02/11/2026
It is deeply regrettable that both Cats Protection and the British Veterinary Association (BVA) have chosen NOT to support a change in the law that could help cats injured on our roads. Each have come out publicly in the paper to express they are against a law change; https://share.google/Tz2eOpmI1MYbBWMGY Cats Protection have also asked local branches to withdraw support from our open letter that we handed to No10 alongside 70 animal welfare organisations demanding change; www.catsmatter.org/single-post/advocating-for-feline-road-safety-and-better-protections-for-cats-on-roads
The BVA's response is perhaps unsurprising. As the professional body representing vets and veterinary practices, it exists to take an interest in policies and laws that affect the veterinary sector. However, tomorrow's debate is not about professional interests. It is about preventing suffering and giving injured cats a chance of help when they need it most.
We are particularly disappointed by the position taken by Cats Protection. At a time when the focus should be on the welfare of cats hit by vehicles and roadside suffering, the discussion has repeatedly been diverted towards microchipping and owner reunification.
Let us be absolutely clear: microchipping and scanning do not help a cat lying injured at the roadside. They do not stop suffering. They do not alert anyone that a cat has been hit. They do not get emergency assistance to an animal in need.
We worked with Rehman Chishti MP to get microchipping made mandatory in England, and are working with the Welsh, Scottish & Northern Ireland Governments on the same legislation. We are also responsible for the best practice/council scanning work currently being done by DEFRA. Our efforts with both these pieces of legislation focused around owner notification, but we have always stated the most important thing is the cats welfare. They are the ones lay suffering with catastrophic injuries roadside alone, scared and in pain. They are the ones who will pay the ultimate price if this law is not changed. They are the ones that matter!
Tomorrow's debate is about preventing suffering and saving lives, not owner reunification. While returning a lost or deceased cat to its family is important, obviously, what owners really want is for their beloved cat to receive help if the worst happens. They want a chance for treatment, recovery and survival. This debate is to challenge the Government on why they are allowing drivers to leave cats roadside to unnecessarily suffer. Nothing else.
This campaign has always been about cats and their welfare. It is about recognising that cats deserve the same consideration as other animals when they are involved in road traffic collisions. We deserve answers, the change to help them and/or closure, but we're not sure we'd find many owners whose first priority is not for their cats to receive the help they need and a chance at survival first.
We believe the discussion should remain focused on one question: what gives an injured cat the best chance of receiving help? It's not microchipping, and it's certainly not councils scanning. It's a law that requires drivers to stop and report incidents.
To respond directly to the criticism, this legislation would not restrict a cats right to roam, and we've never requested it to do so. Suggesting as much does not match historial evidence. Dogs were still free roaming 40 years AFTER being added to the Road Traffic Act. They lost their right of free roam for unrelated reasons 40 years later. This highlights how cats could be added yet still go on to free roam for many years yet. However, while the UK has historically bucked the global trend by
letting the majority of cats roam freely, attitudes are rapidly changing. Recent veterinary and welfare reports indicate that indoor-only cats now account for roughly 31% to 36% of the UK cat population, a stark rise from just 15% in 2011. There is a natural evolution happening regardless of any legislation change.
Any organisation engaging in this debate should keep cat welfare at the heart of its position. The priority must be reducing suffering and protecting cats, not using this debate as a vehicle for unrelated policy objectives.
*The cat in the photo is beautiful Hunni. She was hit and left roadside by the driver to die. She was was rushed to a vet but succumbed to her injuries. We're doing this for cats like Hunni who deserved better. She deserved better from the driver and her Government.
