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Government urged to regulate cat breeding
Scottish folds are one of the pedigree cat breeds that can have breed-related health problems.
Report from Animal Welfare Committee calls for new legislation.

The Animal Welfare Committee, which advises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Scottish and Welsh governments, has called for new legislation to regulate cat breeding.

The call is included in a new independent report on cat breeding produced by the the committee, which is made up of veterinary and animal welfare experts.

The committee wants to see licensing introduced that explicitly prevents the breeding of cats which suffer from health and welfare problems linked to breed characteristics.

The recommendations also include allowing only registered veterinary surgeons to undertake ultrasound scans of pet cats for pregnancy diagnosis and only after careful consideration has been given to welfare harms, and that all artificial reproductive procedures should be banned from being used in domesticated cats.

The committee’s report has been welcomed by Cats Protection. According to the charity’s Cats And Their Stats report for this year, sales of pedigree cats have overtaken sales of non-pedigree cats for the first time.

The charity is concerned that some genetic mutations in pedigree cats, such as that which causes the folded ears of Scottish fold cats, can also cause significant health and welfare problems. A petition launched by the charity calling for cat breeding to be regulated has attracted more than 50,000 signatures.

Madison Rogers, associate director of advocacy, campaigns and external affairs for Cats Protection, said: “Cats Protection has been calling on the government to urgently introduce regulations to licence cat breeding.

“Following engagement earlier this year with the Animal Welfare Committee, we are delighted to see they have released an independent report recommending that the government regulate cat breeding and ban the breeding of cats with known and harmful extreme traits.”

The full report from the Animal Welfare Committee can be read here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.