'Cats deserve the same legal protection as dogs' – your letters, plus a 1974 archive snapshot
From cat welfare and climate jobs to the future of the World Cup, today’s letters reflect a mix of campaigning, concern and debate on issues making headlines.
Support fight on cat accidents
We are writing to ask readers to support a simple and compassionate change to the law: requiring drivers to stop and report collisions with cats, just as they are already required to do when they hit a dog.
Our campaign, CatsMatter, is now in the final weeks of a national petition which is approaching the 100,000 signatures needed for Parliament to consider a debate. Every signature counts.
This campaign began after we, and countless other families, experienced the heartbreak of a beloved cat being struck by a vehicle and left injured or dying by the roadside. Under current legislation, drivers must report collisions involving dogs, yet cats receive no such protection, despite being treasured family companions in millions of homes across the UK.
The law is inconsistent and outdated. Some dog breeds that are smaller than many cats are protected, while cats are not. As a result, thousands of cats are left to suffer alone each year, and many owners are denied the chance to find their pets or gain closure. This is not about punishing drivers. It is about reducing suffering, encouraging responsible behaviour and recognising the important place cats hold in our families and communities.
A simple requirement to stop and report a collision could save lives, reunite pets with their owners and spare families unnecessary distress.¶We hope readers will support our campaign and help us bring about this long-overdue change.
Carlie, Tiya and Mandy, CatsMatter
Green energy is creating jobs
A recent correspondent claimed that net zero policies generated no new jobs in the United Kingdom.
In actual fact, the UK’s net zero economy now underpins the jobs of 1.1 million UK workers, who together generate £105 billion in Gross Value
Added for the UK economy, a new report commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit with analysis provided by the independent consultancy CBI Economics and The Data City, has found.
Fact-based comment is always preferable, I believe.
Chris Lemon, Green Party Shropshire Councillor for Radbrook
Fans saving the Fifa World Cup
It is heartening that the World Cup has become a fan-led celebration, despite the best efforts of Fifa.
The ticket prices are eye-watering. I can see no plan for Fifa to use the huge profits it will generate to help grass roots football around the world. It is a shameless money-making exercise. Thankfully the spirit of fans is shining through to make the tournament special.
Mike Jones, Shifnal
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