"No cat ban in Scotland," confirms John Swinney.
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Compulsory microchipping and increased vaccination and neutering have also been recommended.
Scotland will not ban cats, the First Minister confirmed after animal experts suggested restrictions on their movements should be considered in some areas.
The Scottish Animal Welfare Working Group (SAWG), which advises ministers on animal welfare, has asked them to consider the pros and cons of "mandatory confinement" of cats in some parts of the country.
The report on responsible cat ownership said cats can have a "significant impact on wildlife populations" by attacking other animals, breeding with feral cats and competing for resources.
A Scottish Government spokesman said it was "fully considering the recommendations", but John Swinney has now ruled out a ban. Two captive-bred feral cats die after release
Scottish cats bred in captivity give birth to kittens in the wild
"We have absolutely no intention of banning cats. That will never happen," he told BBC Scotland.
Pressed on whether the Scottish government would consider imposing a curfew on cats, he said: "I want to make it very clear: we will not do that."
The Animal Welfare Report says up to 700 million birds, mammals and reptiles are killed by domestic cats in the UK every year.
Experts from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) said one possible option could be to keep cats indoors in some rural areas.
The idea of cat banning orders could be applied to new housing developments where wildlife, including Scottish wildcats, are particularly threatened by domestic animals. Other possible measures include mandatory microchipping of cats across Scotland, increased vaccinations and neutering of cats living in vulnerable areas.
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland A Scottish wildcat born at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
Many purebred Scottish cats have been destroyed by breeding with domestic cats.
The report says: "New housing developments in rural areas may mean that cats cannot be kept in sensitive conservation areas/other areas that do not experience high levels of predation, particularly with other birds/species on the list."
The councillors recommend that the government agency NatureScot commission a further report examining the idea of cat containment zones in more detail.
In other countries, including parts of Australia, where wildlife may be at risk, permanent or seasonal control zones are already in place.
Residents should keep domestic cats within the boundaries of their property.
Cathy Dwyer, chair of SAWC and professor of animal behaviour and welfare at the Scottish Rural College, told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that in some areas cats could "potentially" be kept indoors or on a leash. She said one concern was "the hybridisation of domestic cats with our Scottish wildcats".
Cat welfare
"We have reached a point where purebred Scottish wildcats are virtually extinct and real steps have been taken to bring these animals back. "They are one of our most charismatic animals," she added.
However, Professor Dwyer acknowledged that a balance had to be struck that also safeguarded the welfare of domestic cats.
"Of course, we recognise that keeping a cat locked up all the time is really difficult to ensure its welfare, so it is about finding a balance between protecting Scotland's wildlife and the welfare of the cats," she said. Microchipping all domestic cats is not currently mandatory in Scotland, unlike in England and Wales, and this was another recommendation from councillors.
"A proper database allows us to see where cats are coming from and reduce the number of stray and feral cats, which have very poor welfare in Scotland – they are not suited to life in Scotland," said Professor Dwyer.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We recommend that all cat owners consider microchipping their pets and ensuring that the information held on them is kept up to date, as this is the best way to reunite them if they become lost or separated."
"We will take full account of the recommendations of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.
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