Will Scotland ban cats under new wildlife plans?
With estimates that UK cats kill tens of millions of wild animals each year – including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians – a new proposal in Scotland suggests restricting their roaming to protect wildlife.
The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC), an animal welfare body set up to advise the Scottish government, has warned that cats are depleting populations of native mammals and birds.
This week, the SAWC advised the Scottish Government to take drastic measures against pet cats, including keeping them locked inside – and even banning ownership altogether.
It also suggested setting up “cat containment areas” – designated parts of the country, where compulsory restrictions could be put in place to prevent pet cats from roaming and hunting.
The SAWC said in the new report: “The evidence suggests that all cats can have a significant impact on wildlife populations, through predation and competition for resources with vulnerable wildcat populations.
“Some countries already require cats to be contained all the time or seasonally to protect wildlife populations. This may be an option to reduce the welfare impacts of domestic cats on wildlife.”
It also adds that, given only a proportion of prey is brought home to owners, the actual number killed could reach at least 700 million vertebrates per year in the UK.
However, while the Scottish Government said it would "fully consider the recommendations" made by SAWC, it later followed up with a statement which confirmed its stance on the topic. A spokesperson added yesterday: “Banning cats is not a recommendation of the report and we will, under no circumstances, be banning cats."
Charity Cats Protection has also strongly rejected this proposal to restrict movements of the animals, adding that these plans could cause distress to some of the country’s 840,000 pet cats.
Alice Palombo, the group’s advocacy and government relations officer for Scotland, told the Mail on Sunday: “Ideally, all cats should have the choice to access the outside world. Cats need to be able to perform natural cat-like behaviours if they’re to live happy, healthy lives. These needs, like scratching and climbing, are more easily met in the outside world, where they can also enjoy the stimulation that comes with new smells, sights and sounds.
“While some cats tolerate living indoors, missing out on these vital experiences can lead to stress-related problems like spraying, excessive grooming or physical illness.”
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