John Swinney was dragged in line yesterday about whether Cat ownership should be banned or limited in Scotland.
The prime minister insisted that he is 'no intention' to follow the proposals, despite the idea that comes in a Scottish government report.
After the post on Sunday, his comments revealed that an expert group that was founded to give advice to ministers, the prospect of 'cat restrictions' brought because of concerns about the damage that they cause population of indigenous mammals and birds.
The issue of the issue yesterday said Mr Swinney: 'A report is produced by an external organization that has arrived in the government for consideration.
'Let me just clean this up today – the government is not going to forbid cats or limit cats.
“We don't intend to do this and we won't do it.”
A report from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, published by the Scottish Government, quotes research that in the United Kingdom about 57 million mammals, 27 million birds and five million reptiles and amphibians are brought home by their cats every year.
The report suggests the extreme option to prohibit CAT ownership in areas where wildlife are most at risk.
John Swinney (depicted in 2009) with Molly the Cat, during the opening of a 15 million small animal hospital at the University of Glasgow
The prime minister excluded the prohibition of cats and said: “We won't do it”
It also investigates the idea of ​​setting up 'Cat Containment Areas' – designated parts of the country where mandatory restrictions can be introduced to prevent pets for roaming and hunting.
Similar interlocking areas have already been set up in different parts of Australia, with strict rules, which means that cats must be kept permanently indoors.
The report evokes that research is being carried out to explore 'the introduction of cat connection areas … and restrictions on cats on households in vulnerable areas'.
It said: 'The evidence suggests that all cats can have a significant impact on the populations of wildlife, through predation and competition for resources with vulnerable Wildcat populations.
'Some countries already require that cats are absorbed all the time or seasonal to protect the populations of animals in the wild.
'This can be an option to reduce the welfare effects of domestic cats on wild animals.
'However, there are also welfare effects for the cat to prevent access to outdoor environments.
'This approach requires investments of owners to guarantee good cat welfare and make behavioral options possible for hunting, exploring, exercise and mental stimulation.
“New housing developments in rural areas may have a provision that cats may not be stored in conservation-sensitive areas/other areas that have not had high levels of predation, especially with red-listed or Amber-raised birds/other species.”
The committee has recommended that the Scottish government will instruct its NatursCot agency to produce a report on inclusion areas.
According to the protection of Charity Cats, a fifth of the households has the 830,000 pets in Scotland.
Alice Palombo, advocacy and government relationships officer for Scotland at Cats Protection, said: 'Not all cats hunt and for those who do that, pragmatic solutions such as cats at sunrise and dusk can keep the needs of domestic cats and wild animals in balance.
“Cats are great pets for all kinds of reasons, whether it's company for the elderly or people who live alone, comfort for people with health problems or children help to learn important lessons in the care of others.”
A report that was published by the Scottish government last month advised to introduce legislation to require the compulsory microchipping and registration of cats in Scotland, a proposal supported by Cats Protection.
