Are the Ipswich cat disappearances linked to an illegal trade in cat fur that is based in Belgium? I am speculating that the biggest cat welfare issue in the UK right now – the disappearance of over 100 cats from Ipswich and their apparent torture – is linked to an illegal market in cat fur. The cat and dog fur trade is a shockingly despicable and disgustingly heartless business. I won’t show a picture because they are simply too horrible.
My speculation is based on these facts (perhaps I am adding 2+2 to make 5 but I wish to flag up the possibility):
- One of a couple of cats that appears to have escaped or somehow survived the cat killers is described as having been tortured with his fur pulled out. I don’t know if this is relevant but it hints at the fur trade. In China they pull the fur out of living rabbits. In other words the rabbit fur is farmed.
- Ipswich is a port. It has direct shipping connections via the English Channel to Ostend, Belgium.
- In a Daily Mail article (not sure of the date) there is a reference to a furrier, Piet vander Eycken who operates from Belgium and I presume from a town on the coast, possibly Ostend, who brazenly declared that the bulk of his cats (for their fur) were brought from England on a ferry.
- There is an increase in criminal gangs in the UK. These gangs in my view are sometimes linked to the new European Union countries whose citizens have total freedom of movement throughout Europe. England is regarded as a place of rich and easy pickings and the cat fur market is lucrative.
The market in cat and dog fur is banned in Europe. On June 19th 2007 the European Parliament unanimously voted to ban the trading of cat and dog fur in European Union countries. The ban came into force on Jan 1st 2009.
However, there is a lot of illegal gang activity in the UK which goes unreported because it is politically incorrect to speculate that Britain is importing crime from continental Europe specifically from the new EU countries such as Romania and Latvia (just a couple of randomly chosen examples).
I have a genuine concern that the cat fur trade is back in England despite the ban. Banning something does mean it won’t happen. It is incredibly difficult to enforce such a ban.
Think about it. In England people let their cats wander outside. These cats are loved companions to their caretakers. To criminal gangs the cats are a crop to be harvested…..
Plenty do keep cats indoors these days in the UK, because the level of crimes against cats is depressingly high and incidents frequent.
The trick is to make the home environment as cat friendly as possible.
I think Michael has covered how to do this on this site. Lots of good suggestions and there’ll be a discussion about the psychological welfare of indoor cats too, which is the most important aspect.
It can be done, you can have happy indoor cats, but it’s sometimes a human need to see them roaming free not just a cat need.
It can take a while to take a previously free roaming cat and get them to accept and be happy indoors. But it can be done.
Cats are not dogs, obviously, but there are a growing body of cat caretakers in the UK who have trained their cats to walk out on a body harness with a lead. This is quite common in the USA, where there are extra environmental concerns such as rabies, coyotes, cougars, bears, wolves etc.
There are already a few companies in the UK who provide cat proof fencing, so that cats may have free access to the outdoors, but safe from predators, abusers and of course, the biggest threat to cats – motor vehicles.
Fenced in patio areas are becoming more common too. In the USA these are called “Catios”
I grew up in a time when cats could roam free in the UK as standard, but sadly, society has changed a lot and I believe that cats face more threats and abuse, so restricting outdoor access is something to consider.
Hope the new kitten settles in with your cat family soon. You can post pictures on here too (hint hint) we all love to see a kitten!
Best wishes.
Libby, I most certainly do not think badly of the people of Ipswich, I have a friend there who is involved in helping those who have little, the people who no one else will help, those who are struggling. He reports honestly about the poverty and deprivation he encounters. Every city, town or village in this country has a mixture of people and circumstances. The truth about unemployment and availability of jobs is that there are not enough jobs available that provide even living wage. There are thousands unemployed in Ipswich and the surrounding areas (just like every city in the country) If there were enough jobs, that paid a living wage, then there would be very few people on JSA. Zero hours contracts prevail and people cannot survive on that alone. I am not attacking you, your city or the people of Ipswich. I am stating fact. The whole country is struggling badly, despite what the mainstream media say about recovery.
I am sorry that I offended you, I had no intention to.
I hope your cat has come home by now and all is well.
How the hell can u keep cats indoors. Wouldn’t that be hell