Date: Thursday, October 26, 2000 3:18 PM
Subject: [H4AB] Fwd: Fw: GERMANY OUTLAWS BREEDING CERTAIN CATS!!!!
Does anyone know if this is true? Has anyone heard more about this?
Carrin
Tuesday evening, October 25,
the German Ministry of Family Health and Environment has outlawed the breeding of the following breeds and colors of cats:
1. ALL Turkish Van cats. (where the word "ALL" appears, there are no conditions or exceptions granted)
2. Any Maine Coon cat with more than five toes (polydactyl).
3. Any white cat of ANY breed, regardless of eye color.
4. All bicolor cats of ANY breed having more than 2/3 white pattern, must have a baer test for hearing and a genetic test to prove the white does not come from the epistatic white gene.
5. Extreme Persians or Exotic Shorthairs, with brachycephalic features.
6. Rex cats when the whiskers are curled.
7. ALL Scottish Fold cats.
8. ALL Manx and longhaired Manx.
9. ALL cats of any breed with a lethal factor gene.
My friend also tells me she thinks Siamese and Birmans (any cat with blue eyes) must have a baer test for hearing, as well as a test to prove the eyes are not crossed, but she is not sure of this.
Cats in these categories may not be bred, imported, or exported.
There may be other things on this list, but my friend does not have the official list yet. I will contact you if this becomes available.
A petition will be circulated among German breeders, asking for repeal of this decision, but hopes are not high that it will change. German legislative process is more permanent than that in the USA.
The breeder who told me these things is not yet sure what the penalty will be for violation of this, but thinks it may involve up to 50,000 D.M. and mandatory search and seizure of all cats on premises, with mandatory spay and neuter of all cats on premises.
She questions what will be done with those persons who violate these laws with un-registered household pet cats.
The above laws will severely restrict import of Turkish Angora cats from the Turkish zoo, and will cut the Turkish Angora gene pool to a dangerously low level.
It is almost certain, my friend says, that the animal rights activits in Europe will accomplish passage of this same law all across Europe, in the near future.
Sadly,
Kit Goodwin
Great Lakes Legislative Net Liaison
Cincinnati Cat Club Legislative Net Liaison