The International Cat Federation (FIFE) has banned Russian cats from its shows over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Znak.com news website reported Wednesday.
The Federation put up a statement on its website announcing that it has sanctioned all cat owners residing in Russia from exhibiting their felines at FIFE shows outside of the country.
“The FIFE Executive Board is shocked and horrified that the army of the Russian Federation invaded the Republic of Ukraine and started a war,” the organization wrote in its statement.
“We can all witness the destruction and chaos caused by this unprecedented act of aggression.”
“On top of that our Ukrainian fellow feline fanciers are desperately trying to take care of their cats and other animals in these trying circumstances.”
The Federation’s board restricted Russian exhibitors from entering FIFE shows outside of Russia from March 1 to 21.
It also banned importing or registering cats bred in Russia in “any FIFE pedigree book outside Russia, regardless of which organization issued its pedigree.”
The board promised to allocate some of its budget to cat fanciers and breeders in Ukraine who have been affected by the ongoing conflict.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, some Ukrainian cat owners have been posting pictures of their frightened furry friends on social media as they bring them to bomb shelters and take them to the border as they flee their homes for safety.
Putin declared the beginning of a “special operation” in Ukraine on Feb. 24, resulting in over a million refugees, deaths on both sides and heavy shelling of Ukrainian military and civilian sites.
Russia has continuously stated that its goal is demilitarization and denazification of its Slavic neighbor.
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