This week, Cats Protection convened with MPs and members of the House of Lords to discuss significant cat welfare challenges in the UK. At an informal drop-in reception hosted by Johanna Baxter MP, 77 parliamentarians, including the Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals, Baroness Hayman of Ullock, engaged with the leading cat charity about concerns affecting the country’s 10.4 million pet cats.
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A primary topic was the issue of exploitative breeding practices. Cats Protection reported that 36% of owned cats in the UK are pedigrees, increasing from 23% five years ago. This trend includes a rise in so-called “designer cats” that possess extreme physical traits, such as folded ears and flat faces, which can lead to serious health issues and a diminished quality of life.
The charity is advocating for a ban on breeding cats with these extreme features and a stricter approach to combat the sale of sick and suffering cats online. Recently, Cats Protection submitted a petition with over 60,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street, urging reforms in cat breeding regulations.
Other subjects at the reception included appeals from Cats Protection to prohibit electric shock collars for cats and to impose restrictions on fireworks to reduce stress for pets.
Volunteers and staff from Cats Protection also engaged with parliamentarians and attendees from the animal welfare sector to discuss their crucial initiatives related to cat rehoming, neutering, and education. The Lifeline service, providing free cat fostering for individuals escaping domestic abuse, and Paws to Listen, a grief support service for those mourning their cats, were represented, alongside a cat-themed educational game designed to enhance awareness.
Madison Rogers, Associate Director of Advocacy, Campaigns and External Affairs, expressed satisfaction at the gathering, emphasizing the urgent need for effective regulations to mitigate exploitation and improve cat welfare. She highlighted the commitment of Cats Protection to work collaboratively with parliamentarians to safeguard cats and their caretakers.
Johanna Baxter MP expressed her enthusiasm for hosting the reception and noted the event as an excellent platform to celebrate cats and their caregivers. She also highlighted the positive impact of the Renters Rights Act in enabling more people to share their lives with cats, regardless of their housing status.
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity, supporting 191,000 cats through a network of 182 volunteer-run teams and 31 centres.