Sixty-five MPs and peers joined Cats Protection at its annual Christmas parliamentary reception at Westminster to celebrate the charity’s campaigning work.
The event, held on December 5 and sponsored by DMS, was hosted on the charity’s behalf by Justine Greening MP to highlight its work in helping improve the lives of cats and the people who love them.
Politicians were able to find out more about the charity’s award-winning Purrfect Landlords campaign, aimed at encouraging more landlords to allow tenants to own cats. They also learned about the charity’s work in calling for compulsory microchipping of cats and the licensing of air guns in England and Wales to prevent cats being the victims of shootings.
Andrew Stephenson MP said, “It was useful to hear first-hand some of the challenges pet owners have when looking for rented accommodation. For many people their pets are important part of their family providing much joy and happiness.”
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat charity, helping around 200,000 cats every year through a network of over 250 voluntary-run branches and 36 centres.
The charity’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: “Cats are much-loved pets for millions of people in the UK, so we were pleased to welcome so many politicians who were keen to find out how we’re helping improve the lives of cats.
“The day was a great opportunity for us to highlight the problems faced by many renters who are unable to own cats due to ‘no pet’ policies. We were pleased that so many MPs wanted to find out more about the problem and how our Purrfect Landlords campaign is helping change the way cat ownership is viewed by landlords and letting agents. Cats make for happy tenants with 94% of private tenants with a cat saying that cat ownership has a positive impact on their lives.”
To find out more about Cats Protection’s advocacy work, please visit www.cats.org.uk/speakingupforcats.
