“No cat ban in Scotland,” confirms John Swinney

"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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