Experts warn new breeds of hairless cats are more likely to suffer health issues and have a lower life expectancy

Breeders created the “bully cats”, which are named after the resemblance to the outlawed XL dogs, by mixing the gene that causes hairlessness in sphynx cats with the gene responsible for the short legs of munchkin cats.

Animal welfare experts have warned pet owners about a new breed of cat, likened to an XL Bully dog, due to concerns for their health and safety.

Cat owners have been urged to avoid buying the feline version of XL bully dogs which have spread from the US to the UK. Breeders in the US have created the “bully cats” which resemble their XL canine equivalent by mixing the gene that causes hairlessness in sphynx cats with the gene responsible for the short legs of munchkin cats.

Animal welfare experts have issued a warning to people not to purchase the feline version of XL Bully dogs. Breeders in the US have created “XL bully cats” - which resemble breed recently banned in the UK - by mixing the genes of hairless Sphynx cats with the gene responsible for the short legs of a munchkin cat.

The hairless hybrid breed, reportedly been created by breeders in the US, have grown in popularity on social media and can now be bought online in the UK.