Animal welfare experts are urging Taylor Swift fans not to adopt Scottish Fold cats because this breed often experiences pain due to a genetic mutation.

For fans of American singer Taylor Swift, her beloved pets are just as famous as their owner, often appearing in Swift’s social media posts.

Ahead of Swift’s upcoming Eras tour in the UK next month, animal welfare experts in the UK are calling on fans not to emulate their idol by adopting Scottish Fold cats, as the breed’s cute appearance often masks the fact that they frequently suffer from pain due to their genetic characteristics.

Swift has three cats, two of which, Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey, are Scottish Folds. This breed has a naturally occurring genetic mutation that affects cartilage throughout the body, causing the ears to fold down, often likened to owl-like appearances. However, this gene also leads to abnormal bone development, joint inflammation, and pain.

Ironically, in Scotland, the birthplace of this breed and the first location in the UK chosen by Swift for her tour on June 7th, breeding Scottish Folds is banned. Some other countries like the Netherlands, Australia, and Norway also restrict this due to animal welfare concerns.

Cats Protection, a UK charity for cat welfare, notes that these issues haven’t prevented an increase in the number of Scottish Fold cats in recent years. Surveys show that out of 10.6 million cats kept as pets in the UK, 1% are Scottish Folds, and 3% of cats bought and sold last year were of this breed.

Earlier this year, the action-comedy film “Argylle” attracted attention for featuring a “cat actor,” a Scottish Fold named Chip belonging to director Matthew Vaughn’s family. The director’s daughter decided to adopt this breed after watching Swift’s documentary “Miss Americana” in 2020, demonstrating the significant influence the singer has on her fans. A cat welfare organization issued a warning after the film was released.