Original article (in Croatian) was published on 2/12/2025; Author: Ivan Nekić
A misinterpretation of recommendations given to the Scottish Government by the advisory body for animal protection is spreading on Facebook.
“PSYCHOPATHY IN ACTION. In order to protect wildlife, Scotland is considering a ban on cats in its territory!” begins the dramatic status (archived here), which was posted on February 9th on the Facebook profile of a private user.
The same was shared by several other Facebook users. The dramatic post is followed by a lengthy explanation:
Pet cats could be banned in Scotland as part of the country’s new plans to protect wildlife.
According to the report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC), cats are decimating local populations of mammals and birds. The Commission estimates that in the UK, cats kill around 250,000 bats and 27 million birds each year.
SAWC also pointed out that the impact of domestic cats is not limited to killing. According to them, pets often torture their prey for fun and bring home abused animals as gifts for their owners.
Therefore, in particularly “vulnerable” areas, cat ownership could be completely banned in order to protect wildlife. The group also proposed establishing “cat containment zones” to prevent roaming and hunting by cats. In these areas, cats should stay indoors, and they should only go outside on a leash or in enclosed outdoor areas.
SNP ministers have “considered” the data from the report, which also suggests that cats should be neutered to prevent rapid and uncontrolled growth of the cat population. However, this measure has been criticized by Cats Protection.
“Scotland is a country of cat lovers. Cats are very much-loved pets and, for many people, are part of the family” said Alice Palombo, Head of Scottish Civil and Government Affairs at the organization.
“While some cats may tolerate living indoors, the lack of these vital experiences can lead to stress-related problems such as excessive licking or physical illness”.
To protect wildlife, Scotland is considering a ban on cats in its territory.
Scottish government spokesperson: We will not ban cat ownership
A spokesperson for the SAWC told Reuters that the report does not suggest a ban on owning cats as pets. “The SAWC report offers various recommendations for responsible cat ownership, which mostly focused on the welfare of the cats themselves (such as microchipping, sterilization, vaccination, etc.) although we also considered the broader impact of cats on other animal species”, said the spokesperson for the Scottish government’s advisory body.
This was also confirmed by a spokesperson for the Scottish government: “A ban on cats is not a recommendation in the report, and under no circumstances will we ban the ownership of cats”.
In conclusion, the Scottish Advisory Body for Animal Welfare did not recommend a ban on cat ownership to the Scottish government. One section of the report on fertility and reproductive activity outlines several options for action – starting with the first option of “doing nothing” and including a suggestion that, as part of housing development in sensitive areas where many wild animals live, the ownership of cats in these areas should be considered for limitation. However, at no point does the report suggest a ban on keeping cats as pets in Scotland. Therefore, we assess the Facebook user’s post as inaccurate.
