Neil Parish MP, Chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, has visited the Cats Protection Headquarters and the National Cat Centre, Hayward Heath, to learn more about their work.

Neil Parish, Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton, visited the National Cat Centre on Friday 11th October. Neil met with the Chief Executive Peter Hepburn and Maggie Roberts, Director of Veterinary Services, for a briefing on the work done by Cat Protection on re-homing, neutering and education.  Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. In 2012 they re-homed and reunited around 47,000 cats.

Neil and Cat Protection also discussed a wide range of issues such as the illegal import of cats and kittens, animal health and dog attacks on cats. 2013 to date there have been 66 press reports of an attack on a cat by a dog that is out of control – this is almost two reported attacks per week. 

Neil Parish MP will be looking into the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Bill which contains measures to tackle dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog ownership, to see if greater protection in law can be afforded to cats that are attacked by out of control dogs.

Speaking after his tour of the National Cat Centre, Neil Parish said:

“I would like to thank Cat Protection for showing me around their HQ and for all the vital work they do to give the 6,200 cats and kittens in their care a loving home. I would also like to applaud their advocacy work in highlighting the current weaknesses in dangerous dog legislation when it comes to attacks on cats”.

For any cat-related inquiries, Cat Protection’s Helpline can be contacted by phone on 03000 12 12 12 or by emailing helpline@cats.org.uk