Cats

(asked on 19th July 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what policies his Department has put in place (a) for the capture and relocation of feral cats, (b) to tackle the overpopulation of feral cats and (c) to reduce the spread of diseases by feral cats.


Answered by
George Eustice Portrait
George Eustice
This question was answered on 11th September 2017

Significant animal welfare concerns have not been raised with the Government in relation to feral cats although other concerns may apply. The Government considers that local authorities are best placed to consider local issues relating to the capture and relocation of feral cats. The Government strongly advises all cat owners to microchip their cats so that if their cats become lost or displaced there will be a much better chance that they will be re-united and not join the feral population.

The Government recommends that owners should neuter their cats if they do not intend to breed from them, and ensure that they have appropriate inoculations as advised by a vet. These actions will help to reduce the chances of cats becoming stray and adding to the feral population, and should help reduce the spread of disease. In addition, some animal welfare charities run neutering schemes for feral cats to prevent their numbers increasing and spreading disease.

Reticulating Splines