Why are scottish fold cats banned

Have you been noticing more cats roaming the streets lately here in Scotland? It seems like our cat population is exploding and it's causing all sorts of issues. As a longtime lover of felines myself, I've been keeping a close eye on this situation and hoping we can find some solutions.

For those who aren't familiar with what's happening, let me catch you up. Cats have always been popular pets here in Scotland, but in recent years the numbers have skyrocketed. Some rescuers and veterinary professionals estimate the country's cat population has doubled or even tripled over the past decade alone. With more cats come more problems - like overcrowding in animal shelters, the spread of diseases, threats to local wildlife, and of course the growing costs on taxpayers to support it all.

How did things get so out of control? The root of the issue seems to be irresponsible breeding. You see, many Scottish pet owners still let their cats roam freely outdoors instead of keeping them contained inside or in outdoor enclosures. While cats certainly enjoy exploring nature, this leads to unintended and uncontrolled mating. Female cats can go into heat and get pregnant as young as five or six months old. It doesn't help that some breeders are still purposefully churning out litter after litter without considering whether the kittens can be properly cared for or finding them homes.

The results are devastating. Shelters are jam-packed with homeless and sometimes sick cats, many of which will unfortunately have to be put down due to overcrowding concerns. Animal welfare groups have their hands full trying to keep up with increasing demand. Some feral cat colonies have sprung up in low-income neighborhoods and become a nuisance issue. Locals report seeing more dead cats on the side of the road as well, either hit by cars or victims of animals becoming prey to wildlife like foxes and birds of prey.

Things really came to a head during lockdown last year. It's believed many pet owners adopted cats for companionship while stuck at home, unaware of the commitment needed. Once restrictions eased, some gave those pets away or abandoned them. Many others recklessly let their unspayed females breed, adding to the surplus. By the time 2021 rolled around, the spike in numbers overwhelmed many animal charities and councils.

So what's the solution to get our cat population under control in a humane, responsible way? A few key strategies have shown promise:

Spay and neuter initiatives. Low-cost or subsidized spay/neuter programs can help curb unintended breeding. Counseling owners on benefits like reduced roaming behavior and health risks associated with heat cycles.

Microchipping requirements. Many areas now require microchipping of cats for identification if they're found stray. This helps reunite lost pets with owners instead of entering the shelter system.

Licensing laws. Licensing pet cats similar to dogs, with fees funding animal services. Some cities have seen success reducing numbers this way.

Adoption campaigns. Animal charities promote adopting rescue cats still in loving homes instead of supporting breeders. More demand could curb euthanasia rates.

Educational outreach. Rural communities need information on identifying feral cats vs lost pets, options besides euthanasia, and the "catch, neuter, release" method endorsed by some groups.

With cooperation between councils, charities, breeders and the public, I have hope we can get Edinburgh and Scotland's cat crisis under control in a humane manner. But we must act now before the situation spirals further out of paw. Who's with me in making Scottish cities once again cat friendly for our furry friends and communities?

All photos taken from: https://pixabay.com/