Cats in Scotland could be BANNED under strict new wildlife plans to protect birds
Households in Scotland could be prohibited from owning cats as part of new plans aimed at protecting the country’s wildlife.
A report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) – ordered by the Scottish Government – states that cats are wreaking havoc on the local population of mammals and birds.
The body estimates about 250,000 bats and 27 million birds in the UK are killed each year by felines.
The SAWC also said that domestic cats’ impact goes beyond just killing – the pets often torture their prey for fun and bring maimed animals home to their owners as a present.
In particularly “vulnerable areas”, cat ownership could be banned altogether in order to protect the wildlife.
The advisory group also suggested installing “cat containment areas” to stop cats from roaming and hunting.
Cats in these zones must be kept indoors, only being allowed outside if they are on a lead or kept in enclosed outdoor runs.
The report points to containment areas set up in other countries such as Australia. In some parts of Melbourne there is a strict 24-hour ban of roaming cats, whilst in Canberra, owners can be fined if their pet is outdoors without a lead.
ANIMAL NEWS LATEST:
- Horror dog attack leaves pensioner needing his arm and leg amputated after being ‘ripped to shreds’
- Councils ‘asking for trouble’ by slashing bin collection services, pest control workers say
- XL bully ban costs Britain’s police MILLIONS in vet bills as forces’ kennel spaces ‘reach capacity’
SNP ministers said they were “fully considering” the report, which also suggests that owners should be forced to neuter their pets in order to prevent the growth of feral cat populations.
Charity Cats Protection has hit out on the ban on feline friends.
Alice Palombo, the group’s advocacy and government relations officer for Scotland said: “Scotland is a nation of cat lovers. Cats are much-loved pets, and for many people, they’re part of the family.
“They are great pets, whether it’s providing companionship for elderly people or those living alone, comfort for people with health conditions or helping children learn important lessons in caring for others.
“We believe everyone who is able to care for a cat should be able to enjoy these benefits.”
She told The Mail on Sunday that “ideally”, all cats should have access to the outdoors.
“Cats need to be able to perform natural cat-like behaviours if they’re to live happy, healthy lives. 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.”
The SAWC was set by Nicola Sturgeon in 2020 to give recommendations based on “scientific evidence and ethical considerations” about the “welfare of sentient animals in Scotland”.
The report states: “New housing developments in rural areas could have a stipulation that cats may not be kept in conservation-sensitive areas/other areas that have not had high levels of predation, especially with red-listed or amber-listed birds/other species.”
It added: “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.”