He looked like a mistake. Honestly, that’s the only way to describe the first time you saw a photo of Ugly Bat Boy. He wasn't just a bit scruffy or in need of a bath. No, this cat—a local legend at the Exeter Veterinary Hospital in New Hampshire—was a jarring mix of "is that a rat?" and "is that a tiny, balding lion?" He became the face of the world's ugliest cat because he challenged every single idea we have about feline beauty.
People traveled. They drove for hours just to stare at him.
But why do we care so much? It’s a weird human trait, isn't it? We are obsessed with the outliers. While most of the internet is saturated with high-definition videos of fluffy Maine Coons or sleek Bengals, there is a deep, almost primal fascination with the cats that look like they crawled out of a nuclear reactor. Ugly Bat Boy, or "Ube" as his fans called him, wasn't a specific breed gone wrong. He was just... Ube.
What People Get Wrong About the World’s Ugliest Cat
Most people assume there is an official "World's Ugliest Cat" competition, similar to the famous World's Ugliest Dog contest held annually in Petaluma, California.
There isn't. Not really.
While the dogs have a sanctioned, televised event with trophies and cash prizes, the title of the world's ugliest cat is usually a title bestowed by the internet's collective hive mind. It’s an informal crown. Usually, it lands on a cat that has a rare genetic mutation or a severe case of "resting grump face."
Take the Sphynx breed, for example. To a lot of people, any hairless cat is automatically a candidate for the ugliest in the world. But that's a misunderstanding of what "ugly" means in the pet world. A Sphynx is a recognized breed with a standard. To a breeder, a Sphynx isn't ugly; it’s a masterpiece of velvet skin and big ears. True "ugliness"—the kind that goes viral—usually requires something more. It requires a lack of symmetry, a weird patch of fur, or a gaze that suggests the cat knows exactly when you’re going to die.
The Legend of Ugly Bat Boy
Ube was special. He had a thick mane of fur around his neck but was almost entirely bald everywhere else. His skin was a mottled grey, sagging in places that didn't seem to make sense. He lived at the Exeter Veterinary Hospital for years. Dr. Stephen Bassett, the veterinarian who owned the clinic, often had to explain to horrified visitors that Ube wasn't sick.
He was just born that way.
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He didn't have a skin condition. He didn't have mange. He was just a genetic anomaly. And he was incredibly sweet. That's the part that always gets people—the disconnect between the "monster" on the outside and the gentle soul on the inside. He would sit on the counter and watch the world go by, totally unaware that he was a global sensation. He passed away in 2013, but his photos still circulate every time someone searches for the world's ugliest cat.
The Science of Why They Look Like That
Genetics is messy. Sometimes it's a deliberate choice by breeders, like the Lykoi. Have you ever seen a Lykoi? They are literally called "Werewolf cats."
They have a genetic mutation that prevents them from growing a full coat of undergrowth, leaving them with patchy, wiry fur that makes them look like they’re mid-transformation under a full moon. To the average person, a Lykoi might look like a sick stray. To a cat enthusiast, they are a high-value, exotic pet.
Then you have the extreme brachycephalic cats. These are the "flat-faced" breeds like certain Persians or Himalayans. When breeding goes too far, their noses are so recessed and their eyes so wide that they look less like cats and more like grumpy, furry pancakes. This isn't just an aesthetic issue; it’s a health one. These "ugly-cute" features often lead to breathing problems and tear duct issues.
Why We Are Attracted to "Ugly"
There’s a term for this: Putch-guchi. Or, more commonly in Western psychology, the "Ugly-Cute" phenomenon.
It’s the same reason people love Pugs or French Bulldogs. We see something that is so objectively "wrong" that our nurturing instinct kicks into overdrive. We want to protect it because it looks vulnerable. When a cat is "too" perfect, it can feel aloof. When a cat looks like it’s been through a blender, we feel a weird, protective kinship with it.
- Asymmetry: Human brains like balance, but we find lack of balance "memorable."
- Human-like features: Sometimes a cat has eyes or a mouth that look eerily human, which triggers a "Uncanny Valley" response.
- The Underdog Factor: We love a winner that shouldn't be winning.
Other Contenders for the Title
If Ube was the king, there have been many princes and princesses of the "ugly" world.
Remember Wilfred Alive? He’s a Chinchilla Persian from London. He went viral because of his massive, bulging eyes and his protruding bottom teeth. He looks constantly shocked. Most people first saw him in a viral video where a comedian did a voice-over, screaming about a "weird cat" outside. Wilfred is actually a very pampered, healthy cat, but his appearance is so extreme that he’s often cited in lists of the world’s ugliest cats.
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And then there's Xherdan.
Xherdan is a Sphynx, but he’s not just any hairless cat. He is incredibly wrinkled. Most hairless cats have some folds, but Xherdan looks like a brain that grew limbs. He has a permanent scowl that makes him look like an ancient, disgruntled philosopher. He’s massive on Instagram because, honestly, you can't look away.
The Ethical Side of "Ugly" Breeding
We need to talk about the dark side of this. It's not all fun and memes.
When "ugly" becomes a commodity, breeders start chasing it. This is where things get dangerous. Breeding for extreme features—like the aforementioned flat faces or the lack of fur—can lead to cats that live in constant discomfort. A hairless cat can't regulate its body temperature properly and is prone to sunburn and skin cancer. A "grumpy" cat with a highly recessed nose might spend its whole life struggling to take a deep breath.
Expert veterinarians, including those at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), have frequently warned against selecting pets based solely on extreme physical traits. When you’re looking for a cat, "unique" shouldn't mean "unhealthy."
The best "ugly" cats are the ones that happened by accident. Ube was a fluke. He wasn't bred to look like that; he was just a quirk of nature. That’s what made him authentic. When humans try to manufacture that kind of look, it usually ends in a shorter lifespan for the animal.
How to Care for a "Unique-Looking" Cat
If you happen to adopt a cat that looks like it belongs in a horror movie or a sci-fi flick, you've got some specific responsibilities.
First, the skin. If they have patchy fur or no fur, they need baths. Most cats clean themselves, but hairless or semi-hairless breeds get oily. That oil has nowhere to go because there’s no fur to soak it up. If you don't wash them, they get sticky and can develop skin infections.
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Second, the eyes. Extreme-looking cats often have "bulgy" eyes that are prone to injury or dryness. You might need to do daily "eye wipes" to keep them clean.
Finally, the social aspect. People are going to be mean. It sounds silly, but when you post photos of your "ugly" cat online, you’re going to get comments from people who don't get it. You have to be the advocate for your cat. You have to show the world that beneath the weird folds and the missing fur, there is a cat that purrs, plays with string, and sleeps on your chest just like any "pretty" cat would.
The Cultural Impact of the "Ugly" Cat
Think about Grumpy Cat (Tardar Sauce). She wasn't "ugly" in the traditional sense, but she had feline dwarfism and an underbite that gave her that famous expression. She became a multi-million dollar brand.
We live in a culture that rewards the bizarre. An "ugly" cat isn't a liability anymore; in the age of TikTok and Instagram, it’s an asset. But the real value of these cats isn't in their "marketability." It's in the way they force us to broaden our definition of what is worth loving.
If you can look at a cat like Ugly Bat Boy—with his wrinkled skin and his patchy mane—and see something beautiful, that says more about you than it does about the cat.
Actionable Insights for Potential Owners
If you're looking for a cat that stands out, or if you've found a "homely" stray you want to take in, here is the reality of what you're signing up for:
- Check the Health First: Don't just buy a "weird" cat from a breeder without seeing health clearances. Heart issues and respiratory problems are rampant in breeds with extreme features.
- Budget for Maintenance: "Ugly" often equals "Expensive." Specialist vet visits for skin or breathing issues can add up quickly.
- Ignore the Labels: "The World's Ugliest Cat" is just a title. To the person who feeds them and feels them purring at night, they’re just "the cat."
- Adopt, Don't Shop for Defects: Many cats with "ugly" features end up in shelters because people realize they aren't as easy to care for as they looked on Instagram. Check your local rescue before looking for a specialized "ugly" breed.
The world of unique felines is vast. Whether it's a hairless wonder or a flat-faced grump, these animals remind us that perfection is boring. Beauty is fine, but character? Character is what makes a legend like Ugly Bat Boy live on long after his final nap.
Check your local shelters for "special needs" or "long-stay" cats. Often, the cats that get passed over because of a missing eye, a weird coat, or a permanent scowl are the ones with the most affection to give. Start by researching rescues that specialize in "atypical" breeds or senior cats who might have lost their luster but none of their heart.