Europe has begun regulating the breeding and keeping of certain cat breeds.

By 2026, the approach to cat breeding in Europe began to change. In a number of countries, governments started introducing rules that affect breeding, sale, and the appearance of new animals with certain hereditary traits.

It is important to understand that these decisions did not arise by chance. They were preceded by many years of veterinary observations and analysis of medical data. The focus has been on situations where health problems in animals are not the result of poor care, but are inherent in the breeding itself — at the level of physical structure or genetics.

Such cases have increasingly become the subject of regulation in laws governing the keeping and breeding of cats.

A clear example is the Netherlands, which became the first country in Europe to introduce a ban not only on the breeding of certain breeds, but also on their import and keeping. From 1 January 2026, a ban came into force on the appearance of new cats with hereditary traits recognised as harmful to their health and welfare. These measures apply to the breeding, sale, import and keeping of new animals only with such characteristics.

Official explanations state that the restrictions apply to Scottish Fold breeds and their variations, as well as to hairless cats, including sphynxes and related breeds. Cats that were born before 1 January 2026 and registered in the national database during microchipping may continue to live with their owners. There is no requirement to confiscate such animals. The aim of the law is to prevent the appearance of new animals with health problems rooted in selective breeding. Violations are subject to a fine of up to €1,500.

Similar measures had appeared in Europe earlier, but in a more limited form. For example, in Flanders — a region of Belgium — the breeding and sale of Scottish Fold and Highland Fold breeds have been prohibited since 2021. As in the Netherlands, these restrictions do not apply to cats already living with owners; however, the import and keeping of new cats remains permitted in Flanders.

Across Europe as a whole, a common regulatory principle applies. Even in countries without official lists of banned breeds, animal welfare laws restrict breeding when selective practices lead to pain, chronic illness or serious functional impairments. In applying these rules, authorities assess not the name of the breed, but the impact of hereditary traits on the health of animals and their offspring. Therefore, the absence of a direct ban on a specific breed does not mean that its breeding is allowed without limitations.

These changes are not aimed against people who already live with their pets. There is no reassessment of the fate of cats that have already been born. The main purpose of the new rules is to stop the further breeding of animals whose health problems are inherently linked to selective breeding.

Increasingly, this approach is being applied across Europe: if the source of an animal’s suffering lies not in its living conditions but in the breeding itself, the state views restrictions on such breeding as a measure to protect animal welfare, rather than as a punishment for owners.

The full text of the regulation and official explanations are published on the website of the Dutch government.