Animal rights experts have urged Taylor Swift fans not to adopt Scottish Fold cats, as the breed is often in pain due to genetic mutations.

To fans of American singer Taylor Swift, her cat is as famous as her owner, often appearing in Swift’s social media posts.

Ahead of Swift’s Eras tour in the UK next month, animal rights experts in the UK have urged fans not to follow their idol’s lead and adopt Scottish Fold cats, as the traits that make the breed look cute are often the reason why they often suffer.

Swift has three cats, two of whom, Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey, are Scottish Fold cats. The breed has a naturally occurring recessive gene mutation that affects the cartilage throughout its body, causing its ears to fold downward, leading to comparisons to owls. However, the gene also leads to abnormal bone growth, arthritis and pain.

Ironically, Scotland, the breed’s home and Swift’s first UK stop on June 7, has banned breeding Scottish Fold cats. Other countries, including the Netherlands, Australia and Norway, have also restricted the practice for animal welfare reasons.

Cats Protection, a UK cat welfare charity, said these issues have not stopped the number of Scottish Fold cats from increasing in recent years. A survey found that of the 10.6 million cats in the UK, 1% are Scottish Fold and 3% of cats sold last year were Scottish Fold.

Earlier this year, the action comedy Argylle made headlines for featuring a Scottish Fold cat named Chip, a Scottish Fold owned by director Matthew Vaughn’s family. The director’s daughter decided to adopt the cat after watching Swift’s 2020 documentary Miss Americana, a testament to the singer’s influence on her fans. A cat welfare organization raised concerns after the film’s release.

Chip the cat in the poster for the movie “Argylle”. Photo: Universal Pictures

“We’re not saying Taylor is at fault for having this breed,” said Sarah Elliott, a veterinarian at Cats Protection, noting that for most cat owners, “the breeders don’t tell them about the genetic mutation. Owners only find out after they bring the cat home and are often heartbroken to learn that their pet has an incurable disease that will cause them pain for the rest of their lives.”

Swift has frequently expressed her love for her three cats, even claiming that cats were the reason she agreed to star in Tom Hooper’s musical Cats despite the film’s poor reviews.

Swift’s three cats have appeared with the singer in many commercials, and her pet cat Olivia Benson is even estimated to be worth $97 million, with her owner reportedly worth more than a billion dollars. Swift’s close friend and fellow singer Ed Sheeran also has a Scottish Fold named Calippo.

Scottish Fold cats are often considered the ideal pet because they are docile and love to be cuddled, according to a recent survey by a cat food company in the UK. However, according to Elliot, most owners do not realize that the reason Scottish Fold cats are docile and not naughty is because they suffer from pain.

As a result, the Cat Fancy Council (GCCF), the cat pedigree registry in the UK, does not recognize this breed. All Scottish Fold cats in the world originate from a female cat with a genetic mutation in Scotland in 1961.

“We do not recognize this breed because the Scottish Fold gene also causes abnormalities in bone development, stiff limbs and tails, and these symptoms increase with age. We strongly recommend that people do not own this breed,” the GCCF said.

“Please think twice and learn carefully before adopting a cat. Don’t watch TikTok or follow celebrities, but consult a veterinarian or animal charity to get the most scientific information about the cat breed you intend to adopt,” Elliot said.

Taylor Swift, 34 years old, was dubbed the “country music princess” of the American music industry when she first started her career. She debuted in 2006 and quickly achieved many achievements. Besides her good voice, Taylor Swift also made her mark with her songwriting talent and was the main songwriter of songs in her career. After 10 albums, Taylor Swift received 12 Grammy Awards, 29 Billboard Awards and was successful with many international tours. Last year, she launched The Eras Tour, which has so far grossed more than a billion USD, making Taylor Swift the only billionaire whose fortune is largely based on music, according to Forbes.