Adrian Ramsay joins Cats Protection in Parliament to discuss cat welfare
Adrian Ramsay joins Cats Protection in Parliament to discuss cat welfare
Adrian Ramsay MP for Waveney Valley joined fellow MPs and members of the House of Lords this week at a Cats Protection reception to discuss the UK’s most pressing cat welfare issues.
The UK’s leading cat charity hosted the parliamentary reception to raise awareness of 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 a Cats Protection call to ban electric shock collars and to restrict fireworks to minimize stress to cats while Adrian Ramsay also spoke to the charity’s volunteers and staff about their essential cat rehoming, neutering and education work.
Adrian Ramsay said: “It was a privilege to meet Cats Protection’s volunteers and staff and hear about their vital work rehoming, neutering and caring for cats across the country. Sharing my home with our rescue cat, Bella, I know first-hand the joy that cats bring to families.
The Cats Protection reception was invaluable in shining a light on serious welfare issues still facing cats, from the rise of ‘designer cats’ bred with extreme characteristics that cause lifelong suffering, to the stress caused by fireworks and the cruelty of electric shock collars. I support Cats Protection’s calls for much tighter regulation of cat breeding and ending kitten smuggling, and I’ll continue to back their work to improve the lives of cats up and down the country.”
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.”
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.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Picture of Adrian at the Cats Protection reception & with his Cat bella are avalible for use at this link https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fM9VDfgxD748HqyxQrMP8ovC7PhBYkw_?usp=sharing
Cats Protection is Charity No. 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland). A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (06772997). Registered office National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT.
Founded as the Cats Protection League in 1927, the charity adopted the name Cats Protection in 1998. We ask that you use the name Cats Protection when referring to the charity in all published material.
More information about the work of Cats Protection can be found at www.cats.org.uk
