Celebrating the Work of Cats Protection Across Ayrshire and Scotland

That the Parliament celebrates the work of Cats Protection as the UK’s largest cat welfare charity; appreciates the important work that the organisation carries out across Ayrshire and Scotland; recognises that its Scottish network includes 24 branches, four adoption centres and nine charity shops; acknowledges the charity’s commitment to working with cat owners, breeders and veterinary professionals to improve cat welfare; understands that Cats Protection supports owners through organised initiatives, education campaigns and advocacy, particularly during challenging times; notes that the charity uses evidence, including its annual Cats and Their Stats Report, to understand the needs of cats; understands that there are an estimated 840,000 owned cats in Scotland and that around 20% of households own a cat; notes with concern that neutering rates have fallen to 83% and that 55% of Scottish cat owners report not visiting a vet as often as they would like; understands that, although access to veterinary services is comparatively better in Scotland than in the UK as a whole, challenges remain; notes with concern developments in the cat market, including the breeding of cats with extreme characteristics and wildcat hybrids; believes that further action may be required to safeguard cat welfare such as strengthened breeding regulations, and commends Cats Protection for its ongoing efforts to improve the lives of cats across Ayrshire and Scotland as it approaches its centenary in 2027.