North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood joined the UK’s largest cat charity at the launch of their Manifesto for Cats Wales this week to highlight how Welsh politicians can improve the lives of one of the nation’s favourite pets.
Nearly 20 other AMs also attended the event, hosted by Suzy Davies AM on behalf of Cats Protection, at the Pierhead, Cardiff Bay on Tuesday 23 February.
Existing Assembly Members, candidates and invited guests were able to find out more about the charity, which helps over 205,000 cats UK wide and has a network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 32 centres. In Wales, Cats Protection rehomed 2,600 cats and kittens in 2014. It has two Welsh Adoption Centres (Bridgend and Wrexham) and seven volunteer branches across Wales. As well as rehoming cats, Cats Protection is the leading authority on cats and helps people better understand their needs. The charity also promotes and supports neutering as the only effective way to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned cats.
Cats Protection’s Advocacy Manager Jacqui Cuff said:
“It was great to meet existing and future AMs. Cats are hugely popular pets, with 29 per cent of households in Wales owning at least one cat*, so we were pleased to meet so many politicians and guests all keen to find out more about our work and what they can do to help.” The Welsh Manifesto for Cats outlines a string of measures that Government could take to improve the lives of the Wales’s estimated cat population of 670,000*. Proposals include better controls on the breeding and sale of cats, banning snares, and ensuring more owned cats are microchipped.
Mr Isherwood said:
“I am always pleased to support Cats Protection’s work in Wales. They do so much to improve feline welfare in Wales and across the UK. The fact that over 9,000 people UK wide volunteer and help Cats Protection, whether through cat fostering, rehoming, encouraging neutering or providing cat care advice is really impressive.
"Cats are important to millions of people and are so often a part of the family providing a whole range of benefits including love and companionship. I was delighted to meet with so many fellow AMs, candidates and guests who also recognise the hugely beneficial role cats play in the lives of their owners and within families.
“Despite being an essential part of the lives of so many people, cats are frequently subjected to mistreatment and neglect. I hope many more politicians will join with me in 2016 to improve the lives of cats in Wales.
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*PSDA Animal Wellbeing Report (PAW) 2015
- Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and helps over 205,000 cats each year through its national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 32 centres.
- Cats Protection’s vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
- Cats Protection’s registered charity number is 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland).
- Founded as the Cats Protection League in 1927, the charity adopted the name Cats Protection in 1998. We ask that you use the name Cats Protection when referring to the charity in all published material.
- More information about the work of Cats Protection can be found at www.cats.org.uk