Vet shares why he would never buy a Bengal or Persian cat despite popularity

A veterinary surgeon has taken to social media to share the four breeds of cat he would never buy – but added that it was just his ‘opinion’ and acknowledged others might disagree

A vet has shared the four breeds of cats he would never buy and explained the reasons why – from aggressive behaviour to health issues. The veterinary surgeon, known as Ben the Vet, has been using TikTok to educate users about animals and which ones could make good pets.

It comes after he revealed the dog breeds he would considered welcoming into his home – and those who he would give a wide birth to. His video captioned reads: “And now its the cat’s turn! Four breeds I wouldn’t buy as a vet.” In the video, Ben explained how he would never buy the following breeds but he would consider adopting them if they were in a rescue centre.

He said: “As with the previous videos, this is based on my personal experience as a vet.

“When talking about health problems, there is science to back up what I am saying but ultimately this is my opinion.”

First up was the Bengal.

He added: “They are beautiful-looking cats. They have gorgeous coats. I can see why people like them.

“But what a lot of people aren’t aware of is that they’re a hybrid between a type of wildcat called an Asian leopard cat and domestic cat breeds.

“So they’re still quite wild in terms of their behaviour and temperament.”

He explained how they have a reputation for being quite aggressive during their vet visits.

“Usually, it’s out of fear, but they can actually be really quite dangerous to handle,” said Ben.

“They’re highly intelligent. They need a lot of stimulation, and unfortunately, a lot of homes just aren’t right for them.”

Third on Ben’s list was the Sphynx. He simply said he has nothing against them but he would prefer to cuddle a fluffy cat.

The Scottish Fold cat came in second place due to the health issues their curly ears can cause them.

He said: “The reason is that their curly ears, which is their most distinctive feature, is actually because of a cartilage disorder called osteochondrodysplasia.

“The problem is that this defective cartilage is also found in all of their joints, and this means that they commonly develop painful arthritis at a young age.”

Finally, Ben revealed the Persian cat as the breed he would least likely adopt due to how flat their faces are.

“As with the Brachycephalic dog breeds like French Bulldogs and pugs, there are some breeders that are trying to breed Persian cats with less extreme features,” he explained.

“But in my experience, they’re in the minority, and on the whole, people are just far too accepting of the health problems that these cats have.

“I have seen Persian cats whose noses look inverted into their face and their eyes bulge beyond their nose.

“People don’t realise they can struggle to breathe just as badly as some of the flat-faced dog breeds, and that’s for the same reasons on the whole.

“Their nostrils are too small, all the bones in their nasal passages are crowded together, and they often have too long a soft palette at the back of their throat.

“Their tear ducts usually don’t work properly, so all of their eye boogers collect around their eyes.

“Because of the shape of their heads and the fact that they have these bulging eyes, they’re very prone to eye issues such as corneal ulcers and this which is called a corneal sequester.”

Ben says Persian cats are also predisposed to heart disease, dental disease and a problem called polycystic kidney disease, which studies have shown affects 40 per cent of them.

“They’re a bit of a health disaster overall. And for that reason, I could never buy one,” he added.

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