this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2025
43 points (92.2% liked)

UK Nature and Environment

452 readers
104 users here now

General Instance Rules:

Community Specific Rules:

Note: Our temporary logo is from The Wildlife Trusts. We are not officially associated with them.

Our winter banner is a shot of Shotley marshes, Suffolk by GreyShuck.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
GreyShuck@feddit.uk
Kim@feddit.uk
43
Ban Scottish households from letting cats outside without a lead, report urges (www.independent.co.uk)
submitted 2 days ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/nature@feddit.uk
11 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Cat lovers have been left hissing at a proposal to restrict areas where their beloved pets are allowed to roam and hunt wildlife.

With some 27 million birds slain each year, a new report is advising the Scottish Government to take drastic measures that include keeping cats locked inside - and even banning ownership altogether.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) also suggested setting up ‘cat containment areas’ - designated parts of the country where compulsory restrictions could be put in place to prevent pet cats from roaming and hunting.

top 11 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] thisismyname@lemm.ee 6 points 1 day ago

The report doesn't urge that at all. It urges a further report be done to determine the advantages and disadvantages as this wasn't fully in the scope of this particular report. They note other countries have done it with success but that the welfare of keeping cats locked indoors all the time would also need to be considered.

The full report is available here:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/independent-report/2025/01/report-responsible-ownership-care-domestic-cats-felis-catus-scotland/documents/report-responsible-ownership-care-domestic-cats-felis-catus-scotland-scottish-animal-welfare-commission/report-responsible-ownership-care-domestic-cats-felis-catus-scotland-scottish-animal-welfare-commission/govscot%3Adocument/report-responsible-ownership-care-domestic-cats-felis-catus-scotland-scottish-animal-welfare-commission.pdf

The relevant pages are 23 and 24, 37, and 43.

[–] fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk 17 points 2 days ago

Seems to say "within special conservation areas" rather than "the entire of the country". Quite a difference.

[–] ddash@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 children)

I'd agree but it needs to be gradual. If you already have a cat that goes outside it will be tough to keep it from heading out again. Any new cats should be inside only.

Edit: I am guessing people that downvote me for this are people who never had a cat. You'll have a bad time with your cat acting up like crazy if you deny them something they had access to. Maybe that can be trained away but the average person having a cat will likely not be able to do that. Doing something drastic like just telling all cat owners their cats cannot go outside anymore will just fill up the animal shelters. It's not that easy.

[–] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

About 2 years ago my cat went outside on a Thursday and didn't come back until Monday morning. Shortly after that he went out and came back limping, yowling his head off and unable to put weight on one of his front legs.

After a weekend racked with worry frantically searching my neighbourhood was followed by a 4 hour round trip to the closest "out of hours" vet and almost £1000 I decided the risk of letting him outside was too great, so I've kept him inside ever since. Pretty sure he'd like to go outside but it hasn't been that bad. I just try to play with him as much as possible to keep him entertained. I did hang bird feeders by the window for him to watch but didn't get any customers.

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 9 points 2 days ago

I feel like a relaxed attitude towards something like that would just further perpetuate the problem. People don't realize that letting your cat out is a shitty thing to do

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Edit: I am guessing people that downvote me for this are people who never had a cat. You’ll have a bad time with your cat acting up like crazy if you deny them something they had access to. Maybe that can be trained away but the average person having a cat will likely not be able to do that. Doing something drastic like just telling all cat owners their cats cannot go outside anymore will just fill up the animal shelters. It’s not that easy.

I don't think it would be difficult for the average person to train out of a cat. It's not like keeping them off a desk or counter top where they need to be supervised because there isn't much else that can be done to stop them. You just need to keep doors and windows closed. The cat probably isn't going to be thrilled but I feel like it would get over it soon albeit with the occasional attempt to dash out the door.

[–] Doom@ttrpg.network 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't think you've owned a cat then. I had inside cats only allowed in the yard with my supervision and they'd respect the boundaries I set however if I didn't take them outside because of weather, laziness or whatever they'd get very upset and act out, they will never forget that they were allowed outside. They will become destructive and angry with you

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 1 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Do you really think that's going to last that long? I feel like there would be a transitional phase where the cat isn't jazzed about it but they'd eventually realize

I feel like most people who let their cats outside wouldn't keep a new cat inside as well to go back to what the original commenter said.

[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Shouldn't've let your cat outside in the first place. They're ecoterrorists and it's dangerous for them as well.

I say this as a lifelong cat owner. Outdoor cats live significantly shorter and more stressful lives.

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 4 points 1 day ago

I feel like letting cats roam free is a big reason why I see so many missing cat posters. I doubt most of them are from cats sneaking outside