A vet has sparked a debate after sharing the four cat breeds he’d never want to own.
Ben the Vet, as he’s known on TikTok, prefaced his opinions by reminding his 5.1million viewers that they’re just that personal views, before revealing why he’d steer clear of owning a Bengal.
Admiring their striking appearance, he noted: “They are beautiful-looking cats, they have gorgeous coats. I can see why people like them.” Yet, he voiced concerns over their hybrid nature – a mix between domestic and wild felines – citing behavioural issues: “At the vets, they have a reputation for being quite aggressive. This is usually out of fear but they can be quite dangerous to handle.
“They’re highly intelligent, they need a lot of stimulation and unfortunately, a lot of homes just aren’t quite right for them.” The list continued with Ben explaining his preference for fluffier companions over the hairless Sphynx breed.
Additionally, he expressed ethical objections to owning a Scottish Fold due to health reasons: “Another breed I would never buy is a Scottish Fold cat. The reason is, their curly ears, which is their main feature, is actually because of a cartilage disorder.”
This cartilage condition also affects their joints, leading to a likelihood of developing early arthritis. From a welfare perspective, he expressed his reluctance to support the breeding of these animals due to the potential suffering involved. Taking the top spot in his list, he expressed a strong aversion to owning a Persian cat due to their brachycephalic features causing health problems.
He explained: “I have seen Persian cats whose noses look inverted into their face and their eyes bulge beyond their nose. People don’t realise they can struggle to breathe just as badly as some of the flat-faced dog breeds. It is for the same reasons on the whole – their nostrils are too small, all of the bones in their nasal passage are crowded together, and their tear ducts usually don’t work properly.”
Despite acknowledging that some breeders are working to rectify these issues, he pointed out that they are few and far between. In response to his video, one viewer said: “The original Persian cat was so beautiful and I’m so upset we’ve bred them to this extreme.”
Echoing the sentiment, another added: “Poor Persians. People really need to open their eyes.” A third shared a more positive experience: “My cat is Persian but bred to have an open face and has never had any issues thankfully.”