Cats Protection welcomes Animal Welfare Bill
As well as tightening controls on importing pregnant cats and young kittens, the new Bill will ban the import of cats which have been declawed
Cats Protection has welcomed a new law which will ban the import of declawed cats and introduce tougher welfare rules to protect pets being bought into the UK for sale.
The charity said the Animal Welfare (Import of Cats, Dogs and Ferrets) Bill will bring with it much-needed restrictions on the animals which can be imported into the UK,
The new Bill will include a ban on transporting heavily pregnant cats and kittens under six months old.
As well as tightening controls on importing pregnant cats and young kittens, the new Bill will ban the import of cats which have been declawed.
Annabel Berdy, senior advocacy and government relations officer, said: “The main winners from this new law will be the cats and kittens which are brought into the UK every year to be sold on as pets. It will mean that heavily pregnant cats and tiny kittens will no longer be subjected to long, stressful and potentially harmful journeys which could seriously impact their health and welfare.
“Modernising pet import laws is desperately needed to protect animals from being exploited, and will also protect buyers who may be duped into buying sick or poorly socialised animals which have been bred and kept in low welfare environments. This new law will help shine a light on this international pet trade where animals are brought into the UK simply for profit, with no regard for their wellbeing.”
