biostudies-literatureUnknown34Roberts CPreviously, consideration of purebred cat welfare has focused heavily on links between specific breeds and their predispositions to disease, extreme morphology, and behavioural traits. While these are certainly important to consider, negative messaging about purebred cats is often poorly evidenced and can be alienating to owners and breeders, with consequent limited or even negative welfare gain. Negative focus on individual breeds also risks overlooking the wider picture, where propagation of genetic traits that impinge upon welfare should be avoided across all cats (<i>Felis catus</i>). An account of purebred cat welfare must also consider husbandry and breeding practices, new experimental breeds and motivations behind changing acquisition trends. This review used a framework based on thAnimal welfare (South Mimms, England)e76https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12722057biostudies-literatureA framework to refocus the conversation around the welfare of UK purebred cats.PMC12722057O'Neill DGForeman-Worsley RRoberts CMcDonald JLfalseA framework to refocus the conversation around the welfare of UK purebred cats.Previously, consideration of purebred cat welfare has focused heavily on links between specific breeds and their predispositions to disease, extreme morphology, and behavioural traits. While these are certainly important to consider, negative messaging about purebred cats is often poorly evidenced and can be alienating to owners and breeders, with consequent limited or even negative welfare gain. Negative focus on individual breeds also risks overlooking the wider picture, where propagation of genetic traits that impinge upon welfare should be avoided across all cats (<i>Felis catus</i>). An account of purebred cat welfare must also consider husbandry and breeding practices, new experimental breeds and motivations behind changing acquisition trends. This review used a framework based on th2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-06-08T05:18:26.944Z2026-06-08T03:09:09.418ZS-EPMC127220574144601510.1017/awf.2025.10051