and climbing’ without any problems and that people should ‘observe these cats in person before forming an opinion’.
He said: ‘I am nearly certain that most critics of the breed have neither seen nor owned one.
‘Experiencing a Bullycat in person allows for a more informed opinion about the breed, rather than hastily labelling them as unhealthy based solely on photographs.’
The breeder, who admits the ‘distinctive’ appearance of Bullycats can be ‘polarising’, said they are ‘affectionate, friendly, and nurturing’ and often enjoy cuddling with their owners.
However, the charity Cats Protection has said breeding the animals is ‘clearly inhumane’ and accused sellers of ‘putting profit over pain’.
Nicky Trevorrow, Behaviour Manager at Cats Protection, told MailOnline: ‘They’re the worst parts of mixed cat breeds.
‘We’ve seen it time after time before, people start to buy them [exotic breeds] in numbers but they do not realise the pain these animals are in.’
She said that excessive folds can cause skin diseases like dermatitis, while the short legs can lead to painful arthritis, deformities and joint problems, that make it difficult for them to walk.
She said: ‘This is even the case when they are kittens. It’s a real problem where people don’t understand how much they’re suffering, sometimes from birth.’
Experts have warned that the breed could be beset with health problems including painful arthritis and joint issues. Pictured: A Bullycat on the shoulders of a man
The cats, which are cross-breed between sphynx, munchkin and American Curl cats, is known for its distinctive appearance. Pictured: A hairless Bullycat with short legs and blue eyes
Alison Richards, Head of Clinical Services at Cats Protection, added that they were ‘incredibly concerned’ by the examples of Bullycats they’ve seen for sale.
She said: ‘Our veterinary assessments of the photos and videos we have seen of these cats have raised serious welfare concerns.
‘The lack of fur will predispose these cats to skin disease and breeding for shortened legs will lead to joint abnormalities which will result in arthritis in many of these cats.
‘Breeding for deformity causes unacceptable suffering and distress and prevents these cats from carrying out normal behaviours essential for their welfare.
‘Cats with extreme characteristics are bred purely for the pursuit of profit, and this puts them at risk of many other issues associated with poor welfare. This includes illnesses like cat flu, flea and worm infestations and on-going behavioural problems.
‘Sadly there is very little protection for cats being bred, and it is concerning there is a rising trend towards harmful body types which may be incredibly painful and, in some cases, life-limiting for the cats involved.
‘Breeding of so-called Bully cats or other cats with extreme traits means inflicting a poor quality of life on an animal, and this is clearly inhumane.’
The charity is calling on the government to introduce cat breeding regulations to ban the breeding of cats with ‘extreme characteristics which could have a detrimental effect on their health or welfare or that of their offspring’.
Dr Grace Carroll, a Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Queen’s University, claimed in an article for The Conversation that the traits the animals exhibit can leave them at a disadvantage.
She said: ‘Short legs limit their ability to jump, can put cats at a disadvantage in fights and can lead to painful health conditions.’
‘Kittens already have a limited ability to regulate their body temperature and this is made even more difficult by hairlessness and makes them more susceptible to respiratory infections.
‘A lack of fur can also lead to sunburn and skin cancer in hairless cats.’
Many XL Bully Cat breeders claim that their pets are healthy and undergo regular screening.
For example, Bella Jones, who runs breeding firm BullyCats UK, insists her animals are ‘health tested and completely functional’.
In response to backlash earlier this year, Ms Jones posted on Facebook: ‘All of our cats are happy, health tested and completely functional.
The so-called Bullycat breed is thought to have got its name due to resembling bully dogs (Pictured: An American exotic bully dog)
Bella Jones, who breeds the animals, hit back at criticisms earlier in the year and insisted they are ‘happy’ cats
‘Our cats live in our family home and other family homes around the UK, they jump, play, run and do just as an average cat would.
‘We are going to be putting out lots of videos and positive feedback to these claims and educating many more people on this concept and breed as a whole, especially how functional and happy our babies are.’
She suggested she and others had been ‘named as “animal abusers” along with other breeders across the globe and countless more false claims’.
But an RSPCA spokesperson told MailOnline earlier this year they were ‘very concerned’ about the recent trend of Bullycats saying it ‘could cause them serious welfare issues’.
‘These exaggerated Sphynx cats are bred with very short legs which could put a strain on their joints, and they also appear to have excess skin folds making them vulnerable to skin conditions which can cause a great deal of discomfort, the charity warned.
‘Such ailments could also result in trips to the vet leaving owners with costly vet bills too.
‘These Sphynx-like cats are also bred to have only a fine covering of downy hair and some may not have eyelashes or whiskers.
‘This lack of fur can leave cats vulnerable to harmful ultraviolet light, cause difficulties keeping warm and means they won’t be able to use their hair and possibly their whiskers to explore their environment.
‘The lack of a fur coat also means they need to be regularly washed as oil can accumulate on their skin.
‘There could also be further health issues associated with these cats being bred from a limited gene pool.
‘We understand that their emerging presence on social media may fuel a demand for these kinds of cats but we would urge fellow cat lovers to consider adopting the many rescue cats in our care instead of buying from a breeder.
‘We would also urge breeders to prioritise the health and welfare of any animal over the way they look.’
