Shadow Defra minister and Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner paid a visit to the Cambridge Branch of Cats Protection to see first-hand how the charity helps cats both in the local area and across the UK.
  
Mr Zeichner MP met branch co-ordinator Niccy Townley and the charity’s Senior Advocacy Officer Annabel Berdy, before meeting some of the cats currently looking for new homes. 
 
Cats Protection speaks up for the 10.8 million UK cats and their owners and has helped an average of 157,000 cats and kittens a year over the last five years through its national network which includes around 200 volunteer-run branches and 32 centres.

As the leading voice on cat welfare, Cats Protection is calling on the UK Government and politicians to introduce measures to help improve the lives of UK cats, including supporting tenants to rent with a pet by ending blanket ban ‘no pet’ policies. 

Mr Zeichner said: “I’ve always had a soft spot for cats and, in parliament, I’ve been delighted to lead the way on including cats in the new offence of pet theft. I’m excited to meet the Cats Protection team to discuss their work in Cambridge and how we in parliament can best support animals – and those who love them – up and down the country. Over a quarter of households in the UK own a cat, so the work here is really important, and affects so many people.”

Cats Protection Senior Advocacy, Campaign & Government Relations Officer Annabel Berdy said: “We were so pleased to welcome Mr Zeichner to discuss local issues relating to cats in Cambridge as well as about our campaigning work to help improve cat welfare, like the new law for compulsory microchipping of pet cats, which will soon be introduced. We were particularly keen to discuss the Pet Abduction Bill, which is making good progress through parliament. This proposed law will give cats and other pets the recognition and protection in law that they deserve and will help stamp out pet theft. 

“We also discussed our campaign for a ban on blanket ‘no pet’ policies in the rented housing sector, which prohibit many people from ever owning a pet.  It’s great to see politicians taking a keen interest in issues such as this, which are important to animal lovers across the UK.”

For more information about Cats Protection, visit cats.org.uk
 
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For a photo or more information, please contact Cats Protection Media Office on media.office@cats.org.uk or phone 01825 741 911.