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Naked cat (symbolic image)

Photo: Elena Helade / Westend61 / IMAGO

The veterinary office in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district of Berlin rescued 48 cats of a torture-bred breed from a two-room apartment.

The animals of the Ukrainian-Levkoy breed sometimes had severe physical impairments and breeding-related genetic defects, as the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district office announced.  

Some of the animals were pregnant.

The animal owner resisted official measures during the rescue operation last Saturday, which is why access to the apartment had to be forced with the support of the police.

The man was unable to provide any information about how many animals lived with him.

Ban on keeping animals and the threat of a fine

According to authorities, the naked cats were distributed to voluntary foster homes in several federal states, where they receive veterinary care.

"With the dissolution of this attitude, the last breeding of Ukrainian Levkoy cats in Germany was probably stopped," explained the district office.

The former owner was banned from keeping animals.

The man also faces a “significant fine.”

The owner was already known to the office, a spokesman said.

According to its own information, the authority became aware of the animals because they were offered for sale on the Internet.

“Tangible financial interests”

The Ukrainian Levkoy cat is a mating of two breeds, both of which have torment breeding traits.

It is banned in Germany, as a spokesman for the district office said.

Cruel breeding means that animals lead a life of pain and damage because of their bred characteristics, as the German Animal Welfare Association explains on its website.

Ukrainian Levkoy cats have missing whiskers and bent ears.

According to the district office, many of the animals also suffer from severe skeletal changes and deformed limbs and tails.

Unfortunately, there are always cases in which animals intentionally suffer lifelong restrictions and pain as a result of breeding, said Steffen Mehl, the district's official veterinarian.

"There are usually tangible financial interests of the 'breeders' behind this."

bbr/dpa