Campaigners from Cats Protection gathered in Parliament Square on 14 April to address the Animal Welfare Strategy.
The demonstration highlighted the absence of cats from the recent strategy, with campaigners presenting a petition of more than 60,000 signatures urging the Government to reconsider.
Madison Rogers, Associate Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at Cats Protection, said: “By failing to introduce even basic safeguards for cat breeding, the Government has left cats exposed to severe health problems and lifelong suffering.
“While other species have been recognised within the Animal Welfare Strategy, cats – one of the nation’s most popular companion animals – have been completely overlooked.”
Cats Protection is urging the Government to commit to regulating cat breeding, banning electric shock collars, creating a single point of search for microchipping databases, and providing clarity and timelines on the enforcement of current welfare laws.
Demand for extreme-trait breeds, such as Scottish Folds, Munchkins and Sphynx cats, is increasing despite the welfare concerns associated with them.