CAT owners are being encouraged to back a charity's Cat Manifesto and make the country safer for felines.

Cats Protection has launched the manifesto, the first in the UK, which is aiming to put feline agenda on the political agenda for the next government, and cat owners are being urged to support it and call on politicians and policy makers to protect felines from abandonment, harm and neglect.

It was compiled after three months of consultation with pet owners, and its policies include controlling the irresponsible breeding and sale of cats, banning snares and the inclusion of animal welfare in the National Curriculum.

Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection's Advocacy Manager, said: "We are heartened to have received so much positive feedback and support for our Manifesto for Cats.

"One in four UK households owns at least one cat, so the issue of feline welfare is very relevant to voters. We're hoping that in this important year we get the support of politicians to improve the lives of thousands of cats.

"As a caring society, it's vital the next Government give serious attention to the issues raised in our manifesto."

The priorities outlined in the manifesto also include compulsory micro-chipping, recording the number of cats which enter the UK, creating a law where by dog attacks on cats is a criminal offence, increasing the number of people in social housing and rented homes allowed to own cats, clear labelling of products which are harmful to cats, strict ownership of crossbow and air guns to reduce the number of cats injured by use of these weapons and to ensure that personalised care plans cover animal welfare too.

The manifesto was launched on February 10, at The House of Commons.

It is estimated that 24 per cent of UK households own at least one cat, putting the feline population at around 10.5 million.

To support the manifesto follow hashtag #CatManifesto on Twitter

To view the manifesto, visit cats.org.uk/manifesto