Scottish ministers are being urged to order a report into cats’ affect on wildlife which might see pets banned from areas the place endangered species stay.
The Scottish Animal Welfare Fee (SAWC) made the advice in a report back to Holyrood in response to proof that cats have a “significant impact on wildlife populations”.
SAWC is looking for the Scottish authorities to ask NatureScot to fee a report into the benefits and downsides for wildlife of introducing cat containment zones in “vulnerable areas”.
If applied, residents in these zones could possibly be compelled to maintain their pets indoors – or banned from getting them within the first place.
SAWC urged that new housing developments in rural areas “could have a stipulation that cats may not be kept in conservation-sensitive areas”, or within the neighborhood of endangered birds and wildlife.
The SAWC made a number of different suggestions, together with requiring the obligatory microchipping and registration of pet cats.
It additionally referred to as for an extra report into the professionals and cons of the obligatory neutering of owned cats in “vulnerable areas”.
The Scottish authorities stated it is going to “fully consider the recommendations” made by SAWC, because it urged all cat house owners to contemplate microchipping their pets.
SAWC’s report – titled Accountable Possession and Care of Home Cats in Scotland – famous that looking in cats “is not driven by hunger”, and home pets “have a tendency to play with their prey and bring back live often injured prey to their owners”.
It has been estimated that cats throughout the UK deliver residence tens of thousands and thousands of animals every year – together with birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
SAWC stated given solely a proportion of prey is introduced residence, “the actual number of wild prey killed could reach at least 700 million vertebrates per year in the UK”.
The fee stated home and feral cats are additionally a menace to the nation’s uncommon wildcat inhabitants by competing with them for meals and habitats, in addition to passing on ailments.
Cats Safety stated it really works with organisations akin to Saving Wildcats to cut back the affect of home and feral cats on native wildlife.
The charity additionally helps the decision for obligatory microchipping however believes all cats “should have the choice to access the outside world”.
Alice Palombo, the charity’s advocacy and authorities relations officer for Scotland, added: “Cats need to be able to perform natural cat-like behaviours if they’re to live happy, healthy lives.
“These wants, like scratching and climbing, are extra simply met within the outdoors world.
“Outdoor access also gives cats more opportunity to exercise and enjoy the stimulation that comes with new smells, sights and sounds.
“Whereas some cats tolerate dwelling indoors, lacking out on these important experiences can result in stress-related issues like spraying, extreme grooming or bodily sickness.”
SAWC’s report famous that containment areas have been arrange in a number of states in Australia, with a round the clock cat curfew in some locations and restrictions after darkish in others.
The one exceptions are for enclosed outside runs or if house owners take their pets for walks on a lead.
NatureScot was contacted for remark.
