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Open Introduce a national strategy to tackle the cat overpopulation and rescue crisis

Created by Bradley Shaw
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This strategy should seek to expand affordable neutering, support overwhelmed rescue centres, strengthen responsible pet ownership education, and review measures to reduce irresponsible breeding and cat abandonment.

Animal rescues across the country are overwhelmed, with many unable to take in more cats and kittens. We believe the Government should introduce a national strategy to reduce cat overpopulation by expanding access to affordable neutering, supporting rescue organisations, improving public education on responsible pet ownership, and reviewing measures to reduce irresponsible breeding and abandonment, helping to improve cat welfare nationwide.

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  • Government responded to this petition

    Government has no plans to introduce a national cat strategy but has committed to improving understanding of cat breeding practices and will consider steps to improve welfare and prevent abandonment.

    Read the response in full

    As part of the Animal Welfare Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-welfare-strategy-for-england/animal-welfare-strategy-for-england) published in December 2025, the government committed to take steps to improve our understanding of the size, scale and current management practices related to cat breeding. The government also committed to draw on expertise from the sector and consider any further steps which may improve welfare practices in the cat breeding sector.

    The government recognises the essential service that rescue and rehoming centres provide, which is why it has also committed to launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations. This will seek views from all those with an interest.

    The government does not currently have plans to introduce a cat overpopulation strategy. However, as part of our overall Animal Welfare Strategy commitments to 2030, the government will be working with the pet sector, animal welfare organisations and local authorities so that the welfare of animals is better protected in both regulated and non-regulated pet sales. The government will work with the sector to support work already underway to encourage responsible sourcing practices by prospective owners. We will also work with animal welfare organisations and local authorities to ensure the relevant guidance applicable to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations) is clear and proportionate and promote consistent and effective enforcement.

    Under the 2018 Regulations, any licensed business selling pets must hold a valid licence from their local authority. When selling cats, they must ensure that the prospective owner is provided with information on the appropriate care of the animal, including in relation to neutering, veterinary care, housing, and the life expectancy of the species. Under statutory guidance for the 2018 Regulations, pet care leaflets or other similar written or electronic instructions must be given at the point of sale to encourage responsible pet ownership. They should refer to an owner’s obligations to meet the five welfare needs set out in the in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Staff have the right to refuse a sale if they are concerned or are not satisfied to the best of their knowledge that the prospective owner is able to meet that animal’s welfare needs.

    To help cat owners meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the government has published a Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-the-welfare-of-cats). The code summarises important information for owners and helps them make decisions about how best to care for their cats, including providing information on the benefits of neutering. It also advises cat owners to carefully think about all factors that will affect their ability to care for a cat, including whether they have the financial resources to meet a cat’s requirements throughout their lifespan, and aims to reduce cases of abandonment.

    The government remains concerned about the impact of cost of living rises on all aspects of people’s lives but has no current plans to provide financial assistance to pet owners. We meet stakeholders regularly to understand all issues and trends that are affecting the companion animal sector, including cost of living impacts on pet keepers and welfare organisations. We welcome the support stakeholders are providing through pet food banks and financial support with veterinary treatment, which is helping to reduce the pressure on pet owners and prevent abandonment. A number of animal welfare organisations such as Cats Protection (https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering) and the RSPCA (https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/health/neutering) already support neutering through community neutering programmes. They can be contacted directly for advice and support around subsidised neutering services.

    Veterinary practices are private businesses, so neither Defra nor the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons can directly intervene with the costs of veterinary services. While the government has no plans to introduce an NHS style healthcare system for animals, we are aware of the issue of rising costs for veterinary services. The outputs from the recently closed Competition and Markets Authority market investigation into veterinary services improve price transparency and knowledge of options available for pet owners.

    Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response on the petition page https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/777945

  • Related activity

    Petitions Committee requests a revised response from the Government

    The Petitions Committee (the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system) has considered the Government’s response to this petition. They felt the response did not respond directly to the request of the petition. They have therefore asked the Government to provide a revised response.

    When the Committee receives a revised response from the Government, we will publish this and share it with you

  • Related activity

    Original Government response

    Government has committed to improving its understanding of management practices related to cat breeding and to consider steps to improve welfare, and is working to encourage responsible pet ownership.

    As part of the Animal Welfare Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-welfare-strategy-for-england/animal-welfare-strategy-for-england) published in December 2025, this government committed to take steps to improve our understanding of the size, scale and current management practices related to cat breeding. This government also committed to draw on expertise from the sector and consider any further steps which may improve welfare practices in the cat breeding sector.

    As part of our strategy commitments to 2030, this government will be working with the sector, animal welfare organisations and local authorities so that the welfare of animals is better protected in both regulated and non-regulated pet sales. This government will work with the sector to support work that is already underway to encourage responsible sourcing practices by prospective owners. We will also work with the sector, animal welfare organisations, and local authorities to ensure that the relevant guidance applicable to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations) is clear and proportionate, and promote consistent and effective enforcement through working with local authorities.

    Under the 2018 Regulations, any licensed business selling pets must hold a valid licence from their local authority. When selling cats, they must ensure that the prospective owner is provided with information on the appropriate care of the animal, including in relation to neutering, veterinary care, housing, and the life expectancy of its species. Under the statutory guidance for the 2018 Regulations, pet care leaflets or other similar written or electronic instructions must be given at the point of sale to encourage responsible pet ownership. They should refer to an owner’s obligations to meet the five welfare needs set out in the in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Staff have the right to refuse a sale if they are concerned or are not satisfied to the best of their knowledge that the prospective owner is able to meet that animal’s welfare needs.

    To help cat owners meet their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the government has published a Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-the-welfare-of-cats). The code summarises important information for owners and helps them make decisions about how best to care for their cats, including providing information on neutering. It also advises cat owners to carefully think about all factors that will affect their ability to care for a cat, including whether they have the financial resources to meet a cat’s requirements throughout their lifespan.

    This government remains concerned about the impact of the rise in the cost of living on all aspects of people’s lives. We meet stakeholders regularly to understand issues and trends that are affecting the sector, including the impact of the rise in the cost of living on pet keepers and welfare organisations. We welcome the support stakeholders are providing through pet food banks and financial support with veterinary treatment which is helping to reduce the pressure on pet owners.
    A number of animal welfare organisations, such as Cats Protection (https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering) and the RSPCA (https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/health/neutering), already support neutering through community neutering programmes. They can be contacted directly for advice and support around subsidised neutering services.

    Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    This response was given on 14 September 2026. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.

  • Government will respond to this petition

    This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 19 February 2027.