In the world of feline fancy, few cats turn heads quite like the hairless Sphynx or the floppy-eared Scottish Fold. They are the “it” cats of social media, prized for their alien-like aesthetics and dog-like personalities. However, as of January 1, 2026, the Netherlands has officially called time-out on these “designer” traits, enacting a total ban on the breeding, sale, and even social media promotion of cats with harmful external characteristics.<\/p>\n
The Dutch government argues these cats are “born to suffer.” But as a community of animal lovers here in Montreal, it begs the question: should Canada be next?<\/p>\n
The reality behind the “fold” and the “fuzz”<\/p>\n
The primary driver for the ban isn’t just aesthetics \u2014 it\u2019s biology. According to Dr. Stephanie Surveyer of the Clinique Veterinaire Lac St Louis in Lachine, the very traits we find adorable are often synonymous with chronic health struggles.<\/p>\n
“For Scottish Folds, husbandry can’t manage their chronic pain,” Dr. Surveyer explains. The genetic mutation that folds their ears is actually osteochondrodysplasia, a defect in cartilage that leads to severe arthritis and joint stiffness throughout the body.<\/p>\n
Sphynx cats face different hurdles. Beyond being prone to Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) \u2014 a genetic heart condition \u2014 they lack whiskers. “Whiskers are hugely important to a cat interpreting their environment,” says Dr. Surveyer. Without them, these cats lose a vital sensory world.<\/p>\n
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Nudelle (right) and Ray Charles (left) are both Sphynx cats that were abandoned by their owners and ended up in foster care with Pudding’s Palace Rescue. Ray Charles is blind, and Nudelle entered foster care extremely malnourished and sick.<\/p>\n