Scotland denies rumored ban on cats
The cat’s out of the bag — and is here to say.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney dispelled rumors Monday that the country was planning to ban cats after an independent commission produced a report calling for “containment” of felines to protect endangered birds and other wildlife.
The independent Scottish Animal Welfare Commission crafted a report last Monday for the government detailing proposals to strengthen responsible domestic cat ownership.
Some of the proposals mirrored grassroots efforts to curb cat overpopulation in the United States, including greater emphasis on proper spaying and neutering. However, the report also recommended “restrictions” on cat ownership in specific rural areas frequented by endangered or at-risk bird species.
Cats are responsible for the deaths of an estimated 700 million birds and other small animals each year in the United Kingdom, according to the commission. It’s unclear how many of these birds are killed in Scotland specifically.
The report pointed towards other jurisdictions that have placed restrictions on cat ownership for similar reasons. Some of these efforts have included “keeping cats indoors at all times, to allowing them outside only during the day, or only on a leash, or in a secure outdoor run.”
The Scottish Government said it would “fully consider” the recommendations but made no promises to sign any into law.
But cat lovers across the country were up in arms as they seemingly jumped to the conclusion that Scotland was moving towards banning cats outright — as the rumor spread online.
Swinney was forced to make a statement to clarify the government’s position, clearly fed-up as he appeared on Bauer Radio Monday afternoon.
“There’s a report being produced by an external organization, which has come into the government for consideration. Let me just clear this up today. The government’s not going to be banning cats or restricting cats. We have no intention of doing so and we’ll not be doing it,” Swinney said.
Many saw the public outcry, coupled with the government’s quick response, as a testament to the sometimes overlooked value of their feline family members.
“Scotland is a nation of cat lovers, and I know a lot of people were shocked by some of the headlines over the past few days about a potential ban on cats. The strong public reaction to media reports about cat containment areas shows how much people care about their cat companions,” Advocacy and Government Relations Officer for the Scotland non-profit Cats Protection Alice Palombo wrote on LinkedIn.
