Cats Protection, in collaboration with the University of Exeter and International Cat Care, has released a first-of-its kind scientific review exploring cat overpopulation in the UK.

Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, the study draws on global research into unowned cat management, identifying key strategies for sustainable population control.

The findings reveal critical universal insights with direct relevance to the UK’s approach, setting recommendations for cat welfare initiatives.

A key finding from the review is the importance of taking a whole population approach to the issue of overpopulation. This approach considers owned and shelter cats, as well as unowned cats and how they are interlinked.

According to Cats Protection, around 10 million owned cats live in the UK. Additionally, while research is ongoing to refine these figures there are an estimated 900,000 free-roaming, unowned cats and over 150,000 cats in need of homes enter shelters each year.

Dr Jenni McDonald, Feline Epidemiologist for Cats Protection and lead author of the review said: “With so many unowned cats living across the UK, this can be a real concern in local areas where they cannot be humanely supported, impacting their health and welfare as well as challenges to the local communities and environment. Rehoming organisations also experience increased strain as they respond to the growing number of cats in need.”

To maximise the impact of cat management programmes, the team advocates a comprehensive strategy that includes all cats including owned, free-living unowned cats, and those in rescue shelters.

Key priorities include supporting owners to ensure their cats are neutered from four months of age and microchipped and working to reduce rates of relinquishment.

Rehoming organisations can enhance their effectiveness by accepting only cats that are suited to live in home environments - while unsocialised, unowned cats that are not able to adapt to home life should be supported through targeted, community-level interventions.

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts must be strategically focused and informed by ecological concepts such as immigration and carrying capacity. These approaches benefit cat welfare, support those who care for cats, and ultimately help more cats lead healthier, happier lives.

Reflecting on the wider impact, McDonald said “This review is a crucial step in building our understanding for the future of cat management in the UK.

“By taking a whole-population approach to management - which considers owned, shelter and unowned cats - we can work towards sustainable management and ultimately better cat welfare.

“In particular, it’s important to take owned cats into account as this has a knock-on effect for unowned cats. Owners who neuter and microchip are not only helping their own cats, but also positively impacting other cats in the community.”

Professor Dave Hodgson, Professor of Ecology at the University of Exeter and co-author of the study, says “the management of unowned cats requires guidance rooted in biological and ecological understanding. Our review highlights that TNR programmes can be effective when they account for key ecological concepts, like carrying capacity and cat immigration and emigration. We should recognise that local unowned cat populations often originate in the larger, regional, owned cat population. In the UK, ecologists and animal welfare scientists share common ground, and our collaboration is vital if we’re to make meaningful progress for both cats and the communities they inhabit.”

Vicky Halls, Head of Unowned Cats at International Cat Care, and co-author of the study, says: “While cats across the globe live in diverse environments, global studies continue to offer profound insights into population management. What we find is that providing for the individual needs of cats is essential for effective and sustainable population management, for example helping to prevent the relinquishment and abandonment of owned pets and adopting more proactive and cat friendly homing efforts.”

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