The Cat Winter 2015

Winter 2015

Into the wild Ensuring a future for the Scottish Wildcat

Cat stats We reveal the results of our survey

Thinking outside of the litter box Fat cat management speak

Top cat?

Dispelling the dominance myth

Plus

Napoleon Bonaparte, cat calendars and the AGM

Be more cat The Cat magazine A smarter read

Does someone in your life need to be more cat?

A subscription to The Cat magazine would make a fantastic gift – it’s packed with news, views and features for those who share our passion for all things feline. From veterinary and behavioural advice, helping you care for your cat – we’ve got it covered.

You can subscribe to The Cat for just £15 a year and, by doing so, you will be contributing to the care of unwanted and abandoned cats in the UK. Be more cat and subscribe a friend today: t: 0800 917 2287 (freephone) w: www.cats.org.uk/thecatmag Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

Subscribe no w and get the last issue sent free to day!

Go on... Be mo

re cat!

From the Editor  www.cats.org.uk/thecatmag www.facebook.com/catsprotection www.twitter.com/catsprotection  Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT. General enquiries  03000 12 12 12 (calls charged at standard rate) @ cp@cats.org.uk Subscription/donation enquiries To change your details, subscribe, make a donation or become a member of Cats Protection:  0800 917 2287 @ supporterservices@cats.org.uk Editorial submissions @ editorial@cats.org.uk We reserve the right to edit material for clarity or space. Cats Protection is not responsible for the opinions, advice and factual content of contributed items. The views expressed do not necessarily conform to those of the Trustees.

Commercial advertising enquiries Karl Humphreys, d’Albiac Media  07939 017 035 @ karl@dalbiacmedia.co.uk  www.dalbiacmedia.co.uk Advertisements are accepted in good faith and we endeavour to check their accuracy.

However, the charity gives no guarantees or endorsements of the products or services advertised. Cats Protection cannot accept responsibility for any correspondence between the parties, nor can they be expected to arbitrate should any dispute arise.

T

here is a thread through this edition of the magazine centring on myths.

On pages 24 and 25, Behaviour Manager Nicky Trevorrow finds out who’s top cat. Does the ‘dominance’ theory really exist or is it a myth?

Our cover boy for this issue is Demetri who was lucky enough to find his new home through our Bridgend Adoption Centre. He was just one CP representative for our annual National Black Cat Day which takes place on 27 October every year. Do people really believe that black cats are unlucky, surely not in this day and age?! You can read more about our 2015 event on page 32 and watch our fun video on YouTube at http://bit.ly/206UKcW. Napoleon Bonaparte – did he really hate cats? Find out on page 23!

If there’s a little known myth or folk tale involving a cat, it’s guaranteed the Esther Newton will find it! On pages 36 to 37 you can read more about the feline connection to religion. From the lion who sneezed to Nirvana, there’s something new to learn!

But back to the facts… on our A sk the vets pages we have compiled a number of questions taken from recent Facebook Q&A sessions. The topics cover vaccinations, dental hygiene and feeding. We will occasionally repeat this alternative format as it allows a greater number of questions to be addressed albeit in a more abbreviated fashion. We hold regular Facebook Q&As on various veterinary and behavioural topics and if anyone would like to join them the next dates are listed on pages 26 to 27.

At Cats Protection we believe that by working alongside other animal welfare charities, in a committed and effective way, we can all make a difference to cats. One such charity CP has affiliations with is Scottish Wildcat Action. On pages 17 to 19 Vicky MacDonald, the charity’s Communications Co-ordinator, explains why their project is so important to the future survival of this elusive native wildcat.

The 2016 CP calendar is now available and you can find out how to get your paws on one on page 33. CP cats feature throughout and you can read about their own individual tales while admiring the wonderful photographs.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our magazine survey which went out with the summer issue. We had a wonderful response and you can find out the results on pages 28 to 31.

And last but certainly not least, please note that there is an important notice regarding our 2016 AGM. This has previously taken place in July but we have a new date of Saturday 14 May. More information is available on pages 54 and 55.

Published quarterly by: Cats Protection Printed by: Pensord Press Ltd.

Francesca Watson Editor

ISSN: 0008-7599

The Team Please recycle this magazine when you have finished with it

Editor F rancesca Watson Deputy Editor A my Rutter Communications Administrator Jo Perry Creative Designers R us Hudda, Sam Roberts, Martin Green

The Cat Winter 2015

3

WINTER 2015

Into the wild Ensuring a future for the Scottish Wildcat

Cat stats We reveal the results of our survey

Thinking outside of the litter box Fat cat management speak

Top cat?

Dispelling the dominance myth

Plus

Contents Winter 2015

Napoleon Bonaparte, cat calendars and the AGM

Cover photo: Demetri by Sue Dobbs

Regulars 6

News

9

Digital mews

10

Dear CP

13

Cats’ tales

21

Ali’s cats

24

Behaviour matters

26

Ask the vets

38

Our favourite things

43

Walker on the wild side

46

Coffee paws

48

Advocacy

51

Paws for thought

53

Making memories

56

CP in action

60

Diary of events

62

Find your local Cats Protection

66

Kids’ corner

69

Remembering cats

70

Bookends

4

The Cat Winter 2015

53 36

17

28 Feature articles 17 Wild at heart Saving the Scottish survivors

23 Napoleon and cats Like them or loathe them?

28 Our survey says The results are in

32

32 National Black Cat Day Another annual success

34 Meet our partners Introducing Magpie

36 A religious connection Faith in felines

40 Behind the scenes Volunteer champions

34

45 CP management talk Getting all our cats in a row

54 AGM New date for 2016!

Cats Protection’s vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) SC037711 (Scotland)

The Cat  Winter 2015

5

Biking it for cats

■

Already busy as one of our Ferndown Homing Centre’s Cat Care Assistants, Keziah Paxton has now opted to cycle 295 miles, from London to Paris, in four days to further help cats.

Keziah’s sponsored bike ride will take place in July 2016 and she hopes to raise £1,500 for the homing centre. She says: “I think Cats Protection is a fantastic charity that has successfully improved the lives of millions of cats and kittens across the UK. Cats are amazing animals and they have always been a large part of my life.

“I got my first Cats Protection kitten called Amber back in 2006 and then began volunteering for my local Cats Protection branch in 2008. I have recently started my new job as a Cat Care Assistant at Ferndown Homing Centre and it has really made me realise how much of a positive impact Cats Protection has on many cats and kittens across the UK. I would therefore like to try and fundraise as much money as possible for Cats Protection to enable many more cats and kittens to find their much needed forever homes.

Cycling 295 miles from London to Paris next year is going to be tough, but definitely worth it if I can raise lots of money for such a brilliant charity.”

If you’d like to sponsor Keziah please visit her JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/Keziah-Paxton or to donate via text message, please text CPIA95 £5 to 70070 (see terms and conditions at www.cats.org.uk/terms-and-conditions).

Strike a pose

■

A recent survey run by photo printing specialists Albelli, has found that Brits value images of their pets more than family and friends.

Eighteen per cent of those interviewed admit to printing out photos of their pets to display in their home, while 31 per cent admit to take five photos of their pets a week! This is in comparison to 19 per cent and 22 per cent of parents and friends respectively.

We’re not surprised at that; cats especially make wonderful (if elusive) subject matter! And if you’re in that 31 per cent then why not send in your feline photos to us at The Cat for our D ear CP and C ats’ tales pages?

6

The Cat Winter 2015

Experts from around the world discuss companion animal welfare

■

The 2015 International Companion Animal Welfare Conference took place in Porto, Portugal in October and members of Cats Protection were present. More than 250 delegates experienced workshops and keynote presentations delivered by more than 25 expert speakers with sessions including topics as varied as puppy smuggling in Europe the topical issue of identifying sexual animal abuse.

The conference included exhibitor trade stands and sponsors including MDC who along with SNIP International and Cats Protection donated more than £2,000 worth of MDC humane animal handling equipment to worthy recipients. Registrations to attend the conference came from animal welfare organisations as far afield as Afghanistan and Japan. The donated equipment included stretchers, cat traps and protective gloves – all of huge benefit to the welfare workers to strengthen their own animal welfare projects on return to their home countries. Pictured right is MDC founder Melvyn Driver and CP’s Director of Veterinary Services Dr Maggie Roberts with representatives from the Petris Portugal charity.

NEWS

Last year’s finalist, Claire Frangleton, with sister Sarah

It’s award season and Cats Protection needs your nominations!

■

Awards provide an important opportunity to raise the profile of the charity, not least by giving due recognition for the achievements and hard work of the charity’s volunteers and staff – so if you know someone who is a great CP ambassador then please nominate them!

2016 Petplan and the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) Charity Awards The latest awards nominations announcement comes from the 2016 Petplan and the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) Charity Awards. These celebrate outstanding animal charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK who go that extra mile to help rescue and rehome animals in need.

In 2015 we were delighted that Claire Frangleton, Senior Cat Care Assistant at our Warrington Adoption Centre, was one of the finalists and we would love to have more Cats Protection nominees for the 2016 awards!

The categories you can nominate for are: • Animal Charity Volunteer of the Year • Animal Charity Employee of the Year • Animal Charity Team of the Year Nominate at www.petplan.co.uk/charityawards Nominations close on 15 February 2016 and the awards ceremony will take place on 20 April 2016 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole and all finalists will have the opportunity to attend, with a guest of their choice, courtesy of Petplan.

CEVA Welfare Awards 2016 Among the 2016 award categories are: Charity Professional of the Year Award (UK and international) – this award is for an individual who works within a charity organisation who consistently performs to the best of their ability, with the single minded goal of helping save and improve the lives of animals in need Charity Team of the Year Award (UK and international) – this award is for an awe-inspiring team whose drive and passionate dedication has changed the lives of animals for the better, by tirelessly promoting and championing their cause Volunteer of the Year Welfare Award (UK and international) – this award is for someone who through their amazing dedication and tenacity has helped improve animal welfare. In their own free time they go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the lives of animals either in the UK or internationally Nominations close 11 January 2016.

Find out more and nominate at www.cevawelfareawards.com

The Cat Winter 2015

7

NEWS

Happy ending for stowaway kitten Paella

■

Photo: CP Library

Paella the stowaway kitten will soon be on his way to a loving home in Britain after being found in a Spanish lorry at Portsmouth.

The friendly tabby, thought to be around four weeks old, was spotted by border officials during a routine search of vehicles leaving a ferry at Portsmouth International Port. He may have been sheltering in the lorry with his mother before getting trapped in the vehicle alone when it started its journey to the UK. Portsmouth City Council, which runs the port, arranged for him to be cared for by Cats Protection, who gave him his name.

When he was found, vets were not sure if he would survive. He has spent the last few weeks getting over his ordeal and recovering from an infection, and his future is now looking positive.

He is in quarantine in Hampshire until early November, after which the charity will find him a new home in the local area.

Zahir White from Cats Protection said: “When we were contacted about Paella we arranged for him to see a vet for a check-up before he went into quarantine. He was quite poorly, but after being given antibiotics and eye drops for an eye infection, he’s making good progress. Once he’s fully recovered and past his quarantine period, he’ll be taken in by one of our nearby branches or centres and found a new home in the Hampshire area.

“Cats Protection is paying for his quarantine and vet costs, which are likely to reach around £1,300, so we’d be grateful for any donations towards this.

“Anyone keen to make a donation towards his care can call our national Helpline on 03000 12 12 12.”

Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am– 5pm. All funds raised in excess of the Paella appeal will be used to help other cats in the charity’s care.

8

The Cat Winter 2015

Tickets, please!

■

Long term readers may remember an article we had in The Cat back in 2010. The topic was railway cats and in it we included mention of two station cats, Jill and Louis, at Tonbridge station in Kent.

So popular were they with staff and passengers that plaques were placed in the station when they sadly died. Well, Tonbridge station has a new member of the team, Sapphie, a beautiful black-and-white cat.

Sapphie has become a big hit with the Southeastern employees and the passengers alike. A 90 second film has been made showing just how much her claws are well and truly under the timetable.

Steve Davies, who works in the Sales Ticket Office at Tonbridge station, says: “She goes wherever she likes basically.”

Sapphie cat naps in the Station Manager’s office – the only place where litter is allowed. She has developed a penchant for flowing tap water and scratch-satisfying coconut matting at the café.

Fans of Sapphie have taken to tweeting pictures of her. Commuters like her so much they even leave her treats and presents.

Jamie Good, Station Supervisor, said: “She’s like our little extra helper.

She makes herself known out on the platform and brings people together because everyone’s talking about her, getting treats for her, feeding her, buying her new beds and all sorts of stuff like that.”

‘Sapphie’s tail’ (http://bit.ly/1GuIbL8) is the first in a series of short films by Southeastern tagged #AmazingJourneys. They will be available on YouTube and show some of the more quirky stories from across the network.

Teen’s boots were made for walking

■

Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Witt completed a 16 mile sponsored walk for the Cambridge Branch of Cats Protection and raised nearly £400.

Jasmine helps her mum to foster cats for the branch and says: “I did the walk because my mum is a fosterer and I know how much time volunteers spend caring for the cats and they don’t get paid. All the people involved with the branch work hard and give up a lot of their time for the love of cats and their welfare.”

Jasmine walked approximately 16 miles on 8 August from Cambridge Regional College to Swavesey along a guided bus route and back, with her boyfriend Billy.

Do you have an interesting story to tell, a point of view you want to air or something that you just have to get off your chest?

Send your thoughts, views, stories, funny photos and ‘mewsings’ to The Cat magazine, National Cat Centre, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT or email us at editorial@cats.org.uk. Don’t forget to tell us your return address and contact details and please remember that your letter may be edited for length.

✪ STAR LETTER

Fourth time lucky!

From: Jackie Gulliver, by email inky was first rehomed by Gosport Cats Protection as a kitten in 2002.

After seven years a new home had to be found for her and Jinky went to live with a lady in Titchfield and then subsequently with one of the lady’s friends. Jinky has now been rehomed for a fourth time with a gentleman owner this time and has settled in extremely well. Fortunately Cats Protection did not need to step in on this occasion, but when her name was mentioned to one of the volunteers she remembered Jinky straight away!

Jinky is now 13 years old so hopefully this will be the last time she has to move and adapt to new owners. All of her previous rehomings have been successful but her elderly owners have died or become too infirm to care for her.

Well done the Gosport Branch of the Cats Protection. It just shows that there are a lot of kind people out there and they never give up hope!

J

10

The Cat Winter 2015

Postcard with a message From: Lorye K Hopper, Glastonbury am sending you this artwork as a thank you for the work you do, in the hope that it will be helpful to others. It was most useful for me and my family when our cat Max got run over.

While he was recovering from his trauma and operation I made cards from this artwork and gave them to all our neighbours!

I

YOUR LETTERS

The Costa cats

From: Patricia Jones, by email ack in the early 1960s my husband and I made several visits to Spain.

The Costa Brava of those days is unrecognisable today. The coast then was dotted with small, fishing villages, many of which had a harbour with slipway or small quay and others with a simple shingle beach. We were staying at one of these villages and, being up early one morning, decided to take a walk to the shore.

The fishing boats had been out before dawn, lights blazing to attract the fish and we arrived just as the men were hauling their craft up the beach.

Somewhat bizarrely, two white cats appeared and picking their way over the shingle, waited to greet the crew. By the time the men had begun to unload their catch, more felines appeared from gardens, over gates and walls and some even from boats laid up on the beach. Large and small, black and white, ginger and pied, long haired and short, all ready to take part in what was obviously a daily ritual.

Each cat helped him or herself to one fish from the shallow boxes which the men laid out on the small promenade. With jaws securely clamped around their booty, they made off in the direction from which they came.

The fishermen stood back with benevolent smiles on their faces. Within five minutes there was no cat to be seen, but they were replaced by the local tradesmen and women. Sales were swift, so the boat crews were soon able to return home for breakfast and a well-earned snooze. Presumably the cats, not one of which returned for second helpings, were also satisfied with their meals and already asleep.

B

All at sea

From: Lester May, Lieutenant Commander RN, by email s a retired ‘pusser’, it was interesting to read your feature article ‘All aboard the good ship Feline’ in the Autumn issue of The Cat . It had never occurred to me before writing this that the nickname for Royal Navy supply officers (now logistics officers) starts with a nickname for a cat. So, a pusser in charge of a naval guard is not only the cat’s whiskers but a ‘pusser in boots’ too!

Certainly cats have played a useful part on board ships. When the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal was torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea in 1941, she was listing dramatically but it was hoped she would reach Gibraltar under tow; sadly she foundered. As the ship’s company were, literally, jumping ship to the relative safety of the destroyer HMS Legion alongside, sailors observed at least one ship’s cat enjoying chasing rats as they tried to desert the sinking carrier. I am sure this light relief was a real tonic in such adversity. Sailors surely salute ships’ cats and their felicitous felinity.

Perhaps this love of cats is why so many of Her Majesty’s ships have been named after cats. No HMS Cat – it doesn’t have a ring to it, although there was an HMS Bee! – although warships named after some big cats have been popular for centuries.

While there are no big cats in today’s rather small fleet, post-war matelots will have known cruisers and frigates so named. There have been 16 named HMS Tiger from the 16th century, with 19 battle honours from Armada to Jutland and an HMS Tigress, too.

Seventeen named HMS Lion go back to the time of Henry VIII with 16 battle honours spanning five centuries. The Leopard class of frigates were built in the 1950s – HM ships Leopard, Lynx, Puma and Jaguar, with the first two names popular for centuries. There has not been an HMS Cheetah, though, for obvious reasons!

If the government can only pause to consider the utility today of HM fleet, more cats might be prowling the seas.

A

The Cat Winter 2015

11

YOUR LETTERS

The Tigger phenomenon

From: Susanne Haywood, by email was very saddened by the tale of Tigger (later Ozzie) the stray from Australia (‘A Little Aussie Battler’, Autumn issue).

His story has particular significance for me as we also had a ginger tom called Tigger who travelled with us from Australia to America and back, and finally to England. I’m so glad to say we were never separated; I don’t know what we would have done without him. He taught our children how to face change with optimism and an open mind, and how to embrace the unknown. He restored order to our chaotic lives by tolerating no deviation from his daily dinner routine at 5pm sharp – in any given time zone – no matter how fraught our own days in a new place might have been. In short he kept us sane.

Our Tigger was just one year old when his travels with us began. By the age of 13, he was familiar with the fauna and flora, the seasonal and dietary peculiarities, veterinary practices and airline standards on three continents. Not many cats can boast such a range of experiences! Close to his 18th birthday, Tigger developed kidney disease, just like his namesake in your story. The day we had to say goodbye and let him slip away was a day of mourning for the entire family as well as for our many friends around the world who had either met him or become his fans through reading his regular

I

column in the family Christmas newsletter. Fortunately, he had the foresight to write his memoirs shortly before he died: T igger, Memoirs of a Cosmopolitan Cat was advertised in the last issue of The Cat . It can be ordered in any good bookshop or online at http://bit.ly/CosmopolitanCat, and 10 per cent of the proceeds of all sales go to Cats Protection.

I’m so sorry to think of the other Tigger all by himself in strange surroundings. It must have been hard, even for one as resourceful and clever as a ginger tom. May they both rest in peace.

A cat from Qatar

From: Tina Gresham, Exeter ittle Mogwai is a Teacup Persian who was rescued as a starving kitten from a large dumpster by a dedicated team of volunteers doing as much as they can for the abandoned cats in Qatar. He will be joining my group of girls adopted from Axhayes in Exeter and looks like he is settling in already, just another life saved by the special group of people throughout the world involved in cat rescue.

This little fellow has been through so much in his first 11 months but thanks to the rescue volunteers in Qatar, just look at him now.

L

Win a microchip pet feeder!

Ensure your pet’s food stays their own!

In every issue of The Cat magazine, our Star Letter will win a SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder.

All other printed letters will win a CatIt Senses Play Circuit!**

PURCHASEAY D YOURS TODE : CP20*

USE DISCOUNT

CO

YOU SAVE & E NAT SUREFLAP DO

Designed for multi-pet homes to stop pets stealing each other’s food

Works with your pet’s existing microchip

Ensures that prescription food is consumed by the right pet

Great for pets on weight management diets

Visit the SureFlap Happy Cats and discover more at:

facebook.com/sureflap

sureflap.co.uk/cp

* This code is only applicable for the following products: Microchip Pet Door, Microchip Cat Flap, Dualscan Microchip Cat Flap and Microchip Pet Feeder

12

The Cat Winter 2015

0800 012 4511

**Prizes can only be shipped in the UK

Funny, weird, or just plain photogenic; this is the place to show off your cat for the remarkable creature they are. If you think you’ve got a cat who deserves their 15 minutes of fame then write to us at Cats’ tales , The Cat magazine, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT or email editorial@cats.org.uk including a contact number and a photo of at least 500kb in size. If you would like your photos returned, please enclose a self-addressed envelope. Your letters may be edited for clarity and length.

Never stationery for long From: Georgina Stephens, Essex Moshi is a two month old Ragdoll/Chinchilla Persian-cross kitten that loves to play with anything he can find (he especially loves envelopes). He is an expert climber with a love of heights, his favourite of which being my shoulder! Moshi is super friendly and really makes my house a home.

Strike a pose From: Erika Stone, Hampshire In this photo Maisie appears to be having a private conversation with one of my many ornamental cat statues, while clearly enjoying the warmth of the soil in a terracotta planter.

I got all four of my cats from my local Cats Protection branch – I’d have at least four more if the bank balance would allow, but I’m very happy with the four I have and could never even contemplate my home without at least one cat. A home without a cat is just a boring old house really, isn’t it? Thank you for a fantastic magazine, I look forward to reading it each and every time it hits my doormat.

Some of the photos are simply glorious (I do admit to snipping some of them from the magazine and keeping them in a shoebox! It’s fair to say I have quite a few!)

Playing footsie From: Joan White, Cambridgeshire This is Jenny who adopted us 14 years ago as a stray mum with five or six kittens. The kittens were taken in by Ely & District Cats Protection and we kept Jenny. It has taken years for us to gain her trust but she now likes coming into the house for a few minutes every day. She still swipes us if we stroke her with our hands but she loves rubbing around feet.

The Cat Winter 2015

13

The hedgehog and the pussy cat From: Trudy Hindmarsh, by email They say hedgehogs like cat food but my cat likes it too! This is a picture of my naughty little cat Billy pinching food put down for the hungry hedgehog.

Apart from this they share the garden quite happily every evening in the warm weather. Billy is about eight years old now and still plays like a kitten. He loves it here in Skegness but hates the winter – he just decided to move in with me when I was living in London so I brought him with me when I moved. He settled quickly and has a housemate cat called Ollie and both are great company for me.

Feeding frenzy From: Tina Frost-Lutman, by email Here is a photo of our two cats, Claudia and Raphael, getting their cat mint which they frequently fight over.

We adopted them two years ago from your Croydon Branch after one of our senior cats passed away and they are real characters.

Snuggle-puss From: Olivia Johnstone, by email This is Bessie Johnstone and she is a little madam. We got her and her identical brother Boycie about three years ago when they were eight weeks old. She has a serious (c)attitude, but can also be very cute and is often referred to as Puss in Boots from S hrek – she has massive puppy dog eyes. She rarely miaows and hates being picked up but loves to snuggle, almost like a little baby. She is tiny because she was very poorly when she was a kitten with the herpes virus. So she fits perfectly on my neck every night, with her paws around my neck.

If I’m not awake when she wants to cuddle, she will hit me around the face with her paw, or she will head butt me (in a loving way). If she’s not here, she can be found under the duvet curled in the joint of my arm or behind my knees.

14

The Cat Winter 2015

READERS’ CATS Pooped!

From: Naomi Ilagoswa, by email Percy is the adventurer of our two cats but sometimes his adventures catch up with him and he needs a real cat nap!

No room in here, go away!

From: Lucy Huntington, by email Here is our cat Lenny. He was a rescue cat from Blue Cross and had been a stray for over a year before he was taken in. We think this is why he likes to find all sorts of hidey holes to sleep in and doesn’t mind where it is as long as it’s quiet and warm. Here he is tucked up in the airing cupboard, although he doesn’t look happy to be found!

Diva darling From: Paula Eastick, Hereford This is Lily, aged two, posing for the camera! She is the most recent addition to our family and a complete diva! We adopted her just over a year ago, from our local CP centre and she is the typical “spoilt youngest child”, especially by our daughter, who worships her, so much so, that we have recently dubbed her “Princess” Lily! She likes everything her own way. She totally rules the roost and runs rings around our other two older rescue cats!

The Cat Winter 2015

15

Himalayan conservation experience ats Protection in aid of C

7-19 October 2017 This is a unique and thrilling opportunity to challenge yourself while raising vital funds for your local Cats Protection branch or adoption centre. A registration fee and minimum sponsorship applies to take part, contact us to find out more.

Limited spaces available – get in touch now for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Rebecca Worth Events Fundraising Manager T: 01825 741 960 E: events@cats.org.uk W: www.cats.org.uk/events Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

FEATURE

Protecting the Scottish wildcat icky MacDonald , V Communications Co-ordinator for the Scottish Wildcat Action project gives us an insight into why this project is important and what their new website hopes to achieve

Photo: Scottish Wildcat Project

Launch of Scottish Wildcat Action website with Dr Roo Campbell and William the wildcat

I

t’s not every day you get to wear a cat suit and this was no ordinary cat either.

‘William’ the wildcat is the official mascot for Scottish Wildcat Action, the first national project to save the wildcat, and one that Scottish Natural Heritage are key partners in.

Our native cat has been in trouble for some time but William’s job (and mine) was to launch our website, scottishwildcataction.org, at the Scottish Parliament on 1 September 2015. This new website not only represents months of planning but heralds the start of the action on the ground to protect what’s left of this rare and elusive species.

The website allows people to report their sightings, not just of wildcats but also domestic cats living in the wild. These domestic feral cats are proving to be a big problem for the Scottish wildcat because they are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring with them. We are going to tackle this problem by a process of Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (TNVR) of feral cats, which will not only prevent interbreeding and reduce disease transmission, but will also have a positive effect on the health of the ferals.

Now that wildcats are so rare, it is difficult for them to find other wildcats to mate with,

so more and more hybrid kittens are born, diluting the gene pool and eventually we will lose the wildcat as a distinct species. On top of this hybridisation, feral cats are often affected with disease and parasites which they can pass on to wildcats. It’s a hard life in the wild, so it’s not really surprising that Scottish wildcats only live to around six to eight years of age.

Scottish Wildcat Action has just five years left of funding to reduce threats in the wild and start the process of boosting local populations through conservation breeding for release. The first step is gathering local intelligence and then launching an extensive TNVR programme in six wildcat priority areas. This will help ensure the impact of feral cat populations is reduced significantly.

These wildcat priority areas are Strathpeffer, Strathbogie, Northern Strathspey, Angus Glens, Strathavon and Morvern. Project officers will also be working with local people here to protect wildcats from accidental persecution and hybridisation with pet cats.

William will have his part to play too at local events to help raise awareness of the plight of the Scottish wildcat. It’s such a striking and iconic animal, woven firmly into the fabric of the Highland culture that everyone has a story to tell about a wildcat.

Sadly, they all seem to be from the past: 10, 20, even 50 years ago.

Time is running out! We have just five years to make a big impact but, really, the best chance for long-term success lies with our local communities and fellow cat owners.

The website will, I hope, be an important way to get people involved in the action and who knows, maybe in another 10 years’ time, you’ll have one of those heart-stopping moments when you catch a glimpse of a Scottish wildcat and you just know you’ve seen something really special.

Editor’s note: Cats Protection supports the trapping and neutering of feral cats and works closely with specialised conservationists in helping to reduce the risk to the Scottish wildcat. We also ensure domestic cats are vaccinated and neutered before being rehomed.

The Cat Winter 2015

17

What is Scottish Wildcat Action?

Scottish Wildcat Action is a partnership project delivering a national conservation plan to save the Scottish wildcat from extinction. It involves wildcat experts, local people and conservationists. The Scottish wildcat is our native cat species and it is under threat from interbreeding, disease, and accidental persecution. Now that numbers of wildcats are so low, we need your help to protect what’s left of this beautiful creature.

How you can help Please neuter and vaccinate your pet cat – Scottish wildcats are on the edge of extinction because of hybridisation (interbreeding) with domestic cats and disease transmission. By neutering and vaccinating your cat, this will not only keep your pet happy and healthy but also make sure the last Scottish wildcats are protected for future generations.

Report a sighting – There is further information on how to identify a Scottish wildcat on the website and you can report any sightings of cats you’ve seen living in the wild to help the project team. It doesn’t need to be a wildcat to be a useful sighting. If you come across any feral cats or what you think might be a hybrid cat, this will also help us respond quickly.

Volunteer – Scottish Wildcat Action is carrying out the biggest Wildcat survey ever conducted in order to target their Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Release programme. The first step is to set up and monitor over 400 trail cameras in the Scottish Highlands between October and December, followed by setting up of cage traps in order to humanely catch wild-living cats and make sure they are neutered and vaccinated as appropriate. If you live in or are willing to travel to a wildcat priority area, please consider volunteering. You can find out more by emailing volunteer@scottishwildcataction.org or submitting your details on the volunteer form on the website.

How to identify a Scottish wildcat Scottish wildcat (felis silvestris silvestris) Weight: 5 – 8 kg Size: 90 – 98cm long Colour: Tabby markings with thick striped tail Habitat: Scottish wildcats like landscapes where woodland borders open areas, so they can hunt for prey whilst being close to cover Prey: Rabbits are their favourite meal but they also eat voles and birds There are seven key characteristics that distinguish a Scottish wildcat from a standard tabby domestic cat. However, the main feature that is easily recognisable is the tail – it’s thick and bushy with a black, blunt tip and black rings around it. Importantly, the black dorsal stripe along the back of the cat does not extend onto the tail like with many tabby domestic cats. Many people say that when you’ve seen one you know this is a true predator. It moves like a wild animal and is thicker set, which is why it’s sometimes known as the Highland tiger.

Find out more about Scottish Wildcat Action at www.scottishwildcataction.org/how-you-can-help

18

The Cat Winter 2015

Photo: Peter Cairns

FEATURE

?

THINKING of RESCUING find CATS & KITTENS needing HOMES in YOUR area!

You’re just a click away...

CATCHAT.ORG

The Cat Rescue Resource

Reg. Charity 1100649

MAD ABOUT CATS BRAND NEW WEBSITE www.madaboutcats.com First Choice For Quality Cat Themed Gifts, Cat Toys and Accessories.

Always something new.

Secure online shopping.

Telephone - 01942 717667

Coping with the loss of a pet?

0800 096 6606 pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk www.bluecross.org.uk Blue Cross is a charity registered in England and Wales (224392) and in Scotland (SC040154).

M6872/0612

WWW.

Pet Bereavement Support Service

ALI’S CATS

Millie climbing The settling household of A lison Prince

S

tarting as a derelict, hair-shedding nightmare, Millie has established something very like a take-over.

In two rather long years, she’s picked up a good bit of Humanish (though she didn’t even speak Cattish at first) and is becoming quite bossy. This, from a cat that fled if even glanced at, is massive progress. She now feels she has the total freedom of the house and is capable of looking Fingal and/or Mitzi in the eye. It’s never come to outright conflict, but she’s carving out a corner that’s getting more widely established every day. As I write, she’s curled up on the coffee table by the sofa, our evening retreat, and every morning she’s beside the computer as I open my emails, an eye on the cornflakes bowl.

(I have the dreadful habit of carrying breakfast to the computer and deleting rubbish while I eat...)

It’s been a good summer from the cats’ point of view. Reasonably warm and with no alarming visitors. Some of them were already known, so only needed their card stamped, so to speak, and others, particularly if cat owners themselves, were welcomed with something near enthusiasm.

Two wheelie rubbish bins belonging to the empty house next door and standing side by side in the sun have fairly constantly had Fingal on the blue one and Millie topping the grey one, both curled up and sleeping.

Very decorative they look, too. Mitzi, meanwhile, has been slightly the odd cat out. Though Fingal still sometimes washes her face for her as he did when she was a kitten, he has business of his own in the summer, bringing terror to small rodents for miles around. Last week, he lugged a dead rabbit through the cat flap. Mitzi was rather thrilled and caught a mouse of her own one evening, which she brought in and ate, rather ostentatiously.

Millie would never do anything like that. It would be like asking Mrs Gaskell to do a knees-up with DH Lawrence

Illustration: Alison Prince

– though Millie isn’t the Mrs Gaskell kind at all, being ready to give you a swift whack if you get too energetic about combing her. Neither is she red in tooth and claw. Perhaps, like many supermarket shoppers, she doesn’t associate meat with anything alive. A small handful of raw mince is received like manna from heaven, but the notion that it once mooed and chewed and walked about is inconceivable. I don’t mind that. Imaginative cats can be a bit of a nightmare. They get ideas about including themselves in your luggage when you’re packing, to start with. I’ve often had to eject Fingal from an open bag and have a constant nightmare about turning up at a railway station or, even worse, at an airport, with a bag that’s mewing. On the island where I live, it would be all too easy to cart a zipped-in cat onto the ferry. What would I do? Take it to the purser, I suppose, and ask him to keep it in safe custody until I’d phoned some hapless friend to pick it up.

Don’t even think of it.

All that apart, Millie is establishing a niche for herself. She sprawls on the printer (why are cats so keen on printers?) or spreads herself over my clarinet case or, when hungry, does that awful tripping-up thing, twining herself round my feet.

Going downstairs with an armful of newspapers requires vigilance, because a well-spread cat has the same effect as those sleeping policemen ridges they have outside primary schools.

Subtle but damaging if ignored. I rather preferred the approach favoured

by Guatemala, where they simply cemented a row of breeze blocks on the road. Hit one of those at speed and you wouldn’t be going anywhere for quite some time.

The only patch of disputed territory where Millie has no chance is The Lap. Fingal and Mitzi already

have minor disputes over tenancy of this prime position and Millie simply isn’t in the running yet. She knows this and is biding her time. As the classic old smoochy song says, ‘As time went around she came my way, As time went around, she came.’ If anyone is thrown into brain-racking, it goes on, ‘Oh, it’s a long, long time, from May to December, And the nights grow cold when you reach September...’ Forgive me. Too much time spent playing clarinet in a jazz band – it gives you an incurable taste for romanticism.

Cats aren’t romantic, really. At least, our domestic sort aren’t encouraged in the idea. Last Christmas I saw a film about tigers, though, that had me gently snuffling until well into the New Year. But it was worth it.

The big cats are so beautiful. I’d never get one through the cat flap, though.

The Cat Winter 2015

21

Free cat care talks Cats Protection offers curriculum-linked workshops to schools and talks to community groups – completely free of charge.

Both adults and children can learn about cat behaviour and responsible pet ownership.

If you and your group would like to hear about the work Cats Protection does, please get in touch on education@cats.org.uk

Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

EDU_826

FEATURE

Napoleon: An Emperor among cats Steve Ainsworth dispels some myths around the cat-fearing ruler

N

apoleon is a name which has popped up everywhere during 2015. The reason of course is that 18 June 2015 marked the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, when Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of the French finally met his match in the shape of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.

But what has that got to do what cats? Well for a start there are a surprising number of stories about Napoleon and our feline friends. And no doubt many of those tales will resurface this year – though it must be acknowledged from the outset that most, if not all, are untrue.

Some of the stories are very old.

And some of the myths are quite new.

It’s often claimed that Napoleon was morbidly afraid of cats, and a relative newcomer to the legend is that the Duke of Wellington, knowing that his opponent would be thrown off his stride by the appearance of a cat, released 70 of them along his front line at Waterloo in the hope that one might distract the French Emperor at a critical moment. The story is complete and utter nonsense.

One of the most frequently repeated stories about Napoleon and his supposed cat phobia is that he was once discovered in his bedroom, half dressed, and in a cold sweat of terror, thrusting into the curtains with his sword. The target of this furious attack turned out to be a tiny kitten who had found its way into the French General’s room. What dreadful behaviour!

The usual explanation given for the Emperor’s supposed fear of cats – ‘ailurophobia’ (from the Greek word ailuros, a cat) is that he had been attacked in his cot by a wildcat at his childhood home on the island of Corsica. But there does not appear to be a shred of evidence to support the tale.

In reality Napoleon often had cats around him. His wife, the Empress ‘not tonight’ Joséphine, kept several, along with other pets at their country home, the Château de Malmaison. She wrote that she considered her cats “…good and faithful creatures that purr”.

The source of the legend that Napoleon was afraid of cats turns out to be a mix-up between him and his nephew, who became Napoleon III of France in the mid-19th century.

Napoleon III suffered from such a severe fear of cats that he really would jump up onto the furniture if a cat simply walked into the room. People somehow just confused the two Napoleons, one famous and the other now virtually forgotten.

Meanwhile, back to Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington: curiously both of them ended up with kitties. After his defeat at Waterloo the French Emperor was exiled to the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena. And among his closest companions there was cat he named Ben. As for the ‘Iron Duke’, Wellington too ended up with a kitty – though in his case it was his wife, Catherine ‘Kitty’ Wellesley!

?

The Cat Winter 2015

23

Behaviour matters Nicky Trevorrow BSc (Hons), PG Dip (CABC), RVN Nicky works in Cats Protection’s Veterinary Department at the National Cat Centre as a Behaviour Manager. Nicky holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. More recently, Nicky completed a postgraduate diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling from the University of Southampton. Nicky is a registered veterinary nurse. She is a member of the International Cat Care’s Behavioural Advisory Panel and represents Cats Protection on the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.

Nicky Trevorrow ponders the question – top cat, boss cat, alpha cat? (part one)

W

e are constantly bombarded with pet dominance information almost on a daily basis from all kinds of different sources. Once you look for words like ‘alpha’, you’ll start to notice how frequently they come up. Many pet shops sell cat bowls or feeding mats that are labelled ‘Boss cat’ for example. There are programmes on television promoting the idea of ‘being the alpha’ in the relationship with your pet. Many owners with two or more cats often attribute one of their cats as being the ‘top cat’ over the others. These words are ingrained in our common usage, almost subconsciously, without thinking about what they really mean and whether they are a useful way to explain cat behaviour.

Wild at heart In order to understand our pet cats, it is helpful to appreciate their behaviour in the natural environment, which for domesticated species also includes looking at their ancestry. Domestic cats have a shared ancestry with the African wildcat. People have only been selectively breeding cats for the last 200 years, so genetically and behaviourally they are very similar to their wild ancestors.

The underlying ‘blueprint’ for their behaviour as a species is essentially solitary. We can still see signs of their ancestry in the behaviour of today’s pet cat. Their ancestry explains why scent communication is so important to them compared to visual or vocal communication; cats would rather leave a scent message that persists after they have left, in order to avoid conflict with other cats. It is precisely this solitary background which starts to unpick the idea of dominance hierarchies in cats.

24

The Cat Winter 2015

Food for thought On top of their ‘baseline’ behaviour, there are layers.

Cats don’t need friends, however some cats may choose a particular cat as a friend. As we’ve seen in previous issues of T he Cat , each cat varies in how sociable they are with other cats. It is easy to see how tempting it is to ascribe the ‘dominance’ label to groups of cats – a common scenario is how cats behave around food. If a cat is not in the food bowl first, or appears to be ‘holding back’, it is often assumed that this is the submissive cat and that the dominant cat always gets the food first. Given that cats are territorial animals, they merely want all the resources, like food, for themselves. The differences we see in their interactions can be explained by looking at the cats’ personalities, such as confident or nervous cats, their motivation, medical conditions and learning from past experiences.

If we look at my previous cats, Alex and Amber, who were siblings in the same social group from my local Cats Protection branch, they are the perfect example. In times past, I used to think that Alex was the ‘dominant’ cat as he often ate first, while Amber seemed to fit with the ‘subordinate’ role.

The beauty of science is that new research is regularly reshaping our ideas and progressing our learning. So with this in mind, I can re-evaluate the situation and describe Alex as a bold, food-motivated cat. Amber had a naturally shy disposition since being a kitten and was average in terms of food motivation. However Amber was extremely tunamotivated! So much so, that she would carefully put her paw in Alex’s bowl and pull it towards her. Previous experience told Amber that this had worked in the past with no reaction from her brother. This was a learnt behaviour as it had a successful

HEALTH CHECK

In this example, one cat predominantly lives upstairs in the pink areas, while the other cat mostly lives downstairs in the green areas.

They ‘time share’ the sofa by one cat using it in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The kitchen has both colours as they are fed together in the kitchen (like many cats are), however they would prefer to eat in their separate territories.

Photo: Dawn Gibson

outcome, so she continued to do it. If Alex had a medical condition that actually put him off his food, that again would explain why Amber might choose to eat all the food available.

My space or yours?

Cats are very subtle in their use of space. It is common for one cat in a multi-cat household to predominately reside upstairs while another cat lives downstairs. Unless owners draw up a house plan to examine their cats’ use of space, it can be easily overlooked. However, most owners notice the change in their cats’ behaviour if one sadly passes away. Frequently many people will comment that perhaps their ‘dominant’ cat died and therefore the submissive cat is behaving differently as a result, and often talk of groups of cats ‘fighting for the new top spot’ or ‘reorganising the pecking order’. What people are noticing is that the remaining cat starts to use the rest of the house. Now rather than being supressed by a so-called dominant cat, the explanation is much simpler: the cat is using more space in the house… because they can! The space is available for the taking, so they spread out. It’s similar to a situation in which you have a housemate and you share common areas like the kitchen and lounge but avoid their bedroom, not because they are dominant, but because it is their territory. If they move out, you will naturally spread out your things across the whole house.

This is a fascinating area of behaviour that many owners can relate to when looking at their own multi-cat households.

There are a number of ways to look at various interactions between cats and explain them using modern research. In the next issue, we’ll be looking in more detail about where the idea of dominance hierarchies originated and why ‘alpha’ is such a commonly used word in our vocabulary.

Not dominance, just a preference of resources. Libby will sleep on the radiator bed, whereas Willow prefers the floor as it is nice and warm too!

The Cat Winter 2015

25

vets Ask the

Have you got a question?

Send your questions to: Ask The Vets, The Cat magazine, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT or email editorial@cats.org.uk

We hold regular live Q&A sessions on our Facebook page. Here are some of the most recent questions posed and the answers given.

Vaccinations I’ve got a cat from a rescue home. He’s had all his jabs and on the paperwork it says he should have a booster next January. I’m keeping him as an indoor cat so would the booster be necessary?

In the UK vaccination is routinely used in cats to offer protection against two of the cat flu viruses (feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus) and feline parvovirus. Feline leukaemia virus is also commonly included. If you want to continue offering your cat full protection then a booster vaccination is required in line with the vaccine manufacturers’ license for the vaccine. Although your cat is going to be an indoor cat and is less likely to come into contact with these viruses, by being indoors he will also not benefit from the natural exposure to the viruses which would act as a natural booster for his immune system. Your cat’s immunity may wane and he will not have any protection should he then become exposed. Please speak to your vet about your cat’s individual needs and remember if you choose not to continue with vaccinations it’s still extremely important to carry on with the annual check-up for your cat at your vets. You may also find our I nfectious disease and vaccination leaflet* useful.

Are annual boosters safe or should vets be taking blood to check whether boosters are required? I have read that in the USA routine vaccinations are less common having been linked to causing other conditions in cats such as tumours?

Blood samples taken prior to booster vaccinations look for the level of antibodies produced by the body in response to exposure to the micro-organisms in the vaccine. Antibodies will wane over time if the body is not re-challenged by the virus and may reach a level where there is not enough ‘memory’ to kick off an immune response when needed. In some cases monitoring antibody levels may provide information as to whether or not another booster vaccine is needed.

Unfortunately blood sampling and testing is costly and not always readily available at the usual external labs, along with the added stress to the cat of obtaining the blood sample.

Drug companies have carried out many trials to get licenses for their vaccines looking at antibody levels and have established the ideal time for when routine boosters are needed. There is certainly some change happening in this area in recent years and not all viruses may need annual boosters in the future.

With regard to tumours, many studies have been carried out in the USA looking at the incidence of injection-site sarcomas and it is believed that the they occur at a frequency of 1 in 10,000 cases, much less commonly than cat flu.

26 The Cat Winter 2015

Please talk to your vet about your concerns and they can advise on your cat’s individual vaccination needs. Check out our I nfectious disease and vaccination leaflet* and you may find the following useful to read: www.thecatgroup.org.uk/ policy_statements/vacc.html

Dental Is drooling a sign of being content or dental problems?

My cat often drools but doesn’t seem to be in any pain or discomfort.

Drooling can indeed be a sign of contentedness. Some cats will drool in excess when stroked or when they are kneading and purring. If however this is a new behaviour for your cat, we would recommend your cat is examined by your vet.

Drooling can also be a sign of nausea or discomfort in the mouth or throat.

What age do cats’ baby teeth stop coming through? My five-year-old has perfectly healthy gums but lost a fang due to biting my dog’s hard bone a few years ago when pregnant which hasn’t grown back. A few months ago she was chomping so I looked in her mouth and noticed a loose tooth at the back. As I touched it, it fell out but there was another tooth there in its place. Is this normal?

Kittens usually have 26 baby teeth which are replaced by 30 adult teeth by six months of age. It may be that your cat had a retained milk tooth or possibly part of the adult tooth has broken off, leaving the remainder of the tooth still in the gum. If your cat has a large build-up of tartar, particularly on her back molar teeth, it is also possible that this may have come away from the tooth and may have looked like a loose tooth. We’d recommend that you get your vet to examine your cat’s mouth and teeth at least once a year to assess their oral health.

How do you begin to clean your cat’s teeth if they are nearly two years old?

It can be tricky starting when cats are older. Maybe start trying with enzymatic toothpaste (available from your vets) and get your cat to lick some from your finger. Then try rubbing toothpaste on their teeth with your finger and progress from there to a finger brush or toothbrush. Use positive reinforcement to reward good behaviour by providing a treat every time your cat accepts the toothpaste or toothbrush.

Patience is the key! However trying one of the dental prescription diets may be an alternative as not all cats will tolerate tooth cleaning, especially when started later in life.

See our T eeth and oral health leaflet*.

HEALTH CHECK Feeding I have a cat, Jacob, that I feed a special renal diet due to his chronic kidney disease. My other two cats are young and healthy and on a normal diet. One of them, Mia, will only snack on biscuits through the day and she doesn’t like wet food. This being the case it’s easy enough to feed wet food separately but ‘normal’ biscuits have to be left around all day for Mia – and then Jacob snacks on them too. How much harm will this cause him?

The renal diet that you are feeding Jacob will have lower protein and phosphorous levels to help his kidneys. The occasional snack on ‘normal’ biscuits is likely to have little effect, but more regular eating may be detrimental. Microchip feeders may be something to consider – they will only allow access to the food bowl if it recognises the microchip (ie you could set it up so it will only open for one of your cats).

My cats are on a mostly wet food diet but do have a bowl of dry food that they go to in between meals and water.

Sometimes I get the little grass pots for them to munch on too, and I give them cat milk and treats once in a while! Is this a good set up? I try to vary their diet but I’m not sure if that’s the best thing to do?

The combination of foods you are feeding sounds ok.

Ensure that you follow the packaging guidance on how much to feed and adjust the wet and dry quantities accordingly.

It’s important to try and maintain an ideal weight for your cats and not allow them to become overweight. This may be difficult to calculate if different brands of food are used and you may have to adjust amounts fed based on weight loss or gain. Cats don’t necessarily need variation in their diet though it’s more of a human thing.

My cat is 18 years old and of late he will not eat his food.

Do you have any information on this please?

There are many reasons why an older cat may go off their food. We would recommend that he has a thorough health check by your vet to rule these out. Common causes may include tooth and mouth problems or other systemic illnesses.

Older cats’ sense of smell and taste may also diminish, so providing smelly foods may encourage him to eat. You might find it useful to read our Elderly cats leaflet* which contains more information.

What is the proper weight for a senior cat?

The average ideal weight for a cat in the UK is currently 4kg. Using body condition scoring alongside weight is important as this assesses how much excess fat your cat is carrying. Senior cats may tend to lose weight as they get older. Here’s a useful link from the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) to find out the ideal body condition score for your cat. http://bit.ly/1FUnyyz

THE EXPERTS Maggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVS After qualifying at Edinburgh University in 1986, Maggie went on to work primarily in private practice. Maggie first worked for CP as Veterinary Officer from 1997-99; her interest in feline medicine brought her back to the charity as Director of Veterinary Services in 2006. She has two cats, Frankie and Ronnie.

Vanessa Howie BVetMed MRCVS Vanessa graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2000 and worked in private and charity practices before joining CP in November 2006.

She was the first Field Veterinary Officer for the charity and now supports the current Field Vets in their role. Vanessa has two CP cats, Tilly and Mabel.

Lisa Morrow BMLSc DVM MSc (Vet Epi) MRCVS Lisa graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, Canada in 2000. Lisa first worked with CP as an Adoption Centre Vet at Derby Adoption Centre and was CP Head of Veterinary Services from 2003-2005. Lisa rejoined CP in 2009 as Field Veterinary Officer in the northern region of the UK. She has a black cat, Kiwi.

Sarah Elliot BVetMed MRCVS Sarah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College London in 2007.

After an initial two years in small animal practice in Nottingham, Sarah headed to New Zealand to continue veterinary practice abroad. Upon her return home Sarah took up a position as a PDSA vet in North London. Sarah was very happy to combine a love of cats and charity work as a Cats Protection Field Veterinary Officer.

Our next online Facebook Q&As are: Neutering – 3 December 2015 Behaviour – 17 December and 28 January 2016

Emily Billings BVSc MSc MRCVS Emily graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2007 and went on to work in a private veterinary practice until joining CP as the National Cat Centre Veterinary Officer. She has one CP cat called Wolfy.

*Our veterinary and essential guides are available online at www.cats.org.uk/cat-care/care-leaflets or by post by calling our Helpline on 03000 12 12 12.

Our veterinary surgeons have provided the advice on these pages, but for specific cases and health concerns it is important that you consult your own vet who will be able to look at your cat’s history and do a clinical examination.

The Cat Winter 2015

27

And our survey said…

T

hank you to everyone who filled in the survey that accompanied the summer edition of T he Cat either on paper or online. We had over 3,500 replies which represents 13.8 per cent of our circulation – which is a great return.

We have been buoyed by the many positive comments, inspired by the constructive feedback and enthused by the various suggestions.

Before you turn the page to find the results in colourful graphic form we thought we’d address some of the concerns, comments and suggestions made by respondents.

“The link didn’t work…” mystery…

Sadly many of you found that the link to the online survey did not work. Try as we might we could not replicate this problem – each time we typed out the web address the survey duly appeared. The only thought we have is that perhaps the link was typed into the Google search engine as opposed to the top address bar in the browser. However, the main thing is that this didn’t deter you from getting your replies into us, thank you!

The cost of the magazine Any expenditure by a charity can cause concern about the perceived costs and there were a handful of readers who suggested the option of being removed from the mailing list in order to save money. Should you wish to no longer receive the magazine, please contact our Supporter Services team on 0800 917 2287 or email supporterservices@cats.org.uk and they will adjust their database accordingly.

However…

28

The Cat Winter 2015

The magazine plays a vital role in increasing the awareness of the work that Cats Protection does.

In fact, one of Cats Protection’s main objectives is to improve people’s understanding of cats’ needs and raise awareness of the charity, which plays a big part in enabling us to help more cats. For over 80 years the magazine has showcased the sterling work done by our branches and centres. It has heralded their success stories, put out appeals for financial help with vet care in particular cases and advertised for new volunteers. The magazine has enabled us to champion the cause of cats to a worldwide audience, encourage readers to get involved, contribute and be a part of the work we do. In short The Cat magazine provides an important mouthpiece for the charity while at the same time aiming to entertain and educate through fun and informative articles. The money it costs to produce is very carefully weighed up against the benefits it brings to us as an organisation and, indeed, the cats in our care. These costs are reviewed regularly and measures are taken in order to ensure it is as cost effective as possible.

The magazine is supported by the funds brought in not only from our advertisers and also by those who pay to subscribe to it, rather than receiving it through CP membership. Each magazine costs just under £1 to print and distribute.

As to the cost of running this survey, we view this as money well spent allowing us to ascertain who our readers are, what they want and how we can improve things for them, not just with the magazine but with the charity too. It helps us to ensure we’re targeting the right people with the right messages.

SURVEY RESPONSE

Going digital

Branch news

Some respondents have urged us to publish a digital version and at the same time people are requesting that we do not abandon the paper copy of the magazine. There are no plans to stop the current format of the magazine and we are keeping an open mind about the possibility of an online version in the future.

Some readers pointed out that there was little news from branches in their own areas. For this we are reliant upon the stories and news sent into us by the various branches across the UK. So if anyone from our branches is reading this – your public want to hear from you! Send us your success stories, appeals and thank yous to editorial@cats.org.uk

Why the whiff?

Some readers pointed out that there is a somewhat heady print smell when opening their issue of The Cat magazine. Readers might find that other mainstream consumer magazines do not have this same smell, but this is probably due to these magazines being produced on web printing presses – which use different drying methods. This is designed for very large print runs. Our print house uses vegetable dyes which are both cost effective and environmentally friendly; however, this combined with our paper from responsibly managed sources and the drying process can retain the ink smell for longer. However, we are asking our printers to see if there is any change in process (that does not incur extra costs) that we can incorporate to potentially reduce the smell, while keeping it eco-friendly.

Passing the message on

Offline contacts As many of you are not online we endeavour to provide alternative contact options to email or websites. However, since many of our suppliers of books and giveaways do their business only online, especially those with more handmade, unique offerings, this may not always be possible.

Thank you once more for taking the time to send us in your thoughts and thank you to those that sent in donations, this was most unexpected but very gratefully received.

Now read on for the results!

It was lovely to see that many people had first become aware of T he Cat magazine, not through a membership of the charity itself, but via a friend or a doctor’s or vet’s waiting room. Thank you to all our readers who regularly recycle their copy of T he Cat in such ways – it works! Spreading the charity’s messages is paramount in helping the thousands of cats in our care. Greater awareness of our work is key and the more people we can beckon to the feline side, the better!

We were just as pleased, however, to learn that many keep the magazines for future reference, especially for veterinary articles etc.

The Cat Winter 2015 29

LOCATION

GENDER

3.3%

0.8%

3.7% 7.4%

6.6%

8.9%

13% 17%

11% 89% AGE 28.6% 23.5%

24%

39.3%

NORTH EAST

SCOTLAND

NORTH WEST

WALES

MIDLANDS/CENTRAL

NORTHERN IRELAND

SOUTH EAST

OTHER

SOUTH WEST

EMPLOYMENT 13.4%

6.8%

0.4%

2.3%

16–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74

75+

18.5 %

9.9 %

4.3 %

FULL TIME

PART TIME

SELF EMPLOYED

0.5 %

62.4 %

4.3 %

STUDENT

RETIRED

OTHER

NUMBER OF CATS OWNED

0

1

21.9% 30 The Cat Winter 2015

37.2%

2 23.9%

3 8.5%

4+ 8.5%

SURVEY RESPONSE TOP 5 INTERESTS

5

THEATRE

4 LENGTH OF READERSHIP

TRAVEL

2.5%

3.3%

3

UNDER 6 MONTHS

6 MONTHS – 1 YEAR

5.5%

18.1%

1–2 YEARS

2–5 YEARS

MUSIC

23.3%

47.3%

2

5-10 YEARS

10+ YEARS

GARDENING

1

CONTENT RATING PERCENTAGE SCORED ‘VERY GOOD’ TO ‘EXCELLENT’

VETERINARY ARTICLES

90% 87% 82% 81% 81%

CP ARTICLES

READER SUBMISSIONS

FEATURES

HUMOROUS ARTICLES

READING

The Cat Winter 2015

31

FEATURE

National Black Cat Day 2015

T

uesday 27 October marked the date of the fifth National Black Cat Day, Cats Protection’s annual campaign to commemorate black and black-and-white cats.

Monochrome moggies in CP care are often overlooked by potential adopters and take on average a week longer to find a new home than their more colourful counterparts.

Recent research conducted by Cats Protection shows that the myth that black cats are unlucky seems to be taking hold with the younger generation who perhaps are being influenced by American attitudes. A notable 12 per cent of those surveyed aged 18 to 24 stated that they think black cats are unlucky, while only two per cent of those aged over 55 agreed with this view.

Gemma Smith, Social Media Manager at Cats Protection says: “Black and black-and-white cats are just as deserving of a loving home as any other colour so we’d urge people to give them a chance and not just walk past their pen in an adoption centre. They’re just as funny, sweet and wonderful as any other cat.”

To celebrate we ran a Black Cat Champion competition on our national social media channels which invited our supporters to share their black cat photos and stories; and created a tongue-in-cheek video called ‘Five misconceptions about black cats’.

During the campaign the black and black-andwhite cats in our sponsored adoption centre pens were emphasised, while our nationwide shops got involved by selling brilliant black cat pin badges and held a fun shop window display competition!

Pictured is Bobby, the beautiful Black Cat Day Champion of 2014, who sadly passed away due to suspected poisoning earlier this year. Bobby won the hearts of our supporters, with his competition entry receiving nearly 1,000 Facebook likes.

To see the cat crowned Black Cat Champion 2015, visit our website at www.cats.org.uk/black-cats

Here’s a picture Simon Tofield, creator of Simon’s Cat drew for us to celebrate the day!

Photo: More Than Paws Illustration: © Simon’s Cat Ltd.

32

The Cat Winter 2015

CP cats take centre stage for our Cats Calendar 2016 Building on the success of last year’s Cats Calendar here are some more fantastic felines to grace each month of 2016. Again the calendar is made up entirely of images of cats, and their stories, that were rehomed through Cats Protection branches and adoption centres across the UK. Get your copy now!

Price £4.95

Cats Calendar 2016 Wookiee in Bangor was brought to CP after being mistreated by children. “He was very nervous and so shy when we met him. We were a bit concerned how he might settle in,“ explained new owner Nichola. “But we needn’t have worried. The moment he stepped out of the cat carrier he was king of the house. He’s gone from a skinny scruff to our handsome, shiny boy.”

Photo: Laurence King (www.snappitt.co.uk)

January Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 1

Sunday 2

3

New Year‘s Day (Holiday)

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Holiday (Scotland)

Robert Burns Night

Not forgetting...

The Kitten Calendar 2016 has a range of cute images and captions and has detachable postcards to keep or send. Price £3.95 Postcard

Kitten Calendar 2016

January 1 Friday

All the cats featured in this calendar were rehomed through Cats Protection

Our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs New Year’s Day (Holiday)

2 Saturday 3 Sunday 4 Monday

Holiday (Scotland)

5 Tuesday 6 Wednesday 7 Thursday 8 Friday 9 Saturday 10 Sunday 11 Monday 12 Tuesday 13 Wednesday

The 2016 CP Diary

14 Thursday 15 Friday 16 Saturday 17 Sunday 18 Monday

2016

Diary

19 Tuesday 20 Wednesday 21 Thursday 22 Friday 23 Saturday 24 Sunday 25 Monday

Robert Burns Night

26 Tuesday 27 Wednesday 28 Thursday 29 Friday 30 Saturday

Show your support for CP all year round and stay organised with its handy week-to-view format.

Price £3.45

31 Sunday

Think I’ll just ease myself gently in o the New Year

On sale now to buy online at: www.cpchristmasshop.co.uk or phone: 0 1 2 6 8 8 8 8 2 1 5 SHOPS_966

OUR PARTNERS

High flying partnership Cats Protection is lucky to have several commercial partners whose support and contributions help us to care for cats

M

agpie is the brainchild of designer Nicky Sloan and was created in 2011 to cater to a gap she had spotted in the homewares market. Realising there was potential for nostalgic, colourful, mix and match vintage-inspired tableware and homewares, the brand was born with a range of ceramics based on Nicky’s love of British design from the last century.

Since then Magpie has grown steadily, both in the design ranges it offers and the shops stocking it. Available from over 1,000 stores throughout the UK including esteemed high street names such as Oliver Bonas, Selfridges, Harrods, Lakeland, House of Fraser along with hundreds of independent shops, Magpie boasts over 500 unique products.

Nicky’s connection with Cats Protection began in 2009. “I began volunteering for Cats Protection by helping out at my local London rehoming days and then training to become a home visitor,” Nicky says.

“After seeing the amazing work the branches do I decided to donate a portion of our yearly profits to help fund the cause. Then I realised Magpie could help on a bigger scale, by donating ends of lines and unsold stocks to CP shops. This lead on to donating in a more structured way so we started by giving a percentage of our orders taken from trade shows and also giving 15 per cent of all retail sales to CP too.”

Nicky adds: “We have four cats, three of which were adopted from Cats Protection. They are the most loving and beautiful companions and we feel so happy we have been able to give them a safe home.”

Magpie is a company with strong ethics and values. Nicky continues: “In respect to the artists we work with, we want to do right by them; not just as a commercial venture but also as a creative one. The perfect outcome is to create a range which sells well for us, works for the artist (giving them income and exposure) and to ultimately build a relationship which we can take forward into other ranges. We try our utmost to be fair to everyone we deal with. It’s not necessary, or even beneficial in my opinion, to be cut-throat and mercenary in business. Our factories are all audited, and we don’t squeeze them on price. We pay what is fair. We go out of our way to look after our retail customers, ensuring that we don’t supply the same products

to shops which are trading close to each other. Our staff are also very important to us, we treat every employee the same, with a turnover-related bonus scheme, so we can all share the profits of the company.”

The high standards continue with the products themselves. “All our products are vegan-friendly; we do not manufacture using any animal products, whether that’s leather or bone china. As a vegan myself, it is incredibly important to me to know that no animal has suffered or been killed to produce one of our products.

Of course, you don’t have to be a vegan to buy our products and we don’t even market them as a ‘vegan product’ but all Magpie products are cruelty free.”

Magpie uses animal-friendly cotton and pleather for its bags and purses; and all cards and notebooks are made from 100 per cent recycled paper.

To see more of the Magpie collection visit www.magpieline.com

One of Nicky’s cats, Boo

34

The Cat Winter 2015

THERE’S NO BONE IN OUR CHINA Visit magpieline.com for cruelty free homewares 15% of what you spend with us goes to Cats Protection

All creatures great Esther Newton explores the religious connection to the cat

T

he cat has always had an air of mystery so perhaps that’s why religions across the world and in various times have reported a special connection to the cat.

The youngest of the clerks brought his cat along on the journey. The other two weren’t too happy about this and believed the cat would be a hindrance.

A few days into the trip, they landed on an island. The cat caught salmon for the men, but the men refused the fish, holding with their belief that God would provide for them. The eldest clerk started thinking and argued that the hand of God was clearly on the cat, so they accepted the fish and enjoyed a hearty supper.

Nirvana and the cat The lion who sneezed a cat Our first tale goes back to the times of Noah and his ark. The story tells of a mouse who chewed a hole through the bottom of the ark. The ark started to leak so Noah turned to the lion for advice. He patted the lion’s nose and the lion sneezed a cat, who made sure the mouse didn’t make any more holes.

The saviour cat There have been numerous stories about cats in the role of saviour over the years. One Irish story concerns three young clerks who were embarking on a pilgrimage, sailing by boat across the waters. Their faith in God was so strong that they didn’t take any provisions with them, believing that God would provide for them.

36 The Cat Winter 2015

The following story comes from Japan and concerns the Buddhist artist, ChoDensu. It is said a cat used to come and watch him as he painted. One time, Cho-Densu was painting a masterpiece known as The Nirvana picture. In the picture Buddha was dying. As he lay there, he was surrounded by humans and all sorts of animals, spirits, trees and plants. This type of picture was very popular among Buddhists and artists.

The cat was sad because cats didn’t ever appear in Nirvana pictures. ChoDensu had an explanation for the cat.

He told it that cats weren’t included because they weren’t on the original list of animals protected by Buddha.

The reason behind this was because at Buddha’s funeral, the cat fell asleep in the middle of the ceremony, which wasn’t very well received.

As Cho-Densu was working on his picture, he couldn’t find an ultramarine mineral necessary for his painting. The cat listened as Cho-Densu told her about his problem and offered him a solution. The cat knew exactly where there was plenty of the ultramarine mineral so it showed him the way.

Cho-Densu was so happy he painted the cat into his Nirvana picture. ChoDensu’s painting can be seen in the Tofukuji Temple.

FEATURE Illustrations: Sam Roberts

and small...

Tricked by a rat An old Islamic tale features a cat and a rat. The cat was happily snuggled down by a warm brazier of charcoals when he saw a rat tip-toeing across a roof. The cat prayed to Allah to stop the rat.

The rat taunted the cat, scoffing at Allah, but came unstuck when he tripped over and fell to the ground. The cat picked the rat up in his paws and told the rat it served him right for being blasphemous towards Allah.

The rat begged for his life and asked to make up for his behaviour by praying with the cat. The cat lifted his paws in the pose of prayer. The rat saw his opportunity to escape and darted away.

It is said the cat wiped his eyes in sadness and now, every time a cat brings their paws up to their face, they’re remembering the smell of the rat who escaped them all those years ago.

Muhammad’s cloak Another Islamic story and one that has been told many times, and in slightly varied forms, is when the prophet Muhammad awoke one day to the daily call to prayer. He noticed a cat was asleep on his cloak. Instead of disturbing the cat, he cut away the part it was sleeping on.

Muhammad’s love of cats An interesting snippet and one which reinforces Muhammad’s love of cats, appeared in a 1946 issue of The Cat. The writer of the short filler, Muriel Barber, highlighted how Muhammad was believed to have authority over man and beast, with a particular fondness for cats, evidenced by the custom of several cats accompanying the caravan which carried the Sacred Carpet to Mecca.

Fiery feline A story from ancient India depicts how the god, Mahadeo wanted to discover if one of the houses in the local village had fire. So he sent his cat to find out. The cat crept inside and saw a fire and a bowl of milk warming beside it. Then it spied some butter on the floor, which had clearly been dropped.

The cat lapped up the butter, followed by the milk. This made it sleepy so it curled up right beside the fire and went to sleep.

Since that day, the cat has always loved to sleep by a warm fire.

Man’s life in cat’s paws Thought to be of African/Caribbean origin, this story sets about explaining why man only has one life.

The cat and dog were having a conversation one day. The cat thought that man was born, lived and then died. The dog argued that when man died, he was born again. The cat didn’t agree. They decided the only way to resolve their disagreement was to ask God. The dog was very sly and left a trail of small pieces of fat up to heaven. He knew the cat would stop and eat the fat, which would slow her down and he would be able to get to God first.

But the dog had underestimated the cat. The cat placed a trail of bones up to heaven.

The next morning, they both set out together. They came to the trail of fat first, but the cat didn’t stop and resisted the treat. The dog, on the other hand, couldn’t resist the juicy bones so the cat reached God first.

The cat asked God if man rose after he died. God asked the cat what it thought. The cat told him it didn’t think men rose again. So God said that’s the way it would be. When the dog finally arrived God told him he was too late and the cat had decided the fate of man.

It seems as if we, as humans, have to explain everything in life. Although some are fanciful and far-fetched, these tales are thoroughly entertaining and help to explain why the cat has always been thought of as special, with that element of mystery surrounding them.

Esther Newton has written a number of books and the latest is called The Seige and other award winning stories. It retails from Amazon at £6.50 and Esther is donating £2 from each book sold to Cats Protection. ISBN 9781781323106.

The Cat Winter 2015

37

Snuggle up and have a nosy through our recommendations for the best cat products this winter…

WIN

Bag it up!

Moggy mirrors

DISCOUNT

WIN

These gorgeous pocket-sized mirrors are great stocking fillers and handy to pop in your handbag or toiletry bag. We’ve been offered six freebies in three designs: I like cats; Crazy cats; and Cats forever.

The mirrors are made by brand I Like Cats and are available to buy for £3.90 each from www.justdaydreaming.com or at Sussex-based handmade craft and vintage event The Fairy Tale Fair (which has previously supported the Brighton Branch of CP!).

If you’d like to win one of the six mirrors, mark your entry I Like Cats mirror. If you want to get your hands on one sooner, use our discount code which allows you 15 per cent off. The code is catsforever and it’s valid from 20 November to 20 January 2016 (one use per customer).

Learning your ABCs This colourful cat educational puzzle with the letters from A to Z would make a lovely gift for the little one in your life.

It’s painted in a range of bright colours with safe, non-toxic paints and is suitable for children aged from 12 months.

The Colourful Cat A-Z Puzzle costs £25 and can be bought from www.knottoys.com or by phoning 01279 813 275.

We’ve been offered one as a prize for our readers – to win mark your entry A-Z puzzle.

WIN

38

The Cat Winter 2015

Eco-bag brand Talented has launched a collection of tote bags that’s cool for cats – The Adventures of Bobby and Jimmy!

The printed range of ethically made and sustainable cotton canvas tote bags is available in a compact tote, mini tote bag and mini zip purse. A cute little red pom-pom is included in the range.

Priced at £13, the bags are available to buy from www.madebytalented.com If you’d like to win one of four compact tote design bags, please enter with the words Bobby and Jimmy.

Make it personal Treat the pet lover in your life this Christmas with a unique personalised book. 50 Greatest Pets features 49 famous people with their pets such as Audrey Hepburn and Mr Famous, Freddie Mercury with Delilah and Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis. The last space is reserved for you (or a recipient) and your pet. Each book can be customised with an image of the recipient and their dog or cat on the cover and a biography inside.

The book is available to buy from www.iamthegreatest.gift at £29.50 for hardback and £19.50 for paperback, including delivery. Or if you fancy your chances, enter our competition to win a personalised hardback copy – mark your entry 50 Greatest Pets.

WIN

OUR FAVOURITE THINGS Race for the chase

What a treat!

The feather chaser is a new electronic toy that continuously rotates enticing your cat to chase and pounce on the feathers underneath and inside the toy. Not only is it great fun, it also allows your pet to exercise their natural hunting behaviour (ensure your cat is rewarded at the end of the play session to avoid frustration).

The Rosewood feather chase toy is for sale on Amazon or in nationwide The Range stores for £16.99. We have two to give away – for a chance to win mark your entry Feather chase toy.

Play time never ends here – this time we have a treat ball with a rotating hatch opening so you can stuff it full of delicious treats of various sizes (take any treats you give your cat out of their daily allowance). Simply place some of your cat’s favourite treats or dry food biscuits in the ball, adjust the opening to a suitable size and watch your cat enjoy playing with the toy.

The Good Girl Meowee! cat treat ball costs £3.79 and is available in The Range and all good pet stores. We also have 10 up for grabs; if you’d like to win, enter with the words Cat treat ball.

WIN

WIN

cat’miaow s

The

Drink well with Drinkwell Feelin’ hot, hot, hot!

Get cosy in style with this gorgeous cat print hot water bottle cover from designer Sophie Allport to help heat those chilly feet in the bitter winter months.

The outer fabric is covered in black cats and white fish bones while the inner has padding for extra insulation. It is 38cm x 27cm and suitable for two litre hot water bottles. If you like the print, there are other items in the same range including tea towels, mugs and cushions.

We have three covers (hot water bottle not included) worth £15 each to give away. If you’d like to win, submit your entry with the words Hot water bottle cover.

If you don’t win, you can pick one up from www.sophieallport.com or by calling 0845 017 7866.

Cats often prefer running water so the PetSafe Drinkwell Ceramic Avalon Pet Fountain provides a free-falling, continuously filtered water stream that encourages your cat to drink throughout the day. The ceramic design is hygienic and designed for multiple pets with an upper and lower drinking dish and capacity of two litres.

The Ceramic Avalon is priced at £72.99, available at larger Pets at Home Stores, online at www.petsafe.net or by calling PetSafe’s customer care team on 0800 046 14 14.

We have been given one fountain to give away to readers of The Cat – enter with the term Ceramic Avalon fountain.

WIN

WIN

For a chance to win one of our freebies, just send your name and address plus the prize phrase on a postcard or sealed envelope to: T he Cat magazine, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT . You can also send your entries via email to competitions@cats.org.uk . Don’t forget to include the giveaway phrase in the subject header so we know which competition you’re entering, and remember to include your name and address in the email body. We may need to pass details of competition winners to the prize suppliers for products to be posted direct. The closing date for giveaways is 9 January 2016 . Please note, paid staff are not eligible to enter competitions or giveaways run by Cats Protection.

The Cat Winter 2015 39

A commendable commitment to cats iane Band and Joyce Rippin tell us all D about the wonderful fostering they did for nearly 30 years at their local branch

J

oyce Rippin and Diane Band deserve to put their feet up. The pair have recently retired from an impressive 28 years of caring for and homing cats for the Ashfield & Amber Valley Branch.

Their involvement with Cats Protection started with an advert in the local newspaper in 1986. “The advert simply said ‘Have you got a spare room? Could you help a cat?’ and that was it,” says Diane. “Well, we had a spare room so we helped a cat!”

The cat they fostered was a small tabby called Tilly – who turned out to be pregnant. She was disgruntled every time they went into the room. “Joyce would sit on the floor trying to convince Tilly that she was friend not foe,” explains Diane. It didn’t put them off fostering though. Joyce adds: “I remember one afternoon Tilly headbutted me on the arm – I thought she was going to attack me! – but it was a breakthrough.”

And one thing led to another…

Despite no longer volunteering for CP, Diane still receives calls from the public to help unwanted cats like this kitten found nearby

The branch started with one pen and ended up with 17, allowing them to care for even more homeless cats

40 The Cat Winter 2015

From homing one cat in their spare room, Diane and Joyce were asked if they would be willing to continue fostering for the branch. They were supplied with a small, wooden pen and run but soon realised they’d need more space to cater for all the cats needing homes. Friends rallied round and raised the funds to build a new block of pens in Diane and Joyce’s garden. “It cost a small fortune but we were all so proud to have built a ‘proper shelter’,” says Diane.

When Diane took over as Co-ordinator in 1998, she applied for a grant for purpose-built pens. CP’s headquarters funded one block and the branch funded the other. “Originally we had eight individual pens and replaced them like-for-like for Lindee Lu pens. Then in a moment of madness we decided that a second block would easily fit in the garden!”

The new pens were officially opened at their annual open day in June 2000 and they were never empty again. The open days became the talk of the local area, with people coming from miles to congregate in the small, usually quiet Derbyshire village. From a few stalls at their first ‘garden party’ which raised around £600, the day grew to hold about 20 stalls selling CP goods, books, plants, cakes and bric-a-brac and even had a barbeque and refreshment marquee. The event also served to try to find homes for the cats in the branch’s care, with details attached to pens and contact numbers noted

BEHIND THE SCENES

Joyce and Diane standing proud

down of potential new owners to arrange follow-ups. Their final open day in 2014 took an impressive £4,500.

By the end of their 28 years fostering for Cats Protection, Diane and Joyce were homing an average of 200 cats and kittens per year. They even started homing to the children of their previous adoptees! Diane says: “We were homing cats to the next generation, whose parents adopted from us all those years ago. They came along with their own children and recalled their happy memories of choosing a kitten when they were just toddlers and told their children about the ‘cat ladies’ who also had their own ‘zoo’. They would be fascinated by the pygmy goats, pot-bellied pig, hens, ducks, geese, tortoises and an aviary full of birds – all of which have been brought to us because they were ill-treated or unwanted and so they became residents here over the years.”

It wasn’t always easy Their time volunteering has not been without its challenges.

In the very early days they weren’t fully aware of the help that they could get from CP so started by paying for everything themselves, from the day-to-day care for the cats to trips to the vet. Despite fitting this all around full-time work, they were able to help hundreds of cats in need.

Take Trio, for example. In March 1987 they opened their front door to a couple holding a box, explaining they’d found

a kitten. When the box’s contents were revealed, they were overwhelmed by the smell of rotting flesh. The kitten’s front leg was only held on by a thread of skin as the bone was shattered and her other was a mangled stump. Her skull was visible as all the fur and skin on the little kitten’s head had been burned off, along with her ear.

“The vet said that it was one of the most horrendous acts of cruelty that he had ever seen and it looked as if she had been mauled by dogs then thrown on a fire. She must have crawled off and hidden in the hedge for days until found by her saviours.”

The kitten’s leg was amputated at the shoulder but she soon adapted and was named Trio. She took fame in her stride and featured in the local newspaper, after which she received fan mail and donations towards the cost of her operation.

“It’s been hard work but it’s great to see the cats go to new homes,” says Diane. Joyce adds: “Diane and I have never been ones to brag or broadcast what we do. We always say you do it for the love of the animals, not for glory.” As modestly as ever, the pair go on to thank their fellow volunteers, treasurer and caring staff at their local veterinary practice for all their help over the years.

Along with the challenging times there are many happy memories for the ladies too, even including a bizarre plea from the local police to help with a pig – but that’s another story!

The Cat Winter 2015

41

t r o p p u S e k i l s cat ! y l l a D

Do your weekly shop & support Dally too when you shop instore at Sainsbury's Raise a FREE donation for Cats Protection when you shop instore at Sainsbury's using the NEW Everyday

Here’s how it works: 1

.....................................................................................................

Shopping Card

2

To find out more and sign up visit

3

give.as/catspro

Register for a FREE Sainsbury's Everyday Shopping Card at give.as/catspro Receive your card and log in to your account to complete your registration .....................................................................................................

Go online and upload £50 - £1,000 to your Everyday Shopping Card - 4% of your upload value will be donated to Cats Protection. It won’t cost you a penny extra! .....................................................................................................

4

Shop instore at any Sainsbury's store and pay using your Everyday Shopping Card

WALKER ON THE WILD SIDE

Oops!

John Walker is finding that Lucy is proving to be accident prone... very expensively accident prone

L

ucy is not proving a cheap cat. Especially for one that was, via a friend’s mishap, free. (Their too-young-to-bespayed cat escaped their house, disappeared for a month, and returned pregnant.) The tab we’re running is going to be quite the shock when she finally gets a job.

We had made the (in hindsight) unfortunate decision to shun pet insurance and hope Lucy wouldn’t get into any major scrapes. Our previous cat never did, and hey, a year’s worth of insurance payments is about the same as a minor operation. That seemed a great plan until the day she came home with a hole all the way through her paw.

I saw the injury. It was hard to miss. Her paw was twice as big as cat paws are supposed to be, like in a cartoon. But I didn’t quite know the scale of it until I took her to the vet.

When checking the wound – and look away now if you’re squeamish – the cotton bud went in the top of the paw and out of the bottom.

It required multiple vet visits, swabs, laboratory tests, an operation and naturally the 87 bandages as she Houdinied her way through every protective device on the market during a hellish week of being kept indoors. It involved attempting to give her antibiotics and painkillers every day for two weeks. It required constant surveillance such that we could catch her attempts to gnaw the entire leg off because it was a bit itchy.

That she managed to repeat the injury, albeit in an altogether less infected and foot-eating way, beggars belief.

Apparently such afflictions are the result of picking fights and a bigger cat biting down hard on the attacking paw. My theory is she’s building up to an improbable claim of stigmata, in an effort to convince other cats in the neighbourhood that she’s the kitty messiah, presumably with the intention of starting a cult and robbing them of all their tuna.

Illustration: Rus Hudda

So yes, after that, we forked out for pet insurance. We haven’t had to wait long to put it into action. A couple of days ago I noticed Lucy’s tail looking a little odd. The last couple of inches weren’t their usual irritable flicking self.

Hanging limp, it was clear something was up. Or indeed down.

I gave it a gentle prodding, moved the tail about and Lucy – usually quick to make clear her grievances – made no complaint. Odd, I thought. Then my wife noticed what seemed like a small wound I’d missed and we quickly made a vet appointment. An appointment Lucy forgot to put in her diary, it seems, and didn’t come home all day. So, we made another for the next day, kept her in all day so she couldn’t miss it, and there the gravity of it became apparent.

Shaving the last few inches of fur from her tail not only made her look incredibly silly (cat tails are far too thin without their fur on – honestly, they’re like rats) but revealed two enormous scrapes down either side. The vet’s best guess, from the odd arrangement of skinless strips, was that she’d got it caught in a door and then pulled it free. Oh goodness.

So once again, Lucy’s going to be in for an operation, this time to remove the end of her tail, as it’s now useless.

(Although this isn’t a rationale Lucy should perhaps be encouraging for the removal of parts, as there’d be little left.) Quite how a missing third of a tail fits into her messianic counterfeiting plot I have yet to fathom.

We’re now a touch glad we got the pet insurance. Because until the animals rally themselves and petition for a pet NHS, tail segment removals don’t come cheap. Of course, despite charging so much per month, it’s still £100 excess. Seriously, as soon as Lucy is old enough to get a job (I’m saying, when she’s three), she’s in for a cold hard shock.

The Cat Winter 2015

43

Talking Cat

An audio version of this magazine is available free to all subscribers.

Contact Supporter Services on 0800 917 2287 or email supporterservices@cats.org.uk to request your copy.

FEATURE

CP management speak At high-powered meetings across the land people are involved in ‘blue sky thinking’ and told to ‘put that in the mind-wok and give it a stir’, leaving most in the room bamboozled and wondering what on earth is going on. This is what we thought management talk might be like if Cats Protection appeared on The Apprentice.

Let’s cough up that hairball later = Let’s address that sticky problem at another time

This idea will rub people’s fur up the wrong way = This won’t be popular

I’d tickle that behind the ears! = I like the sound of this idea!

I think we’ve got bigger mice to catch = We have more important stuff to do

That plan is pure catnip = What a great idea!

I think that idea would get some tails flicking = This may upset a few colleagues

You’re scraping the bottom of the litter tray = You’re low and desperate

It’s a Kilkenny situation = Being attacked from all sides

That idea gets a big purr from all of us = This meets with our approval

A big cat in a small litter tray = A big fish in a small pond

The Cat TheWinter Cat 2015 Winter 2015

45

Give your feet a rest and exercise your mind

Ten-minute crossword

A look to the past Letters, articles and snippets from past editions of The Cat magazine his letter appeared in The Cat, December 1963. Not T the first time this has happened, and probably not the last, but one of the more creative responses!

Dear Sir We should be glad to have The Cat for a year for which you already had our subscription. As we only signed our letter with initials I see you have sent the receipt addressed to ‘The Misses Wordsell.’

I suppose you imagined us like this

Across 1 Darling (10) 7 Conflagration (7) 8 Substantial (5) 10 Dog noise (4) 11 Catastrophe (8) 13 Servile follower (6) 15 Noon (6) 17 Opposite (8) 18 Winged insect (4) 21 Slack (5) 22 Large crustacean (7) 23 Branch of mathematics (10)

Down 1 More secure (5) 2 Merit (4) 3 Cancer or Capricorn (6) 4 Rapturous (8) 5 Akin (7) 6 Fiendish (10) 9 English county (10) 12 Worshipful (8) 14 Frankness (7) 16 Refuge (6) 19 Relating to sight (5) 20 Assist in a crime (4)

To win one of these Giornata espresso cup and saucers complete our crossword correctly and rearrange the shaded letters. The clue is: This lady was reduced to second place in world records this year, but in which county is her beloved Scottish retreat? Write the answer, plus your name and address, on a letter or postcard, and send to: C rossword Competition , The Cat, National Cat Centre, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT. Alternatively email the answer with your name and address to us at c ompetitions@cats.org.uk with Crossword in the subject header. Winners will be drawn on 11 January 2016 . The prizes are kindly sponsored by The Cat Gallery. Visit www.thecatgallery.co.uk or phone 01904 413 000 to request a catalogue. nswers to Autumn crossword on page 68. The lady was Ingrid Bergman A and her beau in Casablanca was Rick Blaine, aka Humphrey Bogart.

L ast issue’s winners: Ms S Brotherwood, Mrs S Tyrer and Mrs L Hope.

46 The Cat Winter 2015

But we are two brothers (one in the RAF) and enclose another 2/6 for the benefit of the cats.

G and A Wordsell

COFFEE PAWS

AMUSING HEATHER Christmas is all about giving Stumpy Malone is always on the look-out for Christmas gifts and as the frost thaws he can be sighted struggling up the garden with a juicy rodent dangling from his jaws. Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite grasped that the appeal of a headless corpse is unlikely to be enhanced by leaving it on the patio to rot for the best part of a year, so I tell him I’m going to put it somewhere safe until Christmas Day. I hover uncomfortably between compassion for the mouse and parental pride as this brave little boy struggles up the garden with his prize. Stumpy was born without hind paws, so everything is a bit more difficult – for him and for me, because I never have the heart to appear less than thrilled.

Humans often give ‘Experience days’ as gifts, particularly if they really dislike you. I’ve never felt quite the same about the friend who thought I craved to go white water rafting. What had I done to make her hate me so much? Cats, of course, are noted for their perspicacity and Miss Elizabeth knows I love surprises. Unfortunately, the pile of congealing and unbelievably cold cat sick so thoughtfully deposited by the bedside on Christmas mornings has tended to lose its appeal over the years.

Of course, it’s not always the tangible things that make the most memorable presents. Last Christmas I spent hours cramming myself into a rather snugly fitting glittery little outfit only to encounter Tiny Trixie-Tribble as I emerged from the bedroom. The look on that cat’s face will be with me forever – and not in a good way.

Christmas is not without its stressful side and a diversion from the festivities can sometimes be just what’s needed. In a selfless attempt to drag us away from a lavish meal and a rather attractive array of wine bottles, Count Lucio has for the last two years become

unwell within minutes of dishing up time. They’ve always been very kind at the vets, but a glass of water from the machine in the corner is hardly the last word in festive cheer.

Another worry that crops up at Christmas is the financial outlay, but here again we have been blessed.

If the cost of Count Lucio’s treatment didn’t put things into perspective, the joy we experienced when our dear old boy recovered certainly did. At Christmas, and at any other time, it’s love that really matters.

Sudoku Fill in the empty cells so that the digits 1 through to 9 appear: • only once in each row • only once in each column • only once in each 3x3 box

(shown by the thicker lines)

Answers appear on page 68.

The Cat Winter 2015

47

ADVOCACY

Speaking up for cats – another year to remember As we leave Autumn behind and batten down the hatches for winter it’s an opportunity to reflect on the Advocacy year just gone and to plan for 2016.

A

To find out more about our advocacy activities or to contact us: Email: advocacy@cats.org.uk Visit: www.cats.org.uk/speakingupforcats Follow us on Twitter: @CPAdvocacy Write to the Advocacy Manager at: National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex RH17 7TT.

48 The Cat Winter 2015

Our Christmas kitten

Photo: istock.com/EEI_Tony

highlight of 2015 was our work around the General Election in May putting cat welfare on the political agenda. We launched our Manifesto for Cats in the House of Commons and with 40 MPs, including the Minister for animal welfare, coming along to show support it was a great day for cats everywhere. Over 45,000 people have viewed our “Speak up for cats” video and the Manifesto generated lots of national and local press coverage reaching around 25 million people.

Sadly it was a year when we continued to see regular press reports of cat poisonings, cats injured or killed by air guns, cats getting caught in snares and cats being attacked by dogs that were not controlled. All of these are issues we are campaigning on and many require changes in the law long term. Also, because statistics don’t exist to show the scale of these horrible incidents we’ve been compiling our own by logging press reports. During the first six months of 2015, for example, we logged 110 shootings of cats – that’s just over four a week.

We were very pleased to brief MPs as part of a debate about sentencing for those that deliberately poison cats and other animals. Plans are in place to debate access to air guns and we’d like to see air guns licensed across the UK (the Scottish Parliament has led the way on this). We posed questions about other issues including breeding and sale of cats and illegal imports of kittens. Opportunities arose such as the Government consultation regarding the 2021 census and we responded suggesting an additional question on number and type of pet per household. Cats and other pets are part of the family and should be ‘counted’. A consultation on taxed income also gave us the chance to highlight issues around those who repeatedly breed kittens for money but may not declare the income. In Northern Ireland we are part of discussions about strengthening implementation of their animal welfare legislation. December will see our first ever Christmas parliamentary reception. MPs old and new will be invited to join us for a mince pie and “Speak up for cats this Christmas”. They may also get to meet our six-foot stand-up Christmas kitten!

New Year, new challenges 2016 will bring new opportunities and challenges as well as another set of elections! We’ll be launching separate manifestos for the cats in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Microchipping of dogs will become compulsory across the UK (already so in Northern Ireland) so it will be a great opportunity to raise the importance of microchipping cats.

As a member of Eurogroup we will also continue to support European initiatives to improve traceability of cats and other pets across Europe.

Last, but not least, we plan to have an additional member of the Advocacy team by 2016 so we can do more to support our volunteers locally.

That’s it – see you in the New Year!

Many people believe that a cat should be allowed to have a litter of kittens. But if you ask why, most won’t know. That’s because it’s an old wives tale. In other words it’s not true.

Until you’ve had her spayed, your cat will want to go outside and mate. But it isn’t because she wants to have babies. It’s just her hormones making her feel that way and she doesn’t know that it will lead to her becoming a mum.

If she has kittens, you’ll have to buy more cat food, pay their vet bills and find them new homes.

While she is looking after kittens, she won’t be able to do all the things she loves. Going outside, climbing trees and jumping up high!

Give her the freedom to enjoy all this – have her spayed.

Please call

03000 12 12 12 to apply for a neutering voucher.

Cats Protection Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland) CODE - 21590 NEU_729

Available from all good pet stores

NEW illustrated version for children

A GREAT PRESENT FOR CHILDREN AND CAT LOVERS OF ALL AGES’ ‘an unputdownable read.’(Your Cat) ‘By far one of the best animal books written to date.

Pure genius.’(Pixxiepenguin.co.uk blog) ‘I enjoyed it right to the end’ (David Bellamy) ISBN: 9781784559595

PELLINORE The Story of a Cotsworld Cat

By Auriel Frère ‘The ultimate book for cat lovers...

Highly recommended.’

– The Pets Owners Association.

Buy from: www.fivewrenspress.co.uk or through your local bookshop.

Available now in paperback from Amazon and all good bookshops

www.vanston.co.uk

Branding, logo design, stationery, posters, flyers, brochures, adverts, signage, reports, social media graphics & more!

07929 034342 info@rhinobytes.co.uk www.rhinobytes.co.uk

PAWS FOR THOUGHT

Dedication and patience Lynne Evans shares her experience of caring for a beloved cat with renal disease

F

eline kidney failure is something many cat lovers experience and I, myself, have nursed three different cats over the last 40 years. It is a disorder common in older cats, but I found that caught early and with great care, attention and the help of my vet I was able to share a further six years of good health with my lovely Abyssinian cat Abigail.

Knowledge on detecting and managing the condition has improved enormously since I lost my last cat Muffin to kidney failure in 1995. Treatments are available which will help both the quality of life and life expectancy of your cat.

Making plenty of fresh water available at all times is very important for cats with renal disease and so I decided to try a water fountain. I was unsure whether my cat would take to the indoor electric fountain but she did straight away and this gave her easy access to fresh aerated water throughout the day. I kept a jug of filtered tap water in the fridge and changed the water in the fountain daily. The mesh filter was changed each month and the machine needed descaling every two weeks, but this task was worthwhile to see her drinking happily.

Initially her veterinary-prescribed diet was rejected but after introducing it to her more slowly, it was eaten without any fuss. This was best kept in an airtight container and given in small portions. It does not appear to taste so good after a few hours in the saucer. Wet food was also incorporated into her daily routine as the condition progressed.The cat finds the smell of warm food more enticing and older cats may have teeth problems so poaching keeps meat soft.

Shade in the summer was essential to allow for rolling and squirming in the sunshine. Warmth in the winter included an electric heat pad in her bed covered with a layer of specialist fleece bedding with reflective backing. Cats with renal disease often lose body condition and feel the cold.

Illustration: Rus Hudda

Other adaptions we made for old age include: • a step to allow access to favoured chairs or windowsills • wide necked bowls full of clean fresh water strategically placed upstairs too to provide local drink stops • wider litter trays to give easy purchase without tipping over the sides as limbs become weaker, also placed within easy access of resting areas • absorbent baby changing pads beneath deep litter or newspaper in trays may become necessary, and plenty of litter trays due to the volume of water drunk and urine produced. Cats don’t like wet paws!

• steps to a platform providing a safe raised position for eating, preferably close to a radiator I want to share this information with other cat lovers because these actions gave me extra happy time with my much-loved girl. She brought us joy every day. Just listen to your cat; they will tell you what they need if you pay careful attention to their cues and behaviours.

Veterinary note: Always seek your vet’s advice. Regular checkups may help detect conditions such as renal disease early and management can be tailored to your individual cat, as not every renal patient is the same. See our Veterinary guide: Kidney or renal disease available online at www.cats.org.uk/cat-care/care-leaflets/veterinary-guides or from our Helpline 03000 12 12 12.

The Cat Winter 2015

51

Sometimes, cats come into our care in pairs; they might be siblings or lifelong friends. The bond between them is very strong and whenever possible we rehome them together.

Find a perfect pair looking for a home in your area - simply search ‘find a cat’ online or visit: www.cats.org.uk/find-a-cat

Bonded pairs keep each other entertained and clean, they learn from each other and are often less demanding. And they’re great fun to watch, too.

A pair of cats is twice the pleasure, but not twice the work. So if you want double the love, only two will do!

T: 03000 12 12 12 W: www.cats.org.uk E: helpline@cats.org.uk Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

MAKING MEMORIES

Taken too soon Elaine Cave remembers Rufus, a cat with a big personality

I

have been very fortunate to share most of my life with cats, all of whom have been special in their own way. Our first cat was an all-black boy, Tiggy, who gave me my love of all cats. He was not wanted, so we took him in, living to be 17. There was a long gap after he died but then our tortieand-white girl Shandy arrived, aged two-and-a-half, living for over 17 years until she sadly died. In 1991 we decided to adopt two and into our lives came Poppy and Sybil both living into their late teens. But I had always wanted a ginger kitten and in October 2000 we found Rufus. We did consider the impact he might have on Poppy and Sybil who had lived with us for nine years, but thankfully there were no problems, they were number one and two and Rufus became number three, (I do believe I was bottom of the pile!). He settled in and grew nicely into his ears and paws, we also were happy for him to have been chosen by Cats Protection for the January photo on one of their calendars, either 2002 or 2003.

Like all cats he had his own personality and ways. When younger he insisted on staying out half the night, but we always got him in eventually, even if it was at 2am. He gradually saw fewer nights out as he became older. He loved to be brushed, fortunately, as he was a long-haired cat and he loved cheese but only ever three pieces as a treat, and also butter, only three blobs on someone’s finger, he was then happy to either go out or go to bed. He would help in

Illustration: Rus Hudda

the garden by following my husband Roy around when he was watering and by drinking from the bottles of water that were for the hanging baskets. He also enjoyed drinking from a watering can and the outside tap if we turned it on. Rufus loved to be wet and would sit outside in the pouring rain.

Nothing would entice him inside until he was well and truly ready.

He would sleep on my lap for two or three hours, then be ready to go to sleep, spending most of the night on my bed. Between two and four in the morning he would then decide that he was thirsty. He would get up and go into the bathroom, jump into the bath and pick up and drop the metal bath plug until someone got up to turn the tap on for him to drink. The longer we took the more the plug was rattled, it usually ended up at the other end of the bath. As soon as you went into the bathroom he would purr very loudly. There were always bowls of water around the house and a jug of water in the bathroom, but he preferred running water.

When we had Poppy and Sybil, they used to like to sleep inside the drawers of my bed, Sybil in one of the drawers, Poppy in the furthest corner, but we had to open the drawers for them. Rufus occasionally joined them, talk about three in a bed! Poppy died in 2008 and Sybil a year later so then Rufus had the bed to himself. But he didn’t wait for anyone to open it for him, he had learned how to open the drawer from watching me open it for the other two, and if he wanted to go to bed he would run upstairs, open the drawer and go in for several hours, usually in the furthest corner. Fortunately I have a little video of him doing this so we can always remember his funny ways.

Sadly, however, he was taken from us suddenly in December 2014. He’d been dragging his back legs so we rushed straight to the vets. He was diagnosed with two blood clots, in his lungs and spine. We were told that he was in great distress and pain and the only option was to have him put to sleep.

So within 45 minutes of noticing he was unwell, he had passed away, at just 15 years of age. We have since had his portrait painted and he now hangs alongside our other cats’ pictures… lord of all he surveys, gone but never forgotten.

The Cat Winter 2015

53

An invitation to the AGM W

Photo: istock.com/Jasmina007

e hope you can join us on Saturday 14 May 2016 for our annual celebration of Cats Protection’s achievements. Next year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at the Arora Hotel Gatwick Crawley (www.gatwick.arorahotels.com), which is located approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the National Cat Centre (NCC) in Chelwood Gate.

The day’s programme promises to be another full and fascinating one with activities including the AGM business section in the morning, where you will hear some heart warming and insightful updates on the charity’s work from our Chairman, Heather McCann and our Chief Executive, Peter Hepburn. There will also be opportunities to participate in some interesting workshops and/or a coach trip to the NCC, have a look around the popular stands where you can ask more about our work and meet volunteer and staff colleagues.

The audited annual report and accounts of Cats Protection will be placed before the members. Voting members will also have the opportunity to vote in our Advisory Council elections and on the reappointment of auditors. You can vote if you are a member, aged over 18 and have been a member for at least a year since becoming 18.

Please register your interest in attending as soon as possible*. To reserve your place, please email agm@cats.org.uk, complete and return the form below or phone 01825 741 353. Once registered, we will send you further information. *It is fine to bring your CP colleagues as well as interested friends and family to this event. We would be grateful however if you could delay a group registration (where one person reserves a place for their self and more than one other) until you are reasonably sure of your party members’ availability to attend. Alternatively CP colleagues, friends and family can register themselves using one of the above contact methods.

54

The Cat Winter 2015

AGM NOTICE

The Arora, Crawley

Council – would you like to be involved?

The Advisory Council of Cats Protection meets at least three times a year usually at the National Cat Centre in Sussex and advises the Trustees on a wide range of issues affecting the charity.

If you are interested in applying to be a candidate for election to any vacancies arising on the Advisory Council at this year’s AGM, please write to Clare Dann at National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT or email clare.dann@cats.org.uk The Advisory Council has asked us to stress that the opportunity is open to all volunteers, not only from branches but also all other roles (shops, ACs, regions and NCC) . Please provide a brief CV with your contact details. We will then send you an application form.

Potential candidates for Council need to have been a member of Cats Protection for at least three years prior to the AGM on the 14 May 2016. The deadline for completed applications is the 1 April 2016. Further details of the procedure and an application form are available from Clare Dann on 01825 741 211 or email clare.dann@cats.org.uk. When completed, this will require the signature of three proposers who can be either your local branch committee members or Trustees.

Please reserve my place at the AGM on Saturday 14 May 2016.

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Title: First name: Surname: Address:

Postcode: Membership no. (if applicable):

Please return this form to: Jo Perry, Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT by Friday 15 April 2016.

Alternatively, email your details to agm@cats.org.uk or phone 01825 741 353.

The Cat Winter 2015

55

CP in action

A selection of tales from our branches and adoption centres...

Appeals

Success stories

Getting Percy up and running

Meeting the Mayor

By Wrexham & District Councillor Barbara Roxburgh, a long time supporter of Cats Protection and a member of our branch, is now the Worshipful Mayor of Wrexham County Borough. Her office has confirmed that she has nominated Wrexham Cats Protection as one of her charities for her term of office!

The photo shows Mayor Barbara Roxburgh meeting with Wrexham Co-ordinator Terry Beckett and Publicity Volunteer Myra Allison in the Guildhall, Wrexham.

By Derby & District Branch Young Percy and his brother, Ron, were both in a terrible condition when they came to us. Not only were they emaciated, weighing just 370 grams, but they also had cat flu. On top of that, Percy had broken his leg. We didn’t think they could be saved.

However, our welfare volunteer contacted the West Midlands Veterinary Referrals who immediately took them in. The photo shows them having cage rest after Percy’s orthopaedic procedure so he doesn’t look very happy (Percy is on the right) but he’s coping really well with his leg and will shortly be having the metal removed.

Although the bill is cost-assisted to us as a charity, getting Percy up and running is still going to cost the branch over £800. Can you help us with a donation towards this, however small? You can donate at www.justgiving.com/Derby-Branch or send a cheque made payable to Cats Protection Derby & District Branch and post it to the charity shop, 31 Wardwick, Derby, DE1 1HA. Any funds raised over and above those needed for Percy will help the other cats in our care.

By Stockport Branch Gus was found wandering as an unneutered stray; skinny, matted and totally withdrawn. He was very dirty, unable to clean himself or stand properly; using the wall to lean on and his head was held to one side.

He had a bad ear infection and on examination X-rays revealed a polyp in his ear and one in the soft palate which was causing his loss of balance. After major surgery to remove both he is on cage rest and although he is still wobbly, he is improving daily with his balance and co-ordination.

After a lot of TLC Gus has grown in confidence and is extremely affectionate, he likes to head butt you all the time and wants to be close. He has a ferocious appetite but even when food is put out, he will spend a minute or two purring and showing his appreciation before he goes to his food tray.

Any contributions towards Gus’s care and rehabilitation would be very much appreciated. Please make cheques payable to Stockport Cats Protection and send them to Ms J Goodman, 3 Hexworth Walk, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 3DF. Funds raised over and above those needed for Gus will help the other cats in our care. Thank you to everybody for all the support and donations for the cats in our care over the years.

56 The Cat Winter 2015

Photo: Cornel Simons

A wobbly start

A cat among the Lions

By South East Cornwall Branch In July, South East Cornwall Branch attended the local Lions Fair in Torpoint alongside other charity stalls, jewellery stalls, food stands and CP cat Pete entertaining the crowd.

CP goods and bric-a-brac were sold by the branch which raised just over £100.

Ways we help: Rehoming • Neutering • Raising awareness

CP IN ACTION

Auction for Action

By Derby Adoption Centre On 10 June Derby Adoption Centre attended Auction for Action, an event organised by local auctioneers to bring together local charities to raise funds and promote their cause.

The auction was run in collaboration with Barbara Worsley of the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby.

The branch struggled to find three items which were of high enough quality and value for their lots, so would like to offer a big thank you to Barbara who personally donated items to CP. Thank you also to Helen, Viscountess Scarsdale who generously donated a beautiful ring to be auctioned with the proceeds being split between all of the charities; and Hanson’s auctioneers who kindly sold all lots commission-free.

The total raised for the branch was just over £600.

Here’s volunteer Ray who appeared in his cat suit and lucky black tights to show off our lots – the auctioneer, TV antiques expert Charles Hanson was nearly lost for words!

A great day for a gala!

By Derby Adoption Centre On Sunday 13 September the Derby Adoption Centre held their annual gala.

As well as raising much needed funds everyone who went was able to enjoy the perfect weather. For the first time they had a vintage tea tent which was very well supported and the cakes were works of art! Some very friendly llamas allowed themselves to be walked and this proved to be very popular.

They had all their usual stalls and games and raised over £3,600 on the day. Centre tours also took place and since the gala some lucky felines have found new homes. All the staff and volunteers worked incredibly hard to make the day a success.

Charles Hanson

Tackling neutering head on

By Dewsbury, Wakefield & District Branch As the branch is so overwhelmed by the enormous numbers of feral and stray colonies of cats found right across the area, they decided to organise a four-day event to spread the word about neutering and to raise money to boost their neutering fund.

While their volunteer Tracy was cycling for real along the ‘Way of the Roses’ from Morecambe to Bridlington, Maddie was also cycling the same 170 miles outside Pets at Home in Dewsbury. Tracy cycled over the Pennines, passing through Grassington, Boroughbridge and York; while Maddie’s cycle may have remained static (it was mounted on a turbotrainer stand), but she covered exactly the same number of miles.

As well as raising over £950 for the branch, they also gave out neutering vouchers or discount coupons for participating vets.

Lis Mulholland at the branch says: “The event was first and foremost about getting people to behave responsibly towards getting their cats neutered – and not just their own cats but also the colonies of ferals and strays which are being fed by wellmeaning people (often in their own gardens!). We did our best to raise the level of awareness regarding the need to get cats neutered before they become a problem.”

Angela, Lis, Maddie and Claire

Natasha Wood, Ray Hopkins and Sally Woolley

Find your local Cats Protection: 03000 12 12 12 • www.cats.org.uk

Tracy

The Cat Winter 2015

57

Looking for a home Hemel Hempstead & Berkhamsted Branch

Dylan

Male, 8 years old

Benny has a gentle nature and loves to be stroked between his ears. Chewie enjoys playing with small toys. Both have had a challenging life so far and need a special owner who will allow them time to gain trust at their own pace.

01223 528 312 cats4u@hotmail.co.uk

North Ayrshire

Melody

Female, approx. 1 year old

☎☎

Bracknell & Wokingham Districts Branch

Lacey

Female, 7 years old

Dylan came into CP care as a stray. He is a carrier of feline calicivirus (FCV) and is looking for a special home with someone that would give him time to settle in and gain his trust as a new owner. Those interested will be advised further on his condition.

0345 371 1851 debs.catsprotection1@outlook.com

Pretty Melody was a stray who was found wandering with her kittens near a busy road. She is friendly with people but dislikes other cats so wouldn’t want to share her home with other animals.

0345 371 4218 northayrshirecatsprotection@gmail.com

☎☎

☎☎

North Ayrshire

Boots

Hemel Hempstead & Berkhamsted Branch

Simba

Female, approx. 1 year old

Male, 9 years old Lacey loves nothing better than fuss and attention. She is a little wary and if caught off guard can act defensively, so we’d recommend she’s not homed with young children. She is quite vocal and enjoys sitting on your lap – but look out for the dribbling!

03453 714 212 (M-F 9am-5pm; Sat 9am-3pm only) readingeastcp@hotmail.com

☎☎

Simba is a’ gentle giant’. He’s a loving loyal lad who needs a quiet home within a mature family environment with no other pets. He would love to have access to a garden after his settling in period to join you in the sunshine.

0345 371 1851 debs.catsprotection1@outlook.com

Clacks & Stirling Branch

Mossy

Female, approx. 6 years old

Boots was a stray but she hasn’t been claimed and she’s now waiting patiently to be adopted. She has a great nature and would make a great family pet.

0345 371 4218 northayrshirecatsprotection@gmail.com

☎☎

North Ayrshire

Charlie

Male, 3 years old

☎☎

Cambridge Branch

Benny and Chewie Male (Benny) and female (Chewie), approx. 4 years old

Benny

Chewie

We’d ideally like to home Benny and Choo Choo (aka Chewie) together; although separately would be ok.

58

The Cat  Winter 2015

Mossy lived alone for some weeks after her owner died so became quite stressed. She’s overweight and on weight management food but it’s a slow process that would be helped by more activity. She’d love a home with a quiet family, preferably with no young children.

☎☎ 01259 213 692

Charlie’s owners became too frail to care for him so reluctantly gave him up.

He hasn’t lived with young children and doesn’t like dogs but would fit in to most other homes. He enjoys outdoor access so he’d like a safe garden to explore in his new home.

0345 371 4218 northayrshirecatsprotection@gmail.com

☎☎

Ways we help: Rehoming • Neutering • Raising awareness

CP IN ACTION

Join the team

Thank you…

Give a little time, make a big difference! Every year we help around 200,000 cats and kittens and the majority of these success stories are thanks to the dedication and hard work of our amazing volunteers. We welcome volunteers with open arms, whether you are young or old, male or female, have lots or little time to offer there’s a place for you with us! racknell & Wokingham Districts Branch needs full time and emergency B fosterers, you just need a spare room. Home visitors are required in the Bracknell and Wokingham area, and to cover the extended area of Maidenhead, Slough and Windsor. Volunteers are required to help out at scheduled collections and fundraising helpers to sell goods at our outdoor events (must be around during the day and have transport). Phone 03453 714 212 or email readingeastcp@hotmail.com erby & District Branch has many vacancies for volunteers such as fieldworkers D and vet runners. They also need a Vet Liaison Officer (mostly an admin role and can be carried out from home a couple of days a week). They also need a Fundraising Co-ordinator to contact supermarkets etc for permission to hold fundraising/ information stalls. Last but not least, volunteers are always needed at their charity shops in Derby and Wirksworth. Full training and support will be given – call 01332 206 956 (voicemail) or email enquiries@derbydistrictcp.org.uk and leave your details. ambridge Branch needs more indoor fosterers who can look after cats in their C own homes until permanent homes can be found, particularly for the older cats where an outdoor pen is not so ideal with winter fast approaching. The branch will cover all costs including food, litter and vet bills. Please phone 01223 356 999. ast Northumberland Branch needs more fosterers particularly in the Blyth, E Seaton Delaval and Bedlington areas. If you already have animals, you’ll need a spare room for the foster cat(s). Fostering is very rewarding and food, litter and lots of support is provided by the branch. Please email bedlingtoncats@live.com or ring 07749 713 142 if you would like to find out more. outhend & District Branch is in need of fosterers – if you have a spare room S and think this may be ideal for you please get in touch. They are also dividing the Co-ordinator’s role so if you have admin and HR skills this could be the position for you. Do you have a background in media and fancy taking on the role of Newsletter Editor? All articles will be provided to you. The branch also needs a Volunteer Organiser and volunteers to assist in their new charity shop which opened in October. For further information on roles contact Sue Bennett, Branch Secretary on 01702 295 985 or sueb@southendcats.org.uk eignbridge & Totnes Branch needs foster carers – if you have a spare room T and would like to give a bit of TLC to a cat in need please give them a call. All equipment, cat food and training will be provided. The branch also needs event helpers (if you like socialising this volunteer post would be ideal for you) and transport help/a relief van driver – do you have a few hours to spare and enjoy driving? Help transporting donated goods to the Teignmouth shop and or stock to fundraising events would be appreciated. For all volunteer enquiries please phone Barbara on 03456 472 186 or email barbara.teignbridgecp@gmail.com

More voluntary opportunities For more volunteering roles across the UK, from fundraising to fostering, please visit www.cats.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/ find-an-opportunity and enter your postcode to search.

Find your local Cats Protection: 03000 12 12 12 • www.cats.org.uk

Sylvia Plummer at our Derby Branch would like to thank new owner Andrea Sharpe for an update on Snowy. Little is known about Snowy’s history; she was found walking down the middle of a busy bus route and taken in by Andrea who contacted the branch.

She kept Snowy until the branch could find out who she belonged to but following a trip to the vet to check if she was microchipped plus advertising her locally and on Facebook, no owner was found. Andrea and her family had fallen for her by this point so decided to keep her. It was quickly established that she was deaf and also extremely feisty and bad tempered. It was a tough start but they stuck with it and gradually, with a lot of determination and love, Snowy has settled down and has become the most beautiful cat.

A sad farewell…

Jessie Thomson One of the oldest helpers of Rayleigh, Castle Point & District Branch, Jessie Thomson, died in July just shy of 95 years old. The branch says she was one of the original members of the Cats Protection League joining in the 1920s and was an animal advocate all her life, still helping until her passing. She had no children, devoting her life to the animals. Jessie touched the lives of many and was a very special person.

The Cat Winter 2015 59

Diary of events ENGLAND BERKSHIRE Bracknell & Wokingham Districts

Find out what’s going on near you...

LONDON

St Andrew’s Centre, School Hill, Histon, CB24 9JE; 10.30am–2.30pm.

Wide variety of stalls.

Stalls 5 Dec: East Street (in front of closed Maplins shop), Derby; 10am–4pm.

Ealing Animal Welfare Bazaar (non-CP event) 5 March: Ealing Animal Welfare Bazaar, Hanwell Methodist Church, Church Road, Hanwell, W7 1DJ; 10.30am– 4pm. Admission free. Many participating societies. Details 020 8567 6739 or www.animalwelfarebazaar.info

DEVON

SUFFOLK

DERBYSHIRE

Collections 29 Nov: Wokingham town centre, RG40 1BN; all day.

6 Dec: Tesco, County Lane, Bracknell, RG42 3JP; 10am–4pm.

13 Dec: Wyevale Garden Centre, Floral Mile, Hare Hatch, Twyford, RG10 9SW; 10.30am–4.30pm.

Derby & District

Meetings 30 Nov: Our Lady of Peace (OLOP) Church Hall, Wokingham Road, Earley (Earley Cross Roads), RG6 7DA; 8pm.

Events 22 Nov: Christmas Fayre, Kenton Village Hall, Kenton, near Exeter; 2–4pm.

12 Dec: Christmas Fayre and coffee morning, All Saints Church Hall, Sidmouth; 10am–12noon.

Stalls 20-21 Nov: Charity Christmas Market, Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham, RG40 1AS; 10am–4pm on both days.

4 Dec: Twyford Christmas evening, London Road, Twyford; 6–9pm.

6 Dec: Woodley extravaganza, Woodley Precinct, Woodley; 10am–3pm.

Newbury & District Adoption Centre Collections 13 Dec: Street collection, Northbrook Street, Newbury.

Events 21 Nov: Christmas bazaar, Acland Memorial Hall, Cold Ash. Admission 50p. Great Christmas and cat gifts to buy, refreshments and raffle too.

28 Nov: Jumble sale, Thatcham Catholic Hall; 11.30am. Admission 40p. Tea and coffee available.

Jumble can be taken to the adoption centre in advance or is accepted at the hall on the day between 9–10.30am.

Stalls 4 Dec: Thatcham Christmas lights, Thatcham Broadway; 5–7pm. Come and browse our stall for bargains, we’ll have Christmas cards, gifts and our fab branch calendar.

Reading & District Events 5 Dec: Jumble sale, All Saints Parish Hall, Downshire Square, RG1 6NH; 1–3pm.

Various dates: Book stalls, check the branch website www.readinganddistrictcats.org

CAMBRIDGESHIRE Cambridge Events 28 Nov: Christmas fayre,

60 The Cat Winter 2015

East Devon

Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre

Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket

ESSEX Chelmsford & District Adoption Centre

Stalls 5 Dec: Billifest, Jengers Mead, Billingshurst; 9am–4pm.

YORKSHIRE Doncaster Events 3 Dec: Christmas draw, Wheatley Hotel, Wheatley, Doncaster.

Events 7 Dec: Annual draw, Morrisons, Stowmarket; 12noon.

SCOTLAND

Stalls 6 Dec: Needham Market Community Centre; 10am–4pm.

North Ayrshire

SUSSEX

Events 12 Dec: Christmas coffee morning, Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre, Little Hill Cottage, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, EX5 2HS; 11am– 2pm. Official launch of the annual Santa Paws Appeal 2015 hosted by the Friends of Axhayes group.

13 Feb: Valentine’s coffee morning; Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre, Little Hill Cottage, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, EX5 2HS; 11am–2pm.

Roffey Millenium Hall, Horsham; 1.30–3.30pm.

20 Feb: Catstravaganza, North Heath Hall, Horsham; 1.30-3.30pm.

Horsham & District Events 23 Jan: Catstravaganza,

AYRSHIRE Meetings 8 Dec: Argyle Community Centre, Saltcoats; 7.30pm.

All welcome.

Cats Protection at national shows BBC Good Food Show 26-29 Nov: NEC

Deadlines CP branches and centres are encouraged to send in their success stories and diary dates for every issue.

The deadlines for the next three issues are:

Events 5 Dec: Winter jumble sale, Danbury Village Hall; 1.30–3.30pm.

• Spring 2016 issue (covers March to May): 16 December deadline

Southend & District Events 5 Dec: Christmas party, Ambleside Social Club, Ambleside Drive, Southend; 7.30–11pm.

Admission £12 by ticket only.

Homing shows 12 Dec, 9 Jan, 13 Feb: Shalynn Cattery, 569 Prince Avenue, Westcliff; 10.30am–12noon. Admission free.

LANCASHIRE Stockport Events 5 Dec, 6 Feb: Woodley, Civic Hall, Hyde Road, SK6 1QG; 10am–12.30pm.

Stalls 5 Dec: Trans Pennine Oriental & Siamese Cat Club Show, The Stockport Masonic Guildhall, 169 Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3UA.

• Summer 2016 issue (covers June to August): 23 March deadline • Autumn 2016 issue (covers Sepember to November): 29 June deadline Individual stories should be max 250 words and may be edited for clarity and length. Please send CP in Action and Diary entries as separate documents. It is a legal requirement to add text to appeals explaining that funds not used for the featured cat will be used for other cats in your care; we will add this if you have not already done so.

Images should be attached to the email separately, not embedded into a document; minimum requirements for print publication are 300dpi (high resolution) in jpeg or tif format (or, as a rough rule of thumb, they should be at least 1MB in size). Original digital camera photographs are usually better than those taken on a mobile phone.

Please email your submissions to editorial@cats.org.uk or post your entries to: CP in Action, The Cat magazine, Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT. Thank you.

Ways we help: Rehoming • Neutering • Raising awareness

Make him the promise of a lifetime At Cats Protection, we have been saving injured, starving and abandoned cats and kittens since 1927. Thanks to our promise never to put a healthy cat to sleep, we have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of cats, giving them all a second chance at life.

You can help us keep our special promise and care for even more cats by leaving us a gift in your will. If cats are close to your heart, make sure your kindness continues to change their lives for many years to come.

Ask us for your free information booklet today.

01825 741 271

(Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm) or email

giftsinwills@cats.org.uk Find out more with our free information booklet Order your free copy of our booklet today. Simply complete and return this form to: Matt Vincent, Legacy Department, Cats Protection, FREEPOST SEA 7678, Haywards Heath, RH17 7BR. No stamp needed.

Title:

Name:

Address:

Postcode: Tel:

It really helps Cats Protection if we can keep you informed about our exciting work, campaigns, activities and fundraising. If you would prefer us to not contact you by post or telephone, please phone 08707 706827, email: cp@cats.org.uk or write to us at the Freepost address: FREEPOST SEA 7678, Cats Protection, Haywards Heath, RH17 7BR. Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

LA1243 LA72 LA1525

Contacts England South East Bredhurst Kent *Matts * Hill Road, Hartlip, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7XA ☎☎ 01634 232 471 88www.bredhurstkent.cats.org.uk Friends of Bredhurst Kent Adoption Centre Chelmsford & District *Willow * Grove, Deadmans Lane, Galleywood, Chelmsford, CM2 8LZ ☎☎ 01245 478 389 88www.chelmsford.cats.org.uk Eastbourne *63 * Marshfoot Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2RB ☎☎ 01323 440 101 88www.eastbourne.cats.org.uk Friends of Eastbourne Adoption Centre Haslemere *Upper * Hammer Lane, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 1QD ☎☎ 01428 604 297 88www.cats.org.uk/haslemere

Find your nearest CP branch, adoption centre or charity shop...

Colne Valley ☎☎ 01376 755 725 88www.colnevalley.cats.org.uk

St Albans & District ☎☎ 0345 371 2064 88www.stalbans.cats.org.uk

Crawley, Reigate & District ☎☎ 0345 371 2734 88www.catsprotection.co.uk

Southend & District ☎☎ 01702 710 630 88www.southendcats.org.uk

Eastbourne *14 * Seaside, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3PA *118-120 * Seaside, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7QP ☎☎ 01323 733 888

Croydon ☎☎ 0208 763 0072 88www.croydoncpcats.org.uk

Sutton, Kingston & District ☎☎ 0208 330 0176 88www.sutton.cats.org.uk

Ealing & West London *3a * Albert Terrace, Pittshanger Lane, Ealing, W5 1RL

Eltham, Sidcup & District ☎☎ 07772 679 854 88www.cats.org.uk/elthamsidcup

Swale ☎☎ 0345 371 2755 88www.swale.cats.org.uk

Epsom, Ewell & District ☎☎ 0345 260 1387 88www.epsom.cats.org.uk

Tenterden & District ☎☎ 01797 366 379 88www.tenterden.cats.org.uk

Eltham, Sidcup & District *14 * Tudor Parade, Well Hall Road, Eltham, London, SE9 6SX ☎☎ 0208 859 6009

Folkestone & Hythe ☎☎ 01303 237 744 88www.folkestonehythe.cats.org.uk

Thanet (neutering only) ☎☎ 01227 360 432 Three Rivers & Watford ☎☎ 01923 283 338 88www.cats.org.uk/threerivers

Greenwich ☎☎ 0208 8538 666 88www.catsgn.org.uk

Thurrock & District ☎☎ 08453 712 752

Guildford & Godalming ☎☎ 01483 422 529 88www.guildford.cats.org.uk

Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough & District ☎☎ 01892 516 377 88www.uckfield.cats.org.uk

Harlow, Epping Forest & District ☎☎ 01992 579 539 88www.harlow.cats.org.uk

Friends of Haslemere Adoption Centre

Hastings & District ☎☎ 01424 754 328

Welwyn Hatfield & District ☎☎ 0345 371 1855 88www.welwynhatfield.cats.org.uk

National Cat Adoption Centre *Chelwood * Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT ☎☎ 08707 708 650 88www.ncac.cats.org.uk

Hemel Hempstead & Berkhamsted ☎☎ 0345 371 1851 88www.cats.org.uk/dacorum

Windsor & Slough ☎☎ 01753 581 827 (neutering only) 88www.cats.org.uk/maidenhead

Hendon, Finchley & Mill Hill ☎☎ 0208 952 1350 88www.hendon.cats.org.uk

Woking & District ☎☎ 01483 721 700 88www.woking.cats.org.uk

High Wycombe & South Bucks ☎☎ 01494 448 849 88www.buckscats.org.uk

Worthing & District ☎☎ 01903 200 332 88www.cats.org.uk/worthing

Hillingdon ☎☎ 01895 443 637 88www.hillingdon.cats.org.uk

Canterbury & District **28 William Street, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5EQ ☎☎ 01227 371 676

Friends of the National Cat Adoption Centre North London *135 * Junction Road, Archway, Greater London, N19 5PX ☎☎ 0207 272 6048 Basildon, Brentwood & District ☎☎ 01268 285 778 88www.bascats.org.uk Bexley & Dartford ☎☎ 01322 611 911 88www.cats.org.uk/bexley Brighton & District (neutering only) ☎☎ 01273 610 306 88www.cats.org.uk/brighton Bromley ☎☎ 0208 313 3687 88www.bromleycatsprotection.org.uk Camberley & District ☎☎ 08453 712 745 88www.camberley.cats.org.uk Canterbury & District ☎☎ 01227 266 838 88www.cats.org.uk/canterbury

Hornchurch & District ☎☎ 01708 755 211 88www.hornchurch.cats.org.uk Horsham & District ☎☎ 01403 854 464 88www.cats.org.uk/horsham Lea Valley ☎☎ 08453 134 746 88www.leavalley.cats.org.uk Lewes, Seaford & District ☎☎ 01273 813 111 88www.lewes.cats.org.uk Maidstone ☎☎ 0345 371 2758 88www.maidstone.cats.org.uk Medway Towns ☎☎ 01634 913 413 (Neutering only)

Caterham, Redhill & East Surrey ☎☎ 0345 371 2739 88www.eastsurrey.cats.org.uk

Mid Sussex ☎☎ 01444 414 884 88www.cats.org.uk/midsussex

Central London ☎☎ 07815 493 729 88www.cats.org.uk/london

North Hertfordshire ☎☎ 01438 228 877 88www.northherts.cats.org.uk

Chichester, Bognor Regis & District ☎☎ 0345 371 2760 88www.cats.org.uk/chichester

Rayleigh, Castle Point & District ☎☎ 01268 750 831 88www.catsrayleigh.org.uk

Chiltern ☎☎ 03452 602 396 88www.chiltern.cats.org.uk

Romford & District ☎☎ 01708 451 341 88www.romford.cats.org.uk

62 The Cat Winter 2015

Caterham, Redhill & East Surrey *20 * Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 2RA ☎☎ 0208 660 7475 Chichester, Bognor Regis & District *7a * Crane Street, Chichester, West Sussex, P019 1LH ☎☎ 01243 774 737 Colne Valley *75 * High Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2JD ☎☎ 01797 274 667 Crawley, Reigate & District *9* Broadwalk, Crawley, RH10 1HJ ☎☎ 01293 528 982

Folkestone & Hythe *139a * High Street, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5JL ☎☎ 01303 238 661 Greenwich *18 * Old Dover Street, Blackheath, London, SE3 7BT ☎☎ 0208 858 2220 Hastings & District *43 * London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 6AJ ☎☎ 01424 203 778 Hendon, Finchley & Mill Hill *65 * Ballards Lane, Finchley, London, N3 1XP ☎☎ 0208 371 0575 Lea Valley *145 * Chase Side, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 0PN ☎☎ 0208 367 4813 Medway *34 * Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5TX ☎☎ 01634 571 270 *142 * Franklin Road, Gillingham, Medway, ME7 4DG ☎☎ 01634 578 436 Southend & District *142 * Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-onSea, Southend, SS0 7LN ☎☎ 01702 430 476 Sutton, Kingston & District *16 * The Broadway, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey, SM3 8AY ☎☎ 0208 642 1575 Tenterden & District *Lakehurst * House, Unit 1, 94c High Street, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6JB ☎☎ 01580 765 277 Worthing & District *35 * Rowlands Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 3JJ ☎☎ 01903 200 332

South & South West

Cricklewood *70 * Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood, London, NW2 3EP ☎☎ 020 8450 4878

Cornwall *Point * Road, Carnon Downs, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 6JN ☎☎ 01872 870 575

Croydon *13 * High Street, Purley, Surrey, CR8 2AF ☎☎ 0208 763 9898

Exeter Axhayes *Little * Hill Cottage, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, Devon, EX5 2HS ☎☎ 01395 232 377 88www.axhayes.cats.org.uk Isle of Wight *122 * Marlborough Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1AW ☎☎ 01983 562 609

Ways we help: Rehoming • Neutering • Raising awareness

FIND US KEY:

Adoption Centre

Newbury & District *Heatherpine, * Curridge Road, Curridge, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9DH ☎☎ 01635 200 111 88www.newbury.cats.org.uk Ferndown Homing Centre *51 * Cobham Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7QZ ☎☎ 03000 120 175 88www.ferndown.cats.org.uk Andover & District ☎☎ 01256 892 019 88www.andovercats.org.uk Barnstaple & District ☎☎ 01271 860 787 88www.cats.org.uk/barnstaple Basingstoke & District ☎☎ 08451 771 364 88www.basingstoke-cats.org.uk Blandford & Sturminster Newton ☎☎ 01258 858 644 88www.blandford.cats.org.uk Bournemouth & District ☎☎ 08453 712 762 88www.bournemouth.cats.org.uk Bracknell & Wokingham Districts ☎☎ 03453 714 212 88www.cats.org.uk/bracknell Bristol & District ☎☎ 01179 665 428 88www.bristol.cats.org.uk Cheltenham & Tewkesbury ☎☎ 03453 712 730 88www.cats.org.uk/cheltenham Cherwell ☎☎ 07716 596 212 88www.cherwell.cats.org.uk East Devon ☎☎ 01884 277 929 88www.eastdevoncats.com Exeter ☎☎ 01392 276 291 88www.exeter.cats.org.uk Falmouth, Helston & District ☎☎ 08453 712 729 88www.cats.org.uk/falmouth Fareham & Waterlooville Districts ☎☎ 08452 601 504 88www.fareham.cats.org.uk Farnham & Wey Valley ☎☎ 01252 334 644 88www.weyvalley.cats.org.uk Forest of Dean ☎☎ 01594 841 511 88www.cats-forestofdean.co.uk Frome & District ☎☎ 07733 390 345 88www.cats.org.uk/frome Glastonbury & Wells ☎☎ 01749 850 660 88www.stray-cat.co.uk Gloucester & Cirencester ☎☎ 0845 260 3280 88www.cats.org.uk/gloucester Gosport Town ☎☎ 02392 582 601 88www.gosport.cats.org.uk Holsworthy, Bideford & District ☎☎ 0345 371 2717 88www.holsworthycats.org

Homing Centre

Branch

Charity shop

Honiton ☎☎ 01404 452 41 88www.honiton.cats.org.uk

Wootton Bassett & District ☎☎ 07928 674 433 88www.wootton.cats.org.uk

Launceston & District ☎☎ 01566 773 814 88www.launcestoncatsprotection.org

Yeovil & District ☎☎ 01935 412 755 88www.yeovilcatsprotection.info

Mere & Gillingham ☎☎ 01747 840 621 88www.mere-gillingham-cp.co.uk

Bournemouth & District *333-335 * Charminster Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 9QR ☎☎ 01202 530 757

Midsomer Norton & Radstock ☎☎ 01761 436 486 88www.midsomer.cats.org.uk Minehead ☎☎ 08453 712 761 88www.minehead.cats.org.uk Okehampton & District ☎☎ 08453 712 751 88www.okehampton.cats.org.uk Oxford & District ☎☎ 01235 221 147 88www.oxford.cats.org.uk Plymouth & South Hams ☎☎ 08453 712 753 88www.cats.org.uk/plymouth Portsmouth ☎☎ 08453 712 743 88www.cats.org.uk/portsmouth Reading & District ☎☎ 08452 602 395 88www.readinganddistrictcats.org St Austell & District ☎☎ 01726 817 837 88www.staustell.cats.org.uk Salisbury & District ☎☎ 08453 712 068 88www.salisburycats.co.uk South East Cornwall ☎☎ 01752 929 752 Southampton ☎☎ 08453 712 718 88www.cats.org.uk/southampton Stroud ☎☎ 01453 828 326 88www.stroud.cats.org.uk Swindon ☎☎ 01793 644 536 88www.swindon.cats.org.uk Taunton & Wellington ☎☎ 03452 602 397 88www.taunton.cats.org.uk Teignbridge & Totnes ☎☎ 08453 712 723 88www.teignbridge.cats.org.uk Torquay & District ☎☎ 0845 647 2181 88www.torquay.cats.org.uk Truro & District ☎☎ 01872 463 466 88www.trurodistrict.cats.org.uk Weston-Super-Mare & District ☎☎ 08453 712 066 88www.westonsm.cats.org.uk Weymouth & District ☎☎ 01305 262 737 88www.westdorset.cats.org.uk Winchester & District ☎☎ 01962 883 536 88www.cats.org.uk/winchester

Bristol & District *272 * North Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1JA ☎☎ 0117 963 9028 Cheltenham *20 * St James Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 2SH ☎☎ 01242 234 494 East Devon *72 * High Street, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8EQ ☎☎ 01395 513 394 Forest of Dean *28a * Newerne Street, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5RF ☎☎ 01594 841 848 Honiton *116 * High Street, Honiton, EX14 1JP ☎☎ 01404 423 12 Mere & Gillingham *High * Street, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AA ☎☎ 01747 833 669 Minehead & District *10 * Wellington Square, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5NH ☎☎ 01643 704 501 Plymouth *91 * Mutley Plain, Mutley, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 6JJ ☎☎ 01752 255 193 Reading & District *11 * The Triangle, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4RN ☎☎ 0118 945 3733 Swindon *39 * Regent Circus, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 1PX ☎☎ 01793 531 410 Taunton & Wellington *19 * South Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8NZ ☎☎ 01823 663 455 Truro & District *23 * Pydar Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2AY ☎☎ 01872 276 351 Weymouth & District *31 * Great Western Road, Dorchester, DT1 1HF ☎☎ 01305 213 358

Central Birmingham *Packhorse * Lane, Hollywood, Birmingham, West Midlands, B47 5DH ☎☎ 01564 822 020 88www.birmingham.cats.org.uk Friends of Birmingham Adoption Centre

Find your local Cats Protection: 03000 12 12 12 • www.cats.org.uk

Derby *White * Cottage, Long Lane, Dalbury Lees, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 5BJ ☎☎ 01332 824 950 88www.derby.cats.org.uk Friends of Derby Adoption Centre Evesham *95 * Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, Evesham, Worcester, WR11 7RT ☎☎ 01386 833 343 88www.eveshamcpl.org Hereford *Cobhall * Villa, Allensmore, HR2 9BP ☎☎ 01432 277 543 Friends of Cats Protection Hereford ☎☎ 07787 434 756 Mansfield *Mansfield * Road, Warsop, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG20 0EF ☎☎ 01623 845 846 Nottingham *The * Gate House, New Farm Lane, Nuthall, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG16 1DY ☎☎ 0115 938 6557 88www.nottingham.cats.org.uk Ashfield & Amber Valley (neutering only) ☎☎ 01246 825 165 88www.cats.org.uk/ashfield Bedford & Biggleswade ☎☎ 08442 496 911 88www.bedford.cats.org.uk Burton on Trent ☎☎ 01283 511 454 Cannock Area ☎☎ 01543 544 304 Corby & District ☎☎ 0345 260 2390 88www.cats.org.uk/corby Coventry ☎☎ 02476 251 491 88www.coventrycats.org.uk Derby & District ☎☎ 01332 206 956 88www.derbydistrict.cats.org.uk Halesowen & District ☎☎ 08453 712 062 88www.halesowen.cats.org.uk Leicester & District ☎☎ 01162 881 318 Luton, Dunstable & District ☎☎ 0345 371 2746 88www.luton.cats.org.uk Mid Warwickshire ☎☎ 01926 334 849 88www.cats.org.uk/midwarwick Northampton ☎☎ 08447 003 251 88www.cats.org.uk/northampton North Birmingham ☎☎ 08452 601 503 88www.northbirmingham.cats.org.uk Rugby ☎☎ 01788 570 010 88www.cats.org.uk/rugby South Birmingham ☎☎ 08453 711 854 88www.southbham.cats.org.uk

The Cat Winter 2015 63

KEY:

Adoption Centre

Stafford & District ☎☎ 0345 260 1509 88www.stafford.cats.org.uk Stoke & Newcastle ☎☎ 0345 260 1385 88www.stoke.cats.org.uk Stourbridge, Dudley & Wyre Forest ☎☎ 08448 848 520 88www.cats.org.uk/stourbridge Telford & District ☎☎ 01952 305 645 88www.telford.cats.org.uk Walsall Borough ☎☎ 01922 682 005 88www.walsall.cats.org.uk Wellingborough & Rushden ☎☎ 0345 371 4209 88www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough Wolverhampton ☎☎ 01902 651 173 88www.wolverhampton.cats.org.uk Worcester & District ☎☎ 01905 425 704 88www.worcestercats.org.uk Bedford & Biggleswade *12 * The Springfield Centre, Kempton, Bedfordshire, MK42 7PR ☎☎ 01234 840 827 Coventry *146 * Jubilee Crescent, Radford, Coventry, CV6 3ES ☎☎ 02476 222 105 Derby & District *31 * The Wardwick, Derby, DE1 1HA ☎☎ 01332 360 080 *Institute * Buildings, North End, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, DE4 4FG Mid Warwickshire *27 * Regent Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5EJ ☎☎ 01926 338 250 Pershore *Royal * Aracde, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1AG ☎☎ 01386 550 440 Stafford & District *Market * Stall 48, St John’s Indoor Market, Stafford Stourbridge & District *27 * Lower High Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1TA ☎☎ 01384 422 208 Walsall Borough *12 * Croft Parade, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8LY ☎☎ 01922 745 358 Wolverhampton *7* Warstones Drive, Penn, Wolverhampton, WV4 4PP ☎☎ 01902 338 013

Homing Centre

Downham Market *Wards * Chase, Stowbridge, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 3NN ☎☎ 01366 382 311 88www.downhammarket.cats.org.uk Anglia Coastal ☎☎ 0345 371 4202 88www.waveney.cats.org.uk

Tendring & District ☎☎ 01255 744 014 88www.cats.org.uk/tendring 88 Cambridge *172 * Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3LP ☎☎ 01223 566 997

Carlisle & District ☎☎ 01228 540 330 88www.carlisle.cats.org.uk Chesterfield & District ☎☎ 01246 802 919 88www.cats.org.uk/chesterfield Crewe & District ☎☎ 01270 588 710 88www.crewe.cats.org.uk

Bolton & Radcliffe ☎☎ 07760 780 759 88www.bolton.cats.org.uk Breckland ☎☎ 01842 810 018 88www.cats.org.uk/breckland

Ipswich *184 * Bramford Lane, Ipswich, IP1 4DP ☎☎ 01473 742 226

Dewsbury, Wakefield & District ☎☎ 01924 261 524 88www.cats.org.uk/dewsbury

Bury St Edmunds & Stowmarket ☎☎ 01284 850 887 88www.cplbury.org.uk

Lincoln *Unit * 6 Hykeham Green Shopping Centre, Lincoln Road, Lincoln, LN6 8NH ☎☎ 01522 682 877

Doncaster ☎☎ 07718 424 777 88www.doncaster.cats.org.uk

Cambridge ☎☎ 01223 241 371 88www.cambridge.cats.org.uk Chatteris, St Ives & District ☎☎ 0345 647 2180 88www.chatteris.cats.org.uk Ely & District ☎☎ 01353 699 430 88www.ely.cats.org.uk Framlingham & Saxmundham ☎☎ 01728 723 499 88www.framandsax.cats.org.uk Grimsby & District ☎☎ 01472 276 600 88www.grimsby.cats.org.uk Haverhill & Stour Valley ☎☎ 01440 535 131 88www.stourvalley.cats.org.uk Horncastle & District ☎☎ 01526 388 535 88www.horncastle.cats.org.uk Ipswich ☎☎ 0345 371 2069 88www.ipswich.cats.org.uk Milton Keynes ☎☎ 01908 318 810 88www.mkcats.org.uk North Walsham & District ☎☎ 01692 535 858 88www.cats.org.uk/northwalsham Norwich & District ☎☎ 08454 941 900 88www.norwich.cats.org.uk Peterborough & District ☎☎ 0345 371 2750 88www.peterborough.cats.org.uk St Neots & District ☎☎ 01480 476 696 88www.stneots.cats.org.uk Scunthorpe & District ☎☎ 01652 651 001 88www.scunthorpe.cats.org.uk Skegness, Spilsby & Alford ☎☎ 0345 260 1383 88www.cats.org.uk/skegness

East

Sleaford & District ☎☎ 01529 488 749 88www.cats.org.uk/sleaford

64 The Cat Winter 2015

Charity shop

Grimsby & District *57 * Second Avenue, Grimsby, DN33 1NH ☎☎ 01472 277 520

Worcester & District *53 * St Johns, Worcester, WR2 5AG ☎☎ 01905 426 748

Dereham *Hoe * Road Farm, Hoe Road, Longham, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 2RP ☎☎ 01362 687 919 88www.dereham.cats.org.uk

Branch

Spalding & District ☎☎ 01775 725 661 88www.spalding.cats.org.uk Stamford & District ☎☎ 01778 571 343 88www.stamford.cats.org.uk

Norwich *193b * Plumstead Road, Norwich, NR1 4AB ☎☎ 01603 438 820 St Neots & District *10 * Cross Keys Mall, Market Square, St Neots, PE19 2AR ☎☎ 01480 476 696

North

Culcheth & Glazebury ☎☎ 01925 764 604

Durham City & District ☎☎ 01388 720 689 East Northumberland ☎☎ 07749 713 142 (6–9pm) www.east-northumberland.cats.org.uk Gateshead & Newcastle ☎☎ 0191 653 1372 88www.cats.org.uk/gateshead Halifax & Huddersfield ☎☎ 0345 647 2182 88www.cats.org.uk/halifax

Gildersome Homing Centre *Gildersome * Lane, Gildersome, Leeds, LS27 7BN ☎☎ 03000 121 505

Harrogate & District ☎☎ 01423 889 598

St Helens *100 * Chester Lane, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 4DD ☎☎ 01744 817 718

Lancaster & Morecambe ☎☎ 01524 850 112 88www.lancaster.cats.org.uk

Warrington *14 * Elizabeth Drive, Padgate, Warrington, WA1 4JQ ☎☎ 03000 120 612 York *582 * Huntington Road, Huntington, York, North Yorkshire, YO32 9QA ☎☎ 01904 760 356 88www.york.cats.org.uk

Hull & District ☎☎ 01482 790 284

Macclesfield ☎☎ 0345 603 8138 88www.macclesfieldcats.org.uk North Sheffield ☎☎ 01142 456 371 88www.northsheffield.cats.org.uk North Tyneside ☎☎ 0191 296 3512 88www.cpnewcastle.co.uk

Atherton & Wigan Metro Areas ☎☎ 01942 888 693 88www.athertonwigan.cats.org.uk

Preston ☎☎ 01772 393 949 88www.cats.org.uk/preston

Barnsley ☎☎ 01226 762 658 88www.cats.org.uk/barnsley

Rochdale ☎☎ 01706 522 440 88www.cats.org.uk/rochdale

Beverley & Pocklington ☎☎ 01482 861 866 88www.bpcp.org.uk

Sheffield Hallam ☎☎ 0114 327 0348 88www.catsprotectionshop.com

Bolton & Radcliffe ☎☎ 07760 780 759 88www.cats.org.uk/bolton

South Wirral ☎☎ 0151 355 9813 88www.southwirral.cats.org.uk

Boston & District ☎☎ 0345 260 1391 88www.boston.cats.org.uk

Stockport ☎☎ 0161 439 1274 88www.stockport.cats.org.uk

Burnley & Pendle ☎☎ 01282 693 400 88www.burnley.cats.org.uk

Teesside ☎☎ 01642 589 090 88www.teesside.cats.org.uk

Burscough & Liverpool Bay ☎☎ 0151 526 5999 88www.liverpoolbursc.cats.org.uk

Trafford ☎☎ 0161 610 2189 or 0161 969 0331 88www.trafford.cats.org.uk

Calder Valley & District ☎☎ 01706 487 787 88www.caldercats.org.uk

Wear Valley & Darlington ☎☎ 0845 313 4749 88www.cats.org.uk/wearvalley

Ways we help: Rehoming • Neutering • Raising awareness

FIND US

West Cumbria ☎☎ 01946 590 079 88www.westcumbria.cats.org.uk

Swansea & District ☎☎ 08452 179 648 88www.swanseacats.co.uk

Ellon & District ☎☎ 01358 721 204 88www.cats.org.uk/ellon

Stewartry & District ☎☎ 01557 339 233 88www.stewartry.cats.org.uk

Wharfe Valley ☎☎ 0345 194 7292 88www.wharfevalley.cats.org.uk

Cardiff & Vale 88www.facebook.com/ CatsProtectionCardiff

Eskdale & District ☎☎ 01387 376 738 88www.eskdale.cats.org.uk

Stonehaven ☎☎ 01569 739 396 88www.stonehaven.cats.org.uk

Barnsley *95 * High Street, Wombwell, Barnsley, S73 8HS

Colwyn & District *50 * Maldoc Street, Llandudno, Gwynedd, LL30 2TW ☎☎ 01492 872 427

Forfar & District ☎☎ 01307 708 344 88www.cats.org.uk/forfar

Stranraer & District ☎☎ 0845 371 2759 88www.stranraer.cats.org.uk

Fort William & District ☎☎ 07794 275 201 88www.cats.org.uk/fort-william

Strathspey ☎☎ 0345 371 2725 88www.strathspey.cats.org.uk

Fraserburgh ☎☎ 01771 637 744 88www.cats.org.uk/fraserburgh

Tain & District ☎☎ 0345 371 2737 88www.tain.cats.org.uk

Giffnock ☎☎ 01416 385 110 88www.cats.org.uk/giffnock

West Fife ☎☎ 01383 419 975 88www.westfife.cats.org.uk

Glasgow ☎☎ 0345 371 2722 88www.glasgow.cats.org.uk

West Lothian ☎☎ 01506 298 107 88www.cats-westlothian.org.uk

Huntly, Keith & Turriff ☎☎ 01466 760 311 88www.cats.org.uk/huntly

Arbroath & Carnoustie *31 * Fisheracre, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 1LE ☎☎ 01241 873 858

Chesterfield & District *13 * Stephenson Place, Chesterfield, S40 1XL ☎☎ 01246 275 797 Halifax & Huddersfield *17 * Wakefield Road, Hipperholme, Halifax, HX3 8AA ☎☎ 01422 205 341 Lancaster & Morecambe *4-6 * Regent Road, Morecambe, Lancaster, LA3 1QG ☎☎ 01524 850 112 Leeds *Suite * 26, Bramley Shopping Centre, Leeds, LS13 2ET *101 * Queen Street, Morley, Leeds, LS27 8DW ☎☎ 0113 307 5228 Newcastle upon Tyne *162-166 * High Street East, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, NE28 7RP ☎☎ 0191 2627 377 Otley *Unit * 3, Orchard Gate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3NX ☎☎ 01943 468 344 Teesside *7–8 * Ramsgate, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, TS18 1BS ☎☎ 01642 589 090 Wharfe Valley *21 * Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5LJ ☎☎ 0113 259 1120 York *13 * Walmgate, York, YO1 9TX ☎☎ 01904 620 361

Wales Bridgend *Green * Acres, Pant Hirwaun, Bryncethin, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, CF32 9UJ ☎☎ 01656 724 396 Wrexham *Alma * House, Madeira Hill, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL13 7HD ☎☎ 01978 313 574 88www.wrexham.cats.org.uk

Gwent *22 * Frogmore Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5AH ☎☎ 01873 857 770 Swansea & District *85 * Brynymor Road, Swansea, SA1 4JE Wrexham & District *11 * Lord Street, Wrexham, LL11 1LH ☎☎ 01978 266 300

Scotland Arbroath & Carnoustie *15 * Kinaldie Holdings, Arbroath, DD11 5SH ☎☎ 01241 434 605 88www.arbroath.cats.org.uk Clackmannanshire & Stirling *The * Marion Hunter Cat Adoption Centre, Ochivale Terrace, Fishcross, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 3HT ☎☎ 01259 720 555 88www.clackscats.org.uk Dundee & District *102 * Foundry Lane, Dundee, DD4 6AY ☎☎ 01382 450 035 Glasgow *Cardyke * Farm, Langmuirhead Road, Auchinloch, Glasgow, G66 5LD ☎☎ 0141 779 3341 Friends of Glasgow Adoption Centre Shetland *Gott, * Shetland, ZE2 9SH ☎☎ 01595 840 588 88www.cats.shetland.co.uk Alness & District ☎☎ 0345 371 4204 88www.alness.cats.org.uk Ardnamurchan & Mull ☎☎ 07583 103 678 88www.cats.org.uk/ardnamurchan Barra & Uist ☎☎ 07792 700 149 88www.cats.org.uk/uist Caithness ☎☎ 0345 371 4217 88www.caithnesscatsprotection.org.uk

Aberystwyth & District ☎☎ 01970 822 120

Central Aberdeen ☎☎ 01224 749 568 88www.catsprotection.org.uk

Colwyn & District ☎☎ 0345 647 2185 88www.colwyn.cats.org.uk

Central Dumfries ☎☎ 01387 710 083 88www.centraldumfries.cats.org.uk

Gwent ☎☎ 08453 712 747 88www.gwentsouthcp.org.uk

Cumnock & Doon Valley ☎☎ 0345 371 4219

Newtown & District ☎☎ 01686 670 277 88www.newtown.cats.org.uk

Deeside ☎☎ 07837 342 660 88www.cats.org.uk/deeside East Neuk of Fife ☎☎ 01592 362 762 88www.eastfife.cats.org.uk

Inverness ☎☎ 07815 910 861 88www.inverness.cats.org.uk Inverurie & Alford ☎☎ 01467 625 695 88www.cats.org.uk/inverurie Isle of Arran ☎☎ 01770 820 611 Isles of Lewis & Harris ☎☎ 01851 830 749 88www.cats.org.uk/isle-of-lewis Isle of Skye ☎☎ 07817 943 072 Lanarkshire ☎☎ 01698 619 219 88www.lanarkshirecats.co.uk Montrose & Brechin ☎☎ 0345 371 2738 88www.montrosebrechin.cats.org.uk Moray ☎☎ 07837 342 646 88www.cats.org.uk/moray Nairn ☎☎ 0345 371 2714 88www.nairn.cats.org.uk North Ayrshire ☎☎ 0345 371 4218 88www.northayrshire.cats.org.uk Orkney Islands ☎☎ 01856 771 642 88www.cats.org.uk/orkney Outer Aberdeen & District ☎☎ 01224 705 252 88www.cats.org.uk/outeraberdeen Peebles & Biggar ☎☎ 0707 4357 228 Perth ☎☎ 01738 700 070 88www.perthcats.co.uk

Central Aberdeen *96 * King St, Aberdeen, AB24 5BA ☎☎ 01224 634 894 Clackmannanshire & Stirling *The * Marion Hunter Cat Adoption Centre, Ochivale Terrace, Fishcross, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 3HT ☎☎ 01259 720 555 Dundee & District *102 * Foundry Lane, Dundee, DD4 6AY ☎☎ 01382 450 035 *5* Reform Street, Monifieth, Dundee, DD5 4BA ☎☎ 01382 534 316 Glasgow *1063 * Pollockshaws Rd, Glasgow, G41 3YF ☎☎ 0141 649 9036 Orkney Islands *85-87 * Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3BS ☎☎ 01856 850 919 Huntly & Keith *6-8 * Duff Street, Macduff, Banffshire, AB44 1TL ☎☎ 07847 395 017 West Fife *6* Arberlour Street, Rosyth, Fife, KY11 2RD ☎☎ 01383 417 548

Northern Ireland Belfast *270 * Belfast Road, Dundonald, Newtownards, Northern Ireland, BT16 1UE ☎☎ 02890 480 202 Friends of Northern Ireland Adoption Centre

Peterhead & District ☎☎ 07791 834 226 88www.peterhead.cats.org.uk

Armagh ☎☎ 07709 483 550 88www.armagh.cats.org.uk

South Ayrshire ☎☎ 0345 371 4216 88www.southayrshire.cats.org.uk

Coleraine ☎☎ 07792 699 416 88www.cats.org.uk/coleraine

Find your local Cats Protection: 03000 12 12 12 • www.cats.org.uk

Downpatrick ☎☎ 07580 800 402

The Cat Winter 2015 65

Welcome to the Winter edition’s Kids’ Corner , our younger readers’ section of the magazine. Did you enjoy learning about cat behaviour in the Autumn issue? Did you spot your cat displaying any of the behaviours pictured?

This time we’re talking about why it’s important for a cat to play regularly; and we have instructions showing you how to make your own cool cat toy! Of course, we have our regular artists’ alley too.

How to make your own cat toy Christmas is a great time to spoil your cat and it’s very easy – and fun – to make a toy for your cat to play with.

You could try making your own fishing rod toy using a few simple items.

Items you need: • Garden bamboo cane • Feather boa or cotton string from a craft shop • Strong sticky tape Simply secure the feather boa or cotton string (parcel string should be fine) to one end of the bamboo cane using the sticky tape. Make sure the edges of the cane are not sharp and ensure there are no parts that will come off. Ask an adult for help if you’re using scissors.

Allow your cat to occasionally catch and ‘kill’ the toy or they could get a bit frustrated, and store the toy safely away after use.

Play is an excellent outlet for cats to exhibit their natural hunting behaviour – younger cats will be happy to play 10 times a day or more and older cats will be happy to play three – four times a day, with games adapted to suit their needs. It’s a good idea to rotate the use of toys to keep games interesting for your cat but don’t leave your cat unattended with toys which could be shredded and eaten or cause entanglement and check toys regularly for signs of wear, replacing when appropriate.

66

Artists’ alley

Thank you to this issue’s brilliant artists: Isla, Dillon and Jessica.

They each win a cuddly toy for themselves and a toy for their cats!

Dillon, aged 9 from Wiltshire has drawn Stanley who was handed into the vets as a stray. When no-one came forward to claim the cat, he went home with Stanley and his family.

Four-year-old Isla from Kent has sent us a brilliant picture of Bruce the cat.

Why you should play with your cat Keeping your cat amused with toys can help to keep them happy and it provides good exercise.

Play is more fun if you get involved too – you could use fishing rod toys with feathers like on the opposite page on a string to look like pretend prey!

Older cats will love playing three or four times a day, while younger cats will be happy to play 10 times a day or more. Try playing very short games of one to two minutes with your cat and regularly swap toys around to keep them interested.

Seven-year-old Jessica from Inverness has drawn a very pretty black cat for us.

If you’d like to send in a drawing, photograph, letter or email for the next issue, then contact us at T he Cat magazine, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT or email editorial@cats.org.uk with Kids’ Corner in the subject line. Don’t forget to tell us your name, age and address.

You could win a cuddly cat for yourself and a toy for your cat!

Did you know? Hunting is a natural behaviour for cats so mimicking this with toys (such as a fishing rod toy that looks a bit like prey) will help to keep your cat mentally stimulated.

Discover more free, easy ways to keep your cat entertained by watching our boredom buster videos at www.youtube.com/catsprotectionuk

67

ANSWERS

Autumn 2015 crossword answers Across: 1 Gooseberry, 7 Druggist, 8 Adam, 9 Hang, 10 Babysit, 12 Microscopic, 14 Educate, 16 Heed, 19 Peru, 20 On the air, 21 Internment.

Down: 1 Girth, 2 Organic, 3 Edit, 4 Entrance, 5 Ready, 6 Maniac, 11 Postpone, 12 Madden, 13 Precede, 15 Churn, 17 Drift, 18 Stun.

EVER THOUGHT OF RUNNING YOUR OWN CATTERY?

This issue’s sudoku answers

Whether it’s an intimate four pen caĴery or a commercial fty pen outt, running your own boarding caĴery can be a rewarding, fullling way of life and having a home based business is both convenient and easy.

With over 40 years’ experience, Lindee Lu provides the whole package and helps you create a high quality establishment your customers will return to time and time again.

We manufacture in traditional wood and our new, very popular, 100% synthetic wood product which retains the look of our wooden pens but requires no annual maintenance.

For more information on starting a caĴery please visit our website where all your questions can be answered. Take a moment to browse through our gallery pictures and play with our nance calculator where you will see for yourself how you can benet nancially from this rewarding new way of life!

www.lindee-lu.co.uk

Tel: 01275 853800

Online pet shop Shop, save and support cats!

Our online pet shop has a great range of over 4,000 products to cater for all your pet’s needs and regularly offers fantastic discounts.

100 per cent of the profits from each sale go to Cats Protection; you can even choose whether the profits are donated to a specific branch or adoption centre!

For current discounts and to start shopping today, please visit:

www.cpshop.co.uk Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) & SC037711 (Scotland)

Remembering cats through helping others This section offers readers the chance to pay tribute to a beloved cat by helping others. Donations go towards the upkeep of pens for our branches and centres which help house cats and kittens while they wait for new homes. Please send your donations to Remembering Cats, The Cat magazine, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Sussex RH17 7TT . Cheques should be made payable to ‘Cats Protection’. Tributes will be printed in the next available issue. We will endeavour to print your dedication in a specified issue although this may not always be possible. Please print your tribute clearly to avoid errors.

ONTY PTS 20.06.15 M aged around 19. A true ginger friend for 17½ years.

Reunited with PANDORA , T ILLYWHISKERS and MISHKA . We will never forget you all. Love from Mum, Dad and brother James.

In loving memory of M INNIE 23.04.78– 02.12.95. Beautiful and intelligent tortoiseshell with such a strong personality.

Still much loved and missed.

Sleeping in her garden alongside her brother. Neil and Christine.

In loving memory of JESS who went to sleep on 11.08.15 aged 17 and her brother BISCUIT who went to sleep on 15.09.15 also aged 17. Back together again but very much missed

by Julie and Laura. Much loved pets and always in our thoughts xxx

K ING ALEX 01.02.00– 06.12.13. Those were the days of the King and they were blessed. Love Mum. ERIC 01.11.03. You taught me so much about determination Big Tab, thank you. Love always, The Bid.

SANDY – A dear, gentle cat who disappeared one September day.

Remembered always. Gwen.

My brave little POPPY PTS aged 21. You made the sun shine. Miss our cuddles, loved always. Your Mum xxx

H ERBIE 01.08.13-30.08.15.

Our brave boy taken from us too young from a mystery illness, missing you so much, our ginger boy. Always in our hearts, Wendy and Mum xx

FLUFFY , age 14/16 years and the last of our 30 years of cats. Much loved, always in our hearts – until the Rainbow Bridge. Rita and Malcolm.

In loving memory of DOUGHNUT 11.12.14.

Beautiful, loving, comical – we miss you so much. Always in our hearts. Love Mummy, Daddy, Leo.

In loving memory of GIZMO 13.01.06 and T EDDY 04.12.06. Loved and sadly missed. Always in our thoughts and hearts.

Love Mummy, Daddy, Leo.

In loving memory of

PIPPA – aged 19½ PTS 22.09.15. Thank you Darling for all your love and faithfulness. Play happily at Rainbow Bridge with P ORKY . Till we meet again. God bless you Babe, your heartbroken Mummy Jean.

CELINE PTS 02.05.14 aged 18 and L INUS PTS 28.08.15 aged 19. Much loved and fondly remembered.

In memory of TOFFEE PTS 01.09.15. A lovely little girl much loved and missed by us all. Mum, Dad, Auntie Pam, Spike and Tommy. Bless you xxxxx

M OWIE 1977 to 12.01.00.

A loving friend asleep in his favourite garden. Till we meet again, Peter.

In Memory of J AFFA , much loved feline companion who was a great character and very missed. 09.10.15 missed

by Estella and all the family x

ESMOND ANGEL D Brave BP Siamese, assisted to sleep on 18.07.15, aged 15½ years, after a long illness.

Much missed by mummy and remaining cats.

T AURUS – lovely black girl. Killed in hit and run in August 2015 at six years old. Missed by mummy and other cats.

SALEM 23.05.15 Sleep tight, my gentle, brave Pudding. Love and miss you always. Lin xx

OPPY , in loving memory P of our Popchick who we had to let go on 24.08.15 aged 20. What a perfect cat! A prolific hunter; who can forget the snakes and the moorhen in the bathroom!

She had a wonderful life and a peaceful and loving old age. She will join her best friend JASMINE . What will we do without you Popchick, we will miss you terribly. All our love John and Val xxx (Mum and Dad).

The Cat Winter 2015 69

B kends

The latest cat-themed books to hit the shelves!

Buckingham

Do unto animals

Here I am

A cat called Dog

By John Schroeder Buckingham is a delightful, beautifully illustrated story that explores the therapeutic powers of cats. The day Buckingham found his way into Angela Tillsworthy’s life, neither she, nor he, were ever to look back. This gentle tale is not your run of the mill cat book, instead it is a story all about the therapeutic powers of cats and how they positively affect human lives.

It is an entertaining mixture of fantasy and reality. £10.99 ISBN 9781784624118

By Tracey Stewart With hundreds of charming illustrations and a humorous, knowledgeable voice, this is an easy guide for the family on the kindest way to live with animals and how to improve their lives. From cats and dogs, to goats and birds, this book is part practical guide, part memoir of Tracey’s life with animals and part testament to the power of giving back to the animals who give us so much. £14.99 ISBN 9781579656232

By Ann Aldred A beautifully illustrated book for young children, Here I am tells of Peter and his cat Puss stuck at home for the day. But Puss tells Peter that many unexpected visitors will call. They are all very different; from the dog, to the big brown spider near the window. Peter learns that if he looks carefully, or sits quietly, he may meet many more of the birds, animals and insects that live nearby. £4.25 ISBN 9780956852403

By Jem Vanston Dog is a cat. The only problem is he doesn’t behave like one; instead he wags his tail when happy, sticks out his tongue when confused and yaps just like a puppy whenever he gets excited. So old ginger tom George decides teach him how to behave like a proper cat. A Cat Called Dog is a great, fun book suitable for children and cat lovers of all ages. £6.99 ISBN 9781784559595

Paws and claws

The Hermitage cats

Moon Diamonds

A book of cats

By Audrey Duggan As a dog lover there was a time when Audrey hardly considered cats at all. But that all changed with the arrival of Beau and Bunting.

What followed was 18 years of friendship and companionship. They taught Audrey about life, how to forgive and forget and most importantly how to live in and enjoy the present. £7.95 ISBN 9781858585079

By Nikolai Gol and Maria Haltunen This book is dedicated to one of humanity’s oldest companions – the cat. From being sacred animals in Egypt to good fortune in Japan, all these tales of the feline kind are illustrated with works of art and mainly selected from the collections of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. £14.99 ISBN 9781910065662

By Madeleine Purslow When actress Monica Pinto finds her memory is beginning to fail, she is forced to go in search of a new way of life. After years of being on stage, her world suddenly becomes a lot smaller. What Monica doesn’t expect is just how much her life is about to change because of her love for Siamese cats. £7.49 ISBN 9781515355373

By Dorothy M Stuart Poet and writer Dorothy approaches her subject along four main streams: archaeology, history, legend and literature. This book offers an appreciation of the cat throughout history as a goddess, an enigma, a playmate and a friend. £12.99 ISBN 9781781554906

70 The Cat Winter 2015

If you give the ISBN number to a book shop or library they will be able to order it in for you.

Have a very Merry Christmas...

...from everyone at Cats Protection

I can’t leave my best friend behind!

We know that for many victims of domestic abuse, leaving violent relationships is made impossible simply because they cannot bear to lose their pets. That’s where Cats Protection, in partnership with Dogs Trust, steps in. Through the Freedom Project we take in and provide safe refuge for victims’ cats until their owners are in a position to reclaim them.

Since 2004, we have helped more than 350 cats and 200 families escape domestic abuse. By making a donation today you can help us to support even more.

Make a difference today:

T: 0800 917 2287 W: www.cats.org.uk/freedom-project Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

We regret that this project is currently only available to adults fleeing domestic violence within the Greater London area.

DIGITAL MEWS

Digital Mews Older cats need love too!

All the latest CP and cat news online

Is the cat blep the latest pet craze?

The drinking habits of cats

‘Blepping’ is the latest internet trend – it’s when a cat is completely unaware that their tongue is sticking out a bit! We found out why cats do this and collated some of our favourite blep moments.

On average it takes five times longer for older cats to be adopted than kittens – watch our video at www.cats.org.uk/oldercats

www.cats.org.uk Credit: macinate via flickr

CP’s Behaviour Manager explains

#WhiskersWednesday

what to do if your cat isn’t drinking Wilfred at our Taunton & Wellington Branch

from their water bowl.

meowblog.cats.org.uk

Suckling Smudge Smokey from @JayneyBarnes

Eleven-week old Smudge from our Caterham, Redhill & East Surrey From @davidmullen141

Branch with his teddy. So cute!

Are these the most impressive

Watch the video at

#WhiskersWednesday yet? >^.^<

https://youtu.be/gWZ-GKmRUbI

CatsProtection

CatsProtectionUK

Ted from @Saraoxford

meowblog.cats.org.uk Mentions or links to external content are not endorsements

Cats Protection

@CatsProtection

meowblog.cats.org.uk

CatsProtectionUK

The Cat Winter 2015

9