Neutering campaigner clashes with animal organisations

An Angus campaigner fighting to tackle the soaring cat population has taken aim at animal charities and vet bodies.

Dr Ellie Stirling, who volunteers with Scottish Wildcat Action, brought her call for compulsory neutering of pet cats to Holyrood’s public petitions committee in December.

Dr Stirling believes the measures would “control the soaring pet population and safeguard the existence of the Scottish wildcat”.

However, the British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, British Veterinary Zoological Society and the Cat Population Control Group have failed to back the petition.

Dr Stirling said: “Is it moral for an organisation whose mission is the prevention and relief of animal suffering not to take an action that would prevent hundreds of thousands of animals from suffering? Their present approach is not sustainable and stopped being successful some years back.”

A spokesperson for the Cat Population Control Group said: “Compulsory neutering raises serious concerns regarding its enforceability and the potential long-term unintended consequences on cat welfare.”

A joint submission from the British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch, British Small Animal Veterinary Association and the British Veterinary Zoological Society said: “We consider that compulsory neutering of the domestic cat population as a strategy to conserve the Scottish wildcat is a disproportionate response.

“Especially given that domestic cats in large urban areas will have little potential impact on the Scottish wildcat population.”