Scottish cat owners can rest after officials confirmed there will be no ban on cats. Speculation grew after a report said cats harm wildlife.

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

International

Will Scotland ban cats? No, but ‘cat containment’ measures could still happen

Feb 5

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)

Scottish officials reassured cat owners there will be no ban on cats, despite a report linking felines to threatening vulnerable wildlife. The report highlighted that cats kill millions of birds and animals each year in the U.K., starting rumors of a ban.
Welfare experts urged the government to create containment zones for cats and hold owners accountable.
First Minister John Swinney confirmed the government has no intention of imposing any restrictions on cats.

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Scottish cat owners can rest easy after government leaders confirmed there will be no ban on cats. Speculation grew after a report cited cats’ harm to wildlife.

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Official report on cats’ harm to wildlife sparked ban rumor

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, which works directly with government officials to shape animal protection policies, submitted a report in December 2024, showing cats are responsible for killing 700 million birds and other animals annually in the U.K. The report specifically highlighted the impact they have on Scotland’s wildlife.

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As government officials considered the findings, speculation quickly grew they might impose a cat ban. News outlets picked up on the rumors, with headlines reading “Cats in Scotland could be BANNED under strict new wildlife plans to protect birds” and “SNP to consider banning cats.”

Containment zones and owner accountability urged

Welfare experts urged First Minister John Swinney and other leaders to create containment zones to protect vulnerable wildlife from both feral and domestic cats. Suggestions included requiring owners to keep their cats on leashes when outdoors or keep them indoors altogether. Experts also called for legislation holding cat owners accountable for microchipping and controlling cat reproduction.

However, Swinney put rumors to rest, stating that the government has no intention of banning or restricting cats.

Tags: animal welfare, cats, pets, Scotland, United Kingdom

[Jack Aylmer]

SCOTTISH CAT OWNERS CAN BREATHE EASY AFTER GOVERNMENT LEADERS CONFIRM THERE WON’T BE A BAN, DESPITE A REPORT WARNING THEIR PETS COULD BE A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE SCOTTISH ANIMAL WELFARE COMMISSION SHAPES POLICIES TO PROTECT ANIMALS –PETS AND WILD ONES– WORKING DIRECTLY WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO CRAFT POLICIES.

LAST YEAR, THE GROUP SUBMITTED A REPORT SHOWING CATS ARE KILLING 700 MILLION BIRDS AND OTHER ANIMALS EACH YEAR IN THE UK, IMPACTING SCOTLAND’S WILDLIFE.

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY WERE CONSIDERING THE REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION, CAUSING RUMORS TO SWELL THAT THEY WOULD PUT A BAN CATS.

HEADLINES QUICKLY FOLLOWED, WITH STORIES LIKE “CATS IN SCOTLAND COULD BE BANNED UNDER STRICT NEW WILDLIFE PLANS” OR “SNP TO CONSIDER BANNING CATS.”

WELFARE EXPERTS URGED THE PRIME MINISTERS TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING CONTAINMENT ZONES TO PROTECT VULNERABLE WILDLIFE FROM BOTH FERAL AND DOMESTIC CATS–INCLUDING USING LEASHES WHEN OUTDOORS OR KEEPING THEM INSIDE ALTOGETHER.

THEY ALSO CALLED FOR LEGISLATION MAKING OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR MICROCHIPPINGAND CONTROLLING CAT BREEDING.

BUT PRIME MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY CLARIFIED—THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF BANNING OR RESTRICTING CATS.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER