Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she made of the potential merits of the regulation of commercial cat breeding to improve safeguards for cat welfare through the introduction of cat breeding licensing, welfare conditions and standards and an inspection process.

There are no proposals to introduce a licensing regime for cat breeding. The only licensing regime for animal breeding relates to dog breeding and this is because of past concerns about the welfare conditions at some such breeding establishments. Local authorities have powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to investigate any concerns about the welfare standards at cat breeding establishments.