New campaign urges consumers to avoid buying flat-faced cats
The new campaign, which includes a number of eye-catching posters around the Netherlands, aims to target consumers and reduce the demand for cats with physical deformities.
Consumers are often mis-informed and unexpectedly confronted with expensive medical treatments, since many flat-face cats have painful eye diseases and constantly struggle to breathe.
As a cat veterinarian, I explain to owners that cats with nostrils that are too narrow do not snore like dogs. They are generally calmer and sleep more than other cats. Most Persian cats also have painful eye conditions due to their abnormally short skull with bulging eyes.
Janneke Moedt, Caring Vets
Usually an owner does not realise that such a cat often needs several surgeries. This concerns, for example, surgeries on teeth, treatments for eye conditions and corrections of nasal folds. The costs can quickly add up to four times the purchase price. But the highest price is paid by the cat itself, which suffers for life because of its unhealthy appearance.
Kelly Kessen, veterinarian, Dier&Recht
This campaign follows the success of a similar campaign against buying flat-face dogs.
Whilst there are clear breeding rules for short muzzled dogs in the Netherlands, there are not yet any for cats.
