Pet charity 'extremely concerned' as Claudia Schiffer hits red carpet with a cat in a backpack
By Suki Reid|
When Claudia Schiffer rocks a red carpet she is usually met with adoration, but her latest appearance has sparked a heated debate จC thanks to her unique choice of guest.?
Attending the premiere of her husband Matthew Vaughn's new spy action film?Argylle, the German supermodel brought a cat in her backpack carrier.
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In her argyle-patterned backpack, with air holes and a perspex dome, sat Chip, who stars in the movie and is owned by Schiffer's daughter Clementine.
Now, the charity Cats Protection has said it is "extremely concerned" by her decision to bring Argylle's leading cat to the premiere.?
"Thought the photos of Chip the cat in a bubble backpack on the red carpet at the Argylle premiere looked fun? Think again," the group wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"It's extremely concerning to see a cat exposed to such a stressful environment, while contained in an inappropriate carrier."
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In the film, Chip plays the role of Alfie, who, with his owner, Elly จC a spy novelist จC are rescued from being kidnapped after her books describe an underground group who are committing crimes.?
Schiffer and Chip posed for a few photos on the red carpet, the moment snapped up by lots of paparazzi, before joining the remaining cast on stage inside the cinema.?
In a press release, Cat Protection's head of clinical services Alison Richards says?this decision left the cat vulnerable to feeling overwhelmed.?
"Though some cats may appear to tolerate backpacks, the movement on a person's back is unpredictable and most lack adequate ventilation and space for the cat - leaving them cramped or uncomfortable," she said.
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"The large window in the bubble backpack featured also means cats don't have the option to hide when they feel anxious, leaving them feeling exposed and vulnerable."
Cats Protection is also concerned with the glamorisation of Chip's breed, the Scottish Fold, which is notorious for its poor health.?
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They say this breed is one, "associated with serious health and welfare concerns, and is anticipated to amplify the breed's popularity among potential cat owners".
Cats Care, RSPCA and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, along with other cat protection societies have written to Universal Pictures to "consider the potential impact of Argylle on cat welfare and join the efforts to promote responsible pet ownership, prioritising the wellbeing of animals above entertainment value".
"The impact of using this breed in a Hollywood film cannot be overstated," Richards said.
"All Scottish Fold cats suffer from variable degrees of painful degenerative joint disease and the underlying genetic defect has far-reaching and severe consequences for their health.
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"They go on to develop painful arthritis and it develops it so reliably that it's being used as a model to study the gene involved in human arthritis.
"They're already very popular on social media and with celebrities so we really worry that this film will cause this to surge even more."
