Cats Protection joined MPs and members of the House of Lords this week to discuss the UK’s most pressing cat welfare issues.

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, spoke to the UK’s leading cat welfare charity about many of the issues affecting the UK’s 10.4 million pet cats and the people who care for them.

A key issue raised at the event was exploitative cat breeding practices. According to Cats Protection, 36% of owned cats in the UK are pedigrees, which is up from 23% just five years ago¹, and this includes an increasing number of “designer cats” with extreme characteristics like folded ears, flat faces or hairless bodies which will cause them chronic health problems and an extremely poor quality of life.

The charity is calling for a ban on the breeding of these cats with extreme characteristics, as well as a crackdown on sick and suffering cats being sold online, and recently delivered a petition with over 60,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street calling for cat breeding regulations.   

Other topics raised at the reception included Cats Protection calls to ban electric shock collars and to restrict fireworks to minimise stress to cats.

Cats Protection volunteers and staff also chatted to parliamentarians and guests from the animal welfare sector about their essential cat rehoming, neutering and education work.

Representatives from the charity’s Lifeline service, which provides free cat fostering for owners fleeing domestic abuse, and Paws to Listen, a grief support service for those dealing with the loss of their cat, also attended and the session included an educational cat-themed game to reinforce the learnings of the day.

Madison Rogers, Associate Director of Advocacy, Campaigns and External Affairs said:

“We were delighted to bring MP and Peers together at our parliamentary reception to shine a light on some of the most pressing issues affecting cats today.

“From the urgent need for effective cat breeding regulations to prevent exploitation and suffering, to calls for a ban on electronic shock collars and stronger restrictions on fireworks, it’s clear that more must be done to protect cat welfare.

“Cats Protection is proud to make a difference nationally and in local constituencies through the dedication of our employees and volunteers. We look forward to working closely with parliamentarians to ensure cats and the people who care for them receive the protection and support they deserve.”

Johanna Baxter MP, said: “I was delighted to sponsor the Cats Protection Parliamentary Reception. It was a great opportunity to discuss and celebrate cats and the people who love and care for them. 

It was especially heartening to hear about how the Renters Rights Act is helping ensure that all those who want to experience the joy of having a cat, can do so – irrespective of whether they rent or own their homes.”

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and helps 191,000 cats through a national network of 182 volunteer-run teams and 31 centres. 

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