Cat World January 2019 106o53

FOR CAT LOVERS!

FULL OF FELINE FUN, CAT CHAT AND EXPERT ADVICE

Catworld www.catworld.co.uk www.catworld.co.uk

UK’S FAVOURITE CAT MAGAZINE FOR OVER 38 YEARS

Happy holidays FOLLOW OUR TIPS FOR A STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS

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£4.99 JANUARY 2019

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ISSUE 490

Stunning Snowshoe will melt your heart

WAYS TO A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

TEDDY BEAR TIMES

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New Year health check

9 770952 287132

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January 2019

Issue 490

To reach us: Call +44 (0)1903 884988. Or write to: The Editor, Cat World, PO Box 2258, PULBOROUGH RH20 9BA Great Britain email: [email protected] Published by ashdown.co.uk. ISSN 0961 - 0944 Distributed to the newstrade by Comag.

Subscription prices: One year: (12 issues) UK £59.99. European and worldwide prices will be adjusted to local currencies. See online for details at www.catworld.co.uk or please call +44 (0)1903 884988. All of our subscriptions are handled by us at CW.

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theinsidetrack 4 MEWS ROUND

48 FELINE STROKE

Feline news and views

How to spot the signs

6 ON THE EDGE

50 KITTEN PREPARATIONS

Mind your pees and Qs

Preparing to welcome kitty

8 NEW CAT TREATS

52 FUN PAGE

Innovative food treats

Tea-time teasers

10 CAT FLU

53 BUY WISELY

Getting the right treatment

Advice when buying a kitten

12 WEIGHT WATCHING

54 CONSERVATION

Tips for healthy living

Assisted reproduction techniques

14 NEW CAT FOOD

56 BOARDING HOUSE DIARY

Put your trust in Blink

ing Willow

16 HAPPY CATS

58 HELP FOR TENANTS

Don’t let them feel lonely

Purrfect Landlords Campaign

17 HEALTHY EATING

60 VETERINARY CARE

Thought for food

Vet detective at work

20 BE PREPARED

62 THE CATALIST

Have a stress-free Christmas

Gift ideas for you and your cat

22 HAPPY HOLIDAYS Tips for booking a holiday

64 TOBY’S TALE Lorraine’s new book

28 SNOW BUSINESS

66 CONFESSIONS OF A CAT LOVER

Mixed feelings at the rescue

Waiting room daydreams

30 LILY DANGERS

68 FUNERAL CARE

Advice and a true story

25 years of the APPCC

34 MEET THE BREED

69 YIN & YANG

The sublime Snowshoe

A little rain must fall

40 DON’T BE BLUE

70 DON’T OVERINDULGE

Fun ideas for bad weather days

Healthy living naturally

42 HAPPY NEW YEAR

72 GORDY & ME

Hidden party hazards

Feline visitors

44 FESTIVE BEHAVIOUR

74 SHOW DATES

Keeping cats calm

shows in the UK and Ireland

afurry warmwelcome

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2018 is drawing to a close and winter has finally arrived - I’m sure our pets are all feeling glad to have a fur coat at the moment! When I’m cold I want to eat more…I guess that’s an instinct that goes back to when humans needed to rely on body fat to keep warm during the colder months. Thankfully most of us now have plentiful food supplies and warm houses but this does mean we can have too much of a good thing and the temptation is to overindulge. Our pets are no different but it is up to us how much and what food our pets eat. The new cat food from Blink is made with meat sourced from UK suppliers and has no unnecessary additives while the milky treats from animonda are an interesting new option. With the party season in full swing, spare a thought for the homeless around the world, many of whom try to a beloved pet as best they can, and also for the victims, animal and human, of California’s wildfires who are trying to rebuild their lives and their homes. Being stuck inside a nice warm house when the weather is bad can be the perfect opportunity to have extra fun with our feline friends and we have some great suggestions to lighten your mood. We hope you’ll give them a try. Well, that just leaves me time to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all the Cat World team! Till next month

Jill & the team

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Want to write or report for CW? We’d love to hear from you. Email [email protected]

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75 PASHA & TANNI Festive fun and games

76 ASK THE EXPERTS Help is at hand

78 BEST BEHAVIOUR Tips for undisturbed sleeping

80 PAW POST Kitty correspondence 82 TAIL END Indoor playground C AT W O R L D

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OUR ROVING REPORTERS BRING YOU ALL THE CAT NEWS, GOSSIP, HEALTH AND MORE. EMAIL [email protected] Alfie is top cat This year’s Purr Minister has been announced by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home who hold the competition each year to find the top parliamentary cat owned by MPs. Alfie, owned by Ann Clwyd, MP for Cynon Valley, has picked up this year’s coveted Purr Minister 2018 title. Alfie persuaded his peers with his ‘Manifursto’ which promised purrtection for cats by making it compulsory to report cat deaths on roads, purrmoting Lucy’s Law for cats and dogs – particularly in Wales, and a purrmanent amnesty for mice, squirrels and birds on Sundays. Proud owner Ann said: “We want to say thank you to everyone who voted to elect him Battersea’s Purr Minister 2018 and he promises not to let anyone down.”

Cheshire Cat helps Air Ambulance The team at Derby-based Scarsdale Vets has raised almost £4,000 at a Mad Hatters Tea Party-themed ball in aid of their local Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance service. Shottle Hall in Derbyshire was transformed into a Wonderland fit for Alice and tasty treats on the menu included a starter of the Cheshire Cat’s Favourite Cheesy Fishcake. Many local businesses offered raffle prizes to help raise the total sum raised to a fantastic £3,800 - enough to make any Cheshire Cat grin from ear to ear.

The tragic wildfire pets It is heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by the terrible wildfires that have been sweeping across parts of California recently. Not only have more than 70 people died but so have dozens of animals, many of them family pets, and dozens more are still missing. Owners will be hoping they have found their way to one of the animal rescue centres that have been set up to care for them. Most have suffered severe burns (cats’ paws in particular), while some were hit by cars trying to escape the fires. Our thoughts are with the injured animals, the devastated owners and also with the vets and nurses who are working tirelessly to save the lives of these poor animals.

Last minute shopping Still looking for special gifts before Christmas? The Born Free Foundation has a great range to choose from, plus special Christmas cards. The beautiful new zebra scarf has been personally chosen by actress and Born Free Co-Founder Virginia McKenna OBE and the styl-

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ish sterling silver Born Free charm bracelets are available in two different styles - delicate and chunky - and come in smart Born Free branded gift boxes. Born Free’s online shop features a whole range of gift ideas, ranging from branded hoodies and t-shirts and kid’s clothing to wild animal adoptions, which cost just £3 per month.

Ambassador role for Paul O’Grady Cat-man-does In our September issue we introduced you to Gareth Legg and his two companions who are currently undertaking the Trek for Big Cats. The three trekkers recently arrived in Kathmandu where the team , in their outfits representing the

lion, leopard and tiger, walked around the busy touristic Thamel region of Kathmandu raising more awareness for their expedition and campaign. “The Trek for Big Cats team have been blown away by the we have been given by the public and media,

and the number of people who have been willing to us!” From here they went to Phakding, on the first night of the Everest Base Camp Trek. Follow their progress at www.trekforbigcats.com or find them on social media.

Chatting with Kuba An unusual-looking Bengal x Sphynx cat named Kuba has been making a big impression at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, and is believed to be the first of his kind to come to the worldfamous rescue centre. With his unique voice and distinctive appearance, one-year-old Kuba has quickly become a firm favourite with staff. He has a great personality and is equally happy exploring the great outdoors or curling up on a lap. Kuba is now looking for his perfect new home, which will ideally include a large garden for him to roam in and owners who are happy to have a chat with this very talkative young cat. There are many other cats at Battersea waiting to be rehomed. See the charity’s website for details.

PAWS FOR THOUGHT ‘No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens.’ Abraham Lincoln

Well known for his ITV programme ‘For The Love Of Dogs’, comedian Paul O’Grady is ionate about the welfare of all animals. Paul recently became an ambassador for Street Vet, a growing initiative of more than 300 vets and nurses caring for pets across the UK. It was while filming an episode of his TV show that Paul ed some Street Vet volunteers tending to animals owned by homeless people living on the streets. He said: “I was really impressed with the dedication of the team and want to them to enable them to reach even more homeless people around the country.” StreetVet provide free veterinary care for homeless pet owners in nine cities across the UK and was established in 2017 by vets Jade Statt and Sam Joseph. While the majority are dogs (450 treated so far), Street Vet have also treated 15 cats. The episode of Paul’s programme featuring Street Vet aired on 21st November but you can find details about the organisation on social media or at www.streetvet. co.uk Paul is pictured with Jade Statt, co-founder of Street Vet.

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ON THE EDGE THE ADVENTURES OF TWENTY-SOMETHING CAT LOVER KATY EDGE Mind your pees and Qs…zip it!…Don’t let on who did it… Just another routine day in the Edge household - or was it?

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omething I’ve always felt smug about, when I read people’s pleas for advice on cat forums online, is the fact that our cats don’t wee anywhere they’re not supposed to. Yes, Widget sheds his ginger fuzz like it’s a competitive sport; yes, Charlie’s ‘dingleberries’ are a standing joke; and yes, Happee may deliberately aim her gooiest hairballs at my shagpile rug (still feeling aggrieved about that). But they wee in the litter tray. Every. Single. Time. That is, until last week. The crime scene: our lounge. The material time: approximately 2100 hours. The suspect(s): various. The trouble is, we didn’t actually witness the initial offence. It might even have been the puppy. Tilly’s bladder control is pretty reliable but not entirely foolproof, particularly if something exciting hap-

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pens, bless her. BUT, crucially: dog wee doesn’t smell. Not much, anyway. Nothing on earth smells like cat wee. By the time the olfactory evidence presented itself, the offender had made good their escape. My theory is that Tilly pup had a wee, we didn’t immediately spot the wet patch like we usually do and other criminally-minded of the family spotted a modus operandi they’d like to emulate. In other words… we had some dastardly copy-cats in our midst. Anyway, having set up a cordon (read: shut the cats out of the room), I set about the important business of damage control. We have a pet-safe disinfectant spray that we use for everyday spills and it’s normally fairly effective in dealing with stillwarm puppy ‘accidents’. Unfortunately, though, it

was woefully ineffective in combating the nasal assault of cat wee, even though I doused the carpet very liberally. Commence Phase Two of the operation: Google. “It says we need an enzymatic cleaner,” I quoted knowledgeably from some website or other. “It has to be biological.” My boyfriend, meanwhile, was busily attacking the carpet with whatever he could find in the cupboard – 1001 Carpet Shampoo, stain removers, and a bottle that claimed to have something to do with Dyson. None of which made any impression on the stench of ammonia that was emanating from the carpet. Defeated, my boyfriend eventually turned to his smartphone (which is capable of most things, short of scrubbing the carpet itself) for assistance. “Ah right, we need a biological cleaner,”

he told me. “If only we’d known!” I cried. (My eye-rolling may have been lost on him.) Of course, it was too late for most pet shops to be open and I didn’t want to wait for something to arrive in the next-day post – we use the lounge constantly, after all, and the dogs sleep in there. So our only option was the local supermarket, which, oddly enough, doesn’t exactly specialise in pet-based urinary mishaps. To spare you the boring detail, I’ll summarise the ensuing events as follows: Girl and boy fail to find biological carpet cleaner at shop. Girl and boy purchase biological washing powder as an alternative. Girl and boy return home and mix up an enormous bucketful of biological washing paste. Boy discovers he is allergic to biological washing powder. Girl checks box

BIG CATS and reads “Avoid with skin”. Oops. Girl applies paste to carpet while boy is being a wuss (licks wounds). Carpet is left overnight to dry. Carpet still smells. Cats observed to be smirking. Girl instructs boy to go to nearest large pet superstore and beg for help. Boy returns with deluxe extreme pet urine remover. Girl too relieved at prospect of clean carpet to care about likely remortgaging of house, selling of cars and valuables, bequeathing of soul to devil etc. Girl and boy apply deluxe product to carpet. Carpet has the grace to smell slightly less of wee. Girl throws entire contents of deluxe product (designed, from price, to last for centuries and be ed down through generations like heirloom) on carpet. Carpet resembles lake. Smell is gone. SMELL IS GONE! So yes, we are grateful survivors of Cat-Pee-Gate. We’ve put out an appeal for witnesses but surprisingly enough, none have come forward. Inspect the rogues gallery – who do you think is the culprit? All I know is, I have a newfound sympathy for all those desperate forum s…

Six more tigers saved from circus suffering T he wildlife organisation Animal Defenders International (ADI) has rescued six more tigers from circus suffering in Guatemala, as the organisation continues to help enforce the country’s ban on animal circus acts. This brings the total number of lions and tigers rescued from Guatemalan circuses to 21; just one circus with animals remains. Adult female tigers Bimbi and Lupe plus parents Itsa and Sombra and their two unnamed cubs were removed from the circus on Saturday 10th November. During the day-long rescue, part of which was in darkness, the tigers were taken from the scrapyard where they had been living to six lions and nine other tigers already rescued by ADI during its Operation Liberty mission at ADI’s Temporary Rescue Centre in Guatemala. The circus had refused to hand over the six tigers when ADI removed two of the lions and nine other tigers back in June but ADI vowed not to leave them behind. Jan Creamer, President of Animal Defenders International said, “We vowed to not let these six tigers down and we kept our word. ADI’s mission is to ensure that no animal will suffer in circuses in Guatemala ever again. With

the public’s we can save them all.” At the temporary rescue centre, the animals have more space than they have ever known. Enrichment such as swinging tyres, big hay bags filled with catnip, and pools for the tigers to bathe and play in, keep the animals entertained and healthy. Such simple pleasures also help build muscles and improve coordination. Eventually the animals will be prepared to undertake the long journey to their new forever homes. For the lions, this will be to the new 450+ acre sanctuary ADI is establishing in South Africa, their natural homeland. The first nine tigers rescued by ADI have been offered permanent homes at US tiger sanctuaries Big Cat Rescue and Tigers for Tomorrow, and ADI is actively seeking permanent homes for the six new tigers. However, it is expected to take several months to complete the documentation required for this to happen. Following this latest rescue, there is just one circus with animals remaining in Guatemala, reported to have 15 big cats. ADI is raising funds to save the remaining animals, and care for the 21 big cats now in their care. Donations can be made here: https://donate.adinternational.org/guatemala C AT W O R L D

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Discover the ultimate A MATTER OF TASTE way of snacking!

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id you know that cats can’t taste sweet things? A cat’s tongue is, in fact, designed to help him taste only the foods that will give him maximum nutrition. Clever huh? We humans have around 10,000 taste buds on our tongues but cats only have between 470 and 500. The centre of their tongue is covered in hooked barbs that point towards the back of their mouth and help them to move and swallow their food. These are why their tongue feels so scratchy when they lick us and these barbs do not have any taste buds. The rest of the tongue contains taste buds in varying amounts but the taste buds that detect sweet flavours are not present or not fully developed. They can, however, appreciate different textures so some cats will eat sweet things such as ice cream but they are not tasting the sweetness. Cats can detect bitter, salty and sour flavours so the creatures they would catch in the wild contain all of these and of course provide all the nutrients a cat needs. Food manufacturers have hugely researched cats’ preferences and strive to create cat foods that provide all the nutrients while also tantalising their taste buds. Having less taste buds than us doesn’t mean they taste things less than we do and they definitely still enjoy their food just as much as we enjoy ours! Feed your cat a complete food that offers all the correct nutritional requirements. Offering occasional food treats as part of their daily food allowance offers variety and interest.

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ats love snacks – and as something small between meals, they provide welcome variety. When choosing cat snacks, there are many varieties to suit the taste of even the most discerning cats. However, the most important factor remains that cat snacks need to be full of goodness and great for your cat. Introducing the new cat snack by animonda: cat owners can discover the ultimate way of snacking. Whether as liquid snacks in the convenient cup portions or the crispy crunchy pillows, the delicious milk snacks are always popular.

Milky Liquid Cat Snacks The creamy milk-snack that comes in the practical portion packs is so versatile: offer purely as a snack in between meals or as a topping over dry food. It is the perfect indulgence for those who like variety. The liquid cat snack is absolutely free of artificial colouring and flavouring.

Milky Crunchy Pillows Help them feel good with simply better snacking. The crunchy pillows aren’t just crispy and tasty they also help to the cat’s well-being. The delicious Milky Crunchy Pillows are free of artificial colouring and flavouring.

The ultimate way of snacking!

Liquid Cat Snacks     

milky liquid snacks indulgence for those who like variety no flavour enhancers no soya, no sugar no colouring or preservatives

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WINTER HEALTH

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e signs n ossi e re men Spotting the signs of cat flu in your pet early, especially if you have other cats, is very important to ensure they receive appropriate care and treatment BY DAWN PRIME, ANA AND AWARD WINNING RSQP

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at flu is a common illness that affects the upper respiratory tract of cats. As an ANA in a veterinary practice, I commonly see cat flu, with symptoms affecting the very young, the very old, those cats with a weak immune system - including cats with feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) - and cats with a serious illness.

What causes cat flu? It is thought that around eighty percent of cat flu cases are by one of two viruses; feline herpevirus (FHV) or feline calicvirus (FCV). Both viruses may be present in our cats but once this has damaged the lining of the respiratory tract, the disease maybe further be complicated by bacterial infections. Other causes of cat flu can include bacteria such as Chlamydophila and Bordetella bronchiseptica.

on people’s clothing after touching an infected cat.

What are the symptoms ? Cat flu is similar to a human cold - it can cause a runny nose and eyes, and a sore throat. Other symptoms of cat flu include lethargy, loss of appetite, high temperature and in some of the worse cases, pneumonia. It’s essential, if you see any concerning signs, that you seek veterinary advice immediately but bear in mind that it can take up to two weeks for signs of flu to appear.

How is cat flu diagnosed? Cat flu is usually diagnosed based on the clinical signs that your cat is displaying. Your veterinary surgeon may want to take swabs from the cat’s mouth, nose and eyes which will then be sent to a laboratory, where the virus or bacteria can be grown and identified.

How is cat flu spread?

How to treat cat flu

Once the cat is infected, it sheds the virus particles in nasal or eye discharge, and in saliva. Cats that show clinical signs are the biggest source of infection, although some healthy cats can still carry the virus but don’t suffer from flu, instead preferring to shed the flu particles and infect other cats. It is possible that the particles can survive for up to a week in the environment and be spread by with infected feed bowls or toys, or

If your cat has been diagnosed with cat flu then your veterinary surgeon will prescribe what’s known as symptomatic treatment. Good nursing care also is essential – this includes: O Keeping your cat quiet and warm with access to food, water and their litter tray. O Keep any stress levels to a minimum; this can involve keeping your cat away from other pets

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and noisy children. O Removing any nasal or eye discharge with a damp piece of cotton wool. It is possible to relieve nasal congestion by placing your cat in a steamy bathroom or close to a bowl of hot water - please always supervise your cat around hot water. O Cat flu is similar to human flu when it comes to a restricted sense of smell. You can encourage your cat to eat by warming food or offering them a range of smelly foods. Your vet may also prescribe a diet which can be syringe fed. Finally, to ensure there is lots of fresh drinking water. O Your veterinary surgeon may also prescribe antibiotics; this is medication to loosen any material in the chest and to make breathing easier. They may also prescribe an eye ointment. It may sometimes be necessary for the cat to be itted to the isolation unit of the veterinary practice. Isolation is used to avoid the transmission of the

WINTER HEALTH How do I prevent cat flu?

virus to other cats. If hospitalisation is required due to your cat being very poorly with the flu, then there may be need of an intravenous fluid by a drip for dehydration and some medicines to stimulate the appetite. Sometimes if you have a multi-cat household then it’s an idea to isolate the infected cat away from your noninfected cats. , the infected cat should be provided with separate food/water bowls and litter trays - these should be disinfected with a suitable disinfectant. Non-infected cats should be attended to first, with use of separate clothing/footwear and a disposable apron and gloves, to help to avoid the spread of the disease.

There are lots of different strains of the disease and, just as with the human equivalent, the vaccine is not always effective against them all. However, regular vaccinations are the most effective way of reducing the risk in developing cat flu. It is particularly important to that your cat will need to be fully up to date with vaccinations if they will be going to a boarding cattery when you are on holiday. Initially, kittens get some immunity from their mothers but, as they get older, this fades and they become susceptible to the infection. Vaccination normally starts at nine weeks of age, with a second dose of the vaccine at twelve weeks and then a yearly booster thereafter.

Flu vaccines are not always guaranteed in preventing the disease but they will prevent a more serious form of the disease.

Are there any long term consequences of cat flu? Many cats with flu will recover but this can take several weeks. Unfortunately, your cat may suffer with on-going issues; including inflammation to the lining of the nasal age, eyes and airways, due to the secondary bacterial infection. Early action is vital when treating cat flu, so if you notice any signs that raise alarm, then please do speak to your veterinary surgery, who will be able to guide you on the vaccinations that are needed.

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WEIGHT WATCHING

Watching the pounds can save the pennies Start 2019 as you mean to go on and encourage your cat to live and eat as healthily as possible, giving her the quality of life she deserves BY MANDY WILLETT

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s with people, if cats usually have a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise, then Christmas excesses, such as turkey titbits and treats, are unlikely to have any lasting effect on their weight. However, New Year is as good a time as any to turn over a new leaf for your cat’s health and check they’re in shape for the year ahead. Cuddly cats may look cute but if they’re carrying too much fat then they won’t be getting the quality or indeed quantity of life they deserve. Until recent times, the acquisition of food for a cat wasn’t guaranteed - it had to hunt down its prey and each catch was accompanied by lots of physical exertion. As our lifestyle has evolved and we have learnt to cultivate and store food in abundance, we have applied the same practice to our companion animals in the manufacture of pet food. Our cats mostly rely on us for their well being and it’s reassuring to know that they are now protected by law, by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This Act has a five point duty of care for owners, one of which is the responsibility to provide their pets with a suitable diet. “Pet obesity and its related illnesses are a growing problem in Britain and something we are devoting a lot of time and resource to,” said a veterinary expert. “It’s sad for us when we see animals come through the door,

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struggling to walk and with breathing difficulties, so we’re trying to educate owners about the importance of pets being a healthy weight.” Type of diet is not the only factor in obesity and over feeding is the main culprit. It is us who open the packet and determine how much food to put in the bowl. A cunning cat may eat one meal then go to another member of the household looking for food and they happily oblige, unaware that the cat has already been fed. Indoor cats often have a more sedentary lifestyle, with much less exercise than a cat who spends a lot of time outdoors. Age also takes its toll as the older a cat gets, the less active it often is and so it requires fewer calories. Statistics show that that overweight cats are three times more likely to develop diabetes. Academic studies in the United States showed that obese cats are twice as likely to develop nonallergic skin conditions and infections and five times more likely to develop lameness requiring medical care, such as arthritis. Long term, obesity-related illnesses can put a strain on your relationship with your cat as you’re suddenly committed to a life time of providing insulin injections or istering pain killers.

On the scales So how can you tell if your cat needs to shed a few pounds? Sometimes it’s

difficult to talk about a correct weight as there is a lot of variation between cats, so it’s easier to look at their shape, according to a leading vet. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t feel

WEIGHT WATCHING Cat treats shown as the average human equivalent. - if these are given as treats, they are in addition to regular meals! Half a tin of salmon = two donuts One sardine = a chocolate bar A saucer of cream = a burger with chips

legs, which are other signs of excess padding. You should be able to feel their abdominal fat pad but it shouldn’t hang down and when you look at your cat from above, their waist should visibly taper in. One interesting phenomenon to arise from the increase in cat obesity is the change in our perception of what a healthy size for cats is and there can be a marked difference between a vet’s assessment and an owner’s. You’ll hear people make all kinds of excuses like, ‘he’s just big – boned.’

What they eat It sounds obvious, but a nutritious, well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise are key to keeping your cat healthy. If you’re feeding them a complete pet food from a leading brand then they should be getting all the nutrients they need. There is a wide range of pet foods available, catering for all life stages of your pet, from kittens to seniors to indoor cats. You just need to feed according to their nutrient requirements and the recommended amount on the packet. It’s also good to that what might seem like a small treat to us – a little cut of meat for example - will be a higher energy content for a cat. Of course, treats are a useful way to train our pets but they shouldn’t be given too often.

Action plan

their ribs and their back bone, then they’re probably overweight. When you’re running your hands along your cat’s body, feel for fat stored above their tail and between their back

If your cat is overweight, start by cutting these treats out first. Just be prepared to be patient as it may require a little willpower. If your cat is used to being given titbits when they miaow, then they will miaow even more intently when you stop. No matter how mean you feel, try not to give in when

this happens or it will re-enforce to your cat that this behaviour results in treats. It’s important to get everyone’s co-operation too so that your cat isn’t being secretly indulged by a wellmeaning member of the family! Buying a smaller bowl may also be helpful to avoid the urge to put out too much food. Feeding ‘balls’ can be purchased which the cat has to roll in order to release the dry food. For a cat to stay in shape they need to burn the energy they consume. Aside from letting them roam outside, which isn’t always practical, playing with your cat is the most effective form of exercise. Choose toys that help them exhibit their own natural behaviour like pouncing and chasing, such as mice dangling from fishing rods, and balls. Cats get bored very easily so make sure you rotate their toys every couple of weeks to keep them entertained. They also like you to play with them. If you have stairs in your home, encourage your cat to run up and down them as part of the toy chasing game - a laser pen shone on the wall or furniture can be fun.

Is my cat fat? If you are not sure whether your cat is overweight, and you are concerned that your cat’s weight and/or body size (high or low) is affecting her health you should book a consultation with your vet to seek professional advice. It is then important to follow that advice.

The five points of the Animal Welfare Act 2006: somewhere suitable to live a proper diet, including fresh water the ability to express normal behaviour for any need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals protection from, and treatment of, illness and injury

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BLINK

Tasty new cat food your feline will love

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new cat food brand, Blink, has launched in over 700 stores throughout the UK. The British brand popped up in Tesco on November 5th with a range of complete meals, alongside a fun collection of nutritious cat treats. Retailing at £1 for every wet pouch, the new brand is determined to introduce high quality products into the cat food market. All Blink products are made in the UK and use British shredded meat fillets. Blink’s recipes also never include any derivatives, grains or fillers. “The idea started with us thinking about what a cat would actually like to eat, as well as something nutritious at the same time” said Ben Ford, Blink’s founder. “We saw many brands on the shelf with only 4% meat but filled with other ingredients we didn’t even recognise or understand why they would be in a cat’s meal.” Blink meals are all

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complete which means each pouch contains all the necessary vitamins & minerals that a cat needs for a healthy, happy development. “So we started sourcing real meat from British farmers and creating recipes that were great tasting and nutritious too. For instance, we only use the best parts of the chicken - breast, thigh and wings. No bones, no necks or anything else. This also means our pouches smell great!” “It’s taken us two years to get here but within one week of launch we had customers saying that our pouches were the first meal their cat had eaten fully in years.” Blink’s treat range retails from £2, offering cats a healthier treat without the high levels of fat and oils. All three treats: Jumblers, Bangers & Mash and Cubes, have at least 50% meat, with Cubes consisting of 80% roasted British chicken. “Other treat brands have minimal per-

centages of meat and are packed full of cereals and cheap fillers,” said Ben. “Why are we called Blink? A cat’s blink is a sign of trust and affection to other cats and owners. So we wanted people to trust us that we would always put their cat first.” For further information please Amy Rathbone at amy@blinkcats. co.uk or 01788 825 207. To see more, please visit www.blinkcats.co.uk

Blink wet pouches all retail at £1 p/p. Flavours: Roasted Chicken 85g Roasted Chicken & Tender Duck 85g Roasted Chicken & Shredded Beef 85g Fish Fillets & Roasted Chicken 85g Blink nutritious treats: Bangers & Mash 45g- £2.75 Jumblers 50g- £2 Cubes 50g- £2

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HAPPY CATS

oci u er one fe ine If you love to take full advantage of the party season, your pet can feel left out so make sure he knows you love him with these simple ideas BY GEMMA STEPHENSON

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ecember can often be one of the busiest months of the year - several shopping trips buying gifts and others for food shopping nearer the day itself. Then there are office parties, social get togethers and lunch with friends or relatives. As lovely as this might be for you, if you are usually at home with your cat and suddenly spend half the week leaving him home alone, he might begin to wonder what’s going on. Cats are solitary creatures so are mostly happy with their own company but they will notice if you are not there for the usual cuddles and may feel bored or lonely from time to time. there isn’t much you can do about the physical affection other than give them more at the times you are home with them but you can provide plenty of entertain-

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ment for them when you do go out. Most of the following suggestions are simple and inexpensive to arrange and the chances are your cat won’t miss you too much while you’re away. Don’t be surprised if you’re still given the cold shoulder treatment when you do return home though! O Young cats and kittens are intrigued by looking at themselves in mirrors prop a sturdy one at floor level if you can do so safely. O A simple cardboard box can entertain a cat and allow them to hide or explore. Glue two or three together of different sizes and cut a ‘door’ in each one so they can find their way through. O Leave the radio or television on while you’re out so your cat will feel it has company. You can purchase special cat DVDs with swimming fish that

keep many cats entertained for hours. O Water fountains are good for your cat to drink from so you don’t have to worry about the water bowl being emptied and your cat going thirsty. O Activity feeders filled with a little dried food or treats will encourage your cat to use up some energy trying to get at the food. O Scratch pads and posts are also a good way to get kitty to exercise, even better if they are part of a cat tower. O Place a cat tower or small A-frame ladder close to a window where your cat can climb up and watch the wildlife outside. O If you have a solar-powered or other outdoor light that comes on as it gets dark, leave the curtains open so that your cat can watch the moths and other insects that will be attracted to it. O Keep a variety of toys with different shapes and textures in a box and each time you go out, leave a few for your cat to play with. Changing them each time will stop kitty getting bored. O Motorised or clockwork toys are great fun and will keep going for as long as the battery lasts. O Make different sized balls from tin foil - cats love to bat them around the floor and chase them. Despite all of these suggestions, make sure you play with your cat when you get home and give him lots of praise and affection so you maintain the happy relationship you have built with him.

OBESITY

A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE Animed Direct are looking to educate owners about the problems of pet obesity as part of their focus on nutrition. Discover their top tips to keeping our beloved pets healthy

O

nline pet pharmacy Animed Direct, have animal health at their heart. They’re keen to share their knowledge on pet obesity so that owners can understand the negative health implications that come from being overweight and also learn some easy, good practice tips that should help keep their pet’s weight at healthy levels. We all love our pets and want them by our sides for as long as possible. We would be horrified to think we were doing anything to harm them but in many cases, we’re unknowingly killing them with kindness by overfeeding or feeding pets the wrong diet. Giving them just that little bit more every mealtime, combined with ‘treats’ (which often contain high-fat human food), will quickly see them going

over their optimum body weight and start to suffer from being heavier. Overweight pets have a shorter lifespan. They suffer with their ts and have mobility issues. They also experience additional strain on their heart and can develop diabetes and other long-term medical conditions. To ensure your pet is at their ideal weight, go online and look up a video or body condition chart which shows the differences between underweight, ideal, overweight and obese animals. Take stock of your own pet’s health on a regular basis, as weight can easily creep up unnoticed. If you suspect your cat is underweight or obese, talk to your vet for advice. The next step is to ensure you’re not overfeeding. Cut out all human food treats, reduce the amount of cat treats

and most importantly, do not overfeed at meal times. If your cat is on a dry food, weigh out the recommended amount as suggested by the manufacturer. For cans and pouches, again check the amount recommended. Don’t guess, try to weigh out every mealtime. If your cat is overweight, consider changing to a ‘diet’ food until they get back to their healthy weight and encourage more play. You should see results in just a few weeks. By keeping your cat at a healthy body weight, you’re giving them the best possible chance of living healthier for longer which is what every pet owner wants. You can find more information on pet nutrition at www.animeddirect. co.uk C AT W O R L D

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We don’t build sheds, or garden furniture, we design and build bespoke living accommodation for cats. This is a new era for animal housing. Expectations have risen dramatically over the last 5 years meaning customers want larger, lighter, luxurious living spaces for their beloved animals and what better way to ease the wave of guilt you might feel when leaving home watched by two large, sad eyes, than to know your furry friend will be enjoying five star luxury in your absence. Each individual cat house or run is made from scratch by the team of expert ers in our factory near Bristol. Some weeks we are busy manufacturing enormous 30 pen catteries ready to be delivered and installed in Scotland, other days we will be putting together a bespoke garden run for a cat lover a couple of miles away. Whatever we are doing, we are doing it with the love, care and attention to detail that people have come to know and expect from a Lindee Lu building.

Whether you foster, breed or have been thinking about running a little business from home with a boarding cattery, we are here to help you make your dreams a reality. Why not give us a call for a chat? We don’t hard sell, we don’t insist you buy a minimum number of pens and it doesn’t matter how large or small your project is. Email: [email protected] or call 01275 853800 Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LindeeLuLtd/

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C6 KITI-KIT CAT RUN Constructed of 38mm x 38mm planed timber covered with 13mm x 25mm x 19g galvanised wire. 2820mm (9’3”) long x 1830mm (6’0”) wide x 1868mm (6’1½”) Other sizes of cat runs are available please us for further information

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GET READY

To be ready for anything, you must be prepared Stocking up on supplies is just one way to prepare for a busy festive holiday season; follow these feline-friendly guidelines for a well organised, worry free time BY CORINNE MANSFIELD

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ike Scouts and Guides, living by the motto ‘Be prepared’ is a very good way of coping with most eventualities. This is especially important during the festive season, when there are Bank Holidays interrupting the normal day-to-day routine. Bank Holidays are difficult for vets because they are unable to schedule re-checks easily. For example, a cat running a high temperature would normally be re-examined the following day. A special appointment will need to be made with the duty vet if it is Christmas Day the next day, with Boxing Day to follow. To make matters worse, in the years when Christmas Day is a Saturday, there are two Bank Holidays after Boxing Day. Equally, the day following one or more Bank Holidays is usually extremely busy, especially when Christmas Day falls on a Saturday. Veterinary practices try to cater for this by booking in no routine operations on the day following a Bank Holiday and the days between Christmas and the New Year - they try to ‘be prepared’ as well! Here are some situations that, given careful thought in advance, can make the holiday season easier for all concerned.

It’s an emergency! All veterinary practices offer 24 hour cover all year round. However,

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this could be at a different practice. Cover may be operated by the practice itself but there may be a system of sharing with one or more local practices or there may be a central emergency clinic. Seeking veterinary attention outside normal surgery hours will usually involve some form of surcharge, although advice over the telephone is generally free of charge and may be sufficient to see you and your cat through until the veterinary practice is open once more. Emergencies such as an animal being knocked down by a car will of necessity require attention from a vet, of course, but there are lesser problems which can be sorted out by you if you are prepared in advance - or even avoided in the first place.

to find out where that practice is in advance. This applies at all times of the year - after all, a delay in reaching the practice may endanger your cat’s life. If you have already planned your route, any time saved on the journey may be vital.

Food supplies An abrupt change in diet will often precipitate a stomach upset, so ensure a good store of your cat’s usual food. This is especially important if you have to feed a prescription diet food available only from your vet, since a change may not only result in a stomach upset but may also affect your cat’s health, since you will have been advised to feed a specific prescription diet food as part of the treatment for your cat’s illness.

Opening hours Find out what the opening hours will be at your veterinary surgery during the festive period, especially at a branch surgery which may be open on a more limited basis than usual. It is worth keeping a note by the telephone or on your mobile phone, together with the telephone number to ring in case of an emergency. In similar vein, find out what arrangements your veterinary practice has in place for emergency cover. If patients are seen at a different practice when requiring veterinary attention out-of-hours, then it would be wise

Medication If your cat is on long-term treatment requiring medication on a daily basis, do carefully assess your stock so that you will not run out on Christmas Day, for example. Many treatments should not be stopped abruptly, for instance diabetes and heart failure are two examples of illnesses for which a patient may need regular treatment. Do bear in mind that your vet may need to examine your cat before dispensing further supplies if s/he has not been seen by a vet for some time.

GET READY This is a legal requirement for any so-called POM or Prescription-Only Medicine, and is in your cat’s best interests in order to be sure s/he is otherwise in good health. After all, six months in an elderly cat’s life is equivalent to a far longer time in the life of a human - a great deal could have changed health-wise. Six-monthly examinations of patients on long-term therapy can be very worthwhile. There is much that may be found which may not have otherwise been suspected by the owner: for example fleas, advanced dental disease, signs of hyperthyroidism, weight-loss requiring further investigation.

the local authority ing the cattery you will be using that vaccinations should have been given at least one month prior to the cat’s stay. Oh dear! One to bear in mind for next year! The most common illness encountered by vets over the festive season is an upset stomach, usually triggered by eating a different food - one cannot determine what a cat eats whilst out and about but ensuring a steady diet at home is easily accomplished. Feeding your cat a special roast

turkey dinner sounds great but is not necessarily wise. It would be a good idea to have the basis for a bland diet to hand should your cat have a mild stomach upset: chicken or white fish, or even some prescription diet from your veterinary surgeon. Hopefully these guidelines will trigger other ideas to enable you and your feline friends to enjoy the festive season and to cope with any unexpected eventualities.

Litter The festive season is not the time to change your cat’s arrangements for urinating and defecating! It is vital to maintain continuity, not only with regard to the siting of the litter tray but also the type of cat litter used. Again, check your stores of cat litter - there is nothing more guaranteed to upset your cat than finding that there is something with a different smell or feel in his or her litter tray!

Flea control Now is also not the time to find that your house is alive with fleas. Flea control is a year-round necessity so please ensure you do not give your cat a festive break in his/her flea treatment or else you will give a foothold in your house for fleas! Visitors will not appreciate being bitten on the ankle during a special festive meal. Fleas are not a visitor to be encouraged at any time of the year and certainly not over the festive season.

Vaccinations This is not the time to discover that your cat’s vaccinations were due in early November, especially if your cat is booked into a cattery over the holiday period. Although you can probably still book to have your cat vaccinated at this late stage, it may well be a requirement of C AT W O R L D

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Prepare well for holiday happiness If you have a pet, especially a cat, taking time away at a minute’s notice is not all that easy; planning appropriately for a holiday helps everyone to enjoy themselves BY MANDY WILLETT

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f you are going to be away this Christmas or New Year, you will no doubt have made arrangements for the care of your cat several weeks - if not months - ago. What those arrangements are will depend first and foremost on your cat and where they are likely to be happy. Hopefully the following look at the various options will point you in the right direction if you are still undecided about your next vacation. Early planning and preparation will be the first step towards you enjoying your holiday, wherever it is.

assure sceptics that cats are happy in catteries. A well-constructed, properly run premises will encourage the resident cats to settle down after a day or so. The key is in finding a cattery that provides comfort, routine and security and this will mean a bit of research in your local area to find out what services are offered for your cat’s needs. Once you have decided on one (or perhaps you are lucky to have more than one option to investigate), ask if you can go along for a visit to see if you think it will suit your cat.

What to look for Option 1 - Using a cattery The many people who use catteries

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Anyone can set up a cattery but all good establishments must be licensed

by the local authority, who conduct an annual inspection. Recommendations from friends and local vets speak volumes, so do ask around, as well as looking for a list of catteries in your area online. If your cat is used to going outside, then an indoor/outdoor cattery is best. This takes the form of an outer door that opens into a safety corridor from which there are individual run units for each cat. The outdoor area will be covered to protect the cats from harsh weather and inside will have sleeping areas as well as exercise runs. Sleeping chalets should ideally measure around 1.2m square and 1.8m high. A shelf and window are essential as cats like higher ground where they can feel safe and they also like a view outside to see what’s going on in the world. The units are usually fairly simple in construction, to allow for disinfecting between occupants. Anything decorated with the frills of home are for the benefit of the cat owner’s conscience, rather than being practical. In fact the opposite may be true, as carpets and curtains will retain the scent of other cats. There should be a gap of around two feet between units to allow air to circulate and to allow cats to catch glimpses of each other while remaining far enough away from sneezes or infection. When you first walk in to view a

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Cattery booking tips: Ask about insurance. O What happens if your cat falls ill and needs treatment while you are away? O Will the cost of any treatment be covered by them? O How do they charge for a stay? O What will your cat be fed and how often? O

cattery, take note of whether there is a smell in the air, either of too much air freshener or chemical disinfectant, or of litter trays waiting to be emptied.

Executive suites Sleeping units should be heated by

Will your cat get individual attention and, if the cat is longhaired, will they be groomed? O Dogs - Some dog kennels also include a cattery section. Unless your cat is happy with dogs and the sound of barking, you will need to find a specialised cattery. O

infra red lamps, wall mounted s, tubular heating or heated pads. However, while it is tempting to give your cat the ‘penthouse suite’, which is accessed by a ramp or ladder from the run, these are not easy to heat. The suites are most often warmed

by heated pads and although the cat will lay and sleep on these to keep warm, they may still breathe in chilly air, particularly in winter. Make sure your local cattery has adequate heating, ideally with wall s. C AT W O R L D

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS them while you are away. The main problem with this kind of arrangement is that although someone will pop in to tend to your cat, your feline will not have the same amount of companionship and cuddles they would do if you were there. Be sure that whoever is caring for your cat knows what should happen if your cat needs veterinary attention while you are away. You need to make an agreement with them before you go that you either leave available funds or sign a document to say they will be reimbursed on your return. Leave details for your regular vet where they can easily find them, plus the emergency vet too. It goes without saying that if your cat is taking regular medication, the carer should be used to istering it and is happy to do so for your cat.

Option 3 - Home sitters

Vaccinations and medication Catteries should ask about your cat’s health and request up-to-date vaccination certificates. Cats that need medication can usually be catered for so don’t be put off but the cattery will need to know about any health problems to ensure proper arrangements are made. Any cattery worth putting your cat in will be happy to show you around and answer any questions before you book. If they are not or if they seem

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lacking in care and comion – walk away.

Option 2 - Home alone The main advantage of leaving your cat at home and having a friend or neighbour pop in to feed them is that it causes the least amount of stress; there is little or no change to their routine and although you will not be around for a while, your cat will be in familiar surroundings. Hopefully they will also be familiar with the person caring for

Having someone move into your home and live there while you are away may perhaps be the best option of all. Not only will it help to deter burglars if your home is occupied but it will mean that there is always someone there for your cat, providing cuddles and care. Asking a friend or family member to stay at your house is ideal but other people have their own lives and this might not always be possible. In which case, you may decide to look at companies that specialise in house and pet sitting. These vary from small, local companies to nationwide organisations. This option can be difficult, however, for some people who will find the concept of a stranger living in their house quite alien. What you must do is check what service the company offers, what their costs are and what they expect from you. When you book a house sitter to come and stay, the company should ask exactly what your pet’s routine is, what their temperament is and about their health. You and your pet should meet the sitter that will be assigned to you beforehand to ensure they are compatible. You should be able to

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Insist on the following: Meticulous vetting of sitters, with at least three references O Personal interviews of sitters and their experience. It is important that they are definitely a cat person and not just doing this to earn some cash O Make sure they accept full responsibility for all aspects of their assignment O A replacement sitter will be available should the original choice fall ill O Full insurance cover for employer’s liability, public liability, personal accident and professional indemnity O

phone the sitter while you are away and after you have returned to check both sides were happy with the assignment. In the future, if you liked the house sitter who worked for you, then you can request them again if you go away so your pet and the sitter build up a trusted relationship.

Option 4 - Taking cat with you If you are planning a holiday in the UK and your cat is happy to travel in the car, there is no reason why you should not take your feline friend with you. You must, of course, thoroughly investigate suitable accommodation options to be sure they are happy to have your cat stay too. There are a number of hotels, guesthouses and

individual properties (such as Air B&B) that offer pet-friendly accommodation. However, not all are happy to have a cat, plus litter tray etc. in the room. You should also ask if they have a dog on site, especially if your cat is not keen on dogs. It is a good idea to take a blanket that your cat is fond of and some of his toys, to make him feel more at home in the holiday accommodation. His temporary surroundings will be unfamiliar to him and as these will carry his scent, they should help him to settle more easily. At the end of the day, you know your cat best so do what you feel is right for your cat and your situation, otherwise you will spend your holiday worrying rather than enjoying yourself. C AT W O R L D

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PETS WELCOME

And kitty came too If you want to get away for a few days but can’t bear to leave your beloved feline at home, there are some hotels that are happy to welcome pets

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t is fair to say that pet-friendly hotels are in the minority but there are several to choose from if you are prepared to do a little research. Staying somewhere that knows what it means to have the company of your pet is the start to a great holiday. Here is just one suggestion that sounds idyllic.

Cumbrian adventure Shap Wells Hotel is situated in a secluded, wooded valley, high in the Shap Fells, near Penrith, Cumbria. Surrounded by mountain streams, Shap Wells Hotel is the ideal place from which to explore the Lakes, Dales and the English and Scottish Border Counties. “We cater for both leisure and business events, the hotel is easily accessible and only minutes from the M6 (Junction 39) and the A6. “We are located close to the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Scottish Borders, surrounded by

open and wooded countryside. You will often see red deer, red squirrels and other wildlife within the grounds of the hotel and beyond. Whether you are visiting us for a leisurely break, a conference, wedding celebration or simply breaking your journey on route to the North or South, we are the perfect destination for you. “We even welcome pets so you do not have to worry about finding alternative arrangements for them. Many of our rooms have breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and fells, offering a true taste of the English countryside. “We pride ourselves on creating a special dining experience and have À la Carte and Table D’hôte menus to choose from, as well as our Carvery lunches, served every Wednesday and Sunday. The hotel has retained many of its original features over the years and much time has been taken to retain the true character of the building.” Free WiFi is available throughout the entire hotel including all public areas, conference rooms and guest accommodation. Complimentary parking is available at the front and rear of the hotel. View the website for more information on Special Events and how to book. www.shapwells.com or telephone 01931 716628 [email protected]

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Keep calm with CatComfort from Beaphar With Christmas and New Year celebrations just around the corner, Beaphar lunch a brand new calming product range just for cats. Just like us, certain events or situations can cause our cats to feel upset or anxious. But unlike us, they can’t simply tell us why they feel this way. Instead, they communicate their distress through problem behaviour, like vertical scratching, urine spraying and constant meowing, all of which can be distressing for owners too. With Christmas and New Year on the horizon, these events may make cats feel more unsettled than usual. The Beaphar CatComfort Calming Range uses a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone. Pheromones are clinically proven to promote reassurance and happiness in cats, helping to reduce problem behaviour. This makes the Beaphar CatComfort Calming Range the ideal choice for cat owners looking to help their cats feel more at ease over the festive party season. Find out more about pheromones and how we use them in Beaphar CatComfort in our new video: https://youtu.be/xUGc76gmg5s The Beaphar CatComfort Calming Range includes: Calming Diff - a starter kit containing an easy-to-use plug-in and refill, which lasts for up to 30 days. 30 Refill - a replacement reservoir for the plug-in diff. For best results the diff should be used continuously and not switched off at night. Calming Spray - pocket sized and perfect for travelling around the home. Use the spray inside your cat’s carrier at least 15 minutes before placing your cat inside for a stress-free journey. Each spray lasts for up to five hours. The Beaphar CatComfort Calming Range is available from all good pets stores and online retailers.

In need of a holiday but worried about leaving your pet? Why not bring them along? Our secluded hotel in Cumbria, surrounded by mountain streams and set in a wooded valley, offers wonderful, pet friendly accommodation. Ideally situated to explore the Lakes, Dales and Border counties with lots of great attractions near by. Shap, Nr. Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3QU. Telephone: 01931 716628 www.shapwells.com [email protected]

ESTABLISHED CATTERY FOR SALE in Ashbourne, Derbyshire Licensed for 74 cats with a turnover year to date April 2018 of £65,000 in a prominent position, with a delightful spacious extended three/four bedroom detached cottage with magnificent views over open fields. For further information the agents: Scargill Mann & Co., 4 St James Street, Derby DE1 1RL Tel: 01332 2077201. Email: [email protected]

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From £252

This pen £369

The Conault Elite Cat Chalet featuring the bay window. Available in a range of standard sizes, however, we’re well known for manufacturing to our customers’ requirements – just let us know what you’re looking for. We also manufacture garden sheds, playhouses, summerhouses, dog kennels, bird aviaries and poultry housing.

Other examples of our cat chalets and bespoke runs -

!"#$%&&'"&%()*"+",-./0$".12*."!"3%.45,&*%6" !"76800("0("0-/800("!"9-1,:"/0";-/"-;" <<<=;*6/>0-.*;(08-,/.=,0$"?"@ABC@"DA@EAE" C AT W O R L D

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Making the most of a For some of the animals at the sanctuary, waking up to a blanket of snow was a new experience and Pat was amused to see how each of them handled it

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now descended on Carmarthenshire silently overnight and came as a great shock the following morning. All the schools were closed, art classes cancelled and virtually no-one went anywhere. Fortunately I had allowed for this with a stock of food, both for me and the animals, so I was able to enjoy the beauty and not suffer the drawbacks. The sky was blue and the sun shone so warmly that my jacket was soon discarded as I went about the usual morning animal chores. I crunched my way up the drive to the barn and the fields, idly wondering what the animals would make of it. Some are old enough to have experienced it in the past but, since we hadn’t had any for ages, I knew there would be those quite shocked by this white stuff. I wasn’t wrong. First out were the ducks who tore to the edge of the barn, skidded to a halt as they spotted the snow and quacked loudly. Two cats appeared, picking their way daintily across to see what the fuss was about. Seeing them, the ducks, clearly not intending to be outsmarted by two cats, ventured forth, leaving another type of footprint across the yard. The chickens also shot out of their shed - and shot back in again

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pretty quickly. A few picked up their feet and looked at them in surprise, clearly hating the cold. I threw their corn inside and they stayed on the straw for breakfast, no doubt intending to try again a bit later. The farm animals - sheep, pig and goats - had all seen it before and couldn’t have cared less. ‘Give us the grub’ was all they grunted. Then it was on to the other cats still in their beds in the mobile home. Feeding came first and then they went to the door. Their antics were hilarious. Some tried to tiptoe forward but, as the snow was quite deep, they quickly went down to their tummies in the stuff. Others braved a mad dash across to the yard and the ‘safety’ of the barn. They climbed onto the hay and straw, intent on spending the day there. The sun shines right into that part and in no time at all they were curled up and asleep. That just left PC. She sleeps in solitary splendour up in the loft. This is my office, studio, junk room and is centrally heated. Each night she feeds with the others in the mobile home then dashes down to the house to be in time for me to open the loft door and let her in. At the same time she tries to look hungry and pathetic, hoping for, and usually getting, seconds. In the morning the two collies,

Shadow and Megan, take her place to await my tapping on the computer when they sprawl out on the bed until I’ve finished. This particular morning, PC was waiting at the door. I watched to see her reaction. Jumping onto the top stair, she stopped and stared. She was reluctant to step onto the snow

a crisp white carpet

then spotted a clear patch on each stair where it met the wall and slunk carefully to the bottom. Of course, when she got there she had no choice. If she wanted to go up to get her food in the mobile, she would have to be brave. A few tentative steps then, much to my amaze-

ment, she suddenly rolled over, just like the little dogs, and clearly had the time of her life. She has a very thick, short coat so nothing clung to it. Spotting me watching her, she stood up self-consciously, her dignity rather dented. Then she shook herself and stalked off to find something to eat.

Snow was forecast for the next day too and the sky darkened quite early that evening. Bedtime was brought forward a bit and everyone seemed more than happy to be tucked up in bed. That white stuff was very pretty but a bit cold on the old feet and other parts.

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PLANTS AND FLOWERS

Beware the danger behind the beauty There are so many beautiful plants and flowers but how many realise that a lot of them are actually poisonous to our feline friends? BY SONJA K STEINER

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he festive season brings many indoor plants, such as festive berries, holly, mistletoe and poinsettia and whilst cats will rarely eat poisonous plants, there is a danger that if they brush past them or some fall onto the floor, the cat could lick their coat or paws, ingesting some. Snowdrops generally come into bloom in our gardens in January and they too are poisonous. In spring and summer we see an abundance of beautiful flowers in the garden, such as Buttercup, Chrysanthemum, Clematis, Crocus, Daffodil, Holly, Ivy, Marigold, Rhododendron and, Sweet Pea to name but a few - all are harmful to cats. There are many more harmful flowers and plants and more information about these can be found on the internet. Lilies, in particular, are beautiful flowers, seen in many flower arrangements but their pollen contains a deadly toxin called Lycorine which is a toxic crystalline alkaloid that can be fatal to cats. There are no ‘safe’ parts to a lily, they are all poisonous so unless you can be certain that your cat will stay well away from them, it would be advisable not to have them where they can come into with them. I personally will not have them in the house as it is simply too risky and any bunches of flowers that may contain them are removed and put in the bin! Whilst any cat is at risk of lily poi-

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son, it would appear that kittens are particularly vulnerable due to their curious nature. Whilst lilies in a vase displayed on a window sill or a table may seem safe enough, there is a risk that a cat may innocently brush past them getting some on their coat or some of the pollen may drop onto the floor and they stand on it. Subsequently if your cat then starts grooming themselves either on their coat or their feet, they could ingest some of the lily pollen. Symptoms can be seen in minutes or hours and survival depends on how early it has been caught and treatment started. If an owner has actually seen their cat chewing on the lily or licking off some of the pollen that has fallen off the plant then the best course of action is to take them to see their vet as soon as possible. Signs of lily poisoning symptoms include vomiting, weakness, and lack of appetite, becoming lethargic, increased drinking and these can happen in any order, followed by renal failure which can include abdominal pain, anuria, increased or decreased

Signs of lily poisoning symptoms can happen in any order and include: vomiting weakness and lack of appetite, becoming lethargic increased drinking

thirst, seizures and weakness. As the toxin begins to affect the kidneys, these signs worsen as the kidney damage progresses.

Treatment If you know that your cat has eaten lilies it is important to get them to the vets as a matter of urgency so that the vet can induce vomiting as soon as possible. Medetomidine is one of the normal sedatives and is fairly effective in inducing vomiting in cats but obviously the sedative effect of the drug is an unwelcome one and the drug is sometimes only effective on a full stomach. There have been reports of people who have used caustic soda (sodium peroxide) with disastrous results - therefore it is important that the cat is always taken to the vet for treatment and owners do not attempt to treat the cat themselves. Activated charcoal is then given orally to help bind up, and try and reduce gastrointestinal absorption of, the toxins. If the vet can get the toxins out/bind them up and prevent absorption in the gut then the prognosis is more favourable. If you are not sure when your cat has ingested some lily pollen then the vet is likely to induce vomiting, especially if they are not certain the stomach will already be emptied of lily. It is unlikely that after 24 hours much, if any lily would be vomited up as it will mostly have ed into the small in-

PLANTS AND FLOWERS

testines. However your vet may induce vomiting up to about 48 hours. Once the lilies/toxins have ed out of the stomach then it is pointless to induce vomiting. It is also important for the coat and skin to be washed in case some pollen is present that the cat may lick off when cleaning themselves and this is generally done regardless of how long ago the toxin was ingested as the lily pollen can be quite persistent in the coat. Aggressive fluid therapy is essential and is generally given at high rates for a day or two at least and blood testing is done periodically to assess the kidney function. Symptomatic and ive care is given as needed, such as medication to help reduce nausea and vomiting. Whilst some cats have survived due to early treatment and seem to make a good recovery, sadly there are others who, despite veterinary treatment, do not survive. Pre-existing renal problems/renal failure is a risk factor for a worse outcome, so older cats would be more of a concern.

There is always the potential that they might have damaged some kidney cells if a small amount of the toxin has been absorbed, therefore it is possible in theory that they could get chronic kidney failure at an earlier stage than if they had not ingested the lily. In order to ascertain whether cats suffer long term damage, research would need to be undertaken. Thanks to the efforts of leading cat charity Cats Protection, many supermarkets now put labels on their plants, warning of the dangers of lilies. Perhaps going a step further and putting a cat with a cross through it with a brief explanation has the potential to alert more cat owners who may not be aware of how deadly lilies can be to their feline friends. Some people I know with cats were simply not aware of their dangers until I mentioned it. Below is the “BSAVA/VPIS Guide to Common Canine and Feline Poisons”: Clinical signs can appear from 2-6 hours after ingestion and renal impairment 24-72h after ingestion. If treatment is not initiated within 18-24h of

Although there are several species of lilies that are known to be dangerous to cats, the Lilium and Hemerocallis variety are the most toxic: Asian lily (Lilium) Day lily (Hemerocallis) Easter lily (Lilium) Japanese lily (Lilium) Rubrum lily (Lilium) Stargazer lily (Lilium) Tiger lily (Lilium)

ingestion then mortality is high. All parts of the plant are nephrotoxic. The cause of the renal toxicity is unknown.

If in doubt… If you are in any doubt as to whether your cat has come into with any harmful flowers or plants please do seek immediate advice from your veterinary surgeon as any delays in treatment could be detrimental to your feline friend. C AT W O R L D

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Dawn wins Veterinary award

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e were thrilled to hear that one of our regular team, Dawn Prime, recently won the Veterinary Practice SQP of the Year and was Runner-up (Highly Commended) in the Companion Animal SQP of the Year category. The National SQP Awards are a key date in the Animal Health Industry calendar, recognising and awarding the industry’s best talent. The nomination process initially involves self-nomination in the category - normally the role you carry out in your day-to-day practice. It continues with answering ten questions (in detail) about being an SQP (Suitably Qualified Person), for example; O How we promote the use of medicines O How we see our role O How we promote the SQP title. The judging , made up of key figures from the industry, then decide on an overall winner and a highly commended, in each category. Dawn said: “I am very proud to win this award and look forward in continuing to promote my role as an SQP.” ‘A Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) is an animal medicines advisor, who is entitled to prescribe and/or supply certain veterinary medicines under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations. It is the duty of an SQP to ensure that the statutory requirements in respect of the prescription and/or supply of certain veterinary medicines are respected, advising on choice of medicine and their safe and effective use.’ As of July 2017 there were around 900 SQPs working in veterinary practices plus thousands more across pet shops and the agricultural industry.

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Cameo’s lucky escape

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s a new owner, Vanessa found out in the most awful way just how poisonous lily pollen is to cats. Her beautiful Snowshoe, Cameo, almost died as a result of ingesting some pollen from a lily she had indoors. “I nearly lost Cameo. She jumped up onto my table and appeared to be trying to eat a lily which was among other flowers in the vase. I saw it happen and had no idea as to how dangerous and life threating they are for cats. “I took a picture then googled the instructions to get the pollen off her (you can see it on her face): 1) by me rubbing it off and 2) calling the vet immediately. During this time she started licking herself. She was at the vets within ten minutes of the incident and they took a blood test and immediately put her on a

drip. She was on a drip for three days and two nights. “After medication for three weeks and further tests, including urine samples, she was eventually given the all clear. She nearly died and the vet said she was so lucky that I was at home, noticed what she was doing and took her to the vets immediately. Cameo is a fighter; she has just turned three years old. I am so lucky to still have her and she is healthy and happy again!” Vanessa hopes that sharing Cameo’s story to highlight the danger of these otherwise popular plants will ensure more people are aware of what can happen. Please spread the word that while lilies may smell wonderful, if you have a cat, they are definitely not worth the risk.

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MEET THE BREED

The sweet, sassy and sparkling Snowshoe Beautiful, affectionate and with a bubbly personality, a Snowshoe will soon have you under their spell, happy to be given your love and affection

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he stunning Snowshoe originates from Pennsylvania, USA. In the 1960s, established breeder Dorothy Hinds-Daughtery found three kittens, each with four white feet, in a litter of Siamese. The combination of these feet with the pointed colours was very appealing so she decided to develop the breed. Kittens were bred to a domestic American Shorthair cat with tuxedo markings and eventually the desirable white facial ‘V’ was developed. However, following a lot of initial

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interest in the new breed, the white patterning was fairly inconsistent and many breeders were discouraged. Slowly, interest in these beautiful cats was rekindled and the breeding programme in the UK was started in 1986. Much has been done to produce new bloodlines, eliminate health issues and faults caused by too much inbreeding and introduce more colours.

Temperament With the spiritedness of the Siamese and the ‘normality’ of a domestic

cat, a Snowshoe is playful, affectionate and eager to please - but be in no doubt that it will be you owned by the Snowshoe and not vice versa. No two Snowshoes are ever alike; some can be a little bossy, others can be quite shy and some positively love greeting everyone and sitting on laps. While they are usually comfortable with other cats, some prefer to have your complete attention all to themselves. Most are quite happy to be around children and they will usually get on well with dogs in the

MEET THE BREED

home. Snowshoe breeder and owner Kate Gee describes the Snowshoe as “…like the Siamese but with the edge taken off. They chat but don’t shout, they play but not on top of the curtain rail and they want to be with you but don’t mourn you if you have to go out to the shops.” The Snowshoe has a soft, melodic voice that will talk back to you. Although they like to be near you, they prefer to be the leader rather than follow like a dog. This breed often knows what you are going to do before you do it! In fact they will adopt you, rather than the other way around and to be ‘owned’ by a Snowshoe is something you can only appreciate by experience. They are an inquisitive and active cat and will entertain you for hours, quickly becoming an affectionate companion. Happy to be the star of a cat show, the Snowshoe loves attention and human company. They love to play and will soon learn how to fetch toys, even turn on light switches. If you want to keep your Snowshoe happily entertained, climbing frames (the taller C AT W O R L D

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MEET THE BREED

“Most are quite happy to be around children and they will usually get on well with dogs in the home.” the better), tunnels and fishing rod toys are all great favourites.

Appearance The Snowshoe’s combination of blue eyes, pointed pattern and white trim makes it unique amongst shorthaired cats. The shorthair coat is smooth to the touch with only a single layer. This makes it easy to groom and most Snowshoes will groom themselves unless they are stressed or unwell but a light brushing with a soft bristle brush is usually all that is required and is an opportunity to check for any problems. Kittens are completely white when born and it takes a few weeks before you can be sure of the point colouring. As the kittens age, legs, tail, head and ears begin to darken and the body is a light cream colour which also darkens with age. The most common colours are seal point and blue point. Specialised breeding is required to produce the lighter colours such as lilac or

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MEET THE BREED

chocolate and they do not have such a good contrast between the point colour and the feet. Eye colours range from sparkling blue through to a pale blue/grey and paw pads can be either pink, point colour or a combination of both. The Snowshoe cat is firm and muscular without being too large, well balanced and is deceptively powerful and agile. The body is not excessively long and is basically rectangular with medium-long legs. The preferred Snowshoe pattern is a symmetrical inverted V of white on the face, from the bridge of the nose extending to cover the whisker pads and chin but not extending beyond the outer eye. Chin and nose leather are white. The ears are medium large and continue the triangular appearance of the head. Paws are also medium in size and oval, tapering to the toes. The tail is fairly thick at the base, tapering towards the tip and must be in proportion to the length of the body,

reaching to the shoulders. Male cats weigh approximately 9-12 pounds but can feel heavier when lifted. A female is much smaller, approximately 7-10 pounds, though some can match the weight of a male but without the heftiness.

Breed standard Head: medium in size and in pro-

portion to the body, forming a broad wedge with slightly rounded contours. Cheekbones are set high with rounded contours. The nose is to be straight of medium length, in proportion with the rest of the head, with a slight slope to the forehead creating two distinct planes when seen in profile and without a sharp break or stop. The muzzle should be of good length, neither extremely broad nor pointed nor square. Ears: Medium to large, broad at the base, with slightly rounded tips and sparse inner furnishings. Neither too wide apart nor close set so as to continue the line of the modified wedge. Eyes: Walnut shaped with slightly greater length than width; medium size and slanted to the base of the ears. They should be set one width apart and not protrude nor be bold or deep set. The outer edge should be level with the base of the ears. A definite blue, the deeper the blue the better, bright, sparkling and expressive. Body & neck: Body long but not C AT W O R L D

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MEET THE BREED

extreme, feeling firm and heavier than the appearance indicates. Medium in size, with medium foreign bone and musculature, powerful but not bulky. Females are slightly smaller than the males. Neck should be of medium length in proportion with the head and body. Well balanced. Legs and paws: Slender and of good length in proportion to the body and of medium bone. Paws are shortoval in shape and of medium size. Tail: Medium at base, tapering slightly towards the tip, medium to long. Coat: Medium-short with no noticeable undercoat, smooth, glossy and close lying. Texture is moderately dense and resilient. Mitted: Pointed (Siamese/Colourpoint) pattern overlaid with white mittens on the front paws and boots on the hind legs. Chin, throat, chest and belly may also be white. Preferred pattern: As above but with a perfect white ‘V’ on the face which runs from the muzzle and nose up between the eyes. Bi-Colour: Varying degrees of white patterning; as much as a third of the coat may be white. The white on the front feet may extend to include the whole leg while on the hind legs, the white may extend above the hocks and right up to the hips. The face should still have the inverted white ‘V’.

Colours Self-coloured points Those with Self (single colour) points are possible in eight different varieties: Seal - Beige/cream body with dark

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seal brown points. Blue - Bluish-white body with bluegrey points Chocolate - Ivory body with milk chocolate points Lilac - Magnolia body with frosty pinkish-grey points Red - Creamy-white body with warm orange points Cream - Creamy-white body with

pastel-cream points Cinnamon - Ivory body with warm cinnamon-brown points Caramel - Magnolia body with brownish-grey points Fawn - Magnolia-white body with buff-beige points Apricot - Creamy-white body with apricot points Seal points and Blue points are among the most popular and are regularly seen at shows. Dilute colours, such as lilac, will take longer to develop a maturity. Tabby points The addition of tabby markings makes tabby versions of the self-coloured points: Seal Tabby - Points have cream ground with clear seal brown or nearblack tabby markings Blue Tabby - Points have pale beige or mushroom ground with clear light blue tabby markings Chocolate Tabby - Points have pale beige ground with clear milk chocolate tabby markings, almost copper in tone Lilac Tabby - Points have magnolia ground with clear pinkish-grey tabby markings

MEET THE BREED Red Tabby - Points have pale red ground with clear bright reddish-gold tabby markings Cream Tabby - Points have pale cream ground with clear cool creamtoned tabby markings Cinnamon Tabby - Points have very pale cinnamon ground with warm cinnamon brown tabby markings Fawn Tabby - Points have very pale mushroom ground with clear pale rosy- mushroom tabby markings Apricot Tabby - Points have pale cream ground with clear hot apricot tabby markings Seal Tabby Points and Blue Tabby Points are very popular. Tortie points The base colour of the points is patched and/or mingled at random with varying shades of red or cream. Seal-tortie - Beige/fawn (pale red) body with seal brown/red toned mingled points. Blue tortie - Glacial bluish-white body with light blue and pale cream mingled points. Chocolate tortie - Ivory body with milk chocolate and red mingled points. Lilac points - Off-white body with pale cream and/or pinkish-grey mingled points. Cinnamon tortie - Ivory body with warm cinnamon brown and red patched or mingled points Fawn tortie - Off-white body with mushroom and pale cream mingled points. Tortie points are almost always females since they are genetically sexlinked colours and can produce a wide range of all colours. Tortie tabby points Tortoishell and tabby combinations make further Tortie Tabby varieties; although rare: Seal Tortie Tabby, Blue Tortie Tabby, Chocolate Tortie Tabby, Lilac Tortie Tabby, Cinnamon Tortie Tabby, Caramel Tortie Tabby and Fawn Tortie Tabby. With thanks to Kate Gee and the Snowshoe Cat Society See page 74 for details of the next Snowshoe Cat Society breed show.

Scale of points Head Ears Eyes Neck & bone structure Legs & paws Tail Coat length, texture & condition Colour & markings Temperament Total

20 05 15 15 05 05 10 15 10 100

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BEAT THE BLUES

Don’t be blue - great ideas for inddoor fun When the weather outside is frightful there are plenty of things you can find to do inside that will benefit you, your kitty and maybe others too BY BARBARA MASON

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ecember will soon be drawing to a close and once the celebrations and chaos are finished for another year it can be a dull and sometimes lonely time for many people. But with a little bit of imagination and forward planning, January can be fun. Yes we will all no doubt be making - and not keeping - New Year resolutions but maybe there are some more practical ideas that are worth sticking with… Here are some suggestions for making January fun with your feline friend. Playtime: The days are short and very cold so Fred/Tibbles/Rosie will probably be spending a good deal of time indoors. Make the most of spending time with him/her by playing with new toys and having regular grooming sessions. If kitty isn’t too keen on being groomed, just encourage him or her to enjoy spending more time in your company. Get creative: When the weather is too bad for venturing far outside your front door, decide to make something for yourself, a friend..even for a cat. Rescue centres and charities will always be very grateful for the donation of a knitted blanket or a few soft, catnipfilled mice for the kitties in their care. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece; just soft and cosy for a cat to snuggle up on. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home runs regular ‘knitting kittens’ sessions at their London centre but if you can’t get along to in, all details and patterns

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are available on their website. www. battersea.org.uk/-us/events/ knitting-kittens-club Recycle: If you have been inundated with beautiful gifts and need to clear out some older items to make room, fill a bag and take them to your nearest animal charity shop next time you venture out. They are always grateful for donations of clean clothes in good repair, books, ornaments, homewares and jewellery. You might find a few new books to add to your own mini library while you’re there - and there’s nothing better on a cold winter’s evening than to curl up with a furry friend and a good book. Treat yourselves: While you are hopefully spending more time indoors with your cat, why not try training her to do something. Articles about ‘clicker training’ have been featured in Cat World several times and with a few treats (not necessarily edible ones) as a reward, you could have kitty playing fetch, coming to you when you call or something more entertaining. Talking of edible treats, why not

make some homemade ones to give your favourite feline an extra special something next time they are being good? The recipe below is just one of a selection of ideas from Hills Pet Nutrition. Find more at www.hillspet.com/ cat-care/nutrition-feeding/healthyhomemade-cat-treats If you’re a social media fan, there are bound to be plenty of new festive feline videos to be sought out and enjoyed. You’ll be amazed how much time you can spend watching them… so make sure you have no appointments or visitors scheduled, sit down and get ready to be entertained. Whatever the winter brings, a little thought and imagination can provide hours of entertainment for you and your kitty. The suggestions here may just get you thinking. Other ideas to try include taking a few photos and making a scrap book of your cat that you can add to through the year or make a cosy corner near a window where the two of you can sit and watch the world (or the birds!) go by together.

BEAT THE BLUES Home made treats Hill’s Pet Nutrition recommends using their Science Diet ® or Ideal Balance® cat foods for this recipe. Makes 24 treats approx. Snack ‘Triangles’ from canned cat food: 1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C/ Gas 4 2. Spread 1/2 can of cat food onto a sheet of waxed paper. 3. Cut the flattened cat food into triangles, each 1/2 inch thick. 4. Place the triangles on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. 5. Flip the triangles and bake for another 15 minutes. 6. Let cat treats cool completely before serving to your cat. not to freeze homemade cat treats. All homemade cat treats that have been baked should be stored in the refrigerator no longer than 5-7 days to maintain their freshness and prevent spoilage.

Make a tasty treat or crafty cat-nip toy Soft, colourful and perfect to pounce on, cats that love catnip will be head over heels with excitement if you make this ladybug toy for them.

You will need: n Red felt, 6x4in (15x10cm) n Black felt, 4x2in (10x5cm n Scrap of white felt or wool n Red and black sewing thread n Loose catnip (available from garden centres or pet shops) Cut two ladybug body pieces from the red felt. Cut one head shape from the black felt and sew on to one piece of red body (Top) Using the dotted lines as a guide, mark and cut away a wedge shape from the same body piece to make the wings.

Cut a rectangle 2x1in (5x2.5cm) from black felt. Shape one end to fit the body end opposite the head. Sew in place to the wrong side of

the body top, along the edges of the wings. From the remaining black felt, cut six small circles, approximately 1/2in (1cm) diameter and sew on to the wings (see picture). Place the body top onto the other red body piece and carefully stitch around the edges, leaving a gap of around 1in (2.5cm) for filling. Place catnip inside the ladybug, pressing in with a chopstick or wooden spoon handle until it is firmly stuffed. Sew the gap closed. Using the scrap of white felt, cut out two small eyes and sew to the front of the head. Alternatively, sew two small eyes using white wool. Give the ladybug toy to your cat as as special treat or save for a day when the weather is really bad and they don’t want to be outside.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

The party’s over - now When the last guests have left or gone to bed, if you have a cat it would be wise to clean up the mess as quickly as possible. Here’s why… BY MANDY WILLETT

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ew Year’s Eve is celebrated in many households with, at the very least, a few drinks and nibbles. Staying up late to see in the New Year is fun but tiring and if you’re like me, you can’t wait to get to bed yourself. However, try to tidy up any leftovers first, no matter how tired or slightly squiffy you are as many of them can be harmful to a cat. If you have had a houseful of visitors, chances are your cat has been confined to one room in the house and in theory should be quite safe there while the party is happening. The temptation will be to let kitty out as soon as the house has gone quiet so they can have the freedom of their home once more. Perhaps your celebrations have been a bit more low-key and kitty has just kept out of the way for the evening, waiting to venture to the rest of the house when it feels safe to do so. In either case there could still be leftovers in glasses and bowls that could get knocked over and spilt. Not all will be harmful but the main culprits to be aware of are:

Alcohol Alcoholic drinks and foods that contain alcohol (trifle, tiramisu, etc.), if ingested by a cat, can

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cause vomiting, diarrhoea, disorientation, breathing difficulties and can have severe consequences. Seek veterinary help immediately.

Milk and dairy products Milky drinks, alcoholic or not, and creamy toppings on puddings will not be good for your cat’s digestive system and may cause an upset stomach.

Chocolate and caffeine A nice cup of coffee or hot chocolate to round off the evening and sober up before walking home is lovely for us humans but chocolate contains substances called methylxanthines which if ingested by a feline can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. These include vomiting, diarrhoea, high temperature, abnormal heart rhythm, increased thirst and seizures. Other caffeinated drinks such as coffee and cola also contain methylxanthines and should not be left where a cat may find them. Seek immediate veterinary help if you are worried.

Grapes The reason why grapes and raisins are so dangerous to cats isn’t clear yet but they can bring on rapid kidney failure if your cat should eat even a small amount.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

w it’s time to clear up The clean up Try to clear away everything that could be harmful to your cat either just before your guests leave or once they have gone. If the debris is confined to one room only and you can shut the door, confident that your cat will be unable to get in until you let it, then this is definitely a good idea. However, parties usually spread into at least two rooms, maybe a conservatory too, so take a good look in each room and clear everything into the kitchen. Paper plates and plastic cups are easy to clear away as they can be put straight into a rubbish sack but they aren’t the nicest of things to use. If you have used glass and crockery, be thorough

in your clean up: Scrape all leftover food from bowls and plates into the bin and pour leftover drink down the sink. Go around each room as you clear it and wipe up any spillages and crumbs. Store any leftover uneaten food carefully in the fridge or put it in storage containers in a cupboard. Pick up all the paper streamers and ribbons from party poppers If you have this clean up in mind before the party starts, it hopefully won’t seem like too much of a chore at the end of the evening and you can quickly get everything put away before sinking into bed and closing those weary eyelids.

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CATS ON COUCH

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WITH LEADING BEHAVIOURIST INGA MACKELLAR

When it comes to Christmas, keeping to your cat’s normal routine as much as possible and putting her needs first is the best recipe for peace and joy

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ost of us love the hustle and bustle of Christmas with parties to go to, friends to visit and family coming to stay. However, Christmas can be a very disruptive and stressful time for some cats. The house fills with lots of people or else the owners are busy partying and away for long periods of time. Whilst some cats enjoy the busy socialisation and lots of attention, others can become extremely stressed and find it difficult to cope. These stressed cats may resort to running off and hiding, spraying or even to aggression if they feel cornered and cannot get away, so it is important that owners consider their cats’ needs during the Christmas period.

In advance Boxes are brought down from the loft and the house gets filled with decorations, balloons, holly and tinsel. A Christmas tree suddenly gets placed in the corner of the room and, if a real tree, will be covered with all sorts of external scents. More often than not, furniture is moved around to accommodate the Christmas tree. In addition, the family are coming and going with lots of bags and boxes as presents are bought and wrapped.

Equally, the family are often busy doing extra food shopping and lots of cooking in preparation for the festivities. Cats are particularly sensitive to changes in their home environment and, with all these new and strange smells and changes, they may start to spray to make themselves feel secure. Feline pheromone diffs and sprays reproduce natural pheromones which may reassure your cat during the disruptive period. The diff lasts for four weeks and would need to be plugged in early in December, in the room that your cat uses the most or next to their bed.

Sense of normality As household routines tend to get disrupted, try to stick to normal feeding and play routines with your cat. Avoid giving your cat over-rich Christmas food such as cream and custard as it may upset his digestion. If your cat is used to having a cuddle with you mid-morning, then try to still do so over the Christmas period. The more cat routines that can remain as ‘normal’, the more relaxed your cat will be. The spare bedroom, where the cat may normally go and hide when it

is frightened, is often being used by visitors - so it has nowhere to go to feel safe. Don’t expect your cat to like parties and lots of disruption. Providing a cat with a safe, quiet place it can retreat to can prevent many problems. This is particularly important if the cat is not used to children. If your house is suddenly filled with children the cat may not be able to cope. Toddlers and young children can pester animals and if adults don’t notice what is going on, this can lead to the cat scratching at the child in desperation. If in doubt, keep them apart.

Party time If you are having a party and your cat is not used to lots of people, place it in a quiet room which can be locked so that no visitors can accidentally let it out. Settle your cat down with a comfy bed and its favourite food and toys well in time, before all the visitors arrive. To make your cat feel more secure, place the bed in a cosy corner, perhaps under a table by the radiator. If you have time, try to give your cat some extra special attention earlier in the evening as it will be alone once the party starts. If you are having party poppers,

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Christmas crackers or indoor fireworks, ensure that your cat is out of the room and out of ear-shot if it is sound-sensitive. Equally, be aware of any neighbourhood parties. Fireworks are becoming more frequent so ensure that your cat is safely indoors during any firework displays. If it is not possible to place your cat in a separate, safe room, think about putting it in a cattery overnight.

The tree Do not leave your cat unattended around the Christmas tree or other areas where there are lots of interesting objects. Cats can be tempted by shiny baubles hanging on the tree and many a cat has been known to leap up and inadvertently pull the tree over. Accidents arising from cats ingesting foreign bodies such as decorations, tinsel and small plastic toys are very high over the Christmas period so take care to watch your cat

around any ‘tempting’ items. Cats that are stressed may also spray up the Christmas tree, so a precautionary measure is to spray some synthetic pheromone on the tree before letting your cat have access to it.

If you are having friends to stay who may not be used to cats, have a chat with them before they arrive to tell them the best way to interact with your cat. Never ‘rush’ a cat and allow

Visitors Whilst Christmas is meant to be a time of cheer and goodwill, many families get stressed with preparations and, if combined with too much Christmas ‘spirit’, this can lead to arguments which can cause anxiety in cats. Equally, guests who may have had a bit too much to drink can behave in an erratic manner which may frighten you cat.

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the cat to approach guests at its own pace. They should avoid direct eye by staring as this can be intimidating. Giving your guests a bowl of tasty titbits to feed the cat can help to cement friendly relationships. If your visitors are bringing a dog or their own cats, think about how your cat will react. If it has met the dog or cats before and has got on well, then there should not be any problems. However, if your cat does not like dogs or other cats in its core territory, then it is best to ask your friends to leave their pets at home. Alternatively, you can place your cat in a cattery over the Christmas period. However, the cat may become upset when it returns home to find the whole house smelling of dog or a ‘strange’ cat, so a rigorous clean will need to be done and your cat’s own scents reintroduced.

Home or away If you are going away and leav-

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ing your cat at home, ensure that you have made adequate provision for someone to look after it - ideally, someone to live in or to call in at least two or three times a day. It will need fresh water and food daily and also ensure that it has plenty of litter trays as otherwise it may lead to a house-soiling problem. Cats enjoy company so extra cuddles and games are very important. If you are taking your cat away with you for Christmas and are making a long journey, be prepared for all eventualities. It is safest to transport your cat in a crate where you can provide water and litter facilities. If travelling at night, drape the crate with a blanket so that the cat does not become frightened by the flashing lights going past. Also consider whether your cat is actually happy to travel and go visiting - some find this very stressful so it may be kinder to leave it in its home territory or place it in a cattery. Check that your breakdown

cover will also transport cats. Most of the time, cats will enjoy Christmas with many receiving special food, treats and exciting new toys, although most tend to get the greatest pleasure through diving into all the discarded wrapping paper! But by planning ahead and thinking of your cat’s needs, you can make sure that it is a purr-rect Christmas for everyone.

Tip of the month: Give your cat its own Christmas treat with a homemade Christmas cracker. The inside of an empty toilet roll can be stuffed with tissue paper and tasty dried treats and loosely wrapped in tissue paper. Your cat will enjoy smelling out the food and hunting for it inside the ‘cracker’. However, take care that it does not accidentally swallow any of the paper.

HEALTH CHECK

Sickness could be a warning

Feline stroke - the symptoms and outlook

I

Spotting the signs of a potential stroke and seeking urgent veterinary assessment can be vital in getting the right diagnosis and treatment for your feline friend

f your cat seems unwell, suffering with vomiting, tiredness and erratic behaviour, it could be worth checking your appliances. These are all symptoms that could be a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and animals will tend to be affected before humans. A recent study conducted by a major energy company found that one in three pet owners felt they had been alerted to danger of some sort by their cat or dog. Cats have been known to alert their owners to a medical issue too, such as the onset of a heart attack, stroke, even cancer. Matthew Cole, spokesman for npower, said: “You can’t see, smell or taste a carbon monoxide leak so it’s important to be aware of this potentially fatal danger in the home. Common household appliances like boilers, gas fires, log burners and cookers can all cause accidental exposure so it’s important that people understand the symptoms of CO poisoning. If you notice any symptoms in combination, go outside immediately and seek help.” The moral of this is to know your cat’s usual behaviour, recognise any unusual behaviour and to not take that for granted. Yes, of course call your vet if you are worried about your pet’s health but do think to have a quick check of your home too. If you can give your vet a possible reason for your pet’s illness, the quicker the diagnosis and appropriate treatment can be given.

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BY DR LINDA SIMON, MVB, MRCVS

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hile strokes are spoken about a lot when it comes to humans, they are often given a back seat in veterinary medicine and, interestingly, do not tend to occur as commonly in our feline companions. In fact, not long ago it was thought that cats could not suffer from a stroke. This has now proven to be false, though there is still a lack of scientific literature available. Most owners will describe the symptoms their cats experience as ‘waking up and not being able to walk’ or ‘suddenly falling all over the place’. Cats may roll around, act confused, vomit and have unusual eye movements (nystagmus). Symptoms can range from being mild and very subtle to extremely obvious and frightening. Once any odd behaviour is noticed, an urgent trip to the vet is advised. A stroke can be defined as ‘a destruction of brain tissue secondary to the rupture of an artery or the lack of oxygen caused by blockage’. In cats, it is mostly the geriatric population that suffer these events and many of these cats will have underlying health issues. High blood pressure is a known risk factor for stroke and a significant proportion of cats with chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism will have elevated blood pressure. In our furry friends, it is impossible to know if their blood pressure is high without having it checked at the vets, which is why routine blood pressure

checks are now common practice and should be carried out at every yearly booster when a cat is in their teenage years. As hypertension can be wellcontrolled with medication, it is worth finding out if your cat is at risk. Blood clots can also lead to strokes and cats who suffer from chronic heart disease are those most at risk. As the blood flow is abnormal in cats with certain cardiac conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, clots can form and then ‘break loose’ at any time. Hyperthyroidism and lung cancer can predispose a cat to the formation of clots as well. As strokes are so often linked with underlying disease, after a cat has had a stroke, vets will perform a full body exam, a neurological assessment, check blood pressure and run complete blood and urine tests. If indicated, they may wish to perform some imaging, particularly if they want to assess the heart. Less frequently, more thorough testing will be required, such as a CT or MRI scan. By diagnosing any underlying illness, treatment can be commenced and any future events safeguarded against. During the vet exam, it is vitally important to rule out an event that might look like a stroke but is something else entirely. For example, cats may lose their balance and appear out of sorts if suffering from an inner ear infection. Typically, with a stroke, symptoms

HEALTH CHECK

“By diagnosing any underlying illness, treatment can be commenced and any future events safeguarded against.” will appear almost immediately, while with other conditions that can mimic strokes, such as ear infections or brain tumours, the symptoms tend to come on slowly and get worse with time. After a cat has experienced a stroke and been assessed by the vet, they may be sent home or might need to be kept in the veterinary hospital for a few days. As strokes occur with vary-

ing severity, some cats are only mildly affected while others will need intensive care and monitoring. If required, intravenous fluids are given along with anti-inflammatory medication for several days. Oxygen therapy can help to the cat during its recovery. Some cats will develop life-long side effects after their stroke, such as a head tilt or a wobbly walk. Long-term

physiotherapy will be advised if there are any neurological defects. Lifestyle changes may be required to make the cat more comfortable, such as keeping them indoors and making their bed and litter trays more accessible. Regular health checks can allow for early diagnosis and treatment of certain health conditions, helping to lower the risk of a stroke dramatically. C AT W O R L D

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NEW OWNER

Getting ready for a new feline playmate We are getting ready to welcome a new kitten into our home and preparation beforehand is key to a successful introduction and a happy, healthy feline friend BY YOLANDA WESSELS

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he more love, attention and adequate care you give your pets, the happier and healthier they’ll be. So in a nutshell, what do you need to know to take proper care of your new little feline?

Bringing kitty home When you first bring kitty home, keep children and any other pets away from her until she has had time to explore her new area, one room at a time, without interference. Then confine her to her own room until she becomes accustomed to it. Place her bed in the room, as well as her food and water bowls. Keep her litter box there too. Other extras include grooming tools, a collar with elastic (and a name tag if you prefer), a scratching post, stimulating cat toys and a cat carrier. Introduce the kitten to other of the household individually. With other animals, give affection to both; do not neglect the old pet for the new. The animals will eventually work out their territories and relationships, so it is not advisable to rush them. At first the kitten will miss her mother and littermates and must be compensated by a great deal of tender loving care and play sessions.

Sleeping arrangements A bed makes a safe refuge from which the small animal can explore, retreating every time she feels nerv-

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ous or threatened. Many kittens feel safer when sleeping and cuddling with their new owner than sleeping in a specially prepared place. So if you are not bothered by this and welcome the cat into your bedroom for the remainder of her life, it is a good option and everyone will get some well-deserved rest.

Feeding Young animals develop at an amazing rate, so she will need a lot of calories and fat, protein and vitamins to fuel her growth. After weaning (4-6 weeks), kittens need about twice the energy of an adult cat. This need gradually decreases until they reach adulthood. Feed her a high quality kitten food. (If the breeder gave her a specific diet, gradually switch over to a new diet to avoid gastric upsets.) Food must be fed at room temperature and in shallow, clean dishes. Fresh drinking water must be available at all times.

Litter tray A shallow toilet tray must be provided for the new kitten and can have proprietary cat litter, wood shavings or chippings inside. The kitten will look for her toilet tray soon after her first meal in the new home and should be gently placed on the litter. The tray should be kept in the room, at the same spot. The litter must be changed

frequently and the tray washed when necessary with a mild solution of household bleach or other safe disinfectant or boiling water.

Grooming Initially she may be frightened of the brush, so start by simply showing the brush, letting her sniff it, giving her praise and a treat. Next you can run the flat side of the brush along her body, letting her adjust to the rhythm and motion of brushing. Make grooming fun, with lots of petting and praise.

Playing There is a huge variety of toys available, especially designed for kittens. Simple toys are perfectly acceptable and even a small ball of crumpled paper provides hours of fun. A winner is a small mouse, stitched from thick material, stuffed with dried catnip and a piece of string attached as a tail. A spider, made of four pipe cleaners and laid across each other and bound firmly and tightly around the middle, forming eight legs, is another favourite toy. Table tennis balls, cotton reels and hen feathers all make perfect toys and encourage play, which helps to build up muscle and sharpen the reflexes. (Avoid toys with long pieces of cord or elastic attached, or with stitched or wired glass eyes, tiny bells or any other object that can be chewed off and swallowed by a kitten.)

NEW OWNER

Visits to the vet a) Vaccinations Make an appointment to see your veterinarian as soon as possible after welcoming the kitten. Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam and make sure your kitten is in excellent health before vaccinating her. She should have a course of two vaccinations, starting from the age of nine

weeks and the second being given at twelve weeks. b) De-worming De-worming will be necessary at eight, 12 and 16 weeks and then monthly up to six months of age and from then onwards, every three months. c) Sterilisation It is highly recommended that both

male and female kittens be neutered and spayed at approximately five months. This prevents unwanted pregnancies but has several health benefits to your pets. Having kittens is such an exciting time. Take good care of them - the way you care and interact with them at a young age shapes them to be healthy adults.

Get your house cat-safe O Ensure a safe environment for your kitten to live, play, and explore in. they are curious creatures! O Keep toxic and dangerous materials, such as cleaning solutions, antifreeze and medications in a locked cabinet. O Small holes or gaps in floorboards, walls and furniture must be closed as it poses a danger where she can get stuck.

O Shut cupboard doors, lock doors to high balconies and close open windows. O Try to remove everything that is small enough to be chewed or swallowed. O Cover electric cords with rugs or plastic cord guards. O Keep poisonous plants out of your kitten’s reach, they can be harmful or even fatal to animals.

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FELINE FUN Criss Cross

Spot the difference

Can you work out the answers to the questions to complete this month’sUntitled criss-cross puzzle?

Can you find 10 things in the picture that are missing?

1 2

4

3

5

6

7

Across When catsorare cats are frightened they2. adopt the ‘fight _ _ _fright_ _ _’ ened they adopt the ‘fight _ _is _going _ _’toresponse need to be up to date if or your_cat a cattery Thesetoneed ing your cat’s weight is6. important preventto thisbe up to date if your cat is going to a cattery 7. Watching your cat’s weight is important to prevent this Down 1. In the popular pantomime, the name of the man who takes his cat to

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London. Down 3. Wishes givenpantomime, at the the name of the man who takes 1. In the popular Answers from last month stroke oftomidnight his cat London. on 31st Word Search: WONDERLAND December 3. Wishes given at the stroke of midnight on 31st December right. Spot the difference, 4. Calicivirus isbetter better 4. Calicivirus is known as what? known asname what? 5. The of the Saint celebrated by many countries at Christmas 5. The name of the Saint celebrated by many countries at Christmas

DID YOU KNOW?

EXPERTS IN THE US BELIEVE THAT OWNING A CAT CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF STROKE AND HEART ATTACK BY AS MUCH AS A THIRD. STROKING A CAT HELPS US TO FEEL CALM.

KITTEN CONCERNS

CHARITY’S TOP TIPS FOR GETTING A KITTEN In response to the sad story in a recent BBC television programme, Cats Protection has issued their top tips for anyone thinking of buying a new kitten

F

ollowing the feature on BBC’s Watchdog programme on 7th November 2018 which investigated a cat breeder who sold kittens that later died, the UK’s largest feline welfare charity is offering advice on the best way to acquire a kitten. O Research before you buy - different breeds have different requirements and temperaments so ensure the cat you are interested in is suitable for your lifestyle and environment. O Don’t buy a kitten that is too young - kittens should stay with their mother until they are at least eight to nine weeks old before they are rehomed. O Check that the kitten appears alert, sociable and with no visible health problems. O Make sure you see where the kitten lives and check it is well cared for. O Ensure the kittens in the litter have been checked over by a vet and get the details. O Check whether the kitten has been

wormed or vaccinated - there should be documentation of this. O Make sure you see the kitten with its mother and ask to see the mother if she’s not present. Check whether she is healthy and whether there are any hereditary illnesses or diseases as it’s important to know the kitten’s history before you buy. O Check where the kittens have been kept - if litters of kittens are mixed there is a risk that diseases may have spread between litters. O Check if the kittens have been kept in a busy environment (such as a house) as this will allow them to be socialised and feel safer around people once they are adult pet cats. To offer cats the same welfare protection as dogs, Cats Protection is urging the Government to consider regulating cat breeding so that potential buyers are able to go to a licensed cat breeder. “Our branches across the UK still

regularly tell us harrowing stories of kittens bred and sold that are very sick,” said Madison Rogers, Cats Protection’s Advocacy and Government Relations Officer. “It’s vital that the breeding, as well as the sale of kittens, is regulated to avoid such tragedies.” One such kitten is CJ who was only six weeks old when he came into Cats Protection’s Bridgend Adoption Centre. He had been ed from owner to owner via Facebook and was very poorly when he was itted but, after weeks of care, he was well enough to be rehomed. All cats and kittens adopted from Cats Protection are health-checked, wormed, vaccinated against cat flu and enteritis, neutered where appropriate and come with a free period of pet insurance. O Visit the charity’s website to see cats currently in need of homes, like Perky and Pebbles. C AT W O R L D

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CONSERVATION

The science of saving endangered species The debate: should science intervene and interact with nature to ensure endangered species survive with the use of assisted reproduction techniques and what are the ethical implications? BY CARLA GREENWOOD

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oday IVF is a common procedure. Millions of human babies are conceived through IVF and veterinarians have been using this process for animals too. In fact, it is commonly used in the cattle industry to breed robust herds. In recent years assisted reproduction techniques, including IVF and artificial insemination, have been used more and more on wild animals in the hope that they can save endangered species from extinction. In August this year, the world’s first ‘test tube’ lion cubs were born in South Africa, marking the first successful pregnancy through artificial insemination. The hope is that this controversial procedure can help save endangered cats in the future, like the tiger, snow leopard and Iberian Lynx.

A controversial breakthrough The breakthrough came after 18 months of trials at the University of Pretoria, when researchers successfully harvested the sperm of a male lion and placed it inside a lioness to impregnate her. Just three and a half months later, the lioness gave birth to the two healthy cubs, named Viktor and Isabel, at Ukutula Game Reserve & Conservation Centre. PhD student Isabel Callealta Rodríguez, who is the lead researcher for the study, says: “This study is part of a research project I am currently working on for my PhD. The whole project

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focuses on the implementation of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) into the conservation of large feline species. Throughout this project we intend to acquire a deeper knowledge of the reproductive physiology of African lions and, with the new information we gather, try to develop a protocol of artificial insemination (AI) for this species. The two little lion cubs born on the 25th of August are the result of one of the AI trials we are performing as part of this project. They are both doing really well, growing big and healthy.” However, it appears the research has not been well received by everyone. Nineteen welfare organisations across the globe co-signed a letter to the University, stating: “Based on our cumulative knowledge and experience, we do not the captive breeding of lions, whether assisted or not, because it does not contribute to biodiversity conservation or address the main threats to wild lion conservation. Furthermore, the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa is associated with the exploitation of lions through interaction activities, canned trophy hunting of lions and the lion skeleton trade.” Mark Jones, Head of Policy, at the Born Free Foundation, who were one of the 19 welfare organisations that have expressed concern, says: “Our issue is not with the principle of developing artificial breeding techniques that may benefit conservation efforts

for endangered felids per se, but rather with the fact that the research has been carried out at a facility that is part of an exploitative industry which provides no conservation benefit, and that this industry will utilise the research in its attempts to legitimise its existence and wider commercial activities.” The Lion crisis in South Africa has been well documented in recent years. Over 8000 lions are now held in captivity in 260 facilities across the country. Concern has been raised over the welfare of these animals that are often used for commercial activities, as well as the safety of the people who come into close with these animals. There have been at least 37 incidents affecting around 40 victims, including 12 deaths, since 1996 and the situation shows no signs of slowing down. The letter concludes: “Whilst the study may likely prove useful for the broader reproductive data pool, the message and context thereof have been incorrectly packaged and provide accreditation to the captive breeding of lions that cannot be ed.” In response, the research team at the University of Pretoria stated: “We want to state upfront that our research proposal, including the ethical clearance we received from the University of Pretoria (UP), clearly sets out that the research is not done to the multiplying of lions for the industry but

CONSERVATION

for having established possibilities for endangered felids.”

The way forward Knowledge about reproduction is critical for predicting the sustainability of wildlife populations in nature and for managing breeding programmes in captivity. If used appropriately, artificial reproduction techniques such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer and IVF, could play a part in conservation. For example, artificial insemination may allow genetic exchange without the need for moving or trans-

porting animals. However, despite recent advances in these technologies, ART cannot solely be relied on to save endangered species as Isabel Callealta explains: “Exsitu (captive) breeding programmes have already saved a number of species from extinction and, in some cases, ART (specially AI) has played a decisive role to enhance genetic diversity, such as in the black footed ferret and the giant pandas in China. However, ART is not the only solution to the general problems of felid conservation (which include not only reproductive

issues and genetic diversity loss but also habitat destruction, prey depletion, poaching, etc.). If we want to be successful, conservation must be multifaceted. We, as researchers and veterinarians, see the knowledge on reproductive physiology and captive breeding, and the implementation of ART as another valuable tool we need to learn how to use now, while there is still time. Trying to apply ART in species with such very low numbers is just too late, so we need to start thinking about all these possibilities now, while there is still a chance!”

A case study; Black footed ferrets Black footed ferrets were once considered to be extinct; their populations devastated by the loss of Prairie dogs (their main prey) as well as habitat loss, the construction of cities, and the plague. In 1981, a small group of 24 were discovered and captured by scientists in Meeteetse, Wyoming, sparking new hope that the species could be saved. Unfortunately, six of the ferrets eventually died from either Canine Distemper or the plague so the remaining 18 individuals were used in a captive breeding programme that came with its own challenges. Black footed ferrets are a solitary species so housing them in a group is not possible and it was discovered that females only go into

oestrus once a year and are very choosy about who they mate with. There was also the worry of maintaining genetic diversity in such a small founder population. Yet with the help of artificial insemination and sperm frozen from the original founding males, the Black footed ferret population has now reached around 300 individuals across North America. Whilst they are still very much endangered, the use of assisted reproduction techniques is helping bring this species back from the brink of extinction.

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BOARDING HOUSE DIARY THE

This is dedicated to Willow Conlon, one of Notting Hill Cat Company’s finest kitty customers, a beautiful one year old Maine Coon who sadly ed away in November BY DOMINIQUE URQUHART

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arrive at Willow’s home, eager to see her. As I pull up on my bike she comes hurtling towards the window, hopping onto the ledge and staring at me with her thickly lined eyes. Not a hair on her silvery mane is out of place and although she is not yet fully grown she is already bigger than most cats. Turning around and around on the narrow

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ledge, Willow is excited, playful and eager for company. I open the door and she comes running, her huge tail arched gracefully over her back as she bounces straight past me and buries her furry paws into the waiting doormat. Once she’s finished scratching, she saunters over to me and nonchalantly leans in, lightly brushing my leg. Breakfast is served;

Willow dives in and, once finished, she wanders over to my trainers and, beginning a forensic examination, starts to sniff them. To distract her, I find her favourite toy, a little butterfly on a stick, and spin it in the air over her head. Willow immediately ducks and runs for cover. Crouched beside the sofa, her front paws flat to the ground and her bottom wiggling in the air, she focuses and

for a moment she is still… then she pounces, catching the helpless butterfly toy in the air first time. The next fifteen minutes are a frenzy of plastic wings and fur as Willow chases, dives and catches the butterfly in her mouth. Willow never tires of this game and eventually I hide the butterfly and distract her with treats. Our half an hour is quickly over and although I want to stay longer, I have an overnight guest arriving, a six month old British Short Hair named Gigi. I scoop Willow up for a hug, she wiggles free instantly and hops up on the window ledge, her eyes following me down the path as I leave. Just as I sit down with a cup of tea the doorbell rings. Gigi arrives with his nose pressed against the mesh of his basket; his eyes are wide and the distinctive crooked black heart nestled into the white fur on his chest is visible, even in the darkness of his carrier. Tripping out of his basket, Gigi walks a few

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paces and stops, taking the room in before heading straight for the large window that leads to the balcony. He stares up at me, the badly drawn heart stretching over his chest and disappearing in a squiggly line between his front legs. Once the window is opened, Gigi disappears into the mini jungle on the enclosed balcony and apart from a few visits to stock up on food, he is there for the rest of the evening. That night he sleeps with me, stretched out by my side. When I wake he is already up and playing and cat toys are scattered all over the living room. After a fun-filled day involving lots of cuddles, balcony action and toy chasing, Gigi is collected by his owner that evening. He is quite the character and I am already looking forward to the next visit. I arrive at Willows place on foot, she is of course waiting at the window and as usual, she runs past me as I enter and scratches the doormat with glee. But this time I collect her kitty rucksack, gather some food and a couple of her favourite toys and pop her in the specially designed bag. Willow is coming home with me until her owner returns in a few days. She is a well travelled kitty and is completely silent as we make the short walk to my home. It’s not the first time Willow has stayed here and

It’s not fair that a cat is prettier than a human.

she settles quickly. Before long she is letting me carry her to the window and curling up on my lap, things she was reluctant to do when I was visiting for just half an hour.

Over the next couple of days we have a succession of visitors - Willow fans. It starts with my young cousin who is so transfixed by Willow’s eyes that she barely notices

as Willow rests a paw on the side and knocks her purse, phone and bag of sweets onto the floor one by one. “It’s not fair that a cat is prettier than a human”, she squeals, as she collects her stuff off of the floor, only for Willow to knock it off again. Willow is quite happy to have an audience and by the time she leaves a few days later, she has collected more fans; the neighbours turn up unannounced and workmen linger while she charms us all with her athleticism and gentle but cheeky nature.

THE CAT FACTS: The Notting Hill Cat Company Pampering Your Pets While You Are Away email: [email protected] web: www.nottinghillcatcompany.com call: 0781 354 7461

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LIFESTYLE

Feed their instincts with hunting feeder

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o be happy and healthy, cats need to hunt, catch and play with small meals day and night. Doc & Phoebe have the answer. It’s time to get rid of the cat bowl. Doc & Phoebe’s Cat Co. is relaunching their patented, award winning Indoor Hunting Feeder as a three-mouse kit. To add to the excitement, this revolutionary feeder is now available for a new lower cost - just in time for Christmas!

How does it work? Instead of filling the bowl twice a day, cat parents will fill and hide three mice in the morning then fill and hide three mice again at night. Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder is 100% Veterinarian researched and recommended to improve the following behaviours: O Obesity O Urinating outside of the litterbox O Destructive behaviour O Night time waking O Scarf and Barf (eating too quickly) O Boredom Doc & Phoebe’s Hunting Feeder has won several awards, including the iCatCare 2017 Cat Friendly Award. It has been featured on BBC’s ‘Trust Me I Am A Vet’ and in many leading veterinary and news publications. O To find out more about this revolutionary system, please visit www.pettradeinnovations.com

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Help for pet owners wanting to rent property The new Purrfect Landlords campaign urges landlords to be much more lenient when it comes to allowing cat owners and their pets to rent their accommodation BY JILL MUNDY

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he UK’s largest cat charity, Cats Protection, is now offering landlords and letting agents free guidance for renting to cat owners. The aim is to help more people living in rented housing to own a cat, reducing the numbers of cats taken to rescue centres each year. It is currently very difficult for young people to be able to afford the deposit required to purchase a flat or house and many more people are renting property for several years. However, a survey carried out on behalf of Cats Protection earlier this year showed that less that half (42%) of private rented housing allows cats. Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations, said: “More and more people are renting their homes either by choice or necessity, yet very few rented properties accept cats. This means tenants are missing out on being able to own a cat, while landlords may be losing out on attracting responsible and settled tenants.” It is well documented that owning a pet helps our mental wellbeing, relieves stress and encourages responsibility. With guidance from the Purrfect Landlords campaign, it is hoped that tenancy agreements will soon improve to reflect modern day living.

The new section on the Cats Protection website is full of advice and reassurance for landlords and letting agents and includes free able legal wording that can be added to tenancy agreements. This includes such things as conditions that cats in rented accommodation should be neutered, vaccinated and microchipped to ensure the cats are in the best of health and unlikely to cause any issues. There is also advice for tenants who wish to speak to their landlord about the possibility of owning a cat.

Forced to give up their cat The Purrfect Landlords campaign and new website has been welcomed by many people already affected by the current trend to not allow cats into rented accomodation. Dilys Barnes, of Gorleston, Norfolk, and her partner Steve are backing the campaign after they were forced to give up their own much-loved pet cat Buster. The couple had to hand Buster over to Cats Protection in June 2018 when their landlord decided to sell their property, leaving them unable to find new rented housing which accepted cats. Dilys said: “Every single advert we saw said ‘no pets’ and

MEDICAL MYSTERY

whenever we enquired, the answer was always no. We were devastated and the whole thing was very traumatic. We loved him dearly, yet had to give him away, very much against our wishes. It seems so unfair, as he was our pet and no bother at all. We really miss him.” Other people shared Dilys’ anguish, with several trying desperately for around 18 months before finding suitable accommodation that would allow them to have a cat, often in an area less convenient for family and work commitments. Cats Protection volunteer Zoe McMillan and her boyfriend had to move to a different town because it was the only place they could find a home that would accept their pet cat Rhaegar. She said: “We looked at every option – house shares, flats, houses – but couldn’t find anything at all in Brighton. Eventually we found a property in a different town, 10 miles away. It wasn’t where we wanted to be, as it was away from our circle of friends, but it was the

only property that had come up in 18 months that would accept pets, so we took it.” Zoe and her boyfriend were forced to move back with their parents while they searched for a suitable property, which was not ideal and not everyone has that option.

The other side Mandy Boycott is a private landlord from Yarm, North Yorkshire who does welcome cats into her rental properties. In fact she is far more concerned about other risks. “Cats have never caused me any concern and I’ve never had any problem allowing tenants to own them. I’m much more concerned with the damage to a property that can be caused by smoking than by anything a cat could do. In my experience, people who own cats are always lovely people and that’s the sort

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More and more people are renting their homes either by choice or necessity, yet very few rented properties accept cats.

of tenant I’d like. I don’t feel the need to ask for larger deposits or cleaning fees, because I’ve never had any experience of cats causing any problems whatsoever.” At the moment, some landlords ask for a deposit that is double the usual amount if the owner wants to keep a cat at their property and as this figure can be around £4000 or more, it prevents a lot of people from taking up that property. Hopefully the Purrfect Landlords campaign will show landlords and letting agents that allowing owners with cats to rent their properties is not something they should be refusing. In turn, this will prevent some of the hundreds of cats each year being handed in to cat rescue centres as a result of the owners being unable to find suitable living accommodation where they can keep them. C AT W O R L D

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HEALTH

Infection discovered by veterinary detective Sometimes the root of a problem can be disguised as something else; often, says Alison Logan, many things need to be eliminated before the true cause is discovered BY JILL MUNDY

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ats have four paws because they are quadripedal, as opposed to humans who are bipedal and therefore have two hands and two feet. An understanding of Latin reveals all: ‘bi-‘ and ‘quadri-‘ mean two and four respectively; ‘-pedal’ derives from the Latin word pes, pedis for foot. This kitten, however, was decidedly bipedal, sitting up on his haunches and steadfastly refusing to bear weight on his forelimbs. What was going on? Scamp had moved in with his owners only four days previously. Initially, he had been in very good health, doing everything one expects and anticipates of a ten-week-old kitten. All had changed this morning, when it was quickly apparent that Scamp was not right. He had refused his breakfast and limped away from his bowl to hide under a chair. It was selfevident that there was a major problem. Scamp simply lay in his basket, taking no interest in the strange surroundings of my consulting room.

Looking for clues I lifted him out and he flopped onto the table top. He simply would not, or could not, bear weight on his forelimbs. I was unable to feel any deformities or abnormal movements when I manipulated and palpated both his front legs but I had to be very gentle because he really resented me handling those legs. The only other abnormal finding

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from my detailed clinical examination was a rectal temperature of 40.6 degrees Centigrade. Kittens tend to run a little warmer than their adult counterparts and, coupled with the anxiety associated with a trip to the veterinary practice, may yield a thermometer reading up to a degree higher than the normal of approximately 38 degrees Centigrade. I often remark that you know when a cat is feverish from the lack of reaction to the positioning of a thermometer up his or her backside!

Probable explanation Of all the possible explanations running through my head, which actually numbered only three or four, the most likely was a severe viral infection which had homed in on the ts of the forelimbs. The likely candidate would be our old friend calicivirus. Although feline calicivirus is classi-

cally considered as part of the group of feline upper respiratory tract infections, also known as cat ‘flu, it will also

Common features of calicivirus infection: a) initially - watery eyes - conjunctivitis - sneezing - watery nasal discharge - ulceration within the mouth, especially the tongue, often leading to excessive salivation - unkempt coat from lack of grooming (due to oral ulceration and general ill- health)

- depression - fever - reduced appetite or anorexia b) later stages – secondary bacterial infection - purulent or snotty discharge from nose - purulent ocular discharge c) persistence - chronic inflammation within the oral cavity: stomatitis, gingivitis

MEDICAL MYSTERY Symptomatic treatment for cat ‘flu O clean away discharges from the eyes, nose and mouth O encourage the loosening of discharges by encouraging the feline patient to be in the bathroom when a hot bath has been run O hand-feed favourite and/or smelly food O syringe-feed favourite food liquidised, or specific liquid diet O ensure adequate fluid intake O human decongestant remedies adapted to suit the feline patient – contents of inhalant capsules or rub preparation smeared onto bedding or even a hair scrunchie placed around neck like a collar (ensure will not be snagged) O discourage the cat from going outside in order to avoid providing any temptation of hiding up - provision of litter tray in accessible place within the home

manifest as t pain. The classical picture is one of shifting lameness, the affected cat being lame on different limbs at different times. Anyone who has had a dose of influenza will sympathise with Scamp. The aching ts are so uncomfortable, coupled with all the other symptoms. Taking to one’s bed is the only course open to one – indeed, it is hard to simply leave the bed. A commonly quoted adage is that if you can leave your bed to bring in the post, then you have a common viral cold, not true influenza!

Appropriate treatment As any GP will tell a patient with ‘flu,

there is no direct treatment for a viral infection: one can only treat the symptoms. Antibiotics are only prescribed if a secondary bacterial infection develops, which is a common complication because the body’s immune defences are themselves compromised by the virus. The same is true for our feline patients. Fortunately, there are now painkillers suitable to give cats which will help restore the body temperature to the normal range and also alleviate painful ts. In Scamp’s case, my biggest problem was to convince his owners that it was a viral illness from which he was suffering, and not a physical injury. To help me confirm my diagnosis, I

itted him to assess his response to treatment, working on the basis that a physical injury would not improve dramatically on treatment more suited to a kitten with a viral infection. Scamp was given intra-peritoneal fluids and a carefully calculated dose of analgesic (painkiller). He was bedded down in a quiet corner with a bowl of food to hand. An hour later, there was a sight to behold: one kitten standing on all four paws, crying to go home. Diagnosis confirmed! Scamp went on to make a smooth and uneventful recovery over the course of the next few days. It soon became all too apparent when he was feeling better, with a reversion to all those games which kittens love so much. Just like children, kittens rapidly become lethargic but soon bounce back with a vengeance. Scamp’s owners were certainly glad he did not have a fracture of some kind, as they had been fearing. C AT W O R L D

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theCAT WE SHOWCASE THE PURRFECT PRODUCTS FOR YOU & YOUR Cat Nap Sweatshirt Embrace the nap life with this Cat Nap sweatshirt! This comfy and cosy sweater is purrrrfect for curling up on the sofa and binge-watching your favourite shows. It’s available in five sizes and features whiskers alongside the phrase ‘Cat Nap’. 80% Cotton; 20% Polyester. Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL. Price: £32.99 GettingPersonal.co.uk

Cat Brooch Needle Felting Kit The perfect introduction to the art of needle felting, each kit comes with British wool and all the materials and tools you need, plus step by step instructions. It’s the ideal first needle felting project and will take a beginner 2-4 hours. Just add a foam block work surface or sponge, needle and thread and you’re ready to go. Kit contains two sharp needles so please supervise children carefully. Price: £10; Gifts For a Girl www.giftsforagirl.co.uk

Cat Embroidery Kit This cute curled up cat embroidery kit contains everything you need to complete your own contemporary hoop art. You’ll also find a stitch and colour guide. A lovely project to complete with your friends or family. The design is printed on 100% cotton fabric; just fix in the hoop and start stitching. Price: £17.50; Gifts For a Girl www.giftsforagirl.co.uk

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TAL ST

R LOVED ONE

My First Chess Set King Lion and Queen Tiger and their army of cats in their quest to conquer chess, with this beautiful wooden toy by Vilac. The set includes 32 wooden animal pieces, all ready to battle it out on the wooden chess board! A wonderful way to introduce children to this famous game (and it will look lovely on their shelf too).For ages 6 years and over. Price: £29; Bobby Rabbit www.bobbyrabbit.co.uk

Skipping Rope - Cats It’s hours of bouncy fun with our fabulous skipping ropes, designed by Ingela P Arrenhius for Vilac, . And these cats sure love to hop and jump! The skipping rope features a pair of red wooden cat-handles, in dapper black and white bow ties, and a contrasting blue and white stripy rope. Price: £15; Bobby Rabbit www.bobbyrabbit.co.uk

Trio of Kittens Cushion Cover Surely you must have a spare seat for this playful trio. A cute 40cm square cushion cover that makes the perfect gift for a cat lover or a wonderful treat for yourself. 70% Polyester, 30% Cotton. Price: £8.95; live laugh love ltd www.livelaughlove.co.uk

‘Posh Pussy’ Single Oven Glove Add a touch of glamour and naughtiness to your kitchen with our Posh Pussy grey background colour single oven glove. Made from 100% cotton with a handy hanging loop, the glove measures 33cm, is heat resistant and machine washable. Matching tea towels also available. Price: £7.95; At Home in the Country www.athomeinthecountry.co.uk

Sleep Eat Cat Pet Bowl It’s a cat bowl with a feline to-do list in it. Helps your cat to sleep, eating and annoy you. It’s already got the tools for the first and third steps, now it just needs something to eat out of. Fortunately it has arranged for you to conveniently stumble onto this To Do List cat bowl…problem solved! Made of ceramic, the bowl is clawsome qual-kitty so your cat won’t push it around like it does a plastic bowl…or a cat owner. Price: £7.99; MenKind.co.uk

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FELINE FICTION

A tale about Toby and making memories last I have owned many cats over the years, all of them making wonderful memories and they hold a special place in my heart, none more so than Toby BY LORRAINE SCHOFIELD

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oby, my youngest cat, is a rescue cat who I adopted more than five years ago in the summer of 2013. Very little was known about his background other than he had been found roaming the streets in an area of Bury near to the town centre and although somebody initially took him in, they were unable to keep him as they lived in rented accommodation where the landlord did not allow pets. Therefore, Toby ended up at the local rescue shelter which at the time was pretty full. So a friend of mine who had just adopted a cat from them suggested that they telephone me to see if I would take him. Although I was not looking for another cat (I had previously owned three cats and as I also have a weakness for Tabbies), it did not take much persuasion for me to agree to adopt him. Indeed, one of the volunteers from the shelter actually brought Toby to my house and the moment I saw him, I knew that I had to adopt him. He has beautiful markings and an adorable little face and I fell for him instantly. Toby settled in well and although he was initially rather hostile to Tibbles, my older tabby, eventually he settled down and Tibbles and Toby were soon comfortable companions. The arrival of Tilly, a beautiful tortoiseshell, later that year, after my oldest cat Molly ed away at eighteen years of age, really helped

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Toby to feel settled. As they were both young cats and great playmates, this seemed to help quell Toby’s anxiety as he has always been a very nervous and timid cat. I used to love watching them chase after each other down the lane behind my house and they were definitely firm friends. Sadly, in 2014, Tilly was killed on the road outside my house which brought a sudden and unexpected end to Toby and Tilly’s friendship. Subsequently, I adopted Mia, another rescue cat, in 2014 but like Toby, she is also nervous and anxious so that even to this day they are wary of each other and are not at all at ease in each other’s company.

Ideas and ambition Nevertheless, Toby’s background as a former stray wandering the streets intrigued me and I often wondered exactly where he had come from; how he had come to be living on the streets and also for how long? Had he been cruelly abandoned? Or had he perhaps run away from an unhappy home? Of course, I will never know the answer to these questions but as I thought about him and his past life it gave me an idea for a cat fiction book which I had been hoping to write for a while - and so I decided to write a fictional story entitled “Toby’s Tale”. Initially, I planned only the begin-

ning of the story which starts with Toby’s beloved owner, an elderly Mrs Jones, having to enter a nursing home on of ill health so that when Toby learns that he is to be re-homed with her daughter, who keeps dogs, he decides that the best option is to run away. I set the story in Bury, my home town, with the street name of Brick Street being where my grandparents once lived. Mrs Jones is a reference to my late mother who always encouraged me with my writing ambitions. In fact, I decided that throughout the book I would use some names which were meaningful to me, so I also included a tortoiseshell cat named Tilly as a tribute to my tragic Tilly; also, Toby’s best friend is a cat called Tiger which is also a tribute to a beautiful Tabby that I owned over twenty years ago who unfortunately also died young in tragic circumstances. A neighbour’s cat, Archie, is also given a mention and is described as a handsome ginger Tabby although sadly he too died only a year ago on the roads. Even though this may sound somewhat depressing, my aim has been to pay a little tribute to these special cats who I have had the good fortune to know and love.

Learning the ropes I have never written fiction before and although I had a rough outline of

FELINE FICTION the story I was not quite sure of how it would actually progress and ultimately conclude. Therefore, I decided to write in small chunks and see where the story took me. Although I write my non-fiction articles directly onto the lap top, I decided to write Toby’s Tale in an A4 notebook. This worked well because it meant I could take it with me and write whenever I had a few spare minutes. I work as a private tutor and so I am always busy, whether it is teaching or preparing lessons so it made sense that I should write little and often whenever I had a few spare moments. This gave me a lot of satisfaction and although the process of writing the story was slow, I felt like I was achieving something as slowly but surely I built up my story, developed new ideas and introduced new characters. I wrote a lot about Toby’s hopes and fears, describing how his world had been turned upside down by both the loss of his owner and also his comfortable home. I hope that readers will be able to empathise with Toby’s dilemma and see it from a cat’s perspective. Indeed, one of the things that I love about animals is that they value the simple things in life and instinctively know what is important which is namely a loving owner and a comfortable place to live. Throughout the story Toby faces many tough times and challenges but also has some positive experiences as a stray, especially in the way that he makes new bonds with kind hearted people who only have his best interests at heart. Furthermore, because of his zest for life and fighting spirit, Toby manages to overcome the obstacles that he faces and carve out a new future for himself.

Fine tuning Once I had written the story I then began the rather long process of editing it and typing it up into a word document so that I could send it to potential publishers. The first

publisher I approached did in fact offer to publish it for me but at a cost to myself of nearly two thousand pounds. These types of publishers, I have discovered, are known as ‘vanity publishers’ who will publish books at a considerable cost to the author, following which I am told that they often do very little in of advertising and marketing the book. Therefore, I decided that best way of getting into print was to self publish Toby’s Tale as an e-book and make it available on Amazon’s Kindle Store. Fortunately, although I am by no means a master of technology, I found the process very straightforward and within 24

hours my e-book was available online to . It was a wonderful feeling to log onto Amazon and see my Toby’s handsome face gracing the front cover of my book and I am immensely proud of him. Only time will tell whether my book is a commercial success but whatever the outcome, I have felt a great sense of personal satisfaction in seeing my book online. Moreover, it will always serve as a lasting tribute to my Toby, who really is a brave, adorable and very special little cat. O Toby’s Tale is available as an e-book now, from Amazon

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CONFESSIONS of a CAT LOVER AS HIS CATS DON’T MIND THE VET’S WAITING ROOM, TIM RELF CAN BECOME DISTRACTED BEING CHARMED BY THE OTHER ANIMALS AND DREAMING OF OWNING EVEN MORE PETS

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arsley has one less tooth. The operation to remove the fang in question ed without hitch. The most difficult aspect for her of the whole episode was not being able to eat for 12 hours beforehand. For a cat such as Parsley who adores her food, this was serious. She had to forego breakfast on the day of the op, plus dinner the night before. Such fasting made her indignant, angry and confused. She obviously wondered if we’d decided to take radical measures to trim a little weight off her and tried various tactics to extract a meal from us. She sat by her bowl. She paced in front of the food cupboard. She followed me around the house. She

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ignored me. She yowled in a way clearly intended to suggest maltreatment to the neighbours or ersby. Parsley miaowed pretty much non-stop from 6pm until 9pm then gave up and went and sat on a windowsill upstairs and sulked. Her demands for food began again early the next morning with particular vehemence. In fact, the wailing started about 4am and continued almost uninterrupted until she was bundled unceremoniously into her carrying box and transported to the vets. Thankfully, the journey to the surgery was straightforward. She doesn’t mind the car. If anything, the noise of the engine and the gentle rocking motion

calm her down. She either sleeps or occasionally peers forward through the windscreen like a feline co-driver. She even doesn’t object to the vet’s waiting room. I find them incredibly friendly places, too. Generally observed rules of social etiquette go out the window. Normally reserved people cast off their inhibitions. I live on the edge of London, I often travel on the underground, I’m used to people standing and sitting a few inches away and staring straight through me as if I don’t exist. No one ever talks to strangers in this part of the world. But in vets’ waiting rooms, we break into spontaneous conversation. It’s like the blitz spirit. ‘Hello, how are you?’ we’ll ask. ‘Who have you got in there then?’. ‘What’s he/she in for?’ We’ll trade compliments about each other’s charges. I’m not a dog person but I even find myself looking fondly at the assortment of pooches I encounter. One or two of them, it has to be said, eye Nutmeg and Parsley with a gaze that more says ‘dinner’ than ‘fondness’ but I can forgive them that. It’s instinct. Plus,

my cats do the same when they see a hamster or a guinea pig. ‘They want to be friends,’ one lady said to me, when she noticed Nutmeg staring particularly wide-eyed at her hamster. Bless her. Forming a lasting friendship was the last thing on Nutmeg’s mind. She was planning an early supper. The problem with visiting the vets, other than the acute pains I get in my wallet, is that it makes me want to get more pets. More cats (a ginger one is definitely high on our shopping list) and even a dog. Isabel and I have talked about the possibility of introducing a mutt into our house but there are two principal problems. One is that we both work and we’d have to reorganise our days to accommodate the pooch. The second is how Nutmeg and Parsley would take it. People tell me if you get a dog when it’s young, cats cope just fine. They say it would be small and subservient and the cats could be what they need to be - dominant. But I’m not so sure. It’s not that I think they’d be bullied or scared. They’d just have their noses put out of t. I wouldn’t be

surprised if they moved out in a fit of pique. There are lots of cat lovers on our road. I fear they’d have a new home before you can say ‘custody battle’. Parsley’s operation, incidentally, ed without problems. She was in and out in less than 12 hours. I was expecting her to be slightly groggy when she returned home and to have that post-anaesthetic wobbly walk but she was fine. A little more needy than normal but fine. She went straight to the kitchen and demanded food, clearly trying to make up for lost time. We were resolute and didn’t give her any extra. No way. I’d read about a cat in America called Buddha, which had reached 31lbs. Dubbed Nashville’s ‘morbidly obese cat’, he was put on rations and an exercise regime which included wading on a partsubmerged water treill (apparently he doesn’t mind the water and it ed his bulk and helped protect his ts). Apparently the goal was to slim him down to 20lbs, at which point he’d be re-homed. As regards the list of possible additional pets we’re considering, a dog seems the best alternative. Fish are boring and the cats would inevitably eventually catch them. We’ve got two in a small pond in the garden and the cats will sit for hours staring into the water. I’d be bound to leave the lid of the tank open if we had fish indoors and come back one night to find fins and scales everywhere.

A mid-size pet like a rabbit would confuse Nutmeg and Parsley. I’m not sure they’d know how to react to it - whether to treat it as friend of foe. They don’t share their space with animals very well but they adore human visitors. We’ve been having the bathroom replaced this month and it’s been the most exciting time for Nutmeg. She’s had a new

man in the house, for starters, and she likes new men. She flirts round him all day, clambering over assorted bathroom fixtures and fittings like they’re an adventure playground. It also means, because much of the house has resembled a builder’s storage yard, that they’ve got to sleep in the lounge at night, which they’ve been angling for ever since they arrived.

We’ve never let them before because completely unsupervised, they’d be even more likely to damage the furniture but I’ve resigned myself to having lost that particular battle. Stopping cats do what they want to do is like trying to turn back the tide. I figure they might as well scratch it in the night as in the day. At least we won’t have to watch them doing it.

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FUNERAL CARE

APPCC marks 25 years A major announcement in the pet funerals industry reveals private pet crematoriums are to face compulsory inspections BY JILL MUNDY

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ompulsory, independent inspections are to be introduced for Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria in what has been described as the biggest ever development in the pet funeral world. The announcement was made by the APPCC at its 25th anniversary celebrations. The £14,000 cost of the inspections will be met by the organisation which, since 1993, has been setting international standards for the respectful handling of pets after they die. Pet crematorium and cemetery owners will have their operating and marketing procedures minutely examined to ensure they meet the strict APPCC code of practice and are complying with consumer protection regulations. Overseas will be required to provide video and photographic evidence of how they collect, handle, store and cremate animals. Stephen Mayles, vicechair of the association, said:

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“This is the biggest development in the pet cremation sector to date. The cost of introducing the mandatory inspection system is money well spent. It is there to help you to ensure your business is running properly, legally and working to the same level.” Chairman Nick Ricketts believes the association’s work has never been so critical, given the ‘corporisation’ of the veterinary world over the past five years. “This shift has seen small private veterinary clinics bought up by national companies which often keep the old name of the surgery and don’t tell the clients about the takeover. The public doesn’t realise that some of these large vet groups are doing high volume, low-cost deals with crematoria chains to offer a very basic level of service at an inflated price. “Pet owners could therefore be inadvertently missing out on the services of their local APPCC operator who is bound by a strict code of practice governing

transportation, handling and the meticulous care of ashes.” Mr Ricketts believes many people would be shocked to learn that the pet funeral industry is still only regulated from the perspective of waste disposal legislation. “The grim truth is remains of much loved pets may legally end up on a landfill site. Even if it has been left at the vets after it has been euthanised, it doesn’t automatically follow that the animal will be handled with the respect the owner might expect. It could be taken on its final journey with lots of other animals, all piled in plastic bags on top of each other in the back of a van. The end destination is often a giant crematorium operating on an industrial scale, many miles away. “That’s fine if people know this is what could happen, but often they don’t.” The APPCC code of practice sets it apart in the industry. Transparency is fundamental and the cremation process must be described in detail. “Many pet owners are not

made aware of the options. Now more than ever they need to ask lots of questions about the way their animals will be treated.” Among those present at the celebrations were five founder of the APPCC. Their inaugural meeting was held on February 21, 1993 at a hotel in Walsall. Recalling the meeting, Mr Ricketts said: “At the time of the first meeting we were encountering a lot of red tape because local authorities were dealing with a relatively new phenomenon in pet cremations. That led to the formation of the association. We drew up a code of conduct to deal with officialdom and to provide a united front amid competition from big operatives. It was a modest start but 25 years later we are internationally respected.” Looking to the future, Mr Spurgeon added: “We need to re-build relationships with vets by holding open days and stressing to them the ethics of the APPCC, its code of practice and our independent inspections.” To find your local APPCC member visit appcc.org.uk

FELINE LIFE

A BIT OF YIN AND YANG Sometimes we need to see both sides of a situation to appreciate the good but trying to get a couple of felines to understand this is no easy task BY CATHERINE POOL

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oday I took my two cats Sapphire and Sheba to the vets for their annual booster vaccinations. Going to the vets is a journey that we all hate – but it has to be done. Sapphire is a big black cat with a beautiful shiny coat, and Sheba is small, stunning and pure grey (Like the cat in the advert). They both have a little white under their chins and are half sisters, aged nine. Sheba was on the front seat next to me on my mother’s lap and Sapphire was in her basket on the back seat. They both miaowed a duet at the tops of their voices in protest all the way there. All the car windows were open as the sun scorched in. The cats were hot and cross and I’m sure everyone around could hear their loud unrelenting miaows. “Just be thankful you’re not on the bus with them” my mother said helpfully. “The cats must think I’m horrible”, I said. “It’s ok, darlings. We’re nearly there. I feel so awful that I can’t explain to them what is hap-

pening. Poor Sapphire was resting under the tree in the sunshine and Sheba was curled up in her bed when I disturbed them both and put them reluctantly in their baskets.” “They’ve got to have a little rain in their lives, - to prepare them for the storms” my mother replied. “A bit of Yin & Yang – a bit of balance.” I found my mother’s words quite touching and comforting and while I reflected upon her wise words, we were all relieved to arrive outside the vets. In the cool waiting room the miaowing stopped and Sapphire and Sheba were very subdued. Sheba had been panting earlier – but the vet later told me that panting in cats is a form of a little panic attack. We were called in to see the vet quite quickly. After the struggle at home to get them into the baskets, now neither cat wanted to come out! Once on the table, both my cats behaved beautifully and I was proud of them. They both ed their health check, were weighed and given their important Boosters for cat flu,

feline enteritis and leukaemia, given worming tablets and had their nails clipped. (And I bought their flea treatment on the way out - when the cats weren’t looking! Sapphire and Sheba don’t like ‘Flea Treatment Day’ either - but it is so important to ister it a week after the worming tablet). My two ‘Little Dears’ were very quiet on the way home and it was a big relief all round. Once home, Sapphire and Sheba flopped down on the living room floor, cooling and calming down before their tea. “Well done, Girls,” I said. “That wasn’t so bad, was it and it’s a good job done for another year. You can both go out in the sunshine again now if you want to - but , you need a little rain in your lives sometimes, don’t you darlings?” Sadly, since writing this article, Catherine had to make the very difficult decision to have Sheba put to sleep as she had severe kidney failure. The article is published in her memory.

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NATURAL TUR L HEALTH EA TH As this is the season of overindulging, Richard Allport gets to the bottom of how eating too much, being inactive and eating the wrong diet can affect our pets’ health

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f you don’t mind, we’ll concentrate this month on bottoms and see where this subject takes us. Cats’ rear ends in fact and, to be precise, cats’ anal glands. I was always taught as a veterinary student that dogs get anal gland blockages very easily but cats don’t. I have had two cats referred to me in recent years for ‘chronic eczema at the base of the tail’ that were simply cats with blocked anal glands trying to chew their nether regions. Apart from these two, I see many cats - often referred for other problems entirely - that have very full anal glands and in need of a good, hearty squeeze of their derrieres. The question is - why do cats appear to be more prone to anal gland problems these days? Let’s start with the function of the glands. Just why do cats have anal glands and what are they for? The anal glands, or anal sacs to be quite precise, are two small cavities, one on either side of the anus, which are connected to the exterior at two small openings which (if you really want to look at your cat’s bottom up close) you can see quite clearly. The two glands

produce a secretion which is (to our noses) quite smelly and offensive. The secretion is produced more or less continuously, so that if the glands do not empty regularly, the secretion will build up inside the glands and (not unnaturally) will cause pain and discomfort. Dogs that have blocked anal glands are frequently seen to rub their bottoms on the ground, often known as ‘scooting’. Cats rarely seem to do this; more often they will try to lick or nibble at or near the offending area - and around the flanks or base of the tail. Maybe that’s as near as they can get, especially if they are of a somewhat portly persuasion. Assuming the glands do empty successfully - why does this happen and what’s the point anyway? Logically, to empty the glands, some sort of pressure is required and this is usually provided by the act of evacuating the bowels. Although defecation is the ‘normal’ way of emptying the glands, a sudden shock or fright will also cause them to empty, involuntarily. The sudden contraction of muscles in the area in response to the ‘fright or flight’ reflex will cause a rapid emptying. This is why dogs

and cats often produce an unpleasant smell after a sudden shock - the smell coming from the anal gland secretion. And the function of this strange, smelly secretion? It appears no-one knows for certain but it’s assumed to be a form of scenting signal. Presumably each cat has his or her own personal anal scent, so other cats in the area will have a good idea of who else is in the neighbourhood. But let’s get back to the central question: why do glands block up and stop functioning normally? Despite the fact that anal glands are such a common cause of problems in both cats and dogs, I’ve never seen much, if any, research into the factors that might trigger their problems. My own views about the likely causes indicate four main items: Diet Obesity Exercise Bowel dysfunction

Diet In the wild, cats will eat mice, birds and various other of the smaller British fauna. This includes fur, feathers, bones, innards; all are grist to the mill. Such a diet will tend to produce firm, fairly

bulky faeces, which will be likely to provide the appropriate pressure to empty the glands. Modern cat diets, mainly tinned and dried, very processed and virtually pre-digested foods, don’t contain the bits of bones, gristle and fur that bulk out the faeces in the same way. Which is, of course, another argument in favour of feeding cats on real meat, vegetables and raw bones – much more like the natural diet and healthier too. Apart from the pressure needed to empty the glands, another factor in ‘easy emptying’ is the type of secretion produced. Anal gland secretions can vary in colour and consistency; from pale yellow to dark brown, from thin and watery to thick and tarry. Obviously a thick, viscous secretion is more difficult to empty from the glands. Again, I have seen no research at all into what controls the type of discharge but my guess would be that the more ‘natural’ the diet, the more ‘normal and emptyable’ the secretion.

Obesity Simply, the fatter cats are, the more prone they are to a whole range of health problems, including constipation and anal gland blockage. In a sense, of course, this is related to the previous factor, since the wrong diet, or too much of the right diet, will make cats fat. Without wishing to belabour the point, modern diets are often far too high in calories, too rich in fats, and are far too digestible to do anything other than promote obesity. So your vet then has to sell you an expensive weight-controlling food to try and undo the harm the original diet has done. All you really had to do was provide a good, healthy diet in the first place.

Exercise Well, it’s all part of the same thing, really! If cats exercise more, they won’t get so fat and won’t tend to get

anal gland problems so easily. It is a little more than that, though. As exercising tones muscles, a well-exercised cat will be more likely to have the muscle strength and tone in the anal area to enable the glands to be emptied. Now, I do appreciate, you can’t take your cat to the local gym and expect him to do the rounds of the treill, the weights and a quick 15 lengths of the swimming pool. But you can encourage plenty of chasing games, hide food and toys for search and recovery; anything which stimulates activity and agility should be positively followed.

Bowel dysfunction The anal glands empty with the

pressure of normal defecation. So, not surprisingly, cats that have persistent or recurrent diarrhoea are more liable to anal gland problems, because there is not enough pressure from the soft or watery faeces to empty the glands properly. Conversely, a constipated cat will not be producing faeces regularly enough to empty the glands. So regular bowel movements are very important for healthy anal glands. This means that, yet again, the correct diet is vital to produce good, normal, regular bowel movements. It also means that if your cat does suffer a lot from either diarrhoea or constipation, your vet may need to check the anal glands from time to time to ensure they are not blocked.

“Anything which stimulates activity and agility should be positively followed.”

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GORDY ME ELAINE MEAD SHARES HER EXPERINCES OF LIVING WITH A CHALLENGING SPECIAL NEEDS CAT When the kittens came to stay…a forgotten promise led to a few weeks of reorganisation and readjustment for everyone in our busy household

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pparently I had agreed...but I had obviously forgotten…to welcome into our house Tiny, the terrier dog who belongs to my son’s girlfriend, and to feed their three little kittens, Maggie (after Maggie Thatcher!) a tabby cat with beautiful markings who is seven months old and Reggie and Ronnie (yes you guessed it, after the Kray twins), two jet black siblings of four months old. My son and his girlfriend were away for the weekend and I was supposed to be just popping in to feed these three adorable bundles of mischief but after driving the five miles to where they live a few days before to ‘meet everyone’, I was at once completely and totally head over heels and gooey eyed and decided that there was no way I would be comfortable visiting for at best an hour a day, leaving them to their own devices for the other 23 hours. I would worry they had got into trouble with wires and closed doors. As they were yet to go outside they were quite happy to be inside at my house, where I could keep a watchful eye on them 24/7. My son moved out earlier this year and I set about turning his room into my ‘indoor studio’, so it seemed a good idea that the kittens would have this space as their ‘base’. I had every intention of letting them out to mingle with the rest of the gang at some point over the three days they were with us. That never happened..... My two Golden Retrievers, Izabel and Defi, just accepted that Tiny

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wasn’t going home as my son drove away after dropping them off. Both dogs have been through visitors and new ‘inmates’ to the house many times before so another ‘guest’ was not a problem. Although Iz did roll her eyes at the kittens as they were carried through the house and to the upstairs room. We decided it would be a good idea to introduce the kittens to Miss ‘Mudge who had been asleep on our bed until the noise of the new arrivals. One look at the kittens and her eyes widened to the size of saucers and she flew off the bed, down the stairs and out the cat flap faster than you could say ‘Hi ‘Mudge’. After settling the kittens into my studio we pottered about like the middle aged married couple we are for the rest of the Friday afternoon, letting the dogs get used to the idea that they were going to be together for a bit. Tiny was a little anxious as this was the first time she had been left with us on her own but she soon settled and rather enjoyed the attention.

The first meal time was interesting. Gordy, as normal wandered into the kitchen and Miss ‘Mudge came in from outside with the look of thunder on her face at her home being ‘not as it should be’ - but she is ruled by food, so in she came and sat in her place in the hall. Gordy didn’t notice Tiny, despite Tiny dancing around as terrier dogs do, eager to ensure she was getting a dinner. Freddy Bear didn’t come back for tea but this is not unusual when the weather is nice; he still likes to let me know he is an independent creature and hears ‘the call of the wild’ from his days as a stray. Miss ‘Mudge ate her dinner with one eye glaring through the glass kitchen door at Tiny. As soon as she had eaten she was back out that cat flap with enough noise to wake the dead... just so I knew she was still displeased. I popped upstairs to check on the kittens who had settled in beautifully; all three were on the window sill watching the horses in the field. They were mesmerised. They live on a small housing estate so seeing horses and hearing cows must have been very interesting. As soon as they heard the door they started purring, all three of them. It was a symphony of purrs. I re-filled their food dish – they had dried kitten food – and gave them yet more water and emptied their litter box. Little did I realise that this was the order of the days to come. I have never had kittens. Miss ‘Mudge and her still much missed brother Simmy Cat were the youngest cats

we have ever had, at seven months old - so about the same age as Maggie. But ‘Mudge and Simmy Cat were a bit more worldly wise as they had been let out by their previous owner. Gordy is a forever kitten but not being a ‘real cat’ he doesn’t have the boundless energy these three had. Reggie and Ronnie seemed so tiny and fragile to me, although over the course of their stay the crashing and breaking of some things in my studio room ,as they knocked them off the side to see if they would fly, soon proved they were pretty robust terrors clothed in soft snuggly fur to fool the human in charge. Freddy Bear came in around 9pm and after jumping over Tiny, who was asleep on the sofa with my husband, he settled on the top of the fish tank for a snooze, only then waking up and realising that Tiny was even in the house. Miss ‘Mudge came in and was just furious. She spent the entire weekend glaring at all of us. She was not amused. Gordy just carried on as if nothing was out of the ordinary. The kittens were getting wise: they heard you coming up the stairs and ambushed you at the door. They perfected the art of standing one on top of each other so when the door opened, the top two could shoot out between your legs and go off and

explore. They were quick but they responded well to the shaking of the food box! My studio room was beginning to smell with the litter box in there and the door shut but I told myself it was only for a couple of days. I seriously under-estimated the stink three little bums could create. Back downstairs Tiny had wandered over to Gordy and was nudging him to move up in his radiator bed. Gordy just looked at Tiny and curled up and went back to sleep. The weekend progressed this way with Miss ‘Mudge thawing just enough to be in the same room in the evening with all of us, including Freddy Bear on the fish tank, although her body language still gave off the ‘leave me alone I am not amused’ vibe. Tiny never once went near Miss ‘Mudge but then if I was visiting, I don’t think I would have either. Freddy Bear interested me the most over this weekend. Having been a big bruiser stray who still retained his penchant for killing everything that he could, I have often remarked that Freddy Bear has learnt to be ‘an indoor cat’ from Gordy. He is the fastest cat we have ever known to accept living with dogs with no problems, in fact the dogs have more of a problem as Freddy Bear has watched Gordy just walk all over

them and assumed that this is what you do, so he does the same. The funniest thing I have ever seen between a cat and a dog happened on Sunday afternoon. By now Tiny was already up to speed with the routine and was completely relaxed in our home. We had a lovely walk in the morning and were just ‘chilling’ out to the background noise of the kittens upstairs. Tiny had tried to coerce Gordy into a game of chase but Gordy had just given a little hiss and sat down to glare at Tiny. It was at this point that Freddy Bear came in to the kitchen. Tiny was stood in the middle of the room, having been put in her place by Gordy, and Freddy Bear came up and just starting rubbing up and down all over her. She stood stock still, rooted to the spot and looked at me for help. Freddy Bear was purring and weaving, stopping poor Tiny from moving away; each time she tried to side step him, he got louder with the purring and rubbed some more. Tiny didn’t know what to do. Cats are supposed to run away and glare at you.. just like Miss ‘Mudge.. but Freddy Bear has learnt from Gordy and Gordy doesn’t run from dogs in his house: in his house you treat them like a doormat and just walk all over them!

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SHOW DATES CLUB EVENTS FOR YOU DIARY GCCF DECEMBER DECEMBER 08 National Cat Club Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE Tonkinese Breed Club Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE Rex Cat Association Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE Sphynx Cat Club Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE DECEMBER 15 Maidstone & Medway Cat Club Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE

JANUARY 2019 JANUARY 05 Eastern Longhair & Semi Longhair Cat Club Wodsdon Park Leisure Centre, Wadesmill Road, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 0UQ Capital Long Hair Cat Association Wodsdon Park Leisure Centre, Wadesmill Road, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 0UQ Exotic Cat Society Tydd St Giles Community Centre, Broad Drove East, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 5LN

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Russian and Abyssinian Cat Club of Scotland Rutherglen United Reformed Church, Johnstone Dr., Rutherglen, Glasgow G73 2QA Scottish Cat Club Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, 1 O’Donnel Way, Motherwell, ML1 2TZ JANUARY 13 Cameo Pewter & Smoke Society Gnosall Village Hall, Lowfield Lane, Gnosall, Stafford ST20 0ET JANUARY 19 Colourpoint Cat Club Grange Hall, Coventry Road, Southam CV47 1QA Colourpointed British Shorthair Cat Club Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue, Leamington Road, Coventry CV8 3FL

Egyptian Mau Society Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue, Leamington Road, Coventry CV8 3FL La Perm Cat Club Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue, Leamington Road, Coventry CV8 3FL Short Haired Cat Society Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue, Leamington Road, Coventry CV8 3FL Snowshoe Cat Society Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue, Leamington Road, Coventry CV8 3FL Midshires Siamese Cat Association Sports Connexion Leisure Club & Venue, Leamington Road, Coventry CV8 3FL

TICA UK JANUARY 05-06 2019 LondonCats, Leatherhead, Surrey

PASHA & TANNI

Christmas is coming and we shall have fun! From the first card to fall through the letter box, to the tantalisingly tempting tree decorations, the festive season means fun and games for the boys BY INGRID HOOPER

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here’s an air of excitement in the house as Christmas draws near and the Siamese boys are enjoying every minute of it! The Siamese duo enjoy being sociable and they are never happier than when the doorbell rings and friends and family call in. Tanni relishes his job as meet and greeter while Pasha keeps an eye on the proceedings and when Tanni gets too excited he is ready to move in and give Tanni a big brotherly nip. Just to put him in his place. As cards are posted through the letter box Pasha and Tanni race one another to get there first. But it’s when parcels arrive that the Siamese contingent get most excited. Naturally they think all these parcels are for them. Very often they are right! Mostly they are more interested in the packaging than in the contents and can spend hours playing with an empty cardboard box. Meanwhile we Cat Mums spend ages looking in the shops and searching on-line for exciting new toys for our much loved darlings. Then there is the eagerly awaited arrival of the Christmas tree. Well two in fact as one is placed outside in the porch, easily visible from the cat tree positioned in the hall. But it’s the indoor tree which is the most fun! Again I can almost hear them thinking ‘why has she brought a tree from the garden indoors? Humans can be very strange!’ I have learnt to place a few cat toys and tempting ribbons and things for

cats on the lower branches of the tree. This prevents them from climbing higher up to pat the baubles and other decorations. At least that’s the theory. Though judging by how quickly Pasha climbed up the new wood and led door in the living room a few weeks back I could, of course, be proved wrong. Outside in the garden Pasha clambers up trees and takes a flying leap and sails through the air like a squirrel. Perhaps it is just a matter of time before he does the same with the Christmas tree! Tanni is much more cautious, preferring to amuse himself by stretching up and patting anything shiny which catches his eye. The build up to Christmas is so much fun that sometimes, come the Big Day, Pasha and Tanni can be completely pooped out. Just like we humans! Though they don’t have the excuse of writing cards, shopping for presents and then the big supermarket shop.

That’s without having to get up early to start preparing the Christmas dinner. As we head for New Years Eve I try to get the Siamese boys excited about the prospect of a new year. But invariably, just before Big Ben strikes, they will have fallen asleep and will resent being woken up. Or they will have positioned themselves like book ends, staring up at us reprovingly for keeping them up so late. Much as I try to interest them in the striking of Big Ben and then the fireworks, they don’t even try to hide their boredom. You can almost hear them thinking ‘you’ll pay for this partying tomorrow, you silly humans!’. As we glide into the new year I encourage the Siamese duo to us in listening to the New Year Concert from Vienna. For a short time they will humour us. Tanni will listen to most music out of politeness if nothing else. Pasha has a disliking for opera. As soon as he hears a soprano he heads for the door and disappears. Pasha and Tanni wish all their readers a very happy and healthy New Year! Follow Pasha & Tanni’s kitten adventures on their blog at www.CatsHaveStaff.co.uk Cats Have Staff – The Saffi & Misa Diaries by Ingrid Hooper is available from the above website or from Amazon. Out now in paperback and Kindle. C AT W O R L D

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ASK EXPERTS the

LET THE CATWORLD TEAM OF EXPERTS HELP WITH YOUR PROBLEMS Prone to an upset tum Q: I have a four-month-old kitten who I acquired about a month ago. Shortly after I got Stella she suffered an upset stomach. The vet prescribed antibiotics and probiotics for gastro-enteritis and Stella was soon fine. However, she has just suffered another bout and I was concerned to see her ing loose, sometimes slightly bloody stools once again. Now I’m wondering if this is something Stella will always be prone to or if it’s normal for kittens to have sensitive stomachs. I’m also wondering if it is connected to her booster vaccine which the vet gave her a few days ago.

A: Vaccines can cause mild stomach upsets in kittens and occasionally in older cats too. Kittens are normally given two, sometimes three, sets of vaccinations so it would be interesting to know if the first occurrence closely followed a vaccination too. The timing sounds right - first inoculations are usually given at around 12 weeks then the second about a month later. If you agree with the timings and you feel the vaccinations could be responsible on both occasions Stella has had an upset stomach, then it would be advisable to watch her carefully when she has her third and future boosters and take precautions. Giving the homeopathic remedy

Thuja just before and after vaccinations seems to help reduce the risk of side effects. Richard Allport suggests Thuja (6c potency) three times a day for two days before and three days after vaccination - but do discuss your intentions with your vet before doing so. Slippery Elm is a herbal treatment that soothes and relieves the inflammation in the digestive tract so this could be ideal too. It can be found in various forms - tablets, powders, etc - and you should be able to find formulations for pets with appropriate directions. Probiotics, the ‘good’ bacteria you mention, may be worthwhile giving to your kitten long term until she becomes an adult. While the vaccination theory seems to be the most likely cause, if the problem continues to recur, speak to your vet as investigations may be needed to check for any underlying infections or allergies for instance. Anyone with a cat who has experienced a similar upset stomach in reaction to a vaccine should always be vigilant at booster time. The minimum number of vaccines should be given - that is, only those which are absolutely necessary to maintain protection against diseases the cat is likely to be in with.

Does she have an allergy? Q: My seven-year-old cat has suddenly started pulling out her fur and actually has bald patches on her legs…could this be caused by something she’s regularly in with?

A: It sounds very much as if your cat is reacting to the presence of fleas by overgrooming. Usually this is directed at the insides of the thighs and the tummy and leads to fur thinning and ultimately baldness. However, the incessant cleaning makes it almost impossible to

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find any signs of fleas and identifying fleas as the underlying cause is often by exclusion, i.e. strict flea control on all household pets plus the environment may well result in fur re-growth. Do ensure that you eliminate every possible source of fleas. By this I mean that you must leave no corner untreated. It is not just the areas of the home where your cat spends time which need treatment we carry fleas around in our clothes, the eggs under our shoes and of course we mustn’t forget that fleas can jump! It is also foolish to assume that fleas are only a problem in the summer months - all year round protection is required to keep a cat clear of fleas and their eggs. Should strict flea control not improve the situation, it would be advisable to take your cat to be examined by your veterinary surgeon.

Diet food doesn’t fill him up Q: Our lovely rescue cat Benjamin is getting on a bit now and has put on a little weight in recent years. We have been feeding him a ‘light’ version of a branded cat food and our vet recently advised us to feed him less of it. However he just doesn’t seem to be full and is always crying for more. We are trying very hard to ignore him but it’s difficult. Is there something else we can try?

A: There certainly is. Although the ‘light’ versions have fewer calories than the normal cat foods, it may not be restricted enough in calories to encourage weight loss, especially if Benjamin is not very active. If you haven’t done so already, speak to your vet about a prescription weight loss food for Benjamin. They are low in calories but high in fibre, so will leave Benjamin feeling fuller and will encourage weight loss.

As he will not be feeling quite so hungry, it should be easier for you to stick to the recommended quantities without him pestering for more. Prescription diets can be in dried or canned formats so you can keep to whichever Benjamin is used to. Design some games that will get Benjamin moving around at home and try some activity feeders that he has to bat around to get small pieces of dried food out. If you are out of the house a lot, try setting up automated feeding stations in a variety of rooms so that he has to move around the house to find his next meal. You might find it useful to take a photo of Benjamin as he is now, print it off and stick it to a cupboard so you can see his progress. Keep an eye on him and promise him treats - such as a new toy or blanket - when he achieves a target weight. Your vet may have other suggestions and I’m sure you will notice a change in Benjamin when the weight starts to come off. Good luck!

Stop him spraying! Q: Reggie recently came to live with me after I fell in love with him at our local rescue centre. I thought he was settling in well but I have discovered that he is spraying his new territory, including in my house. What can I do to discourage this behaviour as it’s really unpleasant?

A: Spraying indoors is the most common behaviour problem that occurs with cats. As Reggie is new to your home, he is probably trying to make himself feel secure by plac-

ing his scent markings around the house. It is very important that you don’t tell him off for doing this. Clean the areas with a solution of ten parts warm water to one part biological washing up liquid and leave to dry. Then spray with surgical spirit. This should help to remove the smell. Be sure that your cat doesn’t see you doing this as he might then be tempted to spray the areas all over again. You can also wipe the now clean areas with a synthetic pheromone. These are a synthetic reproduction of a cat’s facial markings and are generally very successful in preventing cats from spraying where they can smell them. Spray around the house at Reggie’s head height and also on table legs and doorways.

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BEHAVIOUR

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tips to get a good night’s sleep

There are certain times of the year when we really don’t want to be woken up early - here’s how to avoid an alarm clock cat BY JILL MUNDY

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n ‘alarm clock cat’ is one which makes a habit of waking up its owner, but having a cat like this isn’t a way to save on batteries because they inflict their ‘rise and shine’ routine on people who still want to be asleep! It can be frustrating living with a cat like this because while you are deeply in the land of nod you may be rudely awakened by a piercing meow, scratching, a nip on the nose or patting on the eyelids from a sharp-clawed paw. If you have a furry companion with ‘alarming’ inclinations then some

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of these tips might be helpful. 1. Cats are naturally crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. Some cats start to get busy once the rising sun starts to peep through the curtains. Some owners will find that their cats are happy to sleep longer during the darker winter months but are up bright and early during the longer days of summer. 2. Food is a major motivation for cats who wake their owners, so stick to a feeding schedule. This ensures that your cat knows when to expect food and should cut down on opportunistic

attempts to get extra morning snacks. Break the association with food and early mornings by not feeding your cat when you get up. Instead, make the main meal the one you give last thing at night to help your cats sleep and leave down some dry food so that they can help themselves if they get hungry without having to ask you. 3. Be firm and never reward your cat or reinforce its behaviour by responding to its demands. If they learn that waking you up brings rewards in the form of food or interaction then they will keep doing it. If they learn

BEHAVIOUR that sometimes you don’t respond but sometimes you do if they really persist then they will double their efforts. If you do this you only have yourself to blame for training them to expect something in return for waking you but if you stick to your guns, once they realise that you won’t give in they will begin to lose interest in trying to ‘train’ you. 4. If you can’t make it work there is one simple solution: don’t let your cats in the bedroom at night. You may have to it that your dream of slumbering with a purring cat tucked against your chest has turned into a nightmare and is preventing you from having any real dreams at all. You will get better sleep if you shut the cats out of the room although you will have to be consistent and expect to go through an adjustment period. Your cats may well object and you may have to put up with scratching at the door and yowling. Buy some earplugs, don’t give in and bear with it. The first night you might find that the protestations go on for a long time. The second night will be less and so on, until the cat gets bored of trying to no avail and the message is received. If the noise is too much you could consider shutting the cat in a room further away from your bedroom. If you are worried about your cat scratching at the carpet in front of your bedroom door, make sure his nails are trimmed and put down a

thick mat, such as a bathroom mat, or a clear plastic carpet protector, securing it under the door so that it can’t be pulled away. 5. Cats love toys and what could be more fun for a bored cat whiling away the small hours than a giant man-sized squeaky toy. The cat bats the toy and out comes a squeak, a yelp or a shout. Perhaps something is thrown across the room causing the cat to leap about in excitement. If you are that giant squeaky toy shouting at the cat and throwing a cushion then the things you are doing in an attempt to get your cats to leave you alone and let you sleep might in fact entertain and amuse them and keep them coming back for more. 6. Cats are intelligent animals that do their best to train their owners. If you reinforce your cat’s natural tendency to be active at dawn by giving food or attention you could end up with a cat with ‘early morning syndrome’: if you feed the cat at 7 a.m. he will start jumping on your bed at 6.45 a.m. and if you respond at 6.45 a.m. then he will start waking you at 6.30 a.m. Before you know it you could end up with a cat with Night Fever! 7. Elderly cats can sometimes get disoriented and call out for comfort in the night. Ensuring that these delicate souls have a safe, snug bed all to themselves where they can retreat from the rigours of the world will help them to sleep happily for longer.

Keep them in the dark If you want your cat to sleep in the room with you then fit blackout blinds or get your curtains lined so that the area stays dark and the sun doesn’t trigger your cat’s early morning antics.

Wear them out Keep your cats occupied during the day with plenty of toys and games to keep them active. This helps get them into the same rhythm as you: active during the day and asleep at night. Single cats who see their owners as the sole source of entertainment could benefit from a playmate to keep them busy and help redirect some of their energy. Of course this will depend on the temperament of the cat in question.

Crepuscular cats You’ve probably noticed that cats spend a lot of time snoozing. In fact, a cat spends approximately two thirds of its life in dreamland. How much an individual cat sleeps depends on age, hunger, the temperature and the weather. If the cat is producing extra thyroid hormone his metabolism goes up and he sleeps less. Most cats, particularly house cats, do a lot of their sleeping at night. Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. They do their hunting at these times as their prey is also most active. If you have a cat that wakes up early every morning, they are simply reacting to their crepuscular nature. When the sun comes up, the cat wakes up. At certain times of year, dawn is undoubtedly going to happen before your alarm clock goes off, so it helps to have very thick curtains in your bedroom to keep the light from waking you or your cat.

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PAW POST Got something to share about your favourite feline? email [email protected]

Patience was key Dear Paw Post Many years ago I adopted a feral cat who had been found in a shop doorway. She was hungry, thin and wet through due to a heavy storm. The shopkeeper took pity on her, enticed her in and gave her some milk. By chance I was told about her at a time when I was thinking about buying a pretty, fluffy, blue-eyed feline. I love animals and would not turn my back if I can help one in distress. After consulting my family, who were equally as enthusiastic about getting a pet, I said I would give this story a home without even setting eyes upon it. Off we all went to collect this feline and there she was, ready and caged for the journey home. My children were too young to understand what I had in my mind when I saw this very bedraggled creature and she was put into the car and taken home. Like most cats in unfa-

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miliar surroundings, she shot out of the cage like a rocket then hid under the sideboard and would not emerge. When I eventually tried to pick her up, she turned over on her back and her claws flicked out like miniature blades. The high-pitched hissing was accompanied by spitting aggressively at me and I think I got the message! This unfriendly reception continued for days and I seriously thought about taking her to a sanctuary. To cut a long story short, I let her settle down her own way, in her own time and kept my distance. Food and water were left on the floor and a box with soft materials in it was her temporary bed. With patience, calming words and no pressure, she became a really lovely companion, even allowing me to comb her messy coat to a glossy sandy shade. She lived with us for about 23 years until one sunny day she fell asleep in the middle of the driveway and never woke up again. Patricia

Feline friendly Dear Paw Post I subscribe to Cat World and would love a cat-loving penfriend, male or female. My interests include showing my cats, going to

The right move Dear Paw Post When my health took a turn for the worse I decided it was time to move to the seaside. However this involved a move of several hundred miles and I had to decide whether to take my cat Ellie with me or not. She had been my companion for several years so parting with her was not going to be easy. Thinking it might be in Ellie’s best interests not to leave her familiar neighbourhood, I made enquiries but as she was a mostly black cat, there sadly wasn’t much interest. So we embarked on a new adventure together and it was the best thing we ever did! Ellie settled in really well. Far more used to seeing green fields, crows and field mice, she was equally fascinated by the large seagulls that swooped over our little terrace and the sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline. Barbara

the cinema and the theatre and visiting castles. I would really like to write to someone who loves cats as much as I do. Thank you Janet Andrews

Ed: If anyone would like to write to Janet, please send your name and address to [email protected] or to the

UK address on the inside front cover.

Cat Classified THE UK’S LEADING BREED-BY-BREED GUIDE TO CATS AND KITTENS FOR SALE AUSTRALIAN MIST ROSE VALLEY. Australian Mist kittens. New breed to the UK. Claimed to be the perfect family cat. Reg/Vac/Ins and microchipped. Spotted or marbelled in six colours. Tel 0118 9811109. Also Burmese kittens. www.katsacute.co.uk [email protected]

BIRMAN JANDOUGLEN. Mrs Ann V C Mott Bury St Edmunds. *Birmans - Seals, Blues, Chocolates, Lilacs, Reds. Also Tabbies in these colours. 01359 221200 [email protected] www.ann.mott.freeuk.com

BRITISH SHORTHAIR CARASSACAT British Shorthairs, GCCF ed Breeder. PKD Tested. All my kittens are fully vaccinated, microchipped & insured before they leave me. They are reared in my house so are used to dogs & everyday comings & goings. Specialising in Colour Points, Self’s & Bi colours. Email: [email protected] Web: www.kernmere-cats.com

BURMESE KATSACUTE BURMESE, most colours. Bred for temperament, substance and quality. House reared with children and dogs. Fully Vacc/Ins/Reg and microchipped. Responsible homes only. Tel 0118-9811109. www.katsacute.co.uk Hants/Berks.border.

RAGDOLL You have seen the rest, now ask the 'BEST' We are a group of dedicated, experienced and well respected breeders of the British Shorthair Cat. If you need help, information or advice in choosing the ‘purrfect’ companion for you, whether you would like a kitten or an older cat, please us. www.bestofbritishshorthairs.co.uk

COLOURPOINT AMORAMIST COLOURPOINTS, chocolate torties and red points available. PKD negative. Micro chipped. 01326 240907 [email protected] www.amoramist.com

MAINE COONS AMORAMIST MAINE COONS Maureen Holden Ritchie. Breeding solid whites, tabbies with and without white, and solids. Champion lines. Persians and colourpoints. (winner of Supreme). All PKD negative and reared underfoot. 01326 240907 mareenholdenritchie@yahoo. co.uk www.amoramist.com

Telephone: Valerie: 01652 654574 Sharon: 02476 684350

NORWEGIAN FOREST ELFENTANZ. Mrs Elinor M B Herbert Kirkcaldy. Norwegian Forest Cats - Brown Tabby, White and Black kittens 01592 267002 [email protected] www.elfentanznfc.co.uk

RAGAMUFFIN

UK RagaMuffin Cat Society For Authentic RagaMuffin kittens Phone 01730 300692 www.ukrmcs.co.uk

EMERISLE CATS. Mrs Jeanette Fitzpatrick. Ragdolls - all patterns & colours. *Seal Colourpoint, *Seal Tabby Colourpoint, *Blue Bi-Colour, *Cream, *Seal Mitted, *Blue Mitted. *Tiffanies. *Scottish Fold. *British Shorthair. Reasonably priced. TBRCC or PRBCC Breeder of the year 1999- 2011. TBRCC breeder of the top Ragdoll 1993, 1995/96. Best Opposite Sex 1995/96. Breeder of Supreme Show 1999 Top Ragdoll & sire of the first Ragdoll to win the UK Grand Title 2003. Breeder of the Best kitten, adult & neuter 1999-2003. Established 27 years - our beautiful cats feature on ‘Its a Cats Life’ video, appeared on Granada Live TV and photographs regularly feature in all cat magazines. 01943 461852 07774 650217 fitzpatrick.jeanette@googlemail. com www.emerisle-cats.co.uk

VARIOUS EMERISLE KITTENS. Ragdolls from breeder of the year 11yrs running, Tiffanies, Scottish Fold, British Shorthair. Reasonably priced. 07774-650217/01943-461852 www.emerisle-cats.co.uk

WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK

THE MAINE COON CAT CLUB GCCF D, ESTABLISHED 1985

For general information about the breed or the club, Linda Swinburn on 0161 7662674 For details of kittens available countrywide, Sarah Holden on 07720 773718 after 7pm please Or visit the club’s web site at

www.maine-coon-cat-club.com

TO BOOK YOUR ADVERT IN THE DIRECTORY OF BREEDERS CALL US ON 01903 884988 C AT W O R L D

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CATTY CHATTER

TAIL END Christmas was invented for cats or so Fiona Bowron’s cat seems to think as he takes full advantage of his new adventure playground

U

nlike some cats, Mowgli just loves Christmas. His fun starts with the first few Christmas cards to drop through the letter box. We arrange them artistically along the window ledge - but the window ledge is Mowgli’s province and he doesn’t take kindly to sharing it; so he knocks each one to the floor at the earliest opportunity. Then comes the glorious day when we put up our Christmas decorations. Mowgli is in seventh heaven. He hasn’t forgotten the true meaning of Christmas - it’s all to do with the tree of course. His view is that whoever it was who started the tradition, they must surely have been cat lovers. Why else would they bring a cat’s favourite plaything indoors when the weather is too cold to go outside? Mowgli shows his appreciation by climbing to the top of the tree as soon as he can get near

enough. It wobbles rather disturbingly because he doesn’t wait until we are foolish enough to hope that he has grown out of this sort of behaviour by now. The tree comes crashing to the floor and Mowgli leaps to safety. Then he looks up at the tree in obvious puzzlement. The one in the garden doesn’t fall over like this! An hour or so later, the tree is riddled with various lengths of string, tying it securely to the door on one side and the wall on the other. Mowgli can now climb in relative safety, which he does, studiously, ignoring our cries of “Come down from there!” We don’t have any of those shiny expensive tree decorations; much too breakable. Not for us the luxurious strands

of glittery tinsel or the flashing multicoloured fairy lights. We have a cat instead! He adorns the tree quite beautifully. He is absolutely irresistible with his little furry head peeping out from between the branches. “That’s what Christmas is all about,” he seems to be saying to us; “Families having fun together.” When not actually climbing the tree he sits on a conveniently positioned chair and reaches out to pat at the plastic baubles. For Mowgli, Christmas just gets better and better. As if the tree wasn’t enough, on the big day itself he gets a stocking full of presents just for him, with cat treats of all kinds, fluffy toys he can pretend are his favourite birds and

- best of all - a catnip mouse! After a few minutes of frenzied disembowelling of the toy, the catnip appears to make him a little drowsy. This is the best time of the year to get a cuddle. After twelve solid months of hiding under the coffee table every time I come into the room or running away when I try to stroke him, now that he’s had a catnip mouse, he is affection itself. It doesn’t last long but it is wonderful while it does. Dinner is something of a disappointment for Mowgli. We’re vegetarians in our house so there’s no turkey for him to steal. That doesn’t stop him trying…but he’s not very keen on nut roast. So while we tuck in, he returns quietly to the packet of treats we opened earlier. Then we all collapse in front of the telly, regretting how much we’ve eaten and vowing never to do it again. It’s the same every year - and I wouldn’t change a thing!

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