We call on the Government to introduce mandatory neutering for owned cats and to create legal protections and enforcement options to safeguard cat welfare. Cats are one of the most common pets in the UK, yet we feel they have far fewer legal protections than other animals.

While cats are legally allowed to roam, there is currently no mandated enforcement regarding owned cats that are not neutered, inadequately cared for, or repeatedly suffer harm or distress due to irresponsible ownership. Many rescue organisations and individuals are overwhelmed. Many rescuers take in dozens — sometimes hundreds — of abandoned, injured, or neglected cats every year. We believe these cats are not “bad” or “aggressive”; they are the result of poor breeding control, lack of neutering, and irresponsible ownership.