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A ban on keeping cats with folding ears and naked cats, such as the Sphynx and the Scottish Fold, will go into effect in the Netherlands from 1 January 2026. The government has taken this decision to prevent animal suffering, as these cats face serious health problems due to their external features. We want healthy, happy animals that do not suffer from extreme external features!
Breeding these cat breeds was already banned, but now there will be a ban on keeping them as pets. Cats with folding ears, such as the Scottish Fold, often suffer from painful cartilage defects that lead to movement problems and severe pain. Naked cats, such as the Sphynx, on the other hand, have increased susceptibility to disease, and lack important whiskers and tactile hairs that are essential for their sense of orientation and communication.
This decision highlights the importance of animal welfare and the growing concern about breeding animals with external features that can seriously damage their health. The Animal Protection Society welcomes this move as it is not desirable for animals to suffer because of their appearance.
From 2026, cats with these external features may no longer be owned unless you can prove that you were the owner before the ban took effect. This can only be done by chipping your cat. Owners have until the end of 2025 to have their cat chipped so they can be registered as a legitimate owner.
There is also an exhibition ban. This means that cats with folding ears and naked cats are no longer allowed to participate in shows, competitions or even be shown on social media or in advertisements. This aims to reduce the popularity of these breeds and thus stop their breeding and trading.
The ban does not come out of the blue. The previous government announced this measure almost two years ago. More and more attention is being paid to the welfare of animals with extreme external features that negatively affect their health. A motion was even passed recently advocating a trade and keeping ban on short-nosed animals, further raising awareness about animal welfare.
This legislation is an important step towards responsible breeding and protecting animals from unnecessary suffering. As a supplier of animal health products, HFL Animal Health feels it is very important to contribute to animal welfare awareness. We want healthy, happy animals that do not suffer from extreme externalities.
