Mr. Opinionated - What Really Grinds My Gears Is Support of Animal Cruelty On Steemit (Response to @sweetsssj Posts About Her Designer Cats Such As Scottish Fold)
By posting it I am aware of potential flags and Steemit death for daring to criticise Steemit's mascot user.
Mr. Opinionated - What Really Grinds My Gears Is Support of Animal Cruelty On Steemit (Response to @sweetsssj Posts About Her Designer Cats Such As Scottish Fold)
[Theo. Our adopted Scottish Fold.]
This is my response and criticism of sweetsssj posts about her designer cats:
"5 Amazing human moments of a Scottish Fold!"
"Introducing my star-studded feline friend, Milky!"
"Just Kitty : Raising kittens from birth - The joys of being a "Crazy Cat Lady"
One of the worst types of animal abuse is when we support animal cruelty by buying designer cats. Particularly Scottish Fold with deformed ears (cats have evolved to have large ears for a reason). This breed has, recently, come into fashion thanks to (not really my "thanks") such celebrity dumbfucks like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, who boasted about their new pet "product" on Instagram. Ignorant consumer zombies mindlessly followed social media fashion and started buying these cats for their egotistic desires.
Due to cruel inbreeding, Scottish Fold are very often born with serious genetic defects that make them seriously disabled or suffer from awful medical conditions throughout their life, such as skeletal dysplasia, cardiomyopathy or kidney disease..
In Scottish Fold these issues are particularly prevalent. Breeding of these cats is considered so cruel that British Veterinary Association and Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal have called for a ban on the breeding and sale.
The health problems are so serious that even pet breeding supporting (animal cruelty supporting) organizations like Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and Fédération Internationale Féline have refused to include them in their feline competitions.
Of course, Scottish Fold breeders deny the accusations. Thus is typical, common response from pet breeders when faced with the facts. They need to make profit from their "product". They have never been really concerned with animal welfare - look that sells is a priority.
I can't stand when someone contributes to animal abuse and exploitation by buying designer pets. I find it utterly selfish, inconsiderate and ignorant. According to sweetsssj post, she was well aware about health complications and controversy. She also knew that this type of cat is refused to be bred and sold in England (as she mentioned no existence of it around London). It is very difficult to find reputable breeders in England who are willing to have them, because they are not recognized in UK by The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. This organisation simply finds the mutation cruel and distasteful. No wonder she had to buy it from some dubious breeder in Latvia and then have Amber transported to her in a very long journey in a car to Beijing in China (!!!!!!!!).
Also the argument of Amber's mother healthy lineage is a complete bullshit. ALL Scottish Folds have health-threatening genetic mutations. That's why Amber and her mother have deformed ears in the first place (due to Osteochondrodysplasia).
The cheapest folded-ear Scottish Fold kittens go for around $1500 (straight-ear are much cheaper). I guess sweetsssj could have afforded it from her astronomically hyper upvoted posts. Basically, upvoting her to oblivion may contribute to supporting animal cruelty (despite their expensive dining and holidays around the world). Considering her last post about her Scottish Fold Amber giving a new litter, I wonder if she will try to sell these kittens to make a buck.
My housemate owns Scottish Fold called Theo (you can see him on the photos in this post). She did not buy him. We adopted Theo after previous owner abandoned him. He is neutered to prevent breeding with other cats in the neighborhood (and spreading more animal suffering).
There are many poor pets that need adoption. Go and adopt them, instead of buying designer ones, or at least buy an ordinary tomcat.
Another thing. If someone is a regular globetrotter who spends large amount of time away on holiday, then they should not own pets. Pets are like little children and require your presence all the time. Especially when they are pregnant and about to breed litter.
If you, continuously, leave them with someone else then you should not call these pets "yours" anymore. They have become nothing more but a pet toy product to satisfy your desire to be comforted when you are back from traveling. You may "own" them but they are not really yours anymore. Sweetsssj claimed to own 12 cats (not counting recent newborn).
So Steemians, throw your SBD! Looking after so many designer cats is very expensive!
[Theo in one of his sleeping poses.]
References:
Fédération Internationale Féline.
British Veterinary Association.
"Governing Council of the Cat Fancy".
"Should Scottish fold cats be banned?".
-logic
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@Sweetsssj had a post about how you had to make sure not to breed a scottish fold with a scottish fold, because then you had the chance, 1 in 4 of ending up with a terminal kitty. So, she is well aware of the issues.
I am fairly sure that she sells them. But she hasn't talked about that as far as I know.
The restrictions... the whole mentality, that we call animal cruelty in the west, really doesn't exist in China. In China, if you have the money you can have any body part of any animal you desire. There is an entire dock in Hong Kong that is known for such sales.
Sweetsssj takes very good care of her cats. Many of her cats make repeat appearances, and they always look healthy and happy.
Here is the post from @sweetsssj about the traits of the gene that causes the scottish fold.
https://steemit.com/photography/@sweetsssj/5-amazing-human-moments-of-a-scottish-fold
25% is a chance high enough to have some of the litter have serious conditions. Besides breeding certain physical properties in mammals is not that simplistic. Hereditary traits are mixture of many genes. Mammals are not plants.
Anyhow, she well knew how cruel it is when she decided to support this trade. And now trying to profit from it (and already did profit a kot with these posts).
I know how fucked up attitude towards animals they have in China (like trade of endangered animals body parts for retarded delusional medications). There is whole region in China with festival where they roast and eat tens of thousands of dogs.
Cultural explanation is not an excuse for disgusting behaviour. It is one planet that we all share.
It is not is even worse to use this excuse to support such posts.
I expect some Steemiana trying to use denial or excuse her.
You constantly do articles on moral relativism and science.
So, are you doing a complete 180 here?
In america, we eat BACON! In fact, it is joked about as one of the four basic food groups. To a great deal of the middle east, it is verboten.
Not applying a culture's narrative to a situation is forcing your own narrative to the situation.
1 in 4 chance is all over the place in animal species.
You often refer to scientific thinking, so what gives in you trying to stop the conversation by saying animals aren't as simple as plants.
Two parents with brown eyes, that have blue eyes in their history have a 1 in 4 chance of having a blue eyed child. Blue eyes being a recessive gene
And, I stated @sweetsssj knows about the 1 in 4 bad things happening if you breed a scottish fold with a scottish fold, and so, does not do it.
So where do you get off starting your response with "25%..." ?
I do not think that you understand what moral relativism is as you have just used logical fallacy called "appeal to hypocrisy". This is post is about designer cats not who eats what and where. Whatever happens in the culture I currently reside in has nothing to do with the subject and the fact that it is support of animal abuse. Actually this abuse (breeding) originates in the West and there are probably as many abuse supporters in the West as in the East.
And argument about cultural difference has not come from me first. I do not care about it anyway, as I do not identify myself with any culture or nationality.
I am vegan. I don't care what you eat in the States, China or Moon. Abuse is abuse. Period.
I expected denial or defense of her in the comments.
It seems that you may have personal reason to deny or defend her...
Well laid out position on the subject @logic. I'm not sure 100% on the situation with @sweetsssj 's cats. I feel that she doesn't mean they any harm but I have always been blown away by the amount that people will pay for specific breeds of cats and dogs.
Also I have never been a fan of modifications they do to certain breeds for show reasons like cropping the ears and all that.
I'm still a supporter of her material but I can support your position as well and it look like there is a lot of evidence to support that some of these breeding practices aren't good for the animals.
It is sick. Supporting and doing that is an ultimate example of human egocentrism and complete lack of empathy and consideration towards certain animals.
Btw, she knew what she was doing when buying. If you read her post about Amber, you can see that she did due researched it well. I guess personal, egotistic wants to acquire that cat was stronger than empathy and care.
I'm with you. Breeding deformities and celebrating that at the expense of the animal is extremely selfish and inconsiderate.
Thanks for the comment. I expected denial in responses and potential flags and Steemit death for daring to criticise Steemit's mascot user.
Honestly some people probably don't realize it's cruel. That doesn't make it any better though.
Oblivious ignorance (aka stupidity)
It is not the issue in her case as you can see from her post. She well researched it before buying, so it was willing and conscious purchase.
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I was not aware that there were problems with this breed. I don't think people necessarily realise it is cruel though -often these things are a matter of awareness. Most people would not willingly subject an animal to cruelty and so we should raise awareness of such issues. Animals have no voice of their own.
In general, there are problems with any designer cat breeds. Anyway, just by noticing the deformed ears it should be obvious that it is not natural and causes serious issues. Another awful designer cat breeds is Sphinx, which is type of cat without fur, inbred few decades ago. Cats evolved to have fur for a reason too.
I'm not saying it's good. I just think most people don't know. I doubt very much that the people who are selling these kinds of animals actually tell prospective owners this sort of thing. I also know that there are even groups that promote certain breeds - they actually create misinformation and try to refute the known health issues - I have noticed this with dogs in particular.
Yes, you are very right. It all denominates to profit. Does not excuse sweetsssj though. She was well informed about the issues before purchase (please read her post about Amber). That is why she had to look for breeder in Latvia who would be willing to transport the cat to China in the car (animal abuse itself).
Here is @sweetsssj explaining the traits of scottish fold, the why, and how.
https://steemit.com/photography/@sweetsssj/5-amazing-human-moments-of-a-scottish-fold
I don't see any cruel intentions anywhere in that post. I just see someone who loves cats giving a cat a home.
Thanks for this information as I had no idea. But the whole thing sounds inconsiderate and cruel and an eye-opener for me!
Hi, thank you for reading. I am glad that it has opened your eyes and I hope that it will open the eyes of more people here.