Scotland’s government denies plans to ban cats amid controversy.

LONDON – The Scottish government wants everyone to know it does not plan to ban cats.

First Minister John Swinney had to release a statement following a report from independent experts that labeled cats as a threat to Scotland’s wildlife. The report suggested considering “containment” measures to minimize the harm caused by felines.

According to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, cats are responsible for the deaths of at least 700 million birds and other animals annually in the U.K. The commission recommended that the government explore various options, such as keeping pet cats indoors or on leashes, to safeguard endangered species like the Scottish wildcats.

The report proposed that “cat containment” measures could involve actions such as “restrictions on introducing cats to households in vulnerable areas,” which some individuals interpreted as a de facto prohibition.

The Scottish government said it would “fully consider” the recommendations.

In a nation of animal-lovers, the suggestions spawned alarming headlines. The Daily Mail reported: “Fury as households in Scotland could be banned from getting a pet cat.” The Scottish Daily Express branded the idea a “madcap scheme.”

Swinney, who heads Scotland’s semi-autonomous Edinburgh-based government, spoke to journalists to defend the administration’s pro-feline credentials.

“Let me just clear this up today,” he said Monday. “The government’s not going to be banning cats or restricting cats. We’ve no intention of doing so and we will not be doing it.”

Cats Protection, the U.K.’s biggest cat charity, gave the idea of draconian containment measures short shrift, saying “pragmatic solutions like keeping cats indoors at dawn and dusk can balance the needs of domestic cats and wild animals.”

“Scotland is a nation of cat lovers,” said Alice Palombo, the charity’s advocacy and government relations officer for Scotland, with almost a quarter of households owning a feline pet.

“Cats are great pets for all sorts of reasons, whether it’s providing companionship for elderly people or those living alone, comfort for people with health conditions or helping children learn important lessons in caring for others,” she said. “We believe everyone who is able to care for a cat should be able to enjoy these benefits.”