Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Require all owned cats to be neutered
Open for signatures
684 signatures
What the petition asks
We call on the Government to introduce mandatory neutering for owned cats and to create legal protections and enforcement options to safeguard cat welfare. Cats are one of the most common pets in the UK, yet we feel they have far fewer legal protections than other animals.
While cats are legally allowed to roam, there is currently no mandated enforcement regarding owned cats that are not neutered, inadequately cared for, or repeatedly suffer harm or distress due to irresponsible ownership.
Many rescue organisations and individuals are overwhelmed. Many rescuers take in dozens — sometimes hundreds — of abandoned, injured, or neglected cats every year. We believe these cats are not “bad” or “aggressive”; they are the result of poor breeding control, lack of neutering, and irresponsible ownership.
Many rescue organisations and individuals are overwhelmed. Many rescuers take in dozens — sometimes hundreds — of abandoned, injured, or neglected cats every year. We believe these cats are not “bad” or “aggressive”; they are the result of poor breeding control, lack of neutering, and irresponsible ownership.
Timeline
| 16 Feb 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
684
Status
Open for signatures
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
16 Feb 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.