Veterinarians have strongly criticized Claudia Schiffer's decision to hit the red carpet last night with her pet cat in tow.
The supermodel attended the world premiere of her husband Matthew Vaughn's new film Argylle, which stars their pet cat Chip.
Chip attended the premiere wearing a yellow backpack and could be seen peering through a small window as Claudia posed for the cameras.
While he may have looked cute hanging over Claudia's shoulder, experts have warned that Chip was likely “stressed out” by the situation.
“Cats are extremely territorial and crave freedom of movement. “So keeping them in small, confined spaces and unnecessarily taking them into new and unfamiliar environments can cause them stress, fear and anxiety and do them no good,” said Alison Richards, Head of Clinical Services at Cats Protection.
Veterinarians have strongly criticized Claudia Schiffer's decision to hit the red carpet last night with her pet cat in tow. While he would have looked cute hanging over Claudia's shoulder, experts warn that Chip was probably “stressed out” by the situation
READ MORE: Claudia Schiffer's cat steals the show at the world premiere of Argylle
Cats Protection says Claudia's decision to take Chip to the premiere was “unnecessary” and claims the model chose a fashion statement over her pet's well-being.
“Cats are sentient animals and should not be used as fashion accessories. “We strongly advise owners not to take their cats in bubble boxes, as shown in the film,” Ms Richards said.
“Although some cats appear to tolerate backpacks, movement on a person's back is unpredictable and most lack adequate ventilation and space for the cat, making them cramped or uncomfortable.
“The large window in the bubble backpack also means cats have no place to hide when they feel anxious, leaving them feeling unprotected and vulnerable.”
“Cats prefer to move freely in their familiar surroundings and thrive best when they can decide for themselves where they want to go and what they want to interact with.”
Cats Protection says Claudia's decision to take Chip to the premiere was “unnecessary” and claims the model chose a fashion statement over her pet's well-being
READ MORE: How to make your cat love you, according to science
“We do not recommend removing them from their home unless absolutely necessary, such as to go to the vet.”
The RSPCA echoed Cats Protection's concerns.
Speaking to Web, a spokesperson said: “The RSPCA would not recommend using backpacks to transport cats as cats naturally want to hide or run away when they feel stressed or anxious – however this instinct may be limited, if they are enclosed in it.” Clear bag.
“The charity advises owners to monitor their cats for signs of stress when they have new or different experiences. However, this becomes very difficult when cats travel on their owners' backs.
“In addition, these backpacks are often small, very restrictive and hinder temperature regulation.”
Appearing with Chip on The Jonathan Ross Show in November, Claudia explained how her cat was cast in his debut film.
“We had another cat in the film, he's not a very good actor.” He was terrible. “It was also very expensive,” she said.
Appearing with Chip on The Jonathan Ross Show in November, Claudia explained how her cat was cast in his debut film. Pictured: Claudia Schiffer, Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard and Ariana DeBose attend the world premiere of Argylle
“So my husband, Matthew, the principal, asked if he could have my cat. I said ‘why not, he could be a Nepo cat’ and here we are.”
Aside from bringing Chip to the premiere, Cats Protection has called into question the decision to include him in the film at all.
Chip is a Scottish Fold cat – a breed known to suffer from a number of serious health and welfare issues.
“The impact of using this breed in a Hollywood film cannot be overstated,” Ms Richards added.
“All Scottish Fold cats suffer from varying degrees of painful degenerative joint disease and the underlying genetic defect has far-reaching and serious consequences for their health.”
“They then develop painful arthritis, and it develops so reliably that it is used as a model for studying the gene involved in human arthritis.”
“They're already very popular on social media and with celebrities, so we're really worried this film will increase the popularity even further.”
How well do you know your cat? The 13 Secret Signals Cats Give Their Owners
Cats are often labeled as distant and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting the downfall of their human owners, but such characterizations couldn't be further from the truth.
In fact, our feline friends are constantly communicating their feelings of affection to us, be it through their whiskers, tail, face, or body language.
In her insightful new book, “Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat,” author Lili Chin explains—with the help of animal behaviorists—how to interpret your pet's movements.
Below are some of the most common behaviors and what they might signal.
Our feline friends are constantly communicating their feelings of affection to us, be it through their whiskers, tail, face, or body language