Posted on 09/26/2015 6:19:21 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A Berlin court has ordered a cat owner to have her hairless Sphynx cat castrated – because it would be animal cruelty to let the naked pet breed.
Willi, a Canadian Sphynx, belongs to Berlin cat breeder Jacqueline Linke.
True to his breed, Willi is almost completely hairless – a quality that makes Sphynx cats popular choices for those with pet allergies.
Despite his questionable appearance, Willi emerged as champion in the 2013 Pedigree Cat Exhibition in Berlin, and has gone on to become a proud father to three naked kittens.
However, Willi won't get to pass on his genes to any further offspring.
On Wednesday, the Administrative Court in Berlin ruled that Willi's lack of whiskers meant that breeding him would violate the 2013 Animal Protection Act.
"These 'naked cats' have no whiskers, which normal cats use to orient themselves in the dark," Margaret Ronneberger, head of cat breeders' society Felidae, told Berliner Kurier.
This lack of whiskers would be passed on to any offspring - which the court decided was tantamount to animal cruelty.
So to prevent the cat fathering any more kittens, authorities have asked Linke to have Willi castrated.
This is the first time a court has made a decision of this kind, said Judge Christian Oestmann.
Despite admitting that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," the judge's verdict was clear: the Animal Protection Act forbids the breeding of any animal missing a species-specific feature, the lack of which could case pain, suffering or harm.
The decision is open to appeal – and with Linke planning to continue her fight for Willi's virility, the case could even reach the Federal Administrative Court.
Willi isn't the only naked cat currently taking up residence with the 41-year-old Berliner.
Enola, Rumba and Sadira – "the girls" – are also almost completely hairless. "They're so cuddly, and child-friendly," Linke said.
"Willi is part of the family," she argued, adding that naked cats are "very people-orientated, and intelligent".
Can we apply this ruling to Liberals as well? ;)
A champion cat isn’t hunting voles in the field at night. Judge could have ordered a nightlight in each room of the house.Or he could mind his own beeswax, pardon the language.
That’s James Carville!
So just how does that work?
Hairy in the front half,and naked behind, or is it vice-versa?
Of is it more like scattered splotches and isolated tufts amid clear and hairless, Sahara desert-like Sphinxiod-ism?
Ok, ok, gene expression typically doesn't play out like that...but it was fun to think about in that way...
We bought him as a Sphynx-Devon Rex mix. He has somewhat curly fur and a naked belly. Our vet said he is in unusually good health for a cat his age. He jumps on the cat condo’s highest rungs and watches everything when he’s not running through the house not being aware he’s gotten to be an old cat.
Naked on the belly.
I didn't think of that, but I suppose at times, with felines, since belly fur can be different than the rest, and partially near-hairless near the loins fairly regularly among domesticated felines, then if a portion of what I'll assume are not dominant genes were to express in only part, then hairless belly it would most likely be (said after-the-fact, while looking in the rear-view mirror).
Resembles Valeri Jarrett also.
I don’t like the look of those cats and don’t want one, but it’s not my place to make that decision for others. It is certainly not a judge’s place to outlaw a breed based on something so silly. Judges like that disgust me, and there are far too many of them.
My vet has a sphynx cat. He’s the biggest cuddlebug in the office. (The cat, not the vet.)
Let’s not be cruel. Cut his nuts off!
Ugly little things.
One of the two sister Sphynx cats we have is my husband’s cat, the other is mine. His cat sits on his lap while he’s at the computer or next to the mousepad where she can get his attention. The girl that is mine “talks” a lot and leads me to whatever she wants by pawing me. We’ve never before had cats so loving and that communicate more like dogs than cats. In past decades we’ve had Siamese, Persian, Pixie Bob and cats from the shelter, but none of them were anthing like these Sphynx. The closest would have been the Pixie Box who was quite intelligent and who opened interior house doors.
I think they are cute. Was even thinking of getting one but I heard they were oily and smelled weird. Is that true?
Bingo. I would be interested in the judge’s explanation of why genitals aren’t species-specific but whiskers are.
That's easy to visualize. ;^')
I don't think I'd quite know how. It could take some getting used to.
How to "pet" an animal when there ain't no fur to slide a hand upon?
But can they type?
I've been looking to replace a couple of cats who keep posting messages with my name on them, saying things I'd rather not...
I'm lying.
I don't have any cats. And the one little dog that's left which formerly belonged to now deceased relatives, doesn't type either.
But that one does like it a little on the warm side, will sunbath up to about 85 or 90 degree temp (but will' cut it short when its hotter than that) and in the winter thinks she's being punished if not allowed to sleep with a human, under the covers, even though she's provided with multiple small blankets, and has a talent for tunneling under and within 'em, then winding up a bit.
Oops, gotta' go.
Just had the signal. The little dog just shook and rattled her dog tags at me. That means something...
What???? Sphynx cats are delightful little creatures (though I admit their looks take some getting used-to). And they feel lovely — like a muscular hot water bottle covered in velveteen. I hope this nonsense about the missing whiskers doesn’t spread.
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