Cats Protection’s 2022 Agenda for Cats
Cats Protection urges Westminster candidates to back five-year feline welfare agenda ahead of General Election
Cats Protection is the UK’s largest feline welfare charity. Ahead of the General Election the charity has launched its Agenda for Cats to urge candidates to back measures to improve the lives of the nation’s 11 million cats.
Cats are not political – they come in all colours of black, white, ginger and many more – yet politicians from all parties can improve their lives immeasurably by tackling some of the charity’s 2022 Agenda priorities. Whilst cats might seem less important than mainstream issues they are part of society and part of many family lives with nearly a quarter of UK households owning a cat.
Many of the Agenda items relate directly to everyday concerns. For example, Cats Protection is looking to future MPs to help promote responsible cat ownership and tackle the issue of owners being forced to give up cats because their landlord, social housing provider or care home does not allow pets.
It is not right that these individuals should be deprived of having the companionship, love and affection that a cat can bring to a household. Every cat given to Cats Protection for housing related reasons is a tragedy and means yet more cats added to the thousands already in the charity’s care and needing a home.
Cats Protection also wants the benefits of cats and other companion animals to be routinely taken into consideration by health and welfare professionals when they are assessing an individual’s care needs to aid the emotional wellbeing of those needing care.
Terrible acts of cruelty to cats are still regularly reported in the press. 202 cats were reported in the press as being shot with an air gun last year. Cats Protection is calling for air gun licensing to be introduced in England and Wales, as it is already in Northern Ireland and Scotland, to prevent injury to or death of cats shot by such weapons.
The charity is also calling for animal welfare education to be included in the National Curriculum to help children learn about responsible pet care.
Even Brexit is relevant as cats regularly come in and out of the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme - 21,404 entered the UK in 2015. Cats Protection is calling for enhanced border checks for every cat entering the UK so that their details are recorded on a national database to aid traceability of cats.
Cats Protection has called on all candidates to ask them to pledge support for their 10-point Agenda by contacting the Advocacy and Government Relations Team on advocacy@cats.org.uk
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