Experts warn Taylor Swift fans against adopting Scottish Fold cats due to THIS reason

Taylor Swift’s cats are almost as famous as the musician herself, often featured in her TikTok posts and adored by millions on social media. However, as Swift’s highly anticipated Eras tour prepares to touch down in the UK next month, animal welfare experts are cautioning her fans against copying her choice of pet, The Guardian said in a report.

Swift owns three cats, two of which, Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey, are Scottish Folds. This breed is known for its distinctive “owl-like” appearance due to a genetic mutation that causes their ears to fold flat. Unfortunately, this same mutation also leads to osteochondrodysplasia, resulting in abnormal bone growth, arthritis, and severe pain.

Ironically, in Scotland, where the breed originated and where Swift will play her first UK date in Edinburgh on June 7, the breeding of Scottish Folds is effectively banned. Other countries, including the Netherlands, Australia, and Norway, have also imposed restrictions on the breed for animal welfare reasons.

Despite these concerns, the popularity of Scottish Folds has surged in recent years. According to Cats Protection, a UK cat welfare charity, about 1% of the UK’s 10.6 million cats, roughly 100,000 in total, are now Scottish Folds. Their survey also found that 3% of cats acquired last year belonged to this breed.

“We are not saying that Taylor herself is at fault for owning them,” stated Sarah Elliott, Cats Protection’s central veterinary officer.

“For most owners, the breeders are not really 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,” she was quoted as saying in The Guardian.

Fellow musician Ed Sheeran also owns a Scottish Fold named Calippo, and the breed was recently featured in the film "Argylle." This has prompted several cat welfare charities to raise awareness about the breed’s health issues.