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Report by the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices.

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First published:
15 January 2025
Last updated:

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Animal Welfare Committee: opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices , file type: PDF, file size: 710 KB

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Details

This opinion principally aims to identify risks and impacts (positive and negative) to

  • breeding cats (both male and female)
  • their offspring
  • future generations

from current and emergent feline breeding practices within Great Britain.

AWC was asked to:

  • consider whether domestic cats and their offspring with genetic conditions can have their welfare needs adequately met as pets
  • consider the risks and impacts from poor selection of breeding cats and/or from breeding high volumes of litters from a limited pool of breeding cats
  • analyse the extent to which the practice of breeding hybrid cats, and cats with other genetic conditions, is undertaken in Great Britain
  • consider whether hybrid cats and their offspring can have their welfare needs adequately met as pets
  • consider whether current hybrid keeping practices have impacts on or pose a risk to other pets, wildfire, or to public safety
  • offer any other ideas or views on this topic

This opinion does not cover free-living cats.