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More than 200 cats were used in scientific experiments in Britain in the last year for which figures are available, Home Office data has shown.

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A total of 202 cats were experimented on in 2012, up from 153 in 2011 and 152 in 2010, Home Office Minister Norman Baker revealed.

Mr Baker said cats are only used when no other animal species is suitable for the experiment or it is not practical to obtain another animal that could be used in a similar way.

He said it was a Government priority to try to minimise the use of cats in experiments and said the animals were used mainly in the development of veterinary medicines and neurological research.

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The Liberal Democrat minister revealed the figures in a parliamentary answers to Tory MP Sir Greg Knight (East Yorkshire).

In one of his responses, Mr Baker said: "Cats, along with some other species, are given special protection by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and may only be used if no other species is suitable or it is not practicable to obtain animals of any other species that are suitable for the purposes of the relevant programme of work. It is my objective to minimise the use of cats as far as possible.

"Cats are primarily used in the development of veterinary medicines and techniques, and in neurological research. Much of the veterinary research is for the benefit of cats, for example in developing vaccines for feline diseases and improved diets for cats."

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