Your Pets Daily - Cat charity

Cats Protection welcomes debates on pet travel to make sure cats are not left behind

Your Pets Daily Editor — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:40:27 +0000

The UK's largest cat charity has welcomed two parliamentary debates which will raise concerns that cats are being left behind in changes to laws around pet travel.

Cats Protection says proposals in a Government consultation on the movement of pets into Great Britain would fail to protect cats and kittens in the same way as puppies and dogs.

The Government consultation, which closed in October, contained important proposed changes to dog travel – including increasing the minimum age they can travel and banning the movement of heavily pregnant dogs – but fails to extend the same protections to cats.

Cats Protection is now calling on the Government to increase the minimum age that cats can travel into Great Britain from 15 weeks to six months, ban the movement into the UK of pregnant cats in their last 42 days of gestation and ban the importation of cats which have been de-clawed.

With Cats Protection's Cats and Their Stats (CATS) report 2021 estimating that 70,000 cats acquired between March 2020 and March 2021 were from an overseas source, the charity says action is needed to prevent kittens and cats being exploited by unscrupulous international traders.

Cats Protection's Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: "While the Government is looking at changes to improve the welfare of puppies and dogs being brought into the UK, it is not considering the same improvements for cats, which is a huge concern.

"We know there has been an increase in the numbers of people looking to buy a kitten, and prices have also gone up. The current laws on importing kittens and cats are far too relaxed and urgently need to be tightened up to prevent a surge in unscrupulous traders importing kittens into Great Britain for onward sale."

Lord Black of Brentwood, who will be raising the issue in an oral question in the House of Lords said: "Over the years I have been an advocate for the welfare of our companion animals. We are a nation of animal lovers and pets are so important to the lives of many, an important part of the family, and providers of joy and companionship.

"There are risks in buying pets online, particularly from sellers based abroad, and the Government's review of the pet travel provisions presents a real opportunity to clamp down on unscrupulous sellers smuggling pets into Great Britain. While the horrors of puppy smuggling are well publicised, we must not open the door to sellers turning their attention to bringing in kittens to meet the UK market. New pet travel provisions must apply to kittens as well as puppies, both of whom need legal protection."

Pet travel is due to be discussed in the House of Commons during a general debate on pet travel led by Sheryll Murray MP on Thursday 2 December and during oral questions in the House of Lords on Tuesday 7 December led by Lord Black of Brentwood.

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Charity advises against taking moggies on stay-cat-ations

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 14:19:13 +0000

Following the uptake in UK holidays and the increase in lockdown pets this year, Cats Protection is issuing advice on how to care for your cat while on holiday.

The leading feline welfare charity warns against taking your cat with you as it says cats in general find change difficult and are more likely to be content in their own environment.

It also says there's a risk that the cat might be tempted to escape or if the cat is provided outside access they may get lost in the unfamiliar area.

"Many cats often find journeys stressful, even if they don't necessarily show it, says Daniel Cummings, Cats Protection's Behaviour Officer. "They're territorial animals so the journey and the change in environment can be difficult for them."

The charity's warning comes after it took in a cat called Georgie last year, 12 years after she'd disappeared on a family camping holiday in Scotland.

Despite Georgie becoming a much-loved fixture around the campsite, she was still living the tough life of a stray before she was found, enduring the harsh winters out in the open as she scrounged for food.

Daniel Cummings advises that the best option for the cat is to get a sitter – either a friend, neighbour or professional cat sitter who can visit at least twice a day and make sure the pet is well fed and safe.

"The alternative is to book a cattery but before you make a decision, you'll need to visit and inspect it. You'll also need to ensure that your cat's vaccinations are up to date," says Daniel. "And remember, catteries do get booked up in advance so you will need to plan ahead."

More help and advice about how best to care for cats while on holiday can be found on Cats Protection's website here.

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Antifreeze warning for owners after agonising death of much-loved cat

Your Pets Daily Editor — Mon, 24 May 2021 19:43:44 +0000

An owner whose cat died from suspected antifreeze poisoning has joined Cats Protection's campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of the product to cats.

Eighteen-month-old Missy is thought to have swallowed antifreeze near her home in Skipton, North Yorkshire, before becoming severely unwell.

Her distraught owner Ann Bolland said: "I realised something was wrong when Missy seemed a bit subdued one morning, and within the hour I could see she was going downhill. I got her to the vets quickly but it was too late, her body had begun shutting down. She was disorientated, her organs were failing and the vet said all the signs were pointing to antifreeze poisoning.

"Within a few hours, she had to be put to sleep. Her deterioration in such a short time was absolutely horrific to witness – she had been a healthy, energetic and lively cat, and suddenly she was gone.

"The day before had been a bright, sunny February day with a heavy frost forecast, so I think she had somehow come across it when someone was topping up their car with antifreeze. I had no idea of the risks to cats of antifreeze and I would urge anyone using it to be extremely vigilant that there are no cats around. Losing Missy in such a traumatic way has had a huge effect on me, I'm a huge animal lover and have always owned pets, but I'm not sure I can bring myself to have another."

Cats Protection, the UK's largest cat charity, is campaigning for better labelling of the product and has urged owners to be vigilant if their cats have access to garages or sheds where it may be stored.

Madison Rogers, the charity's Senior Advocacy & Government Relations Officer, said: "Antifreeze contains a substance which is particularly harmful to cats and can prove fatal if ingested, as it seems was tragically the case for Missy.

"It only takes a spillage on the driveway or a cat walking through a puddle and then grooming its fur for the poison to be ingested. This quickly affects a cat's kidneys, with damage sometimes so severe that the cat may not survive.

"This summer, we'd urge owners to make sure any stores of antifreeze in sheds or garages are securely kept away from cats. And anyone doing checks on their vehicle should be mindful of how dangerous antifreeze can be for cats, so it is important to wipe up spillages immediately and not leave bottles on the driveway unattended.

"Many motorists are completely unaware of how dangerous antifreeze can be, and we'd like to see better labelling on products. Such a simple measure could help prevent the deaths of many cats and save their owners the ordeal of seeing their beloved cat suffer."

This year Cats Protection's advocacy work is being supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Stephanie Kerr from the charities team at People's Postcode Lottery said: "As a cat owner myself, I'm very pleased that players of People's Postcode Lottery are supporting Cat Protection's advocacy work on these issues. None of us want a pet or any other animal to become ill or suffer when it can be easily avoided by raising awareness of the dangers of common household products."

To find out more about the dangers of antifreeze, please visit Cat Poisoning Symptoms and How to Spot It | Cats Protection

Other Cats Protection news Cat charity unveils plans for pioneering new UK-first adoption centre

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Cat charity unveils plans for pioneering new UK-first adoption centre

Your Pets Daily Editor — Thu, 20 May 2021 17:01:34 +0000

Plans for Cats Protection's trailblazing adoption centre in Exeter have been revealed and given the green light to proceed this summer, featuring pioneering facilities for cats, staff and visitors, including an enrichment garden.

The first building works, which will see a new adoption centre replace the feline welfare charity's existing Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre at Clyst Honiton, are scheduled to begin by mid-June.

Stockport architects Bowker-Sadler have designed a bespoke centre on the current site, taking inspiration from historical local architectural forms including a Linhay or open-fronted stone building with a slate roof and expressed columns, for the main adoption centre building.

The new centre will be built by Shropshire-based construction company, Pave Aways, following its successful completion of the charity's Wrexham rehoming centre in 2019. The firm will utilise sub-contractors and suppliers from Exeter and the surrounding area wherever possible.

The Exeter centre will be the first of its kind within Cats Protection to incorporate the latest learnings and best design features from previous centre-builds. It will provide the most progressive and comprehensive set of facilities within the charity's portfolio of 37 centres nationwide and represents a pioneering approach which will successfully meet the needs of cats, staff, volunteers and visitors alike.

When it opens in 2022, the centre will be a vital source of ongoing cat adoption assistance, emergency support and feline welfare information for the county.

The new premises will have 65 pens for day to day care as well as 16 maternity and isolation pens, giving additional capacity as needed. The 81 pens will provide temporary accommodation for around 750 cats who come through the centre's doors each year. As a result of increased footfall and the improved adopter experience at the centre, it is expected that cats will be spending less time in care and will be able to move swiftly to their new homes.

Volunteers and staff will benefit from improved working areas while visitors and potential adopters will be able to take advantage of better accessibility and more parking, creating an enhanced experience for cats, potential adopters, volunteers and staff.

The build has been made possible thanks to a bequest from the charity's ex-Chairman Philip Wood, in whose memory the enrichment garden will be created, as well as legacies from the charity's Exeter and East Devon Branches and a donation from PetPlan Charitable Trust.

The enrichment garden will provide stimulation for the cats, who will be able to see nature and wildlife from their pens. It will also create a restful natural area in the grounds where volunteers and staff may spend time away from the hustle and bustle of the centre.

As the build is finalised there will be more opportunities for people from across the local community to join the existing team of cat-loving volunteers in roles ranging from those involving hands-on cat care to others behind the scenes in a more office-based or physical support capacity.

Centre manager Mark Magee says: "This is an extremely exciting time for us. The rebuild has been planned for a long time and it is truly wonderful to have reached this first milestone. We are especially grateful for the legacies and donations which have made it possible and we are looking forward to honouring each of our kind donors whose generosity will have a lasting impact on cat welfare in Devon.

"The new centre will make a huge difference to cats, volunteers, staff and adopters alike. From the moment a cat arrives in care to the moment they go home, our state-of-the-art centre will provide the best possible experience for all involved. We're thrilled that ours has been chosen to be the first example of a new kind of Cats Protection centre, uniting all the very best aspects of centres built to this point, shaping cat care not only locally but across the UK."

Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre will close during construction and the existing centre's staff and volunteers have begun a phased reduction in the number of cats at the centre in preparation for the re-build. A set of eight cat pens at The Cats Motel in Exmouth will be dedicated to cats arriving in Cats Protection's care with a member of management staff based on-site throughout the rebuild. Staff will also be working closely in liaison with the charity's neighbouring branches as well as the charity's centres further afield if required.

Anyone needing assistance with their cat or looking to adopt during the rebuild should still call 01395 232377 or visit www.cats.org.uk/axhayes/contact-us - all calls will then be answered or referred to the most appropriate area of the charity to ensure the best outcome for the cats involved.

Why not also check out Charity celebrates as lockdown homing proves ‘more successful than imagined’

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