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How cats rule despite fame NATURAL HEALTH WHY PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE EVERY TIME

TUNE TO FELINE

HOW TO BE SENSITIVE TO YOUR CAT’S NEEDS

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£4.99 SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSUE 474

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September 2017 l Issue 474 To reach us: Call +44 (0)1903 884988.

Or write to: The Editor, Cat World, PO Box 2258, PULBOROUGH RH20 9BA Great Britain email: support@ashdown.co.uk Website: www.catworld.co.uk US office: Ashdown Inc., 68132 250th Avenue, Kasson, MN 55944, USA. Tel: 507 634 3143 email: usoffice@ashdown.co.uk Editor: Jill Mundy email: jill@ashdown.co.uk Advertisement sales: UK office: Maria Fitzgerald Email: maria@ashdown.co.uk US office: Sara Vix Email: sara@ashdown.co.uk Design: Richard Jennings & Wendy Crosthwaite Subscriptions: UK: support@ashdown.co.uk US: usoffice@ashdown.co.uk Published by ashdown.co.uk. ISSN 0961 - 0944 Distributed to the newstrade by Comag.

Subscription prices: One year: (12 issues) UK £59.99.

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

theinsidetrack 4 MEWS ROUND The latest feline news

42 CAR SHARING

6 SAVING LIVES Smokey Paws pledge continues

44 THE REX FAMILY

7 ON THE EDGE All change again

50 CELEBRITY PETS

8 SAFE AT HOME The agony of a missing cat

52 CONFESSIONS OF A CAT LOVER

10 NEW STYLE COLLARS

54 CAT TRIVIA

11 WHAT IS A CHIP?

56 ASK THE EXPERTS

12 IF IT WASN’T FOR CHIPS

58 PROTECT OUR PETS

16 FELINE ADVENTURES

60 PASHA & TANNI

22 FELINE ART EXHIBITION

61 RESCUE CATS

24 TALKING CAT

62 TUNE IN TO YOUR FELINE

28 BOARDING HOUSE DIARY

64 GORDY & ME

30 PET-FRIENDLY OFFICES

67 VETS & NHS COMBINE

34 BIG CATS

68 NATURAL HEALTH

36 IT’S AN EMERGENCY

70 A NURESE’S NOTES

39 CAT FRIENDLY AWARDS

71 SHOW DATES

41 KITTY COVERS

72 FUN PAGE

Kittyrama brings style to safety Microchip facts from Bayer Owners and cats reunited

Take your cat and have fun

Society of Feline Artists’ 2017 show The green-eyed monster Home visits a speciality

www.catworld.co.uk Postmaster: Send address corrections to Ashdown Inc, 68132 250th Avenue, Kasson, MN 55944, USA. Canada Post International Publications Mail - Sales Agreement No. 546038.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. All editorial contributions are welcomed by Cat World but material is accepted solely on the basis that the author accepts the assessment of the Publisher as to its commercial value.

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A look at this developing trend The athletic and powerful Jaguar What to do out of hours

Innovation rewarded by iCatCare New books for your deckchair

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Cats will be cats

Highlighting this playful breed How cats have influenced the famous Tim contemplates a holiday

You may know more than you think Sharing your concerns

The dangers of smoking near pets More fun from the Siamese duo Celebrating Molly’s dedication Be sensitive to your cat’s needs Overcoming peer pressure Time to get tough on passive smoking Prevention is better than cure Keeping Thomas happy

Upcoming shows around the UK Can you solve the puzzles?

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afurrywarmwelcome

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Smoke. It’s a small word that carries huge dangers. We were all saddened by the dreadful fire at Grenfell Tower in London and hope that much will now be done to fit adequate fire precautions in all accommodation. Very little is ever said about pets in these circumstances but Smokey Paws is one organisation hell bent on giving our pets the best chance of surviving.

Choosing to smoke cigarettes, in any form, can also be dangerous for our pets, so veterinary and NHS personnel are combining their efforts to highlight the effects of passive smoking on our cats and other animals.

The safety of our pets is top priority - or it should be. A simple microchip will make sure that a missing pet is returned to its owner and who doesn’t like a happy ending? You can read about some cats who managed to get home, eventually, in our special feature.

Someone who couldn’t bear to be apart from their cat is Justa who started to take her cat Otie on all sorts of adventures. That’s not possible for everyone but I hope you enjoy reading about them.

If you find adventures too exhausting, take a look at Kitty Covers and choose to sit back in the sun with a new book.

However you decide to spend the next few weeks, I hope you enjoy them.

Till next month

Jill & the team

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73 THE CAT LADY INVESTIGATES James and his cat Bob

74 CATALIST

Tempting treats for your home

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76 RESCUE CATS

Kittens helped by stray mum

77 LITTLE BIG CAT

A Jaguar cub’s first steps outside

78 SAFE RETURN

Missing cat was so close

79 MASTERS OF DISGUISE

Want to write or report for CW? We’d love to hear from you. Email jill@ashdown.co.uk

Detecting a feline in pain

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THE

MEWS

ROUND

OUR ROVING REPORTERS BRING YOU ALL THE CAT NEWS, GOSSIP, HEALTH AND MORE. EMAIL JILL@ASHDOWN.CO.UK Stop using claw covers

Don’t put pets at risk Leading charity PDSA has warned that an estimated third of UK cats and other pets could be at risk from deadly diseases. The charity’s PAW (PDSA Animal Wellbeing) report, reveals that only 65% of cats received a primary vaccination course when young - the lowest levels ever recorded in the seven years they have been producing the report.

PDSA Head of Pet Health and Welfare, Nicola Martin, said: “It’s important we improve vaccination levels before we see a rise in pets suffering from preventable and often fatal diseases.”

Tiny kitten Odin and his siblings were infected with cat flu and it badly affected one of Odin’s eyes. At just eight weeks old, sadly he had to have his eye removed. If his mother had been vaccinated, this could well have been prevented. Although recovering well, Odin will remain a carrier of cat flu all his life.

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There is a worrying social media trend where pets are given manicures to match their owners’ nails.

When a cat called Christina arrived at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home wearing a set of red claw covers, it was the first time staff there had seen this for themselves.

Claw covers are directly glued onto each individual claw, meaning they’re firmly fixed. Christina wouldn’t have been able to fully retract her claws.

It was unknown how long the covers had been on but Battersea’s vets immediately decided to remove them.

As it would have been very stressful for Christina while she was conscious, staff had no choice but to put her under anaesthetic.

Lindsey Quinlan, Head of Catteries at Battersea, said: “It’s extremely cruel to inflict this sort of thing on your cat as it stops them from displaying their natural behaviour. It’s worrying that these claw covers can be so easily sought from the internet. We want to spread the message that claw covers are unnatural for both cats and dogs.”

Some owners may be using these to prevent their pets scratching furniture - please provide a scratching mat or post instead.

Return of the lynx?

As you may have seen on the news recently, The Lynx Trust UK have applied for a licence to reintroduce the lynx to Kielder Forest in Northumberland. If the application is approved, four females and two males, all wearing satellite collars so they can be tracked, will be brought to the forest from Sweden and monitored for five years. Once prevalent here, the lynx is currently extinct in the UK.

Cats deliberately targeted?

Life for cat owners in a Welsh village has been disrupted by a spate of cats going missing in recent weeks and some apparently being poisoned. The cats may have been targeted by an individual, with up to 20 owners reporting missing cats. Sadly three cats had to be put to sleep after suffering acute

kidney failure as a result of ingesting the poisonous substance and some others have been found already dead.

It is not clear if there is a more innocent explanation at this stage but anyone with information regarding this upsetting incident is urged to contact the RSPCA.

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New name for the Mayhew charity

Life-sized animal paintings A major wildlife art exhibition ‘This is Our World’, by acclaimed artist Omra Sian, comes to London’s Royal Horticultural Halls, 4th – 25th August 2017. Some of the paintings are over six metres tall and seven metres wide. The exhibition aims to raise awareness of climate change, environmental issues and endangered species, in support of international wildlife charities

Born Free and IFAW. HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, described the paintings as ‘extraordinary’ and Virginia McKenna OBE, actress and founder Trustee of the Born Free Foundation, said: “These extraordinary images show us the beauty and uniqueness of wild animals. They also dramatically remind us of what we would lose if we pursue our decima-

tion of nature.”

The exhibition, presented by Art World Conservation will be FREE to all visitors. The event will also host a series of talks from leading conservationists, in partnership with the Born Free Foundation. For more information: ‘This is Our World’ - http://artworldconservation.com/ and Born Free Foundation - www.bornfree.org. uk

UK needs to act, says FOUR PAWS Animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has urged UK Governments to follow Romania’s lead and renew their efforts to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

Romania became the 22nd European country to adopt measures to limit and ban animal circus shows and FOUR PAWS says it is now clearly time for the UK to follow suit. Numerous attempts to introduce a Bill in the UK have been blocked, despite assurances from the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, that action would be taken.

Brian da Cal, Country Director for FOUR PAWS UK, said: “At the moment we are being left behind by other countries which are taking a more progressive approach to this issue.”

PAWS FOR THOUGHT “I take care of my flowers and my cats. And enjoy food. And that’s living.”

—Ursula Andress

London-based animal welfare charity, The Mayhew Animal Home, has recently rebranded in a bid to appeal to a wider audience and educate people about their work apart from a rescue home. Simply now to be known as ‘Mayhew’, their new strapline is ‘for dogs, cats and communities.’

The Mayhew’s blue logo is being replaced by a purple logo incorporating a dog’s and cat’s tail.

The charity realised that they were known mainly as an animal shelter and many people were unaware of the increased focus on preventative work, education and community engagement, aimed at improving companion animal health and welfare both in London and overseas.

Movie with feel-ine good factor If you haven’t already seen it, the new hit at the cinema is ‘Kedi’, a stunningly shot documentary film about the street cats of Istanbul. It has been highly acclaimed by the critics, prompting one to suggest that cat films are always better than dog films…and who are we to disagree?

Kedi is the Turkish word for ‘cat’ and far from these street cats being scrawny, scruffy felines, the citizens of Istanbul make sure they are well looked after, believing them to be a spiritually important part of the city. Catch it if you can.

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SAFETY

Smokey Paws is saving pets’ lives across the UK In the event of a fire at your home, what would happen to your pet if he were to suffer from the effects of smoke inhalation?

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ou can’t help but have been moved and shocked at the recent tragedy that struck the residents of Grenfell Tower in London. So many human lives lost or unaccounted for. Of course it doesn’t really bear thinking about but there may well have been many pets caught up in the devastating fire too.

When humans are rescued from a burning building, they can be given an oxygen mask to help with their breathing until they can be suitably treated elsewhere. These masks are far too large to treat a cat or dog so we are incredibly thankful to hear of the ongoing work of Smokey Paws, an innovative organisation that is really helping to make a difference.

Smokey Paws is a not for profit organisation on a big pet lifesaving mission. Smokey Paws aims to get specially designed pet oxygen masks into the UK fire service and wherever multiple animals exist, such as wildlife sanctuaries, kennels and catteries, so that pets have a better chance of survival.

With almost half (46%) of UK households owning pets and with over 42,000 house fires in the UK alone last year, there is no wonder over two million Brits have lost pets

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BY MANDY WILLETT in house fires, not to mention how many animals could come to need them in wildlife sanctuaries and rehoming centres.

Smokey Paws believes that if oxygen is available at the scene it should be used as effectively as possible - their specially shaped pet oxygen masks enable the pet to get 95-100% oxygen as opposed to only 5% if using the human oxygen masks.

Smokey Paws was set up by Brian Lockyer and Lynn Carberry. It started when they were discussing how they would get their Labrador out in a house fire and they noticed that while these pet oxygen masks are widely available in America, they weren’t available here in the UK. Smokey Paws Founder Brian Lockyer said: “Specially designed pet oxygen masks are more effective on pets than the human masks often used to try and revive pets by first responders. By providing one special animal oxygen kit for each fire engine in the country, as well as providing them to sanctuaries and shelters, we hope to enable first responders to save even more animals’ lives.”

Since June this year, all fire engines in East Sus-

sex are equipped with the specialist pet oxygen masks, thanks to Smokey Paws teaming up with the RSPCA. All crews in East Sussex now carry an animal oxygen kit onboard as standard practice.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service operations manager, Matthew Elder, said: “Occasionally we see pets suffer from the detrimental effects of fire, leaving owners devastated, and this additional piece of equipment means that we can help to revive pets in those crucial moments following a fire. We have found that it can be difficult to revive a pet with a human-style oxygen mask but this piece of equipment will assist us as it is specifically designed to fit around muzzles rather than a human nose and mouth.”

Smokey Paws still has a long way to go in their animal lifesaving mission and they are looking for as much support as possible. Emma Johnson, fundraiser at Smokey Paws, said: “We urge anyone who is interested in supporting us, from businesses to community groups and individuals, to get in touch with us today. Together we can save more pets’ lives.” l If

you would like to help or know someone who can, please contact emma@smokeypaws.co.uk or call 07340754408 today for more information. www.smokeypaws.co.uk www.facebook.com/helpsmokeypaws www.crowdfunder.co.uk/smokey-paws

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ON THE EDGE THE ADVENTURES OF TWENTY-SOMETHING CAT LOVER KATY EDGE

It’s time to say goodbye to the foster kittens but just how emotional will it be and would we do it all again?

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did wonder if I’d be able to give them back. Whenever I told people I was fostering kittens, they’d all say: “Oh I couldn’t do that, I wouldn’t be able to part with them!”

Friends, colleagues, neighbours, some with ‘foster fails’ of their own at home. I agonised about that term, ‘foster fail’. Nobody wants to ‘fail’ at anything. But if I didn’t fail and happily handed the kitties back, did that make me a cold-hearted monster?

The truth was, I thought I’d be OK. Of course it would be sad to see them leave, but they’d be found loving homes. Kittens fly off the shelves, right?

It’s not like nobody else would want them. I kept telling myself that I could either keep a kitten and help that one kitten or give it back and help lots more.

As it happened, it was easy to give them back as two of them (George and Reuben) were adopted by a friend. They’ve gone to a loving home and we’re lucky enough to be getting regular photo updates. I don’t have a heart of stone – I go as gooey over tiny paws, squeaky meows and wobbly legs as the next *cough* thirtysomething cat lady – but I also appreciate clean floors, tidy litter trays and books without chewed corners. (The book they nibbled most was ‘The Devious Book for Cats’ – can’t really grumble about that one…)

All in all, Operation Feline Foster was a success and I think we’ll do it again. Maybe sooner than expected, in fact, as we’ve already been put on alert for a new load coming in.

So if you’re interested in

fostering or adopting, and especially if you haven’t had kittens for a while (or at all), here are my top 10 lessons – brought to you from the frontline of teeny tiny kitten battle: Yes, they will climb up your legs, curtains, furniture etc.

No, you won’t be angry because they are SO DARN CUTE. Kittens have two settings: ‘hyper’ and ‘off’.

‘Hyper’ is exhausting.

It’s exhausting just watching them.

‘Off’ is the sweetest ever thing and you may suffer from cute overload.

Like with human babies, you will look in on them and panic that they aren’t breathing.

They’re always breathing. They’re just messing with you.

Apart from when something actually goes wrong

and you need to get to a vet pronto. (Thank you, Pearl.)

They grow SO FAST. You can literally leave the room to make a cup of tea and they will be twice as big.

You might find there’s a speck of dirt in your eye when the time comes to say goodbye but you’ll manage it - and you’ll know you’ve made the world a better place for all those kittens. And you’ll get to do it again for the next lot.

So here’s to you, George, Reuben (now aptly renamed Smudge), Cody and Pearl. You were the ‘test litter’ – you persuaded Happee, Widget, Charlie and Holly the dog that rampaging micro-cats are fun – and you were the start of a whole new adventure.

Now to make the house feel full again…

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SAFETY

Don’t let your cat become a lost cat Our pets mean the world to us and, whether we allow them freedom outside or not, there is a always a risk that they could go missing

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BY HANNAH BARRICK

lthough in folklore it is well known that our feline friends have nine lives, it is still extremely stressful when one of our furry companions goes missing. Unlike with other pets, it is often very difficult, if not impossible, to keep our cats in the house the whole time or to keep tabs on them while they are outside. Even the most shy of indoor cats may feel the urge from time to time to venture out onto the balcony or into the back garden. So, when it comes to our cats, what can we do to keep them as safe as possible and prevent them from going missing, and if it comes to it, what else can we do to maximise our chances of being reunited with our furred friends if they do go missing?

One of the simplest ways we can prevent cats from going missing, especially in the case of male cats, is through neutering. An unneutered tom

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cat can detect and follow the scent of a female in heat from over seven miles away and they will do so despite the many dangers such as the main roads and traffic they may encounter along the way. Even females, although less inclined to roam than males, can wander off in a distracted state while in season and calling. Neutering not only reduces the number of unwanted kittens/pregnancies and prevents certain health problems but also reduces the cat’s desire to roam, therefore making it less likely that they will become lost or run into trouble.

Keeping cats indoors at night can also help; cats are more likely to go missing during the night. It is advisable to make sure your kitty has a safety collar with an identity tag on it with your name and contact number.

If a cat wanders into a neighbour’s garden, a lot of people may assume that they are a stray and start feeding them if they can’t see a collar – which increases the chances of a well meaning neighbour feeding them, hence enticing your cat to stay in that area for a free meal. Wearing a collar and tag also means that your cat can be reunited with you if he/she is found.

Micro-chipping your cat, although it will not prevent them from going missing, greatly increases the chances of you getting reunited with him if he does wander off. However, a word of caution – if your pet is microchipped, it is essential to make sure you keep

your details, including address and contact numbers, up to date with the microchip database, as otherwise there will be no way for your kitty to be reunited with you if someone finds him.

Although it may sound obvious, making sure to use a sturdy cat carrier whenever you have to transport your cat anywhere, such as the vets, is vital.

One of the common ways for a cat to go missing is by escaping from an unsecure pet carrier or by escaping from their owner’s arms. Even in the vets, the most tame of cats can easily become startled by the myriad of different smells, the unfamiliar environment, animals and dogs and bolt from their owner’s arms. If you find

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your feline friend is adept at breaking out of his carrier, there are also ‘white wire’ carriers that are extremely sturdy and may be useful for a cat who has become a master escape artist.

Even with the best of intentions, sometimes our beloved kitties do get themselves into mischief and go missing. The good news is that if this does happen, there are a number of things we can do to increase our chances of finding them again. One of the first things, of course, will be to call around local vets, animal shelters and animal wardens to see if the cat has been handed in there. If not, then they may be able to take a note of the details in case they are handed in at a later point.

It is also worth asking around and

suggesting that neighbours check their sheds and garages. Sometimes, a cat may take shelter in a neighbour’s shed or garage and unwittingly become locked in if the neighbour doesn’t realise they are in there.

If your pet is microchipped, you can also call the microchip database (Petlog or Anibase in the UK), to inform them, as they will then be able to update your pet’s record and will know that he is reported missing if somebody calls later on after scanning their microchip. Sometimes they might even be able to email details of the lost pet to local vets/shelters if they are reported missing.

It is also worth putting up posters of your pet around the local area, along

with searching on lost and found pet websites. You can even register your pet on a national lost pet database/ website if they have been missing for a while.

Although none of these things can guarantee your cat will be found, it does greatly increase your chances of being reunited with your furry friend if you follow the tips above and microchipping still remains the best way for your cat to be reunited with you, as the chip cannot fall off, unlike a collar. Most vets or shelters that take in a stray cat will automatically scan them to check for a chip.

Losing a pet is heartbreaking so do all you can to reduce the risk of your pet going missing.

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9 19/07/2017 16:19

SAFETY

STYLISH NEW SAFETY COLLARS Many cats find collars uncomfortable but this new, stylish, award winning design from Kittyrama will keep your cat purring inside and outside

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magine wearing a stiff, itchy, heavy necklace all day…one that could leave you caught on a fence or branch. Inconvenient at best. So if you choose to give your cat a thick, cumbersome collar to wear outside, he will most likely be less than keen…not ideal when you’re trying to impress next door’s championship Burmese!

Carolina Ballon-Forrester set up Kittyrama after being inspired by her own cat Lily and has spent two years developing a collection of cat collars focused on style, comfort and safety for our feline friends.

The Kittyrama collars feature breakaway clasps for quick release, in the cute shape of a house and with a bell attached. The straps are made of soft lightweight Silicon (a material commonly used in high-end

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watch straps) which is silky smooth and won’t accumulate moisture and heat around the cat’s neck. This means they are far less likely to cause itching and irritation. And the straps won’t fray like many other types of collar.

Each design has a charm attached for further ‘cat walk’ appeal - choose a fish for your ‘always hungry’ feline or maybe a crown for your little prince or princess. “With hypoallergenic, lightweight, soft and silkysmooth straps, the patented cat collars from Kittyrama are so comfy and stylish, cats can’t help but strut their stuff when they wear them.”

Recognised by experts, Kittyrama collars are in fact the first ever cat collars to receive a ‘Cat Friendly’ award by global charity International Cat Care. After thorough testing with cat

experts, the collars were proven to make a real difference to cats’ wellbeing.

Discover the range of gorgeous styles, including Mauve and Copacabana, at kittyrama.co.uk - you can read more about Lily, the inspiration behind the collars, too.

l Available

in selected pet shops and on kittyrama. co.uk the collars have a RRP of £9.99

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MICROCHIPPING

Keep your feline friends where they belong Compulsory microchipping of dogs was introduced in the UK just over a year ago but despite many professionals being in favour, there is still no such legislation for cats

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ince the microchipping of dogs became a legal requirement in the UK back in 2016, the latest research shows that 95% of dogs are now microchipped. Yet despite around 90% of veterinary professionals believing that the same legislation should also apply to cats, there have been no moves to enforce this.

The PDSA’s annual ‘PAW Report’, a UK-wide survey of trends in pet ownership and veterinary views, found that only 20% of the UK’s 11 million cats are living as indoor-only cats.

This means the remaining nine million felines are free to roam and potentially at risk of getting lost if they stray too far from home. And although almost 70% of owners felt uneasy or anxious about letting their cats roam outside, it is estimated that 32% of the cats in the UK are still not microchipped.

If a cat gets lost or possibly injured, the risk of them not being reunited

BY MANDY WILLETT with their owner can be minimised if their owner ensures they are microchipped. The campaigns are highlighted each year during June which has been designated ‘National Microchipping Month’ and many leading bodies urge owners to ensure their cats are microchipped.

Hannah Watts, Product Manager at Bayer, said: As chips can’t come off like collars, microchipping is the most effective way to identify a lost pet. It is estimated that 32% of cats in the UK are still not microchipped, which highlights the need for more education for cat owners on the benefits of microchipping.”

What is a microchip Approximately the size of long grain rice, a microchip is inserted under under the skin, between the cat’s shoulder blades. Each chip carries a unique number which is registered

with one of the special databases and is linked to the owner’s contact information. If the cat subsequently gets handed in to a vet or rescue centre, it can be scanned and if a chip is detected, the owner can be quickly traced and reunited with their pet.

There are many benefits to having your pet microchipped by a vet; not only are they trained on how to properly implant a microchip with the least amount of discomfort for your pet, it also gives them the opportunity to give your pet a health check and discuss any other concerns you may have at the same time.

Hannah continued: “A missing pet can be hugely distressing for owners, so we’d encourage all cat owners to speak to their vet for advice on what’s best for their animal. A microchip is only as effective as the information held on it, so it is vital that pet owners inform the database immediately should they change their address or contact details.”

Bayer’s microchip brand, Tracer Advance, is one of the leading products on the market and the UK’s number one choice of microchip among veterinary professionals. Now a mini chip, it is 25% smaller than the previous standard Tracer chip.

For more information on microchipping and to find out where to get your pet microchipped, visit www.tracermicrochips.co.uk l

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FELINES REUNITED

Don’t gamble - be safe and get a chip If more cats were microchipped, many of those arriving at rescue centres could be returned to their owners, reducing the burden on charities and worry for owners

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BY JILL MUNDY

he number of emails we receive at Cat World on a weekly basis from animal charities and rescue centres is growing. So many cats are loved and cared for by their owners yet we constantly hear of poor unfortunate felines who are no longer able to be cared for by their owners or worse, are mistreated or abandoned and then taken in by a rescue centre.

The charity will of course scan them for a microchip but if there isn’t one or the database details haven’t been updated, they will take good care of them until a new loving owner can be found.

Some cats arriving at rescue centres could have been found injured or simply just become lost and unable to find their way home. A simple microchip could mean these cats are quickly reunited with their owners yet charities report that less than a third of our cats are microchipped. All this

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costs the charities time and money, while the owner is distraught at having lost a wonderful family pet.

Blue Cross revealed that a staggering 78% of the cats admitted to their rehoming centres and hospitals between May 2016 and May 2017 had not been microchipped. Many of the cats brought in to Blue Cross are believed to be stray; although sometimes in a good, healthy condition meaning they’re likely to be a family pet.

Caroline Reay, Clinical Lead, Blue Cross said: “Particularly in the summer months, with cats going out for longer and wandering further, there is a higher risk of straying and of accidents. This is why it’s so important to microchip your cat; even if the cat is an indoor cat, there is still risk of them escaping – in fact, indoor cats are more at risk of getting lost if they do escape.

So please, be safe and chip your cats.”

Blue Cross has also seen happy cases of reunions after long periods of time because the cat had been microchipped; one cat managed to stray 20 miles away from his home but thankfully his microchip details were up-todate, so he was able to be returned to his worried family.

Where missing cats have been we may never know but most charities have reunited cats with owners, sometimes after many months. Owners such as Paul and Saria French who had given up hope of finding missing Frankie long ago:

Kitty is our missing Frankie When Frankie went missing, in Southend, Essex in 2008, he was still a young cat. His desperate owners, Paul and Sadia French, did all the right things…put up posters, called the local council and asked around their neighbours but to no avail. Eventually they had to admit defeat and thought they’d never see their beloved pet again.

Nine years later and 45 miles away, an 11-year-old cat was brought into Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, London because the owner could no longer look after him due to personal circumstances. Taken in as a stray, ‘Kitty’s’ owner had lovingly taken care of her new-found feline friend for seven years.

Battersea checks all cats (and dogs) for a microchip when they arrive and when Kitty was brought in, staff found a microchip – Kitty was in actual fact the

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long-lost Frankie.

Staff at Battersea called the owners registered on the microchip, Paul and Sadia, who are still at the same address in Southend. Paul said: “We were out celebrating Father’s Day when we received the call from Battersea. We were so shocked when they told us they had found our Frankie but felt no hesitation in coming in. It was like going back in time. Both Sadia and I are so thrilled to get Frankie back in our lives. We are very grateful to Battersea.”

Lindsay Quinlan, Head of Catteries at Battersea, said: “Only 61% of cats that come into Battersea are microchipped. This makes it incredibly difficult for us as a rescue centre to try and reunite lost pets. Frankie is one lucky moggy, and we’re so pleased Battersea was able to help in reuniting him with his first owners – especially after nine years. It’s all thanks to the microchip.

It’s also important to remember to update the contact details once you have microchipped your pet.”

and discovered his original owner’s details. Carrie-Ann Bishop and her children were delighted to be reunited with George after missing him for five years. Carrie-Ann said: “I would urge everybody to get their pets microchipped.”

Ringo - was reported to Cats Protection in Devon as a stray by a local farmer. After a scan revealed the microchip, Cats Protection were able to contact his owner, Carolyn Daniels, who said: “He was thin, looking a bit the worse for wear and in need of a bit of TLC but we are overjoyed to see Ringo again. As soon as we got him home he was purring away; he definitely recognised us and our other cat, Arthur. As the years passed it seemed less and less likely we would ever see him again. If he hadn’t been microchipped, we would never have got him back.”

Whiskey - After a staggering 11 years, Whiskey was reunited with his owner Marie Goddard, some 125 miles away. It is believed that he was taken in by an elderly gentleman living near to Marie in Wanstead, London, who thought he was stray. The man then moved to Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk and of course, Whiskey went too.

Eventually the man’s health deteriorated until he could no longer care for him and Whiskey was handed over

Compulsory chips?

George, Ringo and Whiskey - Cats Protection have recently reunited three cats with their owners and are again calling for microchipping of felines to be made compulsory. All were handed in to different branches of the charity during June this year. George and Ringo had both been missing from their homes for five years while Whiskey, like Frankie, had been missing for a staggering 11 years.

George - is believed to have been taken in by an elderly lady believing him to be a stray, close to his owner’s home in East Sussex. When she became too frail to care for him, she handed him over to Cats Protection where staff carried out a routine scan C AT W O R L D

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BREED PROFILE

“Microchipping is cheap, harmless and takes seconds.” to Cats Protection. Once again, his microchipped meant he was returned to Marie, who said: “I was absolutely overwhelmed and thrilled to see Whiskey again. I always thought he must have died, perhaps in a road accident, so to see him again was just wonderful. Thanks to his microchip he is now back in our lives.”

While Cats Protection were able to bring about these and many other happy reunions, figures released in June by the charity show that two out of every three ‘stray’ cats are never reunited with owners.

The charity’s calls for compulsory microchipping of cats appeared in Cats Protection’s 2022 Agenda for Cats, which urges politicians from all parties to support measures to protect cats from abandonment, harm and neglect. Read more on their website.

Narrow escapes In recent issues of Cat World we have reported the stories of two small cats who became trapped in narrow gaps, one behind a window grille, the other between two walls. RSPCA superintendent Tim Minty said: “There is a range of equipment needed for these particular rescues. The animal itself will be frightened and its behaviour is most likely to be unpredictable because of the situation it’s in and the fact they don’t know the person trying to rescue them. Sometimes we do

14

need to ask the fire brigade for help if they are available.”

For more difficult rescues there are also water and rope rescue teams, who use a variety of equipment, for example extendable poles, pulleys, harnesses, and three types of inflatable rescue boats.

Some of the challenges cat’s face can leave some owners understandably concerned or worried about their safety. However for most cats, going outside is important for keeping them happy and healthy, explains Alice Potter, the RSPCA’s cat welfare expert: “Unfortunately we can’t always be there to supervise our cats when they are out and about to make sure they are safe but there are some steps we can take.

“Make sure your cat is microchipped and registered with your current contact details. Microchipping your cat is the most reliable way to identify them and gives you the best chances of being reunited if they become lost.

“If you decide to put a collar and ID tag on your cat it’s important to ensure the collar is correctly fitted and is a quick release type collar with a snapsafe buckle - other collars can get caught and cause nasty injuries.”

Pepsi - was taken to The Mayhew by a member of the public who found him living as a stray outside a school.

Fortunately he was microchipped and the chip database company revealed

he had been missing for eight months.

Pepsi’s owner, Davinia, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call from Georgina at The Mayhew Animal Home to say Pepsi had been found. I honestly thought I’d never see him again and didn’t think it was real because it had been so long since we last saw him. This was back in October 2016 when I went on holiday. I left him with a friend to take care of him when I was away and unfortunately he must have got out and become lost. I desperately tried to find Pepsi again and rang up every rescue to see if he had been found and notified the microchipping company that he was missing, but sadly had no luck.”

Microchipping is cheap, harmless and takes seconds. Speak to your vet or to any of the charities mentioned.

All the owners mentioned here were overjoyed to be reunited with their fab felines. Without a microchip it is possible that none of them would ever have seen their wonderful pets again.

Please get your pets microchipped and if you have moved house, make sure you have notified the database of your new contact details.

Last but by no means least, animal charities around the UK are dealing with stories like these on a far too regular basis. If you can help with fund raising in any way at all, they will be extremely grateful for even the smallest contribution.

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FELINE FUN

Adventure Cats; life on the road Many of us find our cats don’t like travelling much but with a little persuasion, some of them can actually learn to enjoy some supervised adventures

F

BY CARLA GREENWOOD

or many of us, the idea of travelling anywhere with our feline friends can bring us out in a cold sweat, since they seem to dislike any form of travelling, being put into a crate, the noise and movement of the car and the discomfort of being somewhere unfamiliar. Yet there are cats like Otie who have spent a large proportion of their lives travelling the world with their human companions. In fact, there is a whole website dedicated to an array of cats who seem to thrive on climbing mountains, exploring the wilderness and even surfing! So are these cats unique or is there a little ‘adventure cat’ in all of our moggies?

Challenging a stereotype Myths and misconceptions have surrounded cats ever since people started sharing their world with them. Perhaps one of the most persistent myths is that cats are aloof and untrainable. However, in recent years cat behaviourists and veterinarians have started to challenge that view. Dr Sarah Ellis, Feline Behaviour Specialist at International Cat Care, says: “I think because many people do not see a need to train their cat, they simply think it is not trainable. However, when they realise there is a need (i.e. to make sure they are happy in a cat carrier) then they question whether there is something they can do. An explanation of how cats have ‘trained’ their owners usually causes the lightbulb

16

moment that of course cats are clever and can be trained!”

Dogs are social animals that have been bred to fit our needs over hundreds of years, yet cats essentially domesticated themselves. Cats were originally allowed to stick around human’s due to their ability to catch rodents but were never domesticated to obey human ‘orders’. In fact, after 9000 years of living alongside us, scientists believe that cats remain only semi-domesticated. Put simply, your cat is not going to work simply to please you!

The key to training a cat is posi-

tive reinforcement, as rewarding the behaviour you wish to see is the most likely way you will see it again. Tasty treats work well as motivators for cats, yet positive experiences can work just as well. Teaching a cat in this way is only going to enhance the relationship between cat and owner, as Justa Adams found out when he became the owner of Otie.

Justa and Otie Justa said: “I became Otie’s owner in September 2014. We had some friends over for dinner one night and I told them I had been looking for a cat at the local shelter but they all seemed to have pre-existing conditions. They told me they had feral cats in their barn and that I was welcome to have one if I could catch one! I went over the next morning and my friend, Bruce, put out a bowl of milk and we snatched the first one to come to it with leather gloves. He was hissing like crazy yet after only two days, Otie settled and became the cat we know now.

Otie is actually an indoor cat that we take outdoors but only with us. At the time, we lived in Gallatin National Forest in Montana and there are all sorts of predators roaming the area, so we wanted to keep him with us to keep him safe. Hunting season was right around the corner that fall and we didn’t want to leave him for two days alone, so we started travelling

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FELINE FUN

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FELINE FUN GALLERY

PHOTOS: CODY WELLONS

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‘

‘

I realised that there were lots of people who were walking their cats around the neighbourhood or taking their cats on short hikes or camping trips.

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FELINE FUN

with him in the car and he stayed with us in the camper all weekend. It took time for Otie to adjust to riding in the car but now he loves every chance he gets to go on a car ride! As Otie was just a kitten when we started travelling with him, he was wonderful and responded well. He just wanted to be with us and as long as he was, he was happy. Our best adventures are long weekend road trips travelling through the mountains when we can take our time and just get away.”

Safety first If the idea of travelling with your cat appeals to you then you will need to start their training early. There are a few things you will need to consider before taking your cat on their first adventure:

Microchip your cat - Unfortunate things can happen, especially if you are out and about in unfamiliar territory, so it is essential to get your little adventurer microchipped.

Leash training - Start by making small outdoor trips with a leash and harness as part of your routine early on and your cat will learn to accept them as part of living with you. Be aware that not all cats will take to leash training straight away so be patient if your cat is less than accepting at first.

Make the cat carrier a safe place No matter where you decide to travel, your cat will inevitably have to spend some time in a carrier. Make the carrier a safe and fun place through positive reinforcement and take short trips to places your cat will enjoy.

Cat travel checklist - If you are

planning on taking your cat travelling you will need to consider their needs and pack accordingly. This includes all the necessities such as food bowls and litter trays but also includes emergency contact numbers and any medications they need (i.e. motion sickness medicine). If you are planning on travelling to a different country, remember to check all the regulations and ensure your cat’s vaccines are up to date.

Know your cat As our knowledge of cats has increased over the years, cat owners and behaviourists alike have come to realise just how intelligent our feline friends are. Inspiring stories like Otie’s are becoming more widespread, as Laura Moss discovered when she set up her website ‘Adventure Cats’.

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C6 KITI-KIT CAT RUN

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FELINE FUN

‘

‘

Our best adventures are long weekend road trips travelling through the mountains when we can take our time and just get away.

“I have interviewed some of the more famous adventure cat owners and I was fascinated by their stories. As I explored further, I realised that there were lots of people who were walking their cats around the neighbourhood or taking their cats on short hikes or camping trips. AdventureCats.org is a way for me to share these stories and hopefully challenge some of those negative stereotypes that exist about cats.”

However, just like humans, cats have different personalities so it is important that you choose a cat with the right temperament. As you gain experience in travelling together you will need to remain vigilant to any changes in your cats’ behaviour and never push them to do anything they are not comfortable with. Even if your cat is not the adventurous type you can still create an indoor adventure for them. Try appealing to your cat’s natural hunting instinct by using interactive toys such as laser pointers. You could also try making a ‘hideaway’ with an old cardboard box. l For

more inspiring stories and travelling tips visit www.adventurecats.org C AT W O R L D

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FELINE ART

Annual exhibition of Society of Feline Artists The Llewellyn Alexander Gallery is pleased to present this popular exhibition of feline paintings for the 22nd year, showcasing the skills of over fifty artists

t

BY JILL MUNDY

his annual exhibition, at London’s Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, is always eagerly awaited by cat lovers and art collectors alike.

Visitors attend from all over the UK and beyond, all keen to view the latest work by some of the country’s leading artists with a specialism for painting and drawing felines.

All manner and breeds of felines are included, from the powerful big cats of the savannah and jungle to the beautiful pedigree cats we regularly feature in Cat World. You can expect to see lions and tigers depicted alongside breeds such as Birmans, Devon Rex, Burmese, Abyssinian, Maine Coon and the ever-popular Persian. All are worthy of a lengthy gaze, regardless of size, personality or lifestyle.

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The variety of subject matter is echoed by the different styles used to capture them on canvas by the participating artists. Jacqueline Gaylord, Sara Butt and former BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year, Natalie Mascall, are well known for their astonishingly realistic acrylics and pastels of both wild and domestic cats; Tamsin Lord and Toni Goffe take an amusing slant on things with pictures of crazy cats in insane situations.

If you’re a cat owner and a budding artist, you can find encouragement in the works of Kay Young, Sue Sareen and Celia Pike who all use their own pets as their inspiration, perfectly capturing their individual characters, moods and attitudes in watercolour, pastel and gouache. Dominic

O’Callaghan works exclusively in pencil and graphite, creating dramatic effects of light and shade that at times have an almost photographic quality.

Other artists to note include Madeline Winter, who shows the beautiful effects of light in glowing colour, and Pollyanna Pickering; her depictions of wild cats in exotic settings are remarkable for their stunning detail, beautiful colour and compositional skill.

This is just a taster as the exhibition is made up of more than 200 paintings, with prices ranging from under £100 to £3500, collectors and feline fans should each find something to delight and suit their budget.

The exhibition runs from Thursday 24th August to Friday 15th September.

The gallery opposite the Old Vic thea-

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FELINE ART

tre, near Waterloo, is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10.00am to 7.30pm. l For

more information, please contact Sophie Miller or Ann Leeson Tel: 020 7620 1322/4 Email: gallery@LlewellynAlexander. com C AT W O R L D

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23 19/07/2017 16:38

TALKING CAT

Kitty business can become catty business The excitement of a new arrival isn’t always shared by everyone in the household and Tabs can’t seem to make Kim understand that he feels a bit, well, jealous

BY HANNAH BARRICK

i

sat with narrowed eyes, watching as Kim bustled backwards and forwards past me. There were several plastic bags littered around the room but I didn’t need to see what was in them to know that something fishy was going on – a cat bed and several cat toys had already materialised and I knew they weren’t for me. She seemed excited.

“Tabs, this is going to be great…”

Forgive me for not sharing your excitement.

Kim momentarily stopped fussing with the bags. “What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?” I simply returned her stare defiantly.

Ignoring my obvious disapproval, she carried on.

“Wait until tomorrow, Tabs. I’ll have a surprise for you!” Great. Can’t wait.

Not wanting to hang around in case she elaborated more on this ‘surprise’, I decided to head for the best thing in unpleasant situations…comfort food!

Luckily the food bowl had not been smothered by the myriad of bags and so I dug in happily. Tomorrow could wait for now.

The next morning I woke to the sound of rustling bags and the draws and cupboards being opened and closed. Through the daze of my halfasleep state, I heard a distinct, highpitched mew. My ears shot forward, pointing towards the sound as I lifted my head, my drowsiness instantly forgotten. Again I heard that high-pitched

24

mew, sounding suspiciously like it was coming from the kitchen. Deciding to investigate further, I stalked downstairs to the source of the sound.

In the kitchen, I found Kim pouring some kibble into a plastic food bowl – not my own – before placing it on the ground. Only then did I notice the fuzzy little silver grey tabby head with pointy ears peering around her legs.

As the kitten got to work munching the kibble noisily, I looked at Kim in horror.

“This is your surprise, Tabs…we’re looking after Aunty Jean’s kitten, Alfie, over the weekend while she’s away.”

As if in confirmation, the little kitten turned and mewed once again. I gave a hiss in return.

“Tabs! Stop that! He’s only a kitten be nice.”

Once again my glare turned to Kim. Traitor. I watched as she walked over and filled my bowl with food. Well at least she didn’t forget about my breakfast, although I couldn’t help noticing that she didn’t fill mine up as much as the kitten’s. As I started eating, I kept a close eye on Kim. When she finally left the room, I made my move. A small toy ball had been left on the floor for the new little pipsqueak, and I gave it a quick tap with my paw. As Alfie heard the ball roll across the floor, he looked up, instantly switched into play mode and, just as I hoped, he ran after it, pouncing on it and rolling on the floor.

As soon as he was away from the bowl, I moved over and quickly gobbled the

rest of his food.

As Kim walked back into the room, I moved back to my own bowl and continued eating before she spotted me.

“Well! You ate that quick, Alfie.” Alfie, hearing his name, looked at his now empty bowl, looked at Kim and gave a plaintive meow. When he walked up to her asking for more food, she ignored him.

“Alfie, no more yet. You’ve already eaten all your breakfast – don’t be greedy!” She picked up his bowl and walked back out of the room, leaving Alfie watching me eagerly, hoping for some morsels of my food. Not likely, pipsqueak. I gobbled down the rest of my food and revelled in the look of disappointment on the little fuzz ball’s face. That will teach him to take over my home, and try and steal my human.

She likes him more than me!

My afternoon nap didn’t go much better. Alfie the pipsqueak decided he wanted a play companion, which meant my afternoon nap was interrupted by a furry canon ball ploughing into my side repeatedly. I kept my eyes closed, pretending to be completely un-phased. As I prepared myself for the next ‘canon ball’ assault, I was startled by a succession of sharp pinpricks clamping down on my tail. My eyes opened wide as I snapped my head around to find Alfie behind me, claws out, pinning my tail to the floor.

I growled and launched at him with my own claws, swiping him on the

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TALKING CAT

head before he could jump out of the way. The loud, high-pitched yowl that the kitten emitted sent Kim running into the room. “Tabs, what on earth are you doing now?”

Solving a problem. Kim didn’t look impressed. Rather than chastising me, however, she picked up Alfie to cuddle him. Eventually, she turned her gaze to me – the forgotten one – shook her head and left the room.

The next day, Alfie strolled into the

kitchen and paused in the doorway. It took a minute for the realisation to hit me – he was scared of me! A feeling of guilt came over me for how I was with him the day before, as I looked at his big round kitten eyes, staring nervously at me. I turned back to my food bowl but instead of eating, nudged the bowl towards him with my paw.

Cautiously, he started eating. I settled down to relax and as I closed my eyes, I felt a furry head pushing against

me and heard purring. I opened one eye to look at his fuzzy face. I guess he wasn’t so bad after all. Stretching myself out, I allowed him to curl up against my belly to sleep. When Kim walked into the room and saw us, her smile stretched from ear to ear. “Aw, Tabs! Look! You’ve made friends at last.”

Well, I thought as she bent down to stroke my head, you know what they say – if you can’t beat them, join them.

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27 25/07/2017 09:43

BOARDING HOUSE DIARY THE

It’s time to go out and about making house calls and it’s a pleasure to meet such a variety of felines then return home to be welcomed by another

BY DOMINIQUE URQUHART

T

he summer months are busy ones for me - as well as boarding cats at home, I have an increasing number of cats that I visit daily whilst their owners are away.

Yesterday, after a long day of cycling from cat to cat, I went to bed early and was soon fast asleep.

I was happily dreaming of having my hair gently combed when… “Ouch” I woke up suddenly as my head jolted backwards.

Neeps, a regular feline guest of mine, was sitting comfortably on my back, raking his paws slowly though my hair.

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I twisted my head to look at him. “Neeps,” I said sleepily; “Stop.” He stopped and started to tap me on the shoulder instead. Next, he head butted me in the face.

“Neeps”, I scolded, fully awake now. He put his head down and looked at me from under his brow apologetically before nudging his way under my arm. Soon he was lying outstretched with his head on the pillow beside me, fast asleep and purring. I of course was wide awake.

Eventually I got back to sleep then what seemed like moments later I was

woken up by the 6am alarm. I slapped it into snooze mode and dozed.

But it is Sunday morning and I have seven hungry cats in and around Notting Hill to feed. As Neeps sleeps on, I pull on my clothes and head for the road.

My first visit is to Mogg a lovely, portly black cat with a world-weary expression and heavily lidded green eyes that light up at the mere mention of food. A couple of years ago she took fright and shattered the base of her spine. Against all odds her devoted own-

ers have nursed her back to health. Mogg is charm personified with me but repays her owners loyalty by demanding complete servitude and a constant supply of treats.

Shakti, a Greek ginger rescue cat, is next on the list. He is terrified of new people and I have spent hours coaxing him out of hiding places, only for him to retreat again on my next visit. Today after a few minutes of gentle chin rubbing, I am rewarded by him emerging from his hidey hole, rolling over and balancing on his back with all four of his legs

JUNE 2016

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floating in the air.

My next visit is to best friends Felix and Chloe, who were rescued together from an unfit home.

Although initially reserved, once they realised they were safe they relaxed.

Felix watches from a distance, his back arched, standing on the tips of his paws while I prepare their breakfast. Chloe flirts and twists around my ankles.

Felix is the larger of the two black and white cats and has black splodges on both legs. When he is sitting upright the splodges join together perfectly to make a wonky circle.

They sprint ahead of me while I carry their food to the bathroom. When Felix has gulped down his he hangs around until Chloe has had enough then dives on her leftovers and devours them instantly.

The fifth cat I visit is Thor. She is a sweet looking tabby with white blotches. She will approach you gingerly and sniff your outstretched hand but, beware; leave your hand dangling too long and Thor is likely to

swipe it. She operates on the basis that every one other than her owner is probably an enemy.

Arcaine is next, a tiny cat just over a year old. On my first five visits I can’t find her anywhere, even though I search high and low. On the sixth visit I hide in her owner’s bedroom and wait.

When I come out, Arcaine

is sitting in the front room, startled. Her eyes are huge, perfectly round and filled with large inky black pupils. She now waits at the window for me every day and greets me by rolling on her tummy and rubbing her cheeks into my hands, whilst purring.

Nymeria is my final visit of the morning. Hav-

ing arrived from the USA yesterday, it is only our second meeting. She is a beautiful grey tortoiseshell with large trusting eyes that are thickly rimmed with black. After breakfast Nymeria eagerly shows me around her new home, walking a few paces in front of me and waiting for me to catch up. Eventually she settles on the bed and seems perfectly at ease whether in the mountains of America or a top floor flat in Notting Hill.

At about midday I arrive home and the house is quiet. Neeps is lying on my side of the bed, his head buried in his paws as if trying to block out the daylight. He lazily opens an eye as I climb in next to him and we both slip into a deep undisturbed sleep.

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

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PET THERAPY

Are pet-friendly offices part of our future?

Following numerous studies, it is now well publicised that interacting with animals can be beneficial to our health and moral but is the office the ideal environment for animals?

M

BY CARLA GREENWOOD

any companies offer perks to their employees; gym membership, health insurance, childcare vouchers. However, with work stress accounting for over 40% of all work-related illnesses according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), employers are constantly having to come up with new and innovative ways to combat stress in the workplace.

In recent years, ‘office pets’ have been on the rise, with many companies allowing their employees to bring their animal companions into work, as well as offering pet-related perks including pet insurance and bereave-

ment leave in the case of a pet’s death. So are ‘office pets’ a thing of the future?

The rise of pet therapy Study after study has proven that pets have a calming effect on our bodies and minds; they can help children with ADD and autism, reduce blood pressure and stress levels in their owners and lower the risk of strokes. As a result, animals are being used in establishments across the world as a way to combat stress.

Since the first cat café opened in Taipei, Taiwan in 1998, the phenomenon quickly spread to Japan, America

and Europe. There are now nine cat cafes open in the UK, where people can go to relax with a coffee and a cake surrounded by friendly felines.

In recent years, universities have also come to realise the benefits of animals and many are now using them to help stressed students. In 2013, Aberdeen University introduced a new exam welfare scheme which includes a puppy room that students can visit to calm their pre-exam nerves. Since then puppy rooms have popped up in universities across the country, includ-

30

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‘

It is no surprise that workplaces are now joining the animal advocate movement by introducing pet friendly policies of their own.

comfy pet bed loaners, food, water bowls and mats. Many other hotels are now beginning to follow suit.

So it is perhaps no surprise that workplaces are now joining the animal advocate movement by introducing pet friendly policies of their own.

Pets at work Around half of all households in the UK now own a pet, yet with working hours on the rise, pet owners can struggle to give their companions the attention and time they deserve. Glob-

‘

ing Bristol University, the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Huddersfield.

The hotels, catering and tourism sector is another area that is becoming increasingly pet friendly. A leading US boutique hotel and restaurant chain welcome any size pet into their establishments and their hotels offer a variety of perks to make each animal feel right at home, including a comprehensive list of nearby pet-friendly restaurants, parks and groomers on check in, and a selection of extras including

al corporation Mars Petcare introduced their ‘pets in the office’ policy in 2008 through its ‘Petiquette’ policy which helps associates and their dogs be happy and comfortable in the office.

Lola Reid, from Mars said: “At Mars Petcare, we know that pets make our lives better so pets are at the heart of everything we do. As part of this, we want to make it easier for associates to own a pet so they can enjoy the benefits they bring to our lives.”

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PET THERAPY

policies that welcome non-assistive animal companions in to their offices on a daily basis. One government centre in America even has a kitten renting service to their employees who find themselves in need of a session of ‘pet therapy’.

Japan is perhaps the most wellknown country for its long working hours and stressed out employees, yet one company seems to have found a solution; cats! Ferray, a Tokyo based IT firm, introduced an ‘office cat’ policy back in 2000, after a request from one of its’ employees to bring their own moggies into work. Hidenobu Fukuda, who heads the firm, also gives 5000 yen (£45) a month to those who rescue a cat.

Now nine fluffy felines eat, sleep and wander freely in the small office to help people unwind from work and relieve their stress. The impact on the

32

firms’ employees has been positive, with staff members reporting lower stress levels and increased moral. In fact, the benefits of pets in the workplace appear to be widespread with many corporations reporting similar results.

In 2012 a study conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that during the course of a working day, stress levels decreased in employees who were able to bring their dogs into work and increased for non-pet owners and dog owners who left their dogs at home.

The study, published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, also found that pets in the workplace triggered employee interactions that would not normally take place, which could potentially facilitate team building and boost communication among work colleagues.

Things to consider With more and more organisations introducing ‘office pet’ policies of their own, it seems that the idea of pets in the workplace has become widely accepted as an effective low-cost measure to reduce stress and boost moral in company employees. However, it is important for employers to ensure that only friendly, clean and well-behaved pets are present, and of course not all places of work are able to accommodate animals due to health and safety risks or the possibility of disruptions.

In addition, there is always the issue of personal preference as some employees may not like the idea of pets in their place of work or some may suffer from animal related allergies .

To do it right, you would need to need to survey your current employees or co-workers and ensure the area is safe and hygienic for pets.

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Dancing Paws of Magic

by Maria McArdle

Centres around a troupe of ballet dancing cats who have been given their talent and ambition through magic but now the magic is wearing o˜ …

With so many twists and turns, and suspense, this is a delightful story for children aged 9-11 years.

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BIG CATS

Jaguars: athletic, strong and powerful Despite its large size and powerful physique, jaguar numbers are declining, thankfully not yet classed as endangered and its survival could secure the longevity of other species too

t

BY YOLANDA WESSELS

he jaguar is the third largest feline species after the tiger and lion and the largest cat in the Americas. It is also the only surviving Panthera species native to the Americas. It closely resembles the leopard physically but is usually of larger and stockier build. They are solitary, opportunistic predators at the top of the food chain. The jaguar is a near threatened species and its numbers are declining.

Appearance The jaguarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; range extends from Mexico, through Central America and into South America. They prefer a forested habitat and a presence of water as they enjoy swimming very much.

The head of the jaguar is broad and their powerful jaws give an exception-

34

ally powerful bite. In fact, it has the strongest bite of all felids, capable of biting down with 2000 pounds force.

This is twice the strength of a lion and the second strongest of all mammals after the spotted hyena. A short and stocky limb structure makes the jaguar adept at climbing, crawling and swimming.

The base of the coat is normally yellow and tan but can vary from reddish brown to black. The spots on the coat are more solid and black on the head and neck and become larger, rosette-shaped patterns along the side and back of the body. The underbelly, throat and outer surface of the legs and lower flanks are white. The spots vary in individuals. Colour morphism occurs in the species and a near-black melanistic form occurs regularly. They

appear entirely black, although their spots are still visible on close examination. Melanistic jaguars are informally known as black panthers but do not form a separate species.

Social behaviour and hunting Females reach sexual maturity at about two years of age and males between three and four years. Although territories may overlap, the animals generally avoid one another. The jaguar uses scrape marks, urine and faeces to mark territory. Adults meet only to court then separate after mating and females provide all parenting.

They are capable of roaring and do so to warn territorial and mating competitors away. After a gestation period of between 93 and 105 days, the female gives birth to up to four cubs. The mother will not tolerate the presence of males after the birth. The cubs are weaned at three months but remain in the den until they are about six months of age. Then they will accompany the mother on hunts. They continue to live with their mother for one or two years before leaving to establish a territory for themselves. Typical lifespan in the wild is around 12 to 15 years and in captivity they can live up to 23 years.

The jaguar is often described as nocturnal but is more specifically crepuscular, meaning peak activity and hunting takes place around dawn and dusk, although they may hunt during the day if game is available. They hunt

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BIG CATS

mostly on the ground but can climb trees and pounce on prey from above.

They are known as stalk-and-ambush predators and walk down forest paths, stalking prey. Prey includes deer, crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, sloths, tapirs, turtles, eggs, frogs and fish.

Threats The jaguar is classified on the IUCN Red List as a near-threatened species, meaning it may be threatened with extinction in the near future.

Numbers are still declining. Threats include deforestation across its habitat, increasing competition for food with

human beings, especially in dry and unproductive habitat, and poaching.

International trade in jaguars, skins or body parts is prohibited but they are still frequently killed by humans, particularly in conflict with farmers and ranchers in South America. Jaguars were hunted in large numbers for their skins, with the largest boom between 1945 and the early 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Illegal trade and smuggling continue to be a problem although all trade and hunting is prohibited.

At best, only an estimated 15000 jaguars remain in the wild. Current conservation efforts often focus on

educating ranch owners and promoting ecotourism. Ecotourism is used to generate public interest in charismatic animals such as the jaguar, while at the same time generating revenue that can be used in conservation efforts.

The jaguar is generally defined as an umbrella species, its home range and habitat requirements are sufficiently broad that, if protected, numerous other species of smaller range will also be protected. Conservation organisations may thus focus on providing viable, connected habitat for the jaguar, with the knowledge that other species will also benefit.

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MEDICAL CARE

Be prepared for out of hours emergency Accidents happen and pets get taken ill but if this happens during the evening or overnight, would you know how to get emergency veterinary advice and treatment for your cat?

W

ould you know what to do or who to contact if your cat was involved in a road traffic accident or had a sudden medical emergency? Most of us do not even consider this when our cats are fit and healthy, especially when the only time they see the vet is for their annual vaccination.

It is always best to be prepared so whichever veterinary practice your cat is registered with, find out who you should contact in the event you may need an out of hours vet. Then if there is an emergency you have the number written down and it saves time, especially if panic sets in. Whilst many practices operate their own 24 hour in-house emergency care or share it with another practice, others opt to use a dedicated out of hours practice.

I spoke to several practices and all of them offered owners free expert telephone advice prior to any appointment being offered; some record the call and will send a copy of the conversation to your regular veterinary practice. Based on the information the owner gives and the responses to the questions asked, the vet will determine whether you need to bring your cat into the clinic for immediate treatment. However not all calls to the practice result in your cat being seen.

Cats whose cases are deemed to be an emergency will be required to go to the veterinary practice where they have the staff and the facilities to pro-

36

BY SONJA K STEINER vide the best care for them. Owners are usually advised of the cost of the initial consultation and will be given a quotation for any tests and treatments that may have to be carried out.

There may be owners whose cat requires emergency treatment in the evening but they have not got access to transport. Try to find a friend or neighbour in advance who could give you a lift should it be needed. If you have had an alcoholic drink then it would be advisable to use a taxi but do ask them if they are willing to transport your cat to clinic, some may be reluctant but if you explain that it is an emergency and that they will be in a secure cat carrier, they may be more willing.

Why is the cost of emergency care more expensive?

There is no doubt that the cost of emergency care is significantly more expensive than you would pay during the day; however, the cost of this varies depending on where you live.

For practices that only operate an out of hours emergency service, costs can be higher as they have to be fully staffed every night of the week, over weekends and bank holidays. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what emergency cases they will see or how many animals will be seen.

The vets who work out of hours are qualified veterinary surgeons who are experienced in emergency and

critical care veterinary medicine and many work permanent nights.

Since the majority of cases seen are on a one-off basis, payment is generally asked for at the time of consultation and treatment at the clinic to ensure that costs can be covered. If further investigations are required they give an estimated cost of this and you can be expected to either pay a deposit or pay upfront as a commitment to the treatment by debit or credit card. If owners are finding the cost a problem then the majority of vets will try and work with them to find a solution and special arrangements can be made.

You may be able to get help from a local charity.

If they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have an insurance claim form at the practice you can always complete your part at home and bring the form in at a later date.

Since the emergency vet may not have access to your catâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical records, it is important if your cat has a medical condition and is on medication that you bring their current medication with you and give the vet as much information as you can. If you have recently used a worm or flea treatment, inform the vet about this as well.

Below are some of the most common feline conditions seen by out of hours vets, although this list is not comprehensive: Breathing difficulties - for any changes in breathing patterns, persis-

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MEDICAL CARE

tent breathlessness or open-mouthed panting lasting more than a minute, your vet should be consulted as a matter of urgency.

High temperature - cats sometimes develop a very high temperature which is often in response to an infection. They may be lethargic and be reluctant to eat or drink. Just because your cat has a temperature does not mean they are hot to touch so it is advisable to contact your vet for further advice.

Poisoning - poisoning from antifreeze, food such as onion, garlic, tomato and chocolate, human medication, lilies, rat poisons, tea-tree oil, to name a few. It is sometimes said that because cats are fussy eaters they are less easily poisoned than dogs. However, because of their curious nature and the fact that they will groom any substance off their coats and ingest it, intoxication is not that uncommon.

Cats, being specialist carnivores, lack certain liver enzymes and are unable

to breakdown certain chemicals. It is because of this that when cats become poisoned they are perhaps less likely to recover than dogs. If you think your cat has eaten something it shouldn’t, seek immediate veterinary advice and care.

Road traffic accidents - if your cat has been involved in a road traffic accident then the situation is usually serious. Depending on the severity of the accident some cats may be able to get home, sadly others not. Always approach the injured cat looking for any signs of injury, ensuring that you assess the situation and surroundings you are in so as to not to endanger either yourself or the cat further. Ring your emergency vet for advice as to the best way to approach the injured cat.

Whilst your cat may initially appear well, internal bleeding can occur without them actually showing any outward signs, so it is important that they see a vet as soon as possible; certain condi-

tions can take time to show and time is of the essence.

Trauma: bites, abscesses and infected wounds - bites from other cats and dogs can be serious due to the bacteria in the other animal’s mouth and should not be ignored. Puncture wounds may have caused damage to the underlying muscles, stitches maybe required and your cat may require a course of antibiotics.

Untreated abscesses can lead to a deeper and more widespread infection so your cat should be seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Urethral blockage - a urethral obstruction is a common condition and is the most urgent complication associated with feline lower urinary tract disease, ‘FLUTD’. It is seen in more male cats as they have a narrow and longer urethra than female cats so are more likely to suffer from a blockage.

Inflammation of the bladder is a painful condition in itself but when there is a leak of proteins and blood into the C AT W O R L D

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MEDICAL CARE

urine this can cause a blockage in the urethra, the main sign being an absence of urine despite obvious signs that your cat is trying to urinate.

A cat who cannot pass urine will deteriorate quickly. It is vital that as soon as you see your cat having problems urinating you seek immediate veterinary intervention. Your vet will decide which is the most appropriate form of treatment to remove the blockage.

Vomiting and/or diarrhoea - if your cat vomits more than once and cannot keep water down or if you see blood or unusual material in the vomit or diarrhoea then seek immediate veterinary advice.

If you have insurance, cover varies from policy to policy so you will need to check exactly what is covered and what excesses apply. It is important to read the small print in your policy regarding emergency treatment. Many people choose not to take out insurance and instead put the money aside an amount of money each month; however an emergency consultation is generally from £100 upwards and that is without any treatment so the £10 a month you may put away will soon be spent.

If your cat required emergency surgery and you did not opt to have insurance, would you have the funds to

pay? Have you a credit card that could be used in the case of an emergency?

It is only when you start looking at the escalating costs that the insurance you decided not to take out looks very attractive after all.

Other options Various animal charities such as the PDSA and the Blue Cross operate veterinary hospitals around the UK that will treat your pet as long as you live in the designated catchment area. Some will offer free treatment if you meet the criteria (low income, means-tested benefits, etc) but not all benefits are included.

The importance of insurance I always recommend that people insure their cats and although there are many different policies available, I personally recommend ‘cover for life’ or what they class as a lifetime policy. It is advisable to insure your feline friend when you either adopt or purchase them as the insurance company will not cover any pre-existing conditions

38

How to be prepared in the case of an emergency l Keep

the out of hours telephone number for the emergency vet on your mobile or next to the telephone l Also details of your cat’s medical history and any medication they are on.

l Take

out insurance – for financial peace of mind. l Keep calm l Always seek veterinary advice if you are at all concerned about your cat.

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CAT CARE

Celebrating the new Cat Friendly Awards Innovative new products to improve feline wellbeing and amazing feline photography were among the achievements recognised at the recent iCatCare awards ceremony in London

K

ensington Roof Gardens is a spectacular setting high above the city of London. It was a fitting place to recognise high achievers in the field of cat care. This year saw the introduction of the Cat Friendly Awards, recognising products that have made a real difference to cat wellbeing and welfare.

The five awards covered a variety of areas from feeding to medication and grooming.

Senses 2.0 Self Groomer with Catnip from Rolf C Hagen UK The self groomer provides easy-access rubbing pleasure for cats, while the durable plastic bristles simultaneously remove loose and shedding hair.

The brush can be snapped in and out of its frame for simple maintenance.

BY JILL MUNDY The Catit Self Groomer (below) affixes easily to either flat or corner surfaces and it includes adhesive strips and a supply of catnip. www.catit.co.uk (£6.49). l EasyPill

Cat Putty This highly palatable, pliable divisible treat from VetExchange provides easy administration of medication for cat owners. Hidden within the treat, the tablet attaches itself to the putty which provides a useful aid in administration.

l Catit

l Mouth

Gag Set Traditionally, when cats have been anaesthetised, a spring-loaded gag has been used to keep the mouth open. This leads to the mouth being held open very widely which has recently been recognised to cause

blindness in some cats. These novel mouth gags from Eickemeyer Veterinary Equipment consist of two cylinders that can be adjusted via a thread in their length, meaning they can be easily adapted to the mouth of the patient. l Feliscratch

by Feliway/Ceva This is a synthetic copy of the feline interdigital semiochemical (FIS) naturally produced by cats and deposited where they scratch. It has been designed to encourage cats to scratch in a desired location rather than where it would be undesirable.

l DOC

and Phoebe’s 5-a-day Feeder An innovative way of feeding cats from Feline Environmental Enrichment Design Company, reflecting natural cat feeding behaviour. In the form of numerous mice which carry the food, the product can be hidden around the house, giving cats opportunities to replicate natural hunting, exploratory and feeding behaviour. In doing so it reduces obesity and boredom as well as providing exercise and mental stimulation. https://docandphoebe.com Also included in the iCatCare ceremony were awards for veterinary products, street cat photography and students performing the best on distance education schemes. The winning street cat images will feature in iCatCare’s 2018 calendar. www.icatcare.org C AT W O R L D

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FLOWER FOUNTAIN

Drinking regularly is important for your cat’s health, it helps ensure proper kidney function and prevents crystal formation that can lead to urinary diseases.

3 water flow settings to stimulate picky drinkers Easy to disassemble and clean Energy efficient.

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FOUNTAIN FILTER TRIPLE ACTION WATER SOFTENING FILTER HELPS PREVENT URINARY DISEASE, FOR YOUR CAT’S HEALTH !

VISIT CATIT.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION © 2017 CatIt is a trademark of Rolf C. Hagen Inc.

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KITTY COVERS THE BOOKS WE’RE ALL READING AND ROLLING OVER THIS MONTH

Dancing Paws of Magic

By Maria McArdle ISBN: 978-1-78803-687-0 Published by Troubadour.co.uk http://mariamcardle.co.uk

Written and illustrated by Maria McArdle, Dancing Paws of Magic takes the reader immediately into a world where dainty cats are ballerinas and others are orchestra members.

As rehearsals for their performance of Sleeping Beauty are underway, events take a strange turn. Why is the usually amenable dance teacher grumpy and unrelenting?

What has turned the orchestra members ‘loopy’ according to their conductor? Strange, uncontrollable behaviour that leads to the death of a piccolo playing mouse. And why have the once so enthusiastic ballerinas lost the energy and will to dance?

A curious tale around myths and legends ensues, with rumours of ghosts at

local Pluckerslea Hall, magic ballet shoes that give the wearer of the shoes amazing dance skills and odd energy fields.

It is hoped that someone can solve the mysteries and return normality to the troupes before the opening night of Sleeping Beauty is ruined before it has begun.

Think gypsy magic, secret doors and clandestine meetings; mischievous spirits and an old seaman’s wooden chest.

These and other seemingly random elements are woven together cleverly with imagination and humour by author Maria McArdle, whose charming and detailed illustrations are interspersed throughout the book.

Aimed at children aged 9-11 years, this book will appeal to cat lovers and wouldbe ballerinas as well as fans of Maria’s first book, ‘Introducing the Pusska Moggyinsky Ballet Company’. With a glossary of ballet terms at the back of the book, even non-dancers will enjoy following the feline (and canine) characters from page to page.

“My book has three of my favourite subjects - animals, dancing and some rather spooky magic!”

The Book of the Cat: Cats in Art

By Angus Hyland and Caroline Roberts ISBN: 9781786270719 Published by Laurence King, £12.99 www.laurenceking.com

From the earliest depictions of cats by the Ancient Egyptians, artists have sought to immortalise the feline form, whether it’s on paper, canvas or in stone. While dogs in art are often pictured in the great outdoors, cats are more often depicted in domestic situations. The home is the common ground between cats and their owners and in this book we find them curled up on laps, gazing out of windows or simply staring at the wall in quiet contemplation (or more likely with self-righteous indignation).

From Andy Warhol to David Hockney cats have proved an endless source of fascination for artists over the years.

Throughout The Book of the Cat, cats are depicted playing, hunting, sleeping and doing what most cats do best – just sitting around. The representations vary from hyper realistic to very abstract, with each artist seeking to express the cat’s individual personality through their work.

Many of the cats featured in this book belong to the artists

themselves – one imagines that tired out from a hard night of prowling, these artist’s cats were perfectly happy to curl up beside them while they worked. In fact, the cat is the ideal companion in this situation – a benign presence which keeps you company but doesn’t hassle you for walks, chew your favourite shoes or answer you back.

This picture of cosy domesticity is only half the picture though, as cats are the only domestic creatures free to come and go exactly as they please.

Ultimately they don’t really need us but we are very privileged that they do choose to spend time with us. A cat may love you unconditionally but just don’t expect it to let you know anytime soon. Perhaps it’s this air of mystery and their ability to keep us guessing that gives cats their unique appeal and continues to make them such intriguing subjects for generations of adoring artists...

Top left: Cornelis Visscher, The Large Cat, c.1657, National Gallery of Art,Washington, D.C./Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund (1995.72.1).

Top right: Rissyun (First Day of Spring), 2011, Midori Yamada, watercolour/coffee, 259 x 203 mm.

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Things don’t always r Reliable transport is necessary for Pat Clements to run the rescue like a well-oiled machine but on this occasion, the cats were at the wheel…and the gear stick…and…

A

s I live in a remote corner of the country with no near neighbours and a very long walk to the nearest, well, actually the only shop, I need to keep my car in excellent running order.

Some weeks ago I decided to check the oil and tidy up a few things. I can’t say looking after a vehicle is my most favourite job but it has to be done. I fumbled around under the dashboard and eventually discovered how to open the bonnet. I haven’t had this car very long, you understand.

I lifted up the bonnet and fixed it in place. Again, since it was unfamiliar territory, I had no idea where the dipstick was.

In the end I decided I would have to refer to the handbook. Of course I hadn’t got my specs on so that meant a trip indoors.

Back at the car I found the necessary page and established what I was looking for and where I would find it. Round to the front again, I was about to commence my search when I realised the whole area was covered in cats! They were all neatly perched on various engine parts and looked set for a long stay. I’ve always been fascinated by how cats manage to look extremely comfortable in the most unlikely of places.

To digress a moment – I have an aunt who performs all sorts of contortions in order not to have to put her cat off her lap. You know the sort of thing: the phone rings, the cat is fast asleep and very happy so you clutch at the bottom of your skirt or the legs of your trousers and, doubled up like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, you stagger across the room to said phone.

Well, I was equally reluctant to disturb the squatters who had taken over my en-

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gine so I thought I would tidy up the boot first and left them to it. I opened up the back and started to clear the numerous things which always seem to clutter up this space until nothing else can fit in.

Ah, now I needed a bin liner to get rid of the rubbish and they were in the shed.

I passed by the engine again and several pairs of assorted eyes just about opened at the disturbance, glared, then closed again as I made my way to the shed.

Back at the boot and, yes, you’ve guessed it, it was full of cats. Remember, there are 18 of them here so plenty to go around. It was quite a windy day so they were clearly delighted to have found a draught-free spot where they could curl up until teatime.

There was only the body of the car left and, since that needed a tidy up too, I opened the doors and started to take out all of my art materials. By the time I have been to my classes it is usually time to start feeding so much of my equipment gets left, ostensibly until the next morning, but usually for a few days until I have a minute.

I dragged out the easel, then my big box of assorted paints, brushes, kitchen roll and all those absolutely essential bits and pieces I cart about on a regular basis.

I piled them up at the side and turned to retrieve the canvas of a large tiger I had just completed.

Funny, I thought for a moment that tiger moved… oh, silly me. The remainder of the cats, those not on the engine or in the boot, had crept in the opposite door and were lounging nonchalantly on every seat.

Oh well, I was looking for an excuse to break off and have a cup of tea…

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s run smoothly

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BREED PROFILE

All the fun of a If you are looking for a fun feline companion, the Rex breed could be just the cat for you, whichever variety you choose

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evon, Cornish or Selkirk, the Rex family are an entertaining group as long as you give them plenty of attention. They love people, are great company but really don’t enjoy being left alone. In fact they can get up to all sorts of mischief in those circumstances. Be prepared to wake up with one around your neck in the morning, on your shoulder during the day or at the very least, by your side. Intelligent and very active cats, they will be keen to help with household chores and are the perfect pet for an energetic family.

As the name suggests, two of the breed types originate from the West Country. The Cornish Rex was first ‘discovered’ in an old farmhouse on Bodmin Moor in 1950. A tortie and white shorthaired cat owned by Mrs Ennismore and Miss Macalister gave birth to a litter of five kittens, one of which had a curly coat. Mrs Ennismore had also bred Rex rabbits, whose coat was similar, and realised that this kitten could be the first of a feline mutation.

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She decided to keep the curly-haired kitten and called him Kallibunker. He became the first Rex cat registered in Britain.

After a lot of hard work by breeders, pedigree shorthaired females were bred to one of Kallibunker’s remaining sons, Sham Pain Chas, in 1959. The resulting kittens were bred together and a new, healthy generation of Cornish Rex cats were produced in 1960.

The breed gained recognition with the GCCF in the late ’60s.

At around the same time, in September 1959, the original Devon Rex appeared as the only curly coated kitten in a non-pedigree litter, thought to be the result of Miss Beryl Cox’s adopted cat breeding with a stray Tom, described as having masses of tight curls. Named Kirlee, the kitten went on to breed with his plain-coated daughters, resulting in fifty percent of the new kittens having curly coats. Mating Kirlee with Cornish queens produced

kittens with exceptionally straight hair, confirming that the Rex from Devon was indeed a new type. The Cornish Rex subsequently became known as ‘Gene 1’ and the Devon Rex, ‘Gene 2’.

The first Selkirk Rex cats to arrive in Britain were three siblings bred in Austria by Christiana and Karl Aichner from their Dam Db Gr Ch Serenitie Betty Boop of Courtlycats (Dilute tortie & white SH Selkirk) and Sire RW SGC Conan Von Ebenthal of Courtlycats (Blue BSH). The majority of early Selkirk Rex breeding cats came from Lisa Peterson, whose help and guidance was instrumental in establishing the breed in the UK. The first UK-bred kittens were born in 2002.

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BREED PROFILE

playful Rex

Care Cornish Rex - extremely affectionate, lively and energetic, company is really important to a Cornish Rex. It is a hardy breed and does not require any out of the ordinary care. However, the lack of guard hairs means the coat

will soon become saturated in wet weather so shelter should be provided if it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to be indoors.

Devon Rex - Intelligent and very playful, Devon Rex are powerful jumpers so like to be up high. They are inquisitive and loving but can become rather destructive if they become bored.

The wavy coat is easy to maintain but does not provide much insulation

so they love to find a warm spot to bask in.

Selkirk Rex - more patient and laid back than the other two Rexes, the Selkirk is a loving companion. It does tend to shed quite a bit of hair so needs to be gently brushed or combed up to twice a week. They may look unkempt but the coat should not be matted.

Breed standards: Head Cornish Rex - Medium wedge with high cheek bones. Head length about C AT W O R L D

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set on a short thick neck. Forehead rounded, with a slightly curved top of head. The muzzle is of medium width with well-padded whisker pads, giving a rectangular impression, and is clearly visible beyond the cheeks when viewed in profile. The whiskers are curly or broken.

Ears Cornish Rex - Large, set rather high on head but not vertical, wide at base, tapering to rounded tips.

Devon Rex - Large, set low and wide apart, very wide at base, tapering to rounded tips and well covered with fine fur. With or without short ear muffs around base and tufts on tips which should not be confused with streamers and ear furnishings seen in Semi-Longhair breeds.

Selkirk Rex - Medium sized, broad at the base and may be tufted at the tips, set well apart on the broad head.

Should fit into (without distorting) the rounded contour of the head. Internal furnishings, if present, are curly.

Eyes Cornish Rex - Oval shaped, medium in size. Top line set almost straight with slight slant to the outer edge of the ear. Any colour acceptable.

Devon Rex - Wide set, large, oval shaped and sloping towards outer edges of ears. Any colour acceptable.

Selkirk Rex - Large, round and wellopened. Set wide apart with no tendency to Oriental shape nor squint. All eye colours allowed.

Neck, Body and Legs Cornish Rex - Elegant neck. Body hard and muscular, slender and of medium length. Legs long and straight, giving an overall appearance of being high on the legs. Paws small and oval.

Devon Rex - Slender neck. Body hard and muscular, slender and of medium length, broad chest, carried high on slim legs, with length of hind legs emphasised. Paws small and oval.

Selkirk Rex - Cobby type with a level back and may have a slight rise to the heavy hindquarters. The muscular torso is more rectangular than square

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

Intelligent and very active cats and are the perfect pet for an energetic family.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

BREED PROFILE one-third greater than the maximum width, narrowing to a rounded muzzle and strong chin. In profile a flat skull curving gently at the brow and continuing in a straight line to the tip of the nose.

Devon Rex - Short, broad wedge with high cheek bones. Strong muzzle with firm chin and a well defined whisker break. Short nose with definite stop. Brow curving back to a flat skull.

Selkirk Rex - Round, broad and full-cheeked with round underlying bone structure. The head should be

but not long. The body is equally broad across the shoulders and the rump, medium to large but not rangy. Legs are of medium length and substantially boned. Paws are round and firm.

Tail Cornish Rex - Long, fine and tapering, well covered with wavy fur.

Devon Rex - Long and tapering, well covered with short fur.

Selkirk Rex - Thick, medium length, thicker at the base with a rounded tip.

Coat Cornish Rex - Short, dense and silken in texture, without guard hairs and of even length on the body. The coat must curl, wave or ripple particularly on the back, sides and tail.

Waving may also extend down the legs. The coat on the head and neck, over the shoulders and on the legs and paws is sometimes too short to wave.

Rexing in these areas is desirable but absence of it is not a withholding fault.

Due to the lack of guard hairs, some allowance should be made for slight stud tail in males and females providing it is clean. Whiskers and eyebrows

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BREED PROFILE loose individual curls, giving an overall soft and plush feel. Ideally the entire coat should show the effect of the rex gene but the curliness may be most evident on the neck, belly and tail. Allowance may be made for less curl on kittens and younger adults, especially females.

Selkirk Rex Longhair: The coat is semi long, the tail curls are plumy and stand out away from the tail. The ruff hairs are longer and frame the face.

Selkirk Rex Shorthair: The coat length is fairly uniform over entire body. The ruff and tail fur being a similar length to the rest of the coat, with tail curls that are plush and lie compactly round the tail.

Colours Cornish/Devon/Selkirk Rex Colour and pattern are irrelevant and carry no points; therefore a cat should not be penalised if apparently wrongly registered. crinkled and of good length.

Devon Rex - Short, dense and soft in texture and of even length on the body. The coat must be waved or rippled, particularly on the back, sides and tail; waving may also extend down the legs. The coat on the head and neck, over the shoulders and on the legs and paws is sometimes too short to wave; rexing in these areas is desirable but absence of it is not a withholding fault. A few short guard hairs are acceptable. Whiskers and eyebrows crinkled, rather coarse, of medium length and may sometimes be stubbly.

Selkirk Rex - The coat is thick and dense, with no bare or sparsely covered areas on the body. The coat stands out from the body and should not appear flat or close-lying. It is a random, unstructured coat arranged in

arrived in the UK and her kittens were the first LaPerms to be born in this country. Omasteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s litter of four curly and one straight haired kitten were born in June 2002. Since then a small group of breeders have and continue to work together to develop and establish the LaPerm cat in the UK.

Breed standard Head Shape: Modified wedge with slightly rounded, gentle contours; of medium length, longer than it is wide. Size in proportion to body. Whisker pads are prominent and should appear full and rounded. Allowances should be made for jowls on mature males.

Profile: Straight nose with gentle convex curve rising from the base of the eye to the top of the eye. Forehead

La Perm Closely related to the three Rexes is the La Perm, a result of a naturally occurring genetic mutation that produces both long and shorthaired curly coated cats. The first La Perm to be brought to the UK was Uluru BC Omaste Po, brought from the USA by Anthony Nicholls.

Omaste, a lilac tortie and white LH was mated to Woodlandacre BC Windfire of Crearwy during her stay in the Netherlands before she finally

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BREED PROFILE Scale of points CORNISH REX Head: Ears: Eyes: Whiskers and eyebrows: Body, legs & neck: Tail: Coat: Total:

15 10 10 5 20 5 35 100

DEVON REX Head: Ears: Eyes: Whiskers and eyebrows: Body, legs & neck: Tail: Coat: Total:

15 10 10 5 20 5 35 100

SELKIRK REX Head: (35) Skull: Muzzle: Ears: Eyes: Nose: Body: (30) Torso: Legs/feet: Tail: Coat: (35) Density: Curl: Texture: Total: La Perm Head: Ears: Eyes: Body & overall balance: Tail: Coat: Total:

15 5 5 5 5 10 10 10 15 10 10 100

15 10 10 25 5 35 100

should be a flat plane to the top of head, then smooth gentle curve back over top of head flowing down into neck. The brow, cheeks and profile should show gentle contours, with each flowing smoothly into the neck.

Muzzle: broad in proportion to the wedge. Medium length. Strong, firm chin. Moderate to strong whisker break.

Nose Broad and straight with moderate length, gentle nose break but no stop.

Ears Placed to continue the modified wedge of the head; slightly flared and cupped; medium to large with furnishings and earmuffs, set in line, at a diagonal angle, neither too high nor too low, with about the width of an ear base between them. Tufts at the ear tips are desirable.

Eyes Medium large and expressive. Almond shaped at rest and rounder when alert. Set moderately far apart and slightly slanted to the bottom of the outside ear base. Eye colour has no relation to coat colour.

Body Medium in size, moderate foreign

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type, well muscled, medium fine boning but not light. Neck carried erect. Medium long in proportion to body length. Legs medium long to match the body. Forelegs may be slightly shorter than hind legs. Boning is medium. Rounded feet.

Tail In proportion to body. Longhaired LaPerms will have a full plumed tail, while Shorthaired LaPerms will have a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bottle brushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tail. The tail will be thicker at the base and taper toward the tip.

Coat Longhair: Coat length mediumlong; both males and females may have ruff on neck at maturity. The tail is plumed with some curling. Whiskers will be very long and curly, ear furnishings and eyebrow hairs may also curl.

Texture: curly or wavy, curly is preferred. The feel to the touch is unique among Rex breeds. The coat has a springy, textured feel. It should be neither silky nor excessively harsh. The texture is created by the shape of the curls and the mingling of thicker guard hairs in the coat. The degree of softness may vary among individual cats. The coat should be loose and bouncy and should stand away from the body with minimal undercoat. The

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BREED PROFILE

coat is light and airy enough to part with a breath and it should be possible to run your fingers through to the skin. The coat may have an almost unkempt appearance but must be free of matting. Longest and tightest curls are on the neck, ruff and base of ear. The coat may vary in length and fullness according to the season and maturity of the cat. At times the coat will part naturally down the middle of the back.

Note: The coat takes up to three years to mature and younger cats may have a crisper coat texture.

Shorthair: Coat length short to medium. The tail is not plumed but hair may be wavy. Whiskers will be long and curly, ear furnishings and eyebrow hairs may also curl.

Texture: curly or wavy. The feel to the touch is unique among Rex breeds. It is a textured feel. It should be neither silky nor excessively harsh, but have a crisper texture than the longhaired variety. The texture is created by the shape of the curls and the mingling of thicker guard hairs in the coat. The degree of softness may vary among individual cats.

The coat has a springy texture, standing away from the body with waves over most of the cat. There is no ruff or ringlets and the tail will be like a bottle-brush. At times the coat will part naturally down the middle of the back.

Colours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Colour and pattern are irrelevant and carry no points therefore

a cat should not be penalised if apparently wrongly registered.

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CELEBRITY PETS

Felines of the rich and With a new initiative looking at how much pets affect and enrich our lives, animal charity Blue Cross has been looking at the pets of some well known people through history

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hat would the world look like today if people throughout the ages didn’t have their lives enriched or ideas inspired by pets? Blue Cross has been trying to answer this question as it launches its new initiative ‘Pets Change Lives. We Change Theirs’.

The lives of ten historic pet owners were studied to discover what role their pets played in the fortunes of future generations. For example, Florence Nightingale, whose dedication and innovative approach to nursing transformed the way the medical profession operates, credits a sheepdog called Dap for leading her into the vocation of nursing.

So have any felines played an influential part in our history? Yes indeed.

One of the greatest scientists of the modern era, Albert Einstein, would spend hours watching his cat, Tiger, while he meditated on many of his groundbreaking works that went on

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BY JILL MUNDY to shape physics and astronomy, and are still influential today.

It is alleged that when his two cats constantly begged to be let in and out of his study, he cut two cat-shaped holes in the door, one small and one large, so that each could come and go as they pleased.

Einstein believed that people should show kindness and compassion to animals everywhere.

Andy Warhol, famous for his bright and sometimes quirky modern art, had many feline companions. His first book, ’25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy’ featured sketches inspired by many of them. He also drew artistic inspiration from his dogs too, including a dachshund called Archie.

Sir Winston Churchill has been mentioned in Cat World before as it is well known that his family insisted there should always be a marmalade cat with white bib and paws, called Jock, at Chartwell since the house was opened to the public by the National Trust in 1966.

Churchill also owned a cat called Nelson, whose composure and spirit he admired so much that he credited him with “doing more for the war effort” than he had done himself. He also loved other animals, including horses and his poodle, Rufus.

The infamous Anne Frank, whose book ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ helped many generations to understand the brutality of the Holocaust, was helped through some of the most traumatic of times by cats. In particular, she befriended two cats belonging to the owner of the annexe in Amsterdam where she and her family went into hiding. They provided a welcome and entertaining distraction during this tense period of her life.

Another major historical figure helped through difficult times was the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. A huge fan of felines, he would take in strays at the White House and shower them with kindness. Towards the end of the American Civil War, it is claimed

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CELEBRITY PETS

nd the famous that, whilst visiting future president General Ulysses Grant, he spotted three kittens in a telegraph hut and insisted that they should be properly cared for.

His wife described the cats as Lincoln’s ‘hobby’ and a respite from the cruelties of war and the stresses of statesmanship.

Glamorous movie star and icon Elizabeth Taylor did much to improve the treatment of animals in films, following the relationship she built with her horse in the film ‘National Velvet’, when she was just 12 years old. She was motivated to begin a lifelong effort to promote kindness and compassion towards all animals.

And, the flamboyant former lead singer of the rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury, was so mad about cats that he dedicated his debut solo album ‘Mr Bad Guy’ to his feline friends and to “all the cat lovers across the universe.” He also wore a waistcoat adorned with paintings of his beloved pets in his poignant final video for the band, ‘These are the Days of Our Lives’.

Two of Freddie’s cats were rescues adopted from Blue Cross, one of whom was called Delilah. A track was named after her and the lyrics included the lines: ‘You make me so

very happy; When you cuddle up and go to sleep beside me.’

He also persuaded lead guitarist Brian May to build in an effect on his guitar to replicate the sound of a cat meowing, meaning cats had an impact on Queen’s sound as well as Freddie’s lyrics and his life.

A spokesman from Blue Cross said: “At Blue Cross we believe every single pet rescued, rehabilitated or rehomed becomes a potential life-changer. They are our motivators, confidantes, companions, playmates, teachers and even healers. Maybe there is a promising future scientist or creative genius out there whose inspiration will be fired up by watching their kitten play - or maybe a shy child who finds the friendship of a faithful furry friend gives them a new confidence.

“Pets are always there when we need them. So, for all that they give us, it’s time to give back to pets in need.”

Blue Cross provides veterinary care, specialist behaviour training and will find loving, happy homes for pets in need, as well as providing education for current and future owners and pet bereavement support for those struggling to cope with the loss of a much loved pet. l For

more details about the campaign, Pets Change Lives. We Change Theirs, more celebrity pet stories or to find out how you can help Blue Cross change pets’ lives, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk/ pets-of-history

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CONFESSIONS of a CAT LOVER GOING AWAY ON HOLIDAY MEANS A HOLIDAY FOR NUTMEG AND PARSLEY TOO AND THERE ARE SO MANY SIMILARITIES - MORE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

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e’re about to have a holiday which means Nutmeg and Parsley are about to have a holiday. I doubt if they see it like that, of course. They probably see it as a week of enforced incarceration, although in reality it’s more like a trip to a luxury spa.

They get treated like VIP guests in a five-star hotel and return home happier than when we dropped them off. I’m not sure whether that’s testimony to the fact that we’re lucky enough to have found a great cattery or the bombproof, unflappable nature of my cats. If I thought about it, I could get quite insulted at how little they seem to miss home.

Not having to worry about how they’ll cope is a weight off my mind, though. I’ve got enough to think about in the run-up to a holiday. I fret about my passport mysteriously disappearing, unexpected traffic jams on the way to the airport, exotic diseases, and sometimes even the prospect of our hotel becoming the epicentre of a civil uprising while we’re there. The last two, admittedly, are unlikely as we’re

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only going to the Canary Islands but you know what I mean.

Nutmeg and Parsley always get packed off with almost as much luggage as we do. Aside from their monster carrying basket, lined with favourite blankets and cushions, they have dozens of toys. Their possessions would easily bust the luggage limit of most economy airlines.

When they arrive, they have a quick sniff around their new quarters and seem to settle immediately.

One of their first priorities

is to have a look at who’s boarding on either side.

They seem to be untroubled by having neighbours.

At home, the mere presence of another cat in the garden sends Nutmeg into an aggressive frenzy but in the cattery she seems to accept that different rules apply and is untroubled by temporary ‘housemates’.

For cats, I’m sure there are parallels with humans in hotels. What sort of neighbour they find themselves boarding next to affects the quality of their stay. A constant miaowing neigh-

bour, for instance, would be a real pain – like getting a noisy family (or an amorous couple!) in the next hotel room.

Parsley probably just hopes for an elderly cat next door, working on the principle that’ll mean peace and quiet. Nutmeg would hope for a big showoff Tom (the equivalent of the man who parades all day around the pool displaying his six-pack).

Nutmeg would flirt uproariously with any male cats.

Parsley looks at any new creature with a mix of big eyed fear and nervousness.

I imagine there are probably prime spots in a cattery, too. Just as in a hotel it’s preferable to get a sea view and a bedroom away from noisy lifts or central air conditioning units, so the most desirable pens in a cattery must be those with an interesting view and that catch the sun for the longest possible period.

The sun will figure highly in my cats’ routine for the next week, just as it will mine.

We’ll spend hours simply lounging around in it.

We have something else in common, too. They, like me, put on weight while on holiday. In their case it’s

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not that they get a change of diet, it’s merely the lack of exercise but we’re going all-inclusive so I’ll be gorging on three big meals a day in a bid to get my money’s-worth. And I plan to be largely sedentary for the next seven, of course.

Nutmeg and Parsley won’t get a change of weather like we will (the climate in Cheam is much the same as Carshalton) but the cattery backs onto farmland so the air is probably cleaner than it is at home. They’ll get waited on hand and foot but they get that anyway!

I feel a little sorry for the poor animals that find themselves next to Nutmeg. She’ll pester them constantly for a week. Wak-

ing them up when they’re asleep. Winding them up when they’re relaxed.

Constantly wanting to interact and be the centre of attention. Getting her in the next room really is the short straw.

The friendly, easy-going persona she gives the impression of having upon arrival is all smoke and mirrors. As soon as our backs are turned – long before we’re even in the car park at Gatwick – she’ll be antagonising her fellow residents and stirring up trouble. Spreading dissent, then leaving the rest of them to fight it out and get blamed for the trouble.

By the end of the week, like a couple who never spend a moment apart,

Nutmeg and Parsley do seem to have got bored with each other’s company.

They get short-tempered and snappy with each other and once they even had to be separated. When they come home, they ignore each other and sleep at other ends of the house for a few days. They’ve seen more than enough of each other. But it’s so nice knowing they’re being looked after by someone who genuinely is a cat lover. A lot of cattery owners claim that but, well, they would, wouldn’t they?

Strikes me, though, that the standards of catteries generally have improved massively in the past couple of decades. We looked at a few when we

were initially trying to find one and they all seemed far superior to what I was expecting. I remember going to them as a kid and walking along row after row of dirty-looking, bored-looking cats. Once when I was young, we had a cat that died very soon after it came home from a cattery: I’m sure it needed veterinary attention while it was there but it was never noticed.

I doubt if they’ll give me a second thought during the week ahead but I’d be a liar if I said I won’t miss them over the next week.

That said, apparently the resort we’re going to is full of cats. Better not tell Nutmeg and Parsley that.

They’ll only get jealous.

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CAT TRIVIA

The wonderful things about fabulous felines Once upon a time we visited libraries and bookshops to expand our knowledge but now, with the internet, so many facts are at our fingertips with just a click of the mouse

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BY LORRAINE SCHOFIELD

s an ardent cat fan I love anything related to cats, whether it is cat ornaments, cat notebooks, cat books or cat fridge magnets.

Therefore, anybody who enters into my house, irrespective of the presence of Tibbles, Toby and Mia, will soon recognise that cats have a special place in my heart as I have numerous cat ornaments, cat books on my bookshelf and cat fridge magnets adorning my fridge. Nonetheless, I would never profess myself to be a feline expert, especially in terms of cat breeds and their specific features. In fact, reading about specific cats breeds has never been that appealing to me apart from learning about the Scottish Wild Cat which intrigues me and fascinates me on account of its scarcity and also its close resemblance to the domestic

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tabby, which is my favourite coat pattern in cats. I am essentially a fan of moggies and I am more interested in cat behaviour and cat psychology than in actual cat breeds or breed characteristics.

Nevertheless, I was most surprised at my overall cat knowledge when I recently completed a cat trivia quiz on Facebook, in which I scored an excellent, if I may say so myself, 28/30, especially as many of the questions related to cat breeds. Indeed, as well as the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest cat, I identified the Abyssinian, the Ragdoll and more obscure breeds such as the Scottish Fold Cat which is characterised by its folded ears. This made me realise that despite only ever having owned moggies, my interest in all things feline has meant that over the years I have amassed a quite considerable bank of knowledge in relation to cats.

Indeed, by completing this cat trivia quiz I became aware that I know much about cat behaviour - such as the fact that they usually sleep for around 16 hours a day and also spend 50% of their waking time grooming, which serves to prove what I always point out to critics of cats, that they are fastidiously clean. In addition, I realised that I have a good knowledge of cat physiology as like humans they have 30 teeth including incisors for cutting meat although unlike humans they are exclusive carnivores and cannot exist

off a vegetarian diet - although if it was up to my Mia she would gladly live on a diet of grated cheese!

Cats are certainly fascinating creatures and trivia quizzes serve to point out that there is much to learn about both the physical characteristics of cats, including breed specific features, as well as cats’ unique attributes and behaviour. Thus, feeling intrigued, when I duly googled ‘cat trivia’ I was amazed at both the volume and depth of information available about cats.

For instance, I discovered that a domestic cat and a tiger share 95.6 % of the same DNA which accounts for how they share almost identical behaviour such as scent marking by scratching, prey play, prey stalking, pouncing and urine marking. This means that I am actually sharing my home with three mini tigers! Certainly, Toby is a prolific hunter and is very territorial, whereas Mia loves to scratch and mark her territory and Tibbles, although now at 15 is rather a sporadic hunter, still loves to pounce and play with his toy mice.

Furthermore, another interesting fact is that apparently cats are so particular about food that they will refuse unpalatable food to the point of starvation. This has some resonance with me as I know that my own cats are extremely fussy felines and not only do they like variety within their diet but in warm summer weather, when wet cat food quickly goes off, they will adamantly refuse to partake in it no matter

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CAT TRIVIA

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‘

I have discovered that as an ardent cat lover, I should be classed an ‘ailurophilia’, a Greek word which translated means ‘cat lover’.

how hungry they may be. Of course, given that I am a very indulgent owner, I quickly discard the unsavoury food and present them with a fresh sachet so that the likelihood of my felines starving to death on account of their fussiness is rather unlikely! Nonetheless, it is fascinating to discover that our domestic cats have so much in common with their wild cousins.

As a history buff, I love anything connected with cats and history. Most cat lovers are aware that the Egyptians worshipped cats and buried them with jewels when they died but interestingly I learned that the Egyptians also shaved off their eyebrows as a symbol of mourning when their cats died.

More recently, Sir Isacc Newton was not only credited with the laws of gravity but also with the invention of the cat flap! I know that I am very grateful for this discovery even though my own cats often prefer to enter by the front

door and as such are forever perched on my front window ledge howling to come inside as opposed to walking around to the back door where the cat flap is installed.

Great figures in history have also professed their love of cats which has further convinced me of their wisdom and knowledge. For instance, Sir Winston Churchill was as great cat lover and always had a ginger and white tabby in residence at his stately home Chartwell. The first of these marmalade cats was called Jock who he adopted in 1962 and made such an impression on him that in his will, when the National Trust took over the ownership of Chartwell, there was a stipulation that a marmalade tabby cat should continue to be in residence. Thus, currently there is now a Jock V1 in residence who is not only a marmalade cat but also has the prerequisite, white bib and four white paws that Churchill

so insisted upon.

Seemingly, cat trivia is endless and it has made me realise that despite having owned cats for over 30 years there is still so much to learn about them in terms of their physiology, behaviour or history. For instance, fascinatingly, cats have 130,000 hairs per square inch of their body which goes a long way to explaining why, with three cats, I am constantly vacuuming cat hairs!

A group of cats is called a clowder while a group of kittens is called a kindle. However, perhaps the most interesting fact that I have discovered is that as an ardent cat lover, I should be classed an ‘ailurophile’, a Greek word which translated means ‘cat lover’. I certainly would not argue with that label and no doubt being such a cat lover I will continue to learn and absorb, for many years to come, more cat trivia which will continue to intrigue and fascinate me.

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ASK EXPERTS the

LET THE CATWORLD TEAM OF EXPERTS HELP WITH YOUR PROBLEMS

Can his heart murmur be treated?

Q: My cat is now almost 16 and generally healthy, apart from a skin condition. At his last consultation for his regular medication, the vet diagnosed a heart murmur but said that nothing could be done at this stage.

However, when it gets worse, treatment is possible but would probably be ineffective.

I found the whole thing rather negative and wonder if there is anything I can do now to help Archie.

A: It is true that if a heart murmur is diagnosed but there are no symptoms caused by the murmur, then treatment with conventional drugs would be pointless. If the heart murmur does get worse then I am sure it would be worth trying to treat Archie with medication - just because he is an elderly cat, doesn’t mean he won’t respond favourably.

There are a couple of supplements that may be helpful to prevent the murmur getting worse: Vitamin E seems to help prevent heart muscle deterioration in many cases and is a good supplement for older cats anyway, as it is a natural antioxidant.

Another beneficial supplement is coenzyme Q10 - a naturally occurring enzyme which promotes heart health and also healthy gums.

It would be in Archie’s interests to be as active as possible so do try to

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encourage him to play with toys that get him moving around and make sure that he doesn’t become overweight as that would put additional strain on his heart.

Is arthritis causing her limp?

Q: I adopted my Persian cat Emma from the local animal sanctuary a few weeks ago. They thought she was around five years old. Soon after I brought her home, I noticed she was limping so I took her to the vet. I was told her left back leg was clicking and the vet gave her an antiinflammatory injection and some tablets.

Could the clicking be caused by arthritis and if so, are Persians particularly prone to it? She seems to be walking better following the vet visit.

It has been suggested that I give her cod liver oil to help and wonder if this would be a good idea.

A: It is difficult to give much informed advice without seeing your cat myself, or at least a scan of the affected joint. The problem could have been caused by something as simple as your cat being more active now she is at home with you rather than being confined in a smaller area at the sanctuary. The fact that she seems to be walking better a week further on is clearly a good sign and she has youth on her side.

Cod liver oil is not always con-

sidered the best choice for cats and would suggest that you ask your vet for a more suitable dietary supplement. Ensure that your cat doesn’t put on too much weight for her size, as this will overload the joints and put strain on her heart.

If you keep an eye on her movement for a little while and monitor her progress, hopefully all will be well but if she still appears to be struggling, ask your vet to take another look at her.

First feline, first worries Q: My partner and I recently got our first cat, a beautiful kitten called Smudge. A couple of weeks ago I took Smudge to the vet as he had continuous diarrhoea following a change to the brand of food he was eating. The vet gave him an injection, a worming tablet and some paste that I had to put on his tongue for three days.

The vet also suggested I should keep Smudge on rice and fish for a week and then gradually switch him back to the new food. I did this but as soon as he was back on the new brand food, the diarrhoea returned so I changed back to the original brand of cat food.

He has been much better since then but his poo is still slightly soft and he goes about four times a day.

He’s been back on his original food for about a week now and I’m not sure if this is long enough for things to settle properly or if I should take him back to the vet.

He is very active, has a good appetite and is gaining weight so I’m not sure if I’m doing the right thing or not. Please help.

A: If Smudge isn’t settling after 7-10 days, I would recommend taking him back to your vet as there are a few bugs that can affect kittens and young cats which sometimes need specialised tests to detect them.

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Some infections correct themselves after about a week in healthy adult cats but some youngsters can’t always fight them off efficiently.

I wonder if Smudge is being a little greedy and eating more than he needs? Do check the portion sizes recommended on the food packaging and don’t be tempted to give him more if he ‘asks’ for it. Most of the top food manufacturers offer a helpline on the packaging so don’t hesitate to contact them if you feel you need their advice. Keep an eye on Smudge over the next few days and hopefully all will soon be well.

Letting kitty out Q: I have owned cats before but usually older ones. My friend’s cat had a litter of kittens and I agreed to take one - when should I let him outside?

A: Kittens can safely be let outside when they have had all their vaccinations and are protected against feline diseases. Some people also prefer to wait until the cat has been neutered.

Vaccinations required are those against feline enteritis and cat ‘flu’.

Depending on your circumstances, vaccinations against feline leukaemia and chlamydophilosis may also be given.

Kittens should really be vaccinated at around nine weeks old, then the important second dose given at 12 weeks.

When you do let kitty outside you should supervise them for the first few outings and look out for dangers as your kitten explores. As he grows

in confidence, you can allow him to stay outside a little longer each time so that he gradually builds up a mental map of his home area.

Is eating grass good for cats?

Q: I know a lot of cats eat grass but my current cat Codie eats it a lot. Is this ok or should I be worried?

A: Although research has taught us many things about cats and their behaviour, we still do not really know why these meat eaters also tend to eat grass. The best explanation is that it helps them to eject fur balls. If Codie is a long haired cat then this could mean that he is more prone to developing fur balls and so needs to get rid of them more frequently than a short haired cat.

You can help prevent this by spending a little extra time groom-

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ing him each week to remove loose hairs from his coat.

Eating grass from your lawn is generally harmless but you might want to plant up some cat grass in a pot (try having one indoors too).

Seeds can be purchased from your pet shop or garden centre.

I would not be too worried unless your garden contains some of the ornamental grasses that have become popular. These often have barbs or a sticky coating that can cause damage to the cat’s throat as they try to swallow them. If they cause scratches or cuts, these could get infected, making things rather unpleasant.

Also, if your cat is regularly eating grass to make himself sick, it could be a sign of a hairball that he can’t shift or an underlying medical problem so contact your vet for advice.

The Pet Insurance Specialists

on-going vet fees covered

JUNE 2016

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HEALTH

The hidden dangers of smoking at home According to a popular tv vet, smoking can and is harming our pets but the options commonly used as substitutes are also giving cause for concern

O

nce again, the risks of secondhand smoking and the links to our pets getting cancer has been highlighted in the national press by eminent veterinary surgeon Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, also known as ‘The Supervet’.

We often see people on television smoking; there was a programme which showed cannabis being smoked in the house and each time there was a pet nearby. Can cats be affected by passive smoking and cigarette smoke - and are e-cigarettes harmful to pets?

The answer is yes.

A study undertaken at the University of Glasgow showed that pets were at greater risk from passive smoking because they spend more time in the house and that cats were particularly at risk from second-hand smoke, possibly due to how much they like to groom themselves.

During the course of my research, I found information saying that people who smoke at home could be putting their cats at risk of cancer and a study carried out by vets in the US has linked passive smoking to cancer in cats. Nicotine from second-hand smoke can have an effect on the cats’ nervous system and they can also suffer from respiratory problems and allergies when exposed to the toxins from breathing in second-hand smoke.

The research was carried out by vets at Tufts University in Massachusetts on 180 cats treated during a

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BY SONJA K STEINER seven year period between 1993 and 2000. They also found that cats who live with smokers are twice as likely to develop Feline Lymphoma, a serious cancer of the blood and immune system. Prior to this study, it was thought that this type of cancer was caused by a feline leukaemia virus but the results showed exposure to environmental factors such as second-hand tobacco smoke can have devastating consequences for cats. If you are sat next to someone who smokes then the smell can linger in your clothes and hair so if the cat is in the same room as the smoke, when they groom themselves it is possible that they will ingest contaminated ash, dust, nicotine and soot that was on their fur.

They also found that, adjusting for age and other factors, cats exposed to second hand smoke were twice as likely to develop the disease. However, if they were exposed to passive smoking for five years or more, that risk tripled. If two people in the house smoke then the risk of the cat contracting cancer quadrupled. Cats accumulate a lot on their fur, therefore if a cat visits their veterinary practice, they can tell if it comes from a smoking household because it smells of smoke. Dogs tend to be washed and shampooed more often whereas the majority of cat owners do not wash their cats.

Nicotine is a substance that is toxic to our feline friends and which can be found in varying quantities in quite a wide variety of products related to smoking such as: l Cigarettes – nicotine content varies between around 8mg to 30mg l Cigars – nicotine content will be higher than for cigarettes l E-cigarettes cartridges and liquids – this can vary from between 6mg to 34mg l Hand rolling tobacco l Nicotine gum, lozenges, mouth sprays and patches. Nicotine gum usually contains between 2-5mg per piece l Pipes and pipe tobacco The nicotine content of any product sold in the UK must be displayed on the packaging which will enable you to work out how many mg of nicotine any product contains.

Fortunately, cats being the fussy eaters that they are, are unlikely to eat a cigarette or anything else containing tobacco, as it is bitter tasting and not exactly palatable to them.

However, many of the ‘stop smoking’ aids are flavoured and sweetened which may give them more of an appeal to your cat. Whilst they are unlikely to want to eat a tobacco product there is always the chance that a discarded cigarette butt could be mistaken for a possible toy, raising the risk.

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FURNITURE

E-cigarettes Recently, e-cigarettes have become more popular and with them come concerns about their safety around pets. E-cigarettes are battery operated devices that are used as a delivery system for nicotine and they work when an atomiser heats liquid containing nicotine and turns it into a vapour that can be inhaled.

As they are relatively new, only time will tell whether secondary inhalation of the vapour proves to be harmful. There have been concerns about other toxins in the vapour and also the variations in the amount of nicotine in them.

Back in February 2014, despite veterinary treatment, a puppy died after biting into an e-cigarette refill laced with nicotine. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) President and vet Robin Hargreaves said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This was a tragic case and very worrying when you consider how many people are now using e-cigarettes. Nicotine poisoning acts very quickly and can be fatal, especially when large enough doses are involved. E-cigarettes and the refills can easily contain suf-

ficient quantities of nicotine to kill a small animal very quickly. If you use e-cigarettes, we recommend storing all equipment safely out of the reach of your pet.â&#x20AC;? If you suspect your pet has chewed or eaten an e-cigarette or any toxic substance then it is vital you contact a vet for treatment as quickly as possible.

Nicotine is a fast acting toxin and often pets will show a rapid on-set of the clinical signs of poisoning anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour of ingestion.

It is the small intestine that absorbs the nicotine and not the stomach as you would expect so when absorption begins, the nicotine stimulates the vomiting reflex often causing the pet to throw up any remaining nicotine in the stomach, reducing the amount available in the body to do damage.

Symptoms l Vomiting l Abnormal

heart and respiration rate

l Tremors l Weakness l Lack

of coordination

l Seizures l Collapse

Eating an e-cigarette can also result in oral injury when chewed. However, the e-cigarette cartridges are the real problem as each cartridge contains varying amounts of nicotine along with other ingredients and can equate to the nicotine equivalent of 1-2 regular cigarettes.

If you suspect that your cat could have ingested an e-cigarette, refills or nicotine then immediate veterinary attention should be sought. If you know what your cat has ingested, take that along with any packaging, as this may help your vet to calculate how much nicotine your cat has ingested.

Whilst the dangers to humans of passive smoking are well known, sadly many pet owners may not realise that smoking around their beloved feline friend can affect their health, putting them at an increased risk of becoming ill. Perhaps now is the time for people to consider the possible implications of smoking in the home and the risks to their cats. Keep any nicotine-based products out of the reach of your pets and try to avoid smoking around your cat to preserve their short term and long term health.

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PASHA & TANNI

Lazy, hazy, shady days of summer The recent hot weather has given the Siamese boys plenty of opportunities to find a shady spot to keep cool which has led to some new games to be enjoyed

S

iamese boys Pasha and Tanni have slipped effortlessly into a summertime routine of waking early and rushing outdoors as we prepare breakfast.

The plan is for the Siamese duo to tire themselves out, come back indoors before midday and stay indoors till mid-afternoon. Sometimes this works according to plan and sometimes it doesn’t. To be on the safe side I pop a blob of cat sun screen on the inside and outside tips of their ears, taking care not to let it get inside the ear. So at least I know they are protected from sunburn come what may.

But in all honesty they are becoming very shrewd and smart at keeping out of the hot sun. They seem to enjoy playing hide and seek under shrubs, conifers and their favourite cherry tree. No prizes for guessing who does the seeking!

Curfew time is well before dusk.

The trick is to get them in for a late supper before the bats come out to play, swooping low and doing acrobatics.

Fingers crossed the cat turf wars are now at an end as the Monster Cat has moved out of the area. This has certainly changed the dynamics in the neighbourhood. Whereas before Pasha would rush straight out over the garden fence and would often stay away for two or three hours protecting his territory, he is now happy and content to stay mainly in our garden with

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BY INGRID HOOPER a few daily forays into the next door neighbours’ gardens.There is one neighbour Pasha is particularly fond of and I think the feeling could be mutual.

Apparently Pasha regularly walks into Andrew’s house and makes himself at home. He has even been spotted jumping inside the first floor bedroom window to welcome Andrew back from a business trip overseas. Luckily Andrew is cool about this!

Tanni is happy to stay close to home, playing hide and seek with the local wildlife. But he had the shock of his life when a young robin he brought into the house just sat still and refused to be chased or bullied. They sat half a metre apart, neither of them sure what to do. Time for fast human intervention. The robin was scooped up and returned unscathed to another neighbour’s garden, well away from mischievous Siamese cats.

Stalking frogs is the latest craze. Pasha and Tanni spend hours crouched by the pond or snuffling under shrubs and around the garden looking for these tiny green creatures. And I seem to spend almost as much time looking out for and protecting the frog family.

Pasha jumps out of the first floor window onto the conservatory roof and jumps back inside this way too.

Tanni peers out of the bedroom windows before deciding perhaps there are better ways of going outside, like through the open doors.

With the hot nights, the curtains are

often left undrawn with the windows ajar. Sometimes when I awake I can see a silhouette of a Siamese cat on the window sill staring out into the garden and beyond. With moonlight streaming through the windows this proves irresistible to the Siamese boys.

But when it’s hot and humid through the night hours they can’t sleep and neither can I as they fidget around the bed. Tanni thinks it cool to do a lengthy grooming session, rocking the bed while he does this. For one tiny Siamese cat this is quite impressive!

Pasha meanwhile thinks it perfectly ok to stamp all over the human contingent to see what reaction he gets.

By the time the alarm goes off, the cats are often found snoozing and strangely reluctant to get out of bed.

Often there is evidence of a nocturnal party having taken place downstairs with various cat toys appearing out of nowhere. Intriguingly Pasha and Tanni’s favourite spider toys are often to be found propped up against their food dishes and sometimes in the bowl with their crunchies. On the odd occasion I have even found a spider toy in their drinking water. Curious… l Follow Pasha & Tanni’s kitten adventures on their blog at www.CatsHaveStaff.co.uk l Cats Have Staff – The Saffi & Misa Diaries by Ingrid Hooper is available from the above website or from Amazon. Out now in paperback and Kindle.

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RESCUE CATS

Molly’s dedication to Feline Cat Care Rescue Since she started at Feline Cat Care Rescue, Molly Farrar has helped to care for thousands of cats, many of whom may not have survived otherwise

t

his summer Molly Farrar is celebrating 11 years at Feline Care Cat Rescue. During this time she has experienced many changes, all for the good of the cats who she works tirelessly for.

Over the years Molly and her team have helped over 3,000 felines. There have been some ups and downs along the way and in 2011 FCCR was in danger of closure. At that point Molly thought FCCR’s days were numbered but everyone rallied round to save the rescue from closure and the charity is now helping more cats than they could have ever imagined, with current numbers at around 180 cats.

When Molly first arrived there were a total of three volunteers and the rescue could not afford to buy cat litter, using sawdust instead because it was free. Today the charity buys premium wood-based litter by the pallet load and has a team of over sixty volunteers between the sanctuary and their two charity shops! In Molly’s own words: “I am so grateful to the people who have helped me along the way; your support has been truly priceless for me and for the Feline Care cats.

Life here is a rollercoaster of emotions and some days it is hard to know how to carry on, then there’s a well-timed purr and I remember why I must

BY TINA READ never give up!

“Thank you to all the cats - each one has enriched my life with their strength, courage, trust, love and purrs.”

Felix, was the first cat that Molly trapped, a few days after she arrived as Manager of the rescue. He had been badly beaten up, an elderly pussy cat that was causing no end of trouble in his sleepy little village. He had been hit by a car and had old injuries from fighting and everyone assumed he was a big tough feral. It took a few hours for Molly to catch him but as soon as she

got him back home, she realised he was a very scared boy but had once been a much loved cat.

After neutering, Felix calmed down enormously and once he realised he would always be well fed, he decided to stop bullying other cats. Felix found his forever home locally and the family stayed in touch with Molly for many years, she even went to visit him.

Last week a group of 15 cats were rescued from one home. All the cats in this group need extensive socialisation and some required veterinary care.

These cats, like the Domino group, have not had their basic needs met.

Thankfully, due to Molly’s knowledge, commitment, compassion and magic touch there is no doubt they too will be transformed into happy, healthy cats, who will be ready for their new homes in a month or two.

I know I speak for so many people when I say how incredibly grateful we are for Molly’s dedication, determination, courage, compassion and wisdom. She has made, and continues to make, the world a better place for the feline population of Norfolk, as do her wonderful team of staff and volunteers. l For

more information on Feline Care Cat Rescue or to enquire about adopting a cat, please visit the website: www.felinecare.org.uk Telephone: 01953 718529 or follow the facebook page www.facebook.com/felinecarecatrescue/ C AT W O R L D

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CATS ON COUCH

THE

WITH LEADING BEHAVIOURIST INGA MACKELLAR

When it comes to loving your cat, make sure you take the S-factor into account and be sensitive to your cat’s needs before you consider your own

M

ost cat owners have a very definite picture of how a cat should respond to them and no doubt we all imagine an idyllic scene of a cat curled up on its owner’s knee, in front of a roaring log fire, happily purring away and gazing lovingly up at its owner. Many humans enjoy nurturing and caring for animals and we like the fact that animals, such as cats, are believed to sometimes be dependent on us but is there such a thing as caring for a cat too much? What about the cat that doesn’t enjoy the cuddles and petting that the owner wants to lavish on it?

Quite often cats do not want to be picked up and hugged and this can cause great distress to the owner, let alone the cat. This ‘rejection’ of the owner’s show of affection can have a number of causes.

Socialisation Lack of socialisation is one of the biggest causes of ‘unfriendly’ cats and behavioural problems.

The early weeks of a kitten’s life are tremendously important. During the ages of approximately three to six weeks I like to describe the kitten’s brain as being a sponge – soaking up everything that it sees, hears or

experiences.

If kittens are gently and regularly handled by a variety of people during these early weeks, the kitten will learn that being picked up, gently held and cuddled is part of normal life. It is vital that this handling is not just done by the breeder – the kitten needs to meet different sexes and ages of people, from the very young to the very old.

Being regularly handled by, say, a woman breeder, will not socialise the kitten to all people. I have often come across cats that are perfectly sociable and ‘loving’ towards the female owner but seem to ‘detest’ the husband and children.

Space It is also important to remember that cats are independent, solitary and not particularly demonstrative creatures. When they greet other cats in their social group it will normally be a quick sniff. They may possibly do a body rub or a lick or two and that is it – they generally do not sit and cuddle each other for hours on end.

Cats like their own space and many are far happier approaching the owner rather than being swept off

their feet in profusion of kisses and cuddles.

In some cases I have seen aggression develop as the owner tries harder and harder to ‘make’ the cat like him or her and the cat eventually responds by growling, scratching and even biting in an effort to get away from all the forced physical interaction.

Sentiment Although I have not often seen it, sometimes owners project their own feelings onto a cat. They may have emotional problems and the cat becomes their sole focus of attention. The owner may often describe it as really ‘loving’ the cat but it is not a good situation for the cat or for the owner.

The cat may not be allowed outside in what is a perfectly ‘normal’ and safe area due to the owner’s fears that it may be, for example, run over or perhaps killed by a fox. Quite often these owners rarely go outside themselves and are socially isolated.

The owner may have irrational fears that the cat is not eating enough and might lavish it with copious amounts of food, potentially leading to obesity. In one case, an owner would not give her cat any toys as

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she was certain that the cat would try to swallow a bit of the toy and would die.

Whilst these are extreme examples, these cases of ‘over’ loving a cat do occur.

Substitutes Some years ago I visited a young woman who was having problems with her Ragdoll cat, Molly. She informed me that she adored Molly who was her ‘baby’ and her ’love’ for the cat was expressed by continually carrying her. She had done this ever since she had obtained Molly as a kitten and Molly was three years old when I saw her.

She was picked up and carried to the kitchen to have her food. When she had finished eating she was then picked up and carried around the house or taken into the lounge to sit with the owner. As the woman was doing her housekeeping, vacuuming etc, Molly was still being held. If the weather was nice, Molly was carried into the garden and put down but she was strictly supervised. Molly would, however, become extremely anxious

when outside and the owner could not understand why Molly didn’t seem to want to explore or sit on her own in the sunshine.

On the odd occasion that the owner was not actually holding Molly, the cat would always be sitting on her lap or be very close by her. The owner had been quite happy to treat Molly in this manner but the situation had changed as the owner had become pregnant and she did not want Molly to always be with her as she was worried about hygiene. Rather sadly, the behaviour consultation only came about because of the forthcoming baby and not through concern for Molly’s welfare.

The owner was totally oblivious to the fact that she had been treating Molly in a totally inappropriate way for the past three years. She really wanted a baby and, as she did not have one, Molly became her baby. If Molly had been a different breed of cat I suspect that the situation may have resulted in aggressive behaviour towards the owner. The result of all the owner’s ‘love’ was a cat that could not cope with everyday situa-

tions as it had never been allowed to experience them for itself.

If you really love your cat, let it live a normal life, behave in a natural way and provide it with an environment that stimulates it.

By all means give your cat a cuddle…but rather than picking it up, I guarantee that the cuddle will mean so much more if your cat chooses to leap into your arms!

Tip of the month You don’t need to buy expensive toys for your cat to show how much you love them. A few cardboard boxes stuck together, with a few holes here and there for the cat to peer or climb through, make a great tunnel for your cat to play in. You can make it even more exciting by hiding some dried food or treats inside.

If you are experiencing behaviour problems with yourcat, to find your nearest APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors) Member visit www.apbc.org.uk

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&me

&

GORDY ME

ELAINE MEAD SHARES HER EXPERINCES OF LIVING WITH A CHALLENGING SPECIAL NEEDS CAT

Peer pressure happens among our felines too it seems but a little gentle persuasion can go a long way to help everyone become the best of friends

S ER

W

atching Gordy and Freddy Bear sat side by side in the doorway, usually to the kitchen, they lie on the soft carpet just following everyone around with their eyes. It is hard to believe that only a few weeks have passed since Freddy ‘came in from the garden’. Once a feisty stray with wild eyes and a coat that was sticky, matted and rough, now beautiful big orange eyes glow from a soft coat that still has the look of an older kitten.

We believe Freddy Bear to be more or less the same age as ‘Mudgy, around the 18 months, possibly two years mark, but certainly no older. He must have become a stray when he was quite young and through living with him we have come to the conclusion that someone, we guess a man as he still has issues going to my husband and

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son, has hit him in the face with an open palm. He prefers to be approached from behind which is most odd for a cat with issues. He has a fear of the cat flap and won’t use it unless it is propped open, despite Gordy trying to teach him, which has its draw backs. Getting up in the morning and finding Gordy outside the cat flap huddled into the doorway of the front back door, whilst Freddy Bear watches him through the closed, clear flap, now causes me to sigh rather than panic that Gordy is missing and several nights the cat flap has had to be locked allowing only ‘Mudgy to come in if she is out late. And no one gets out, which you can imagine for a cat like ‘Mudgy who is a ‘lady of the night’ causes me some sleepless nights.

On sunny warm mornings, like the heatwave at the beginning of June, I would let the dogs out for their

morning wee through the back front door and call ‘Mudgy for breakfast if she had been out hunting. There, upon hearing my call, strutting his stuff, tail high, eyes bright, Gordy would come round the house, his funny walk in contrast to ‘Mudgy’s more dainty cat steps, whilst Freddy Bear winds himself around my legs purring loudly and Teeko waits with big blue eyes on the bookcase. It has been a worry, to say the least, as Gordy cannot be outside unsupervised but how do ‘Mudgy and (hopefully one day!) Freddy Bear use the cat flap like normal cats when we have to lock it from time to time to stop Gordy repeating the pattern of ‘trying to teach Freddy Bear the cat flap’ and forgetting to come back in? Then we have to ‘put up’ with ‘Mudgy berating us.. mainly me.. around 4am when the light starts filtering through the dark sky and the birds start singing and she can’t get out to run free and chase rodents.

There have been several nights that I have been up wandering the house and letting both her and Freddy Bear out, as she has started causing trouble; first the very high pitched meow that she has – I am sure she has rather a lot of oriental cat in her, her meow is very shrill! - which becomes more and more vocal as she starts shouting at everyone that it is their fault she is ‘stuck in here with you lot’. I am sure that is what she is saying. Of course I get up from my bed and apologise profusely for the upset

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she is experiencing and open the window in the downstairs hall for her to leave through, then wait patiently whilst she sits in the open window and watches the birds darting about in the tree above the studio, just long enough so that when she gives me that backward glance as she gracefully jumps down to the grass, I know I have upset her and she has now expressed her annoyance to me.

Freddy Bear usually follows her but his look to me is one of thanks. Poor Gordy, on more than one occasion, has sat on the stairs waiting for me to

lift him up to the window sill too. I always feel so guilty when I tell him no and shut the window. Teeko sleeps through this whole debacle…there is something to be said for hearing loss later in life!

The recent heatwave has caused a few issues. At one point I was almost pinning Gordy into his radiator bed with the fan on him as he kept getting onto the kitchen window sill for a snooze; temperatures were reaching 30+ outside so goodness knows how hot the window sill was. ‘Mudgy spent the days on the bed upstairs

with the blinds down, her long lean body stretched out to catch the slightest breeze; Teeko was in my daughter’s room on her bed doing the same thing and Freddy Bear disappeared to the compost heap where he had been living rough. It is cool under the big tree above the compost heap and behind the shed, a nice dark space for keeping out of the sun and helping scared cats to realise that they are indeed loved and wanted.

It took a couple of weeks after ‘the op’ before Freddy Bear completely

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trusted that he could come and go as he pleased. At first, if he was in in the evening, I would shut the cat flap knowing he wouldn’t go out but hoping that ‘Mudgy would show him the ways of the cat flap and he would overcome his fear of anything directly in front of his face.

He, at time of writing, still doesn’t use the cat flap unless it is propped open.

During the night, in those first weeks, Freddy Bear would be under the bed out of sight, then slowly he got brave. I woke up briefly one night to loud purring next to me on the edge of the bed.

Defi was in between me and the husband and Iz was snoring on the floor. I thought at first it was Gordy and reached out a hand to stroke him, the purring increased and the fur was so soft but it wasn’t Gordy, it was Freddy Bear. Gordy was in the middle with Defi – the way the husband and I sleep and share our bed is often the cause of much mirth with our friends considering we used to have a strict ‘no dogs on the bed’ policy and cats tended to sleep elsewhere too. Now it is fight for your space and go for a wee in the night at your peril for getting up means losing ground.. and duvet!

Freddy Bear and Gordy became firm friends after the initial ‘getting to know you’. Freddy, like Teeko, did struggle with Gordy’s lack of ‘cat-etiquette’ and we had a few

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bashes around the ear with claws out but more in fear, Freddy’s, than malice. Gordy would of course just fall over like a wooden soldier on his side, his legs sticking straight out before him and Freddy Bear would stand there looking perplexed whilst ‘Mudgy and Teeko carried on as if this was perfectly normal. These issues centred around feeding time but after a while Freddy realised that food was always available and chicken was served twice a day. Now Freddy Bear, Gordy and ‘Mudgy do the ‘bowl hopping’ thing, they have to check out each other’s meals and take a piece from each bowl just making sure they are all the same.

Teeko has his on the bookcase and doesn’t share…ever.

Gordy carried on ‘getting in Freddy’s face’ until eventually they became inseparable. Now, Freddy dashes across the room and ‘tackles’ Gordy but you can see him slow down as he approaches and he is so gentle when he knocks Gordy to the floor and they wrestle like kittens. In turn Gordy will jump on Freddy when he isn’t looking and they roll about on the floor, charging behind the sofas and through the cat tunnel with the tinkly bell, before settling down side by side on the floor for a rest. I have had to find the old cat radiator bed and move the kitchen around to fit two of those beds on the radiator, one for Gordy and the other

for Freddy as the latter decided he liked it in there and, as much as Gordy sat and stared at him to move, he wouldn’t!

‘Mudgy likes to sleep on my lap in the evenings. Gordy used to share the space with her but the last few months have seen him grow up. He doesn’t want to be held like a baby, he wants to be ‘a cat’ so he favours the tv cabinet where he can touch buttons and turn off the Sky box at random, much to the husband’s annoyance!

Freddy Bear comes into the living room and sits just on the edge of the big rug, watching. Iz is on one sofa, her head hanging over the side whilst she sleeps. She is 11 in August and ‘been there and done that’ so she can sleep through the wildest cat play. Defi is on the other sofa, next to me and ‘Mudgy.

Freddy Bear longs to be on a sofa - you can see it in his eyes. Teeko comes downstairs, jumps onto the sofa I am sat on, then onto the back of the sofa, walks along to the end, jumps up to the top of the fish tank and settles down for the evening.

‘Mudgy purrs and rolls over on my lap for a belly rub.

Freddy Bear watches all this.

Night after night, he is torn between wanting and trusting. One evening, quite by chance, my husband came in from the kitchen and without thinking, as we hadn’t picked Freddy Bear up due to his panicked nature and those ‘talons’ in his paws, approaching Freddy from behind, my husband picked him up and popped him on the sofa in between Defi, me and ‘Mudgy. Freddy’s eyes were wide with fear? Hope? Longing?

He stood, balanced on his toes. The husband sat down on the sofa next to Iz, Gordy stirred in the tv cabinet, ‘Mudgy nudged me for more fuss and Freddy Bear came towards me, slowly. He lay down next to me and put his head on my lap, his big orange eyes just looked at me.

Freddy Bear has decided to stay.

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MEDICAL

Vets and NHS address smoking and pets As we discover more about the harmful effects of passive smoking, medical and veterinary professionals are working together to benefit humans, animals and the environment

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he Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK’s largest and longest established independent veterinary school. The College’s small animal referral hospital, based at the Hawkshead campus near Potters Bar, recently hosted a NHS delegation to discuss the detrimental effects of smoking on pets and the wider environment.

Dr Stijn Niessen, Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine, showed the group around the facility and told them about the advanced treatments and diagnostic imaging capabilities at RVC Small Animal Referrals.

The RVC has long been at the forefront of the One Health initiative, which considers the interrelationships Student examining a cat

BY JILL MUNDY. PHOTOS BY RVC between human and animal health.

The One Health concept recognises the relationship between health and disease in humans, animals and the environment. It promotes a ‘whole of society’ treatment of health hazards and a systemic change of perspective in the management of risk.

Exposure to tobacco smoke can harm the health of pets, just as it can harm children and other family members. While there has been a greater awareness of the dangers of passive smoking - and a resultant ban on smoking in public places - there is less awareness of

the impact of second-hand smoke on domestic pets.

Dr Niessen said: “It is one of the RVC’s main aims to improve health outcomes for all creatures great and small and therefore for animals as well as for us humans. Spending time with a group of NHS professionals discussing the benefits of stopping smoking for pets and people was an eye-opener for everyone involved.

“Apart from the science behind the negative health effects of smoking for humans and their pets, we shared thoughts about how to best change people’s behaviours; it was remarkable to hear how similar the challenges in this respect are for both a human health care professional and a veterinarian.

We agreed that in order to create behavioural change, ongoing education about the specifics of these health effects is very important. Nevertheless, this also needs to translate into a positive, non-belittling, supportive and realistic action plan.”

Other examples of ‘One Heath’ initiatives the Royal Veterinary College are involved with are the study of diabetes, obesity, cancer, infection, environmental toxin-induced disease and immune-mediated disease (all emerging diseases among people and pets).

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NATUR NATURAL ATURA ATUR TURAL AL HEALTH L LTH Scratching the surface of various infections, Richard Allport preaches that prevention rather than cure is definitely a good rule to live by

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’m not one for asking personal questions but do you have an artificial hip, a metal knee or any other man-made joint? I only ask because if you do, your cat can be dangerous.

How so, I hear you cry. Well, I once read in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, about a serious infection in the artificial knee of a female patient. This was one of a series of artificial joint infections which had been discovered to be caused by cats.

Many cats carry a rather unpleasant bacterium in their mouths, known as Pasteurella Multocida. This nasty little bug is spread to cats’ claws when they lick their paws. If they should then happen to bite or even just scratch you, the Pasteurella bacteria can get into your bloodstream. Not only can this cause a widespread severe infection known as Cat Scratch Fever but the bacteria can also invade artificial joints and form an acute local infection.

This may need lots of antibiotics and even further surgery to eradicate.

Now all this sounds very worrying but I’ve been scratched and bitten by hundreds of cats over the years and never contracted Cat Scratch Fever. It seems there must be certain susceptible individuals.

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My take on this is that, as I am constantly stressing the importance of keeping the immune system of cats ‘up to scratch’ as it were, it seems to be equally important to keep our own immune systems in good order, then I’m sure we would be less likely to go down with Cat Scratch – or any – Fever.

Cattery flattery What to look for in a good cattery? You might wonder quite what this has to do with natural health but in my view ‘natural health’ is as much about preventing disease as treating it. So hygiene and general good health precautions in catteries are true natural health issues.

I am indebted to International Cat Care (formerly FAB - Feline Advisory Bureau) for their fine work on producing a list of recommendations for ‘high standard’ catteries. So when you are giving a cattery the once-over to see if it is a suitable temporary home for your cat, look for – or ask questions – about the following: Is there total avoidance of contact between cats from different households? Are there full height ‘sneeze barriers’ between pens? Is there meticulous disinfection of pens car-

18/07/2017 17:37

ried out between occupations? Are utensils such as pans and brushes used only for each particular cat during its stay and then disinfected?

Do staff wash their hands between dealing with each cat?

Of course, cats can get stressed at catteries and for nervous cats, a clever cattery will have a little plug-in electric oil diffuser nearby – but out of cats’ reach – with a little lavender essential oil happily diffusing away for an hour or so each day.

Lavender helps to calm nerves and relieve anxiety.

Another tip is to give your cat a drop of the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy on the tongue every 15

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minutes for an hour on the morning of going into the cattery. Rescue Remedy helps minimise feelings of anxiety, panic and fright.

Chewing and gum I’ve often featured the problem of gum disease in cats, and the fact that some chewing on ‘real’ food – raw meat, raw chicken necks – will help reduce gum and dental disease and is far better for your cat than trying to clean its teeth.

I’ve also mentioned the beneficial effect of Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – a naturally occurring enzyme that promotes both healthy gums and a healthy heart.

Moggie may If anyone doesn’t get the allusion, there was once a well-known song called Maggie May, which was a huge hit for Rod Stewart. I was a callow veterinary student at the time, so it must have been late 1960s, or early 1970s. How old I do feel, sometimes!

Anyway the whole point of this is that moggies, that is, non-pedigree cats, constitute about 90 per cent of the cat population of roughly seven million. Incidentally, cats outnumber dogs by about a million. Cats reign!

There are, proportionately, more pedigree dogs than cats, and this might be one reason why cats do seem just more naturally healthy than dogs.

If the numbers of pets taken to vets because of accident and injuries are removed from the equation, cats are far less likely to get ill than dogs. They have, literally, more ‘natural health’ than dogs.

This may well be because pedigree animals, with their in-breeding and (human) manipulated genes, are more prone to disease than crossbreeds, mongrels, moggies, whatever you want to call nonpedigree pets. There is something called ‘hybrid vigour’ – the extra natural health that is achieved by a mixing of genes.

As this column has featured a lot of preventive health this month, maybe it’s worth noting that the ultimate in preventive natural health is to think about health at the time of conception – and try and ensure that each new kitten that is born has as wide a gene pool as possible.

This doesn’t mean I’m against pedigree cats – they are some of the loveliest creatures on earth.

But it does behove breeders to try and minimise in-breeding, to avoid breeding from lines with known health problems and to generally breed for health as well as looks.

Here endeth the lesson!

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NURSE’S NOTES

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JANET PENNINGTON REPORTS FROM THE FRONTLINE OF A BUSY VETERINARY PRACTICE Long before we knew about Grumpy Cat, there was Thomas

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homas the tabby was a grumpy old soul. Not that you could blame him.

For a start, the staff at the veterinary practice always tittered when they read out ‘Maine Coon’ as his breed.

It was not his fault.

His owners decided that somewhere along the genetic line his ancestors were Maine Coons. By the time the genes had filtered down to him he resembled the mackerel tabby my grandmother referred to as ‘a good old-fashioned cat.’

She fondly recalled the cats she knew during the war: tough, dusty, resilient, tabby and named Tibby or Thomas.

Thomas had kidney disease. He came in every six weeks or so to receive treatment that we incorrectly called dialysis. The effect was similar, in theory at least, for the lesser mortals such as veterinary nurses and receptionists.

Thomas would come in first thing in the morning to have an intravenous drip set up. This was so that he could receive fluids to – simply - flush out his kidneys.

When the early-shift

nurses assigned to the operating theatre arrived, the first thing we’d do was to check the operations list for the day. Of course this usually changed as the day ticked by and we had to learn, quickly, how to prioritise. Routine non-urgent operations, such as spays, were still performed on the prearranged date and usually within the time specified, which in our practice was 4pm. Emergencies will always be emergencies and anything else was done when it could be.

Bearing all this in mind, as soon as we saw that Thomas was in for his ‘dialysis’ we took the correct infusion from the shelf, removed its protective packaging and plunged it into warm water.

The drip set was unpacked and pieces of tape cut to the required length and stuck onto the dental table. We chose the dental table because it was the least likely site to be used for emergencies, routine operations or treatments first thing in the morning.

When Thomas arrived, promptly at 8.30am, the receptionist would take him to the prep room,

smile and say ‘Thomas the Maine Coon for his dialysis’.

He would growl unmelodiously while the drip was inserted into the vein in his paw, hiss and spit while we carried him to his kennel and glare with a feline mix of indignation and derision through the bars of his cage.

It was a well-rehearsed ritual and we all knew that was as bad as it got. We never gave him any more needles and he never gave us a scratch. Despite the almost perfunctory familiarity, I still felt sorry for him and always managed to kiss the top of his grumpy head. The vet told me his kidney disease was managed so that he never suffered in any way or felt ill.

At 8pm, Thomas went home. The veterinary staff chatted politely to Thomas’s owner and no-one mentioned his grumpiness. I suppose we all thought that kidney disease was quite grumpinducing.

Then one day his owner overheard me when I said to Thomas ‘Goodnight grumpbox, see you in six weeks’.

“He’s always badtempered when he’s away from his sister,” she explained. “They’re never apart at home, do everything together. Thomas is normally a very happy cat.

Loves people, too. It’s a pity I can’t bring Tabitha in with him.”

Maybe if, accidentally, Tabitha was left at the surgery when Thomas next came in… I’d think of an excuse if the vet questioned it. It had to be worth a try.

And it was. Of course we couldn’t let Tabitha out of her carrier, but Thomas looked at her while we set up his drip. We even moved her to the edge of the room when things started to get hectic. While she was in sight, Thomas was happy.

When the appointments lulled, I gently moved Tabitha into the kennel with her brother. There wasn’t much room but they huddled together.

Eventually Thomas closed his eyes and drifted into a purring doze.

Nowadays the receptionist will bring a carrier into the prep room, smile and say ‘Thomas and Tabitha for dialysis’.

“He would growl unmelodiously while the drip was inserted.”

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SHOW DATES CLUB EVENTS FOR YOU DIARY

GCCF AUGUST August 05 Blue Pointed Siamese Cat Club Ettington Community Centre, Rogers Lane, Ettington, CV37 7SX Oriental Longhair Breed Club Ettington Community Centre, Rogers Lane, Ettington, CV37 7SX Scottish Rex Cat Club Rutherglen United Reformed Church, Johnstone Drive, Rutherglen, Glasgow G73 2QA August 12 Chester & North Wales Cat Club Northgate Arena Leisure Centre, Northgate Arena, Victoria Road, Chester CH2 2AU Three Counties Cat Society Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Passfield Avenue, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9NL August 19 Lilac Point Siamese Cat Society Melbourn Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 6EF

Tabby Point Siamese & Progressive Breeders Cat Club Melbourn Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 6EF August 26 Cumberland Cat Club Teesdale Leisure Centre, Strathmore Road, Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8DS Teeside Cat Club Teesdale Leisure Centre, Strathmore Road, Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8DS West of England & South Wales Cat Society Thornbury Leisure Centre, Alveston Hill, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire BS35 3JB

SEPTEMBER September 02 Erin Cat Club Sixmile Leisure Centre, Ballynure Road, Ballyclare, County Antrim BT39 9YU Longhair Cream & Blue Cream Cat Association 1st Twyford Scouts Hall, Loddon Hall Road, Twyford, Reading RG10 9JA Tonkinese Cat Club Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Bilford Road, Worcester WR3 8DX

Wyvern Cat Club Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Bilford Road, Worcester WR3 8DX September 03 Manchester & District Cat Club George H Carnall Leisure Centre, Urmston, Manchester M41 7FJ September 09 Somerset Cat Club Thornbury Leisure Centre, Galveston Hill, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire BS35 3JB West Country Cat Club Thornbury Leisure Centre, Galveston Hill, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire BS35 3JB September 23 South Western Counties Cat Club Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Chidden Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 7QP September 30 North West Cat Club Leigh Indoor Sports Centre, Sale Way, Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, Lancs WN7 4JY

TICA AUGUST 5/6 OneforAll, Brigg AUGUST 26/27 CatTICA (Regional Show), Bracknell SEPTEMBER 16/17 TickedTICA, Swanley

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FUN PAGES

FELINE FUN Criss Cross

Spot the difference

Cats are fascinating creatures - as we all know - but can you find the answers to these questions? Most of them are Untitled within articles in this issue…see if you can find them all.

Can you find 8 things in the picture that are missing?

1

3

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

Across 5. The jaguar closely resembles which other big cat?

7. Very important part of a kitten’s first few weeks Across Down Answers from last 8.

A disease affecting the joints 5. The jaguar closely resembles which other big cat?

1. Tiny tracking device - now legal for dogs month 7. Very important part of a Down kitten’s first few weeks 2. What is the name of the fluffy bits inside a cat’s Wordears?

Search: missing wordwho was MACAVITY 1. Tiny tracking device - now legal forterm dogs 8. A disease affecting the joints 3. The used describe cats and other animals Spot the difference, are active at dawn and dusk 2. What is the name of the fluffy bits inside a cat’s ears? right.

4. Which US president lived with four cats whilst at The 3. The term used describe cats and other animals who Whitehouse? are active at dawn and dusk CrepuscuLilies, antifreeze and chocolate can all cause 4. Which US president lived with6.four cats whilst at The this in cats Whitehouse?

9. A useful piece of equipment if you want to take your cat 6. Lilies, antifreeze and chocolateoutside can all cause this in cats 9. A useful piece of equipment if you want to take your CATS MEOW ONLY TO COMMUNIC ATE WITH HUMANS AND NOT WITH cat outside EACH

DID YOU KNOW?

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OTHER.

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THE CAT LADY

investigates

WITH ELEANOR FORRESTER

When a London street cat adopted a busker called James, they would soon become one of the most famous duos on the internet

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his month I am investigating the heart-warming story of James Bowen and his cat, Bob, who turned his life around from busker to author.

‘A Street Cat Named Bob’, was published in 2010 and went on to become a bestseller; in the United Kingdom alone it sold over one million copies and has been translated into 30 different languages. How did the world of this ginger moggie and homeless man collide into a purr…fect partnership?

The tale began in 2007 when James Bowen enrolled onto a methadone programme. At this point he was living in supported housing accommodation in Tottenham, London and regularly busking Convent Garden. One evening, James came back to discover a cat in the hallway of the building in which he was living.

His first instinct was to go around the neighbourhood and ask if anyone had lost their pet. In the end, nobody came forward and after two weeks James felt it was best to release the cat and hope that he would find his way home.

However, this proved to be unsuccessful because the ginger moggie began to follow James around…even onto the number

73 bus which he took to his two regular busking spots in Piccadilly and Covent Garden. James decided to take him in and gave the cat the name Bob. The pair of them quickly drew the attention of the public and they became very prominent when James started selling The Big Issue. Many people began posting videos of them on YouTube and tourists went to Covent Garden just see this unique busker with his cat.

At this point in James’ life he was going through his methadone treatment and Bob became a real kindred spirit for him. He said: “I believe it came down to this

little man. He came and asked me for help and he needed me more than I needed to abuse my own body. He is what I wake up for every day now... he’s definitely given me the right direction to live my life.” This story shows the true power of the impact that pets can have on people’s lives.

In 2010 the Islington Tribune published James and Bob’s story and this was picked up by Mary Pachnos, a literary agent, who was behind John Grogan’s ‘Marley and Me’. She arranged a meeting between James and the writer, Garry Jenkins, and both of them came up with an outline for a book. It would be called, ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ and was the first of seven other books, cataloguing the life of Bob for a variety of audiences from children to adults.

Then, in 2016, the film ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ was released and starred Luke Treadway as James Bowen and Bob as himself. Since this adventure began for this pair they have gone from strength to strength and James and Bob now help spread awareness of animal welfare and homelessness.

“He is what I wake up for every day now...he’s definitely given me the right direction to live my life.”

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theCAT WANT IT.. NEED IT.. LOVE IT.. WE SHOWCASE THE PURRFECT How to be a cat book

It’s not often that a book is funny enough to get a genuine laugh out loud but if you don’t laugh at this book then you’re probably a dog person. How To Be A Cat is the definitive guide to doing just that. Insightful captions accompanied by expressive illustrations take you stepby-step through what it takes to be a cat.

Around £12 from Yellow Octopus www.yellowoctopus.com.au

Mother of cats mug

Treat a cat-lover to this clawsome personalised mug on any occasion!

It can be printed with a word to read ‘Mother of (word)’ such as ‘cats ‘ or ‘kittens’ and is available as a standard or a heat change mug, revealing your special message when making a brew.

Personalise with up to 12 characters. £9.99 from GettingPersonal.co.uk

Sophisticated cat handkerchief set

What a stylish and refined feline - a perfect companion for your pocket.

Featuring illustrations of the Sophisticated cat in a teal colour, hand screen printed onto 100% cotton 40x40cm handkerchiefs.

Packaged in a fine card presentation box with clear lid. £14.99 from www.chaseandwonder.com

“Wanted” cushion

‘WANTED - for crimes against soft furnishings’ linen mix cushion with stripe linen mix back. How many of us can identify with this issue?

Measures 30 x 30cms £15 www.athomeinthecountry.co.uk

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Aristocratic cats gift tags

Pack of 6 gift tags featuring two different designs; thick black string; 320gsm matt card; in a cell bag with sticker. 50 x 90mm. Matching wrapping paper also available. £2.99 from Chase and Wonder

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TAL ST

RRFECT PRODUCTS FOR YOU & YOUR LOVED ONE Cat back pack

Cotton canvas cat-shaped back pack with stitched details and pointed blue ears, red straps and red drawstring with brass eyelets - a really fun bag for little ones or little things. Cotton lined. 30 x 30cm. £18.00 www.berryred.co.uk

120mm x 170mm luxury greeting card on FSC approved paper. Perfect for sending best wishes to a cat lover. £2.99 from Chase and Wonder

Lithophane dome tealight holders

Lithophane is the art of etching or moulding images into fine porcelain for decorative effects. The images are then lit from within to reveal the image and give a gentle, atmospheric glow. These tea light holders result in beautiful ornamental pieces that come alive when a tea light candle (not included) is placed inside. £9.95 from The Glow Company

Lucky cat pen pot

You’ll be purring like a cat when this novelty pen pot makes its way to your desk. In vibrant jade green, the colour of good health, this good luck charm is the totem you need to make every day a good day at work. A Maneki Neko look-alike, this green cat-shaped pot is beckoning good fortune to your desk. £12.95 www.redcandy.co.uk

2 Cats pots

Fine bone china pot with lid, decorated with cats sharing butterfly cakes in the garden. They would make a lovely present for a catlover - fill them with sugar, cotton buds or maybe cat treats. £28.00 www.lushlampshades.co.uk

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SURROGATE MUM

Struggling kittens helped by stray mum A young stray has demonstrated amazing parental instincts after adopting two poorly kittens just hours after losing the last kitten of her own litter of five

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regnant stray cat Cleo was taken to Yorkshire Cat Rescue in Keighley and placed in foster care with Amanda and David Atkinson in Doncaster. Just hours later, she went into labour and delivered five kittens under veterinary care. Sadly, two were still-born, another was so deformed he had to be put to sleep and the last two died only a few days later.

Cleo’s foster mum, Amanda, was heartbroken: “Staff at PETmedic were amazing; they made a fantastic effort to help Cleo’s kittens make it, and supported us throughout. Cleo was such an attentive mother; it wasn’t her fault that her kittens died and she was so distressed when the last one slipped away - desperately calling for them. I cried buckets for her and for them.”

But just hours later the charity called, asking if Cleo still had milk.

Two kittens, just 19 days old, were starving because their mother had developed mastitis and was unable to feed them. The family were doing their best to hand-feed them but could tell they were struggling and so they called Yorkshire Cat Rescue. Amanda didn’t hesitate to say yes, and within 90 minutes, the kittens arrived at her home.

“We wrapped the new kittens in a blanket from Cleo’s babies and carried them inside. Immediately she could hear them and began calling out for them. When we put them into her bed, she smelled the air to determine

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BY YORKSHIRE CAT RESCUE where they had come from and then instantly rolled over and invited them to feed. They were starving and clearly desperate for milk and care from a mum, so they practically launched themselves at her.

“We just watched with amazement; I didn’t think we’d be smiling so soon again but it was a real little miracle unfolding before our eyes.”

With the two kittens, Orea and Coco, weighing less than half a kilo between them, a trip to the vet confirmed that

they were suffering from cat flu and eye infections. Both were treated with antibiotics and are under careful monitoring.

Amanda explained: “They are struggling to latch on and feed properly because when they do, they can’t breathe. We have to supplement the milk they get from Cleo with milk from a bottle to make sure they get enough.

It’s an effort around the clock but I’m not giving up.”

Amanda cleans their faces every hour: “Whenever I pick them up to clean their eyes, Cleo demands that I put them back. She is very protective of her babies who she has already adopted as her own. I can’t help but be proud of her.”

Sara Atkinson, founder of Yorkshire Cat Rescue says: “Amanda and Cleo are both amazing and deserve recognition for what they have done. It is unlikely that these two kittens would have lasted much longer without help, despite the owner’s best efforts.

“This story paints a picture of the cats and kittens we try and help as a priority; where it really is a case of life and death. It might help those who can’t keep their pet cat understand why we might not be able to take them in or why they might have to wait a little before we have space.”

Cleo’s adoptive kittens will remain in foster care until they are old and strong enough to be neutered, vaccinated and put up for adoption.

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BIG CATS

FIRST STEPS FOR JAGUAR CUB KEIRA Britain’s only Jaguar cub, Keira is likely to be a top attraction with the visitors to a Hertfordshire wildlife park this summer

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ute little Keira, a Jaguar cub born at Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire, took her first steps outside in early July, on show to the public for the very first time.

Under the watchful eye of her mother, Kedera, she quickly adapted to her new surroundings, playing amongst the bamboos and climbing in her enclosure.

Keira’s parents, Kumal and Kedera, were first introduced 18 months ago and hit it off from the start. However, Keira is on view to the public in a separate part of the enclosure to her father, Kumal, allowing her and her mother to bond safely as she grows and develops confidence. In this space she’ll also enjoy smaller, cub sized, climbing enrichment before an extension is built to her home.

Jaguars are classified as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) so Keira’s birth,

BY CORINNE MANSFIELD on 2nd April 2017, is a real cause for celebration. She is the first Jaguar cub to be born at Paradise and is currently the only Jaguar cub in the UK. Paradise is one of only two zoos in the UK and one of six in Europe recommended to breed Jaguars, as part of the EEP (European Endangered Species Programme). The Park marked Keira’s birth by introducing its new charity, the Zoological Society of Hertfordshire.

ZSH Director, Lynn Whitnall, said: “We are all delighted that Keira has had her final inoculations from the vet and is now outside playing and having fun in the sun. The breeding programmes at Paradise Wildlife Park have achieved some fantastic results over the years, especially amongst our Big Cats.

“I’m incredibly proud for all the staff and keepers at Paradise, whose hard work and dedication

have led to this – not to mention Kumal and Kedera of course! It’s a wonderful way to welcome the launch of our new charity.”

Paradise Wildlife Park is now working on extending the size of its Jaguar exhibit, creating more space for both mother, father and cub.

About Paradise Wildlife Park To date, Paradise Wildlife Park has made contributions of over £5,000,000 since 1984 to conservation projects and wildlife causes in the UK and around the world, as well as other charities and good causes. It is also part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, with successful Jaguar, African Penguin, Lar Gibbon, Cotton Top Tamarin, Silvery Marmoset and Red Ruff Lemur births in the past year alone. With recommendations to breed Snow Leopards and Red Pandas.

Paradise was also the first zoo in Europe to receive a double Platinum Award for funds raised for the EAZA Tiger Conservation Initiative.

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SAFE RETURN

Never leave any corner unturned Anyone looking for a missing cat will tell you it’s a worrying time but before microchips, there was only so much you could do - and you had to hope

W

hen Monty moved to a new house in Cambridge with his owners, microchips were scarce and so measures were taken to settle him in to his new home before allowing him outdoors.

Monty stayed in the house for the first three weeks so that he could get used to his

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BY JILL MUNDY new home. Then he went out to explore the neighbourhood. For three nights in a row, Monty jumped over the wall, went off for a brief adventure and then came home again. On the fourth night, Monty didn’t return.

A search party went out looking for Monty for several evenings after he

disappeared. “We looked around all the local colleges and University departments to see if we could find any trace of him.” While Monty was away he was missed by his family and by George the dog, who was very lonely and didn’t understand why he had gone away.

As the days went by, it became more obvious that Monty was not going to find his own way home. “We went from door to door with leaflets giving a description of him.

Posters with Monty’s picture were displayed in local shops, cafes, vets and animal shelters. We were amazed by the number of people who helped.”

When Monty had been missing nearly four weeks, his family were getting desperate. Then they got a phone call from someone only a few houses away to say they’d found Monty.

“He’s trapped in a cellar and it looks like he’s been there for weeks,” said the young man.

They got Monty’s basket and some cat food and went to the hideaway. “Unbelievably, it was somewhere we

had walked past two or three times a day. We hadn’t seen Monty because he was out of sight in a coal cellar.

As I jumped down, I peered into the darkness and saw Monty’s familiar face looking back at me. At first, he spat at me, obviously disorientated and scared.

“I was able to pass Monty up in his basket but then I realised that I was stuck in the basement myself and had to wait for someone to come and let me out through the house.”

When they got him home, Monty looked like he had been in the wars and his face looked strained and nervous. “Monty was very thin and we could feel his ribs sticking out through his coat. His fur was matted around his neck and we had to cut lumps of it away with scissors, which he was really not pleased about!”

After some quiet time at home and his fair share of square meals and pampering, Monty was his old self.

“Our experience showed us that the one thing you mustn’t do is give up. Success could be right around the corner – literally.”

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HEALTH

FELINE MASTERS OF DISGUISE

T

o protect themselves from predators, animals naturally hide their pain. Your pet may be suffering even though she isn’t showing obvious signs.

Advancements in veterinary science have decoded subtle telltale signs of animal distress. Observing your pet’s behaviour is vital to managing his or her pain.

How well do you know your cat and their wellbeing? Use these five clues to help understand your pet’s body language.

your pet’s weight and eating habits. Animals carrying excess weight have an increased chance of tearing ligaments and damaging joints. Pets with arthritis or muscle soreness may not want to access their food because bending over is uncomfortable. Arthritis pain may also cause pets to gain weight due to lack of exercise while their eating habits remain the same. Pain can also cause animals to loose their appetites which will lead to weight loss.

Messy eater

Don’t touch me

If your pet is showing abnormal chewing habits, such as dropping her food or chewing on one side of the mouth, she may have a dental disorder or even a mouth tumour. Additional signs may include weight loss, bad breath or excessive face rubbing. Routine dental checkups are important to prevent and treat dental disorders and related pain.

Did kitty used to be active and energetic but now sits quietly around the house? Avoiding affection or handling may be a sign of a progressive disease such as osteoarthritis or intervertebral disc disease.

Although your pet may appear to be normal before petting or handling her, the added pressure applied to her body may expose sensitive and painful areas.

Hiding is also a sign of pain.

Because the animal is hurt-

Drastic weight change Pain directly influences

ing, she will hide to avoid painful interactions.

Decreased movement Osteoarthritis or joint disease is the most common cause of pain. Pets that limp may be reluctant to go up or down stairs, exercise or play.

Weight and joint injuries can also go hand-in-hand.

Losing unnecessary pounds will help overweight pets decrease pressure on sore joints and reduce pain. Consult your veterinarian about exercises, diets and medical therapies that can help improve your pet’s health.

Toilet accidents Pet owners often believe that ‘accidents’ are a result of behavioural issues.

Although behavioural issues may cause unwanted surprises, going to the bathroom in inappropriate places may be caused by pain.

Pets with sore joints or arthritis may not make it to a convenient location due to painful obstacles like stairs Urinary tract infections

also may cause a messy situation. In addition to having ‘accidents’, symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include, lethargy, fever, tender lower abdomen and difficulty urinating.

Even after the urinary tract infection is dealt with it may be necessary to get a new litter box because the cat makes painful associations with the old litter box.

Know your cat The lack of verbal expression does not mean that your pet is not experiencing pain. Minor behavioural change can be cause for alarm. Being aware of your pet’s habits can help you and your vet assess and treat your pet’s pain. Pain management has become an integral part of your pet’s overall healthcare and the correct treatment will enhance her quality of life and possibly extend her time with you.

If you notice any unusual behaviour in your cat, ask your veterinary surgery for advice.

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79 20/07/2017 15:53

DIRECTORY THE UK’S LEADING BREED-BY-BREED GUIDE TO CATS AND KITTENS FOR SALE

AUSTRALIAN MIST ROSE VALLEY. Australian Mist kittens. New breed to the UK. Claimed to be the perfect family cat. Reg/Vac/Ins and microchipped. Spotted or marbelled in six colours. Tel 0118 9811109.

Also Burmese kittens. www.katsacute.co.uk katsacute@gmail.com

BENGALS OAKMERE HALL AMIGAMIA BENGALS AND RAGDOLLS. Alison Newman. Family reared indoors, well socialised, affectionate from multi champion lines. GCCF/TICA ref TBRCC/ PBRCC VACC/INS. www.amigamia.co.uk Mid-Cheshire 01606-883528.

BIRMAN JANDOUGLEN. Mrs Ann V C Mott Bury St Edmunds. *Birmans - Seals, Blues, Chocolates, Lilacs, Reds. Also Tabbies in these colours.

01359 221200 ann.mott@freeuk.com www.ann.mott.freeuk.com

BRITISH SHORTHAIR CARASSACAT British Shorthairs, GCCF Registered Breeder. PKD Tested. All my kittens are fully vaccinated, microchipped & insured before they leave me. They are reared in my house so are used to dogs & everyday comings & goings.

Specialising in Colour Points, Self’s & Bi colours.

Email carassacat@outlook.com phone 01527 273942 website www.carassacat.co.uk CROWVALLEY. Mrs Betty Williams Pontypool F.A.B. Listed cattery breeder of British Shorthair Silver Tabby/Spotted

80

ous colours, home reared, well socialised and used to dogs.

This unusual breed makes fun loving, affectionate family pets.

GCCF Reg/Vacc/Insurance/ Flea & Wormed/Microchipped.

Enquiries welcome, contact: 0208 641 5695 or email: cthompson1@blueyonder.co.uk

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

and Black Smoke. All kittens are home reared with Ped/Reg/Vac/ Ins.flea & worm treated.

Parents can be seen.

01495 785546 Williams0ja@btinternet.com Crowvalleycattery.co.uk KERNMERE BRITISH BLUES, Creams, Silvers, Colourpoints, Lilacs, Torties.

Tel: 02476 681335 Mobile: 07519972046 Email: jeanette.Knapp@ btinternet.com Web: www.kernmere-cats.com LARNIKAT. British Shorthairs kittens, Colourpoints in all colours, + Tabby Colourpoints, selfs in Blues and Lilacs, sometimes Spotties and Tabbies. Reg/Vacc/Ins. Homereared. PKD-negative tested.

01922-620505.W.Midlands. linda299ward@btinternet.com www.larnikat.com LEAHS BLUES British Shorthairs. Available now: Lilac boys, Lilac girls and Lilac Point boys. Sometimes available: Blues, Blue points & Chocolates.

Reg/Vacc/Ins. 01442 236860 / 07866266477. johnbaxter@leahsblues.fsnet. co.uk web: www.leahsblues. com. Hertfordshire

WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK

Telephone: Valerie: 01652 654574 Sharon: 02476 684350

BURMESE KATSACUTE BURMESE, most colours. Bred for temperament, substance and quality. House reared with children and dogs.

Fully Vacc/Ins/Reg and microchipped. Responsible homes only. Tel 0118-9811109. www.katsacute.co.uk Hants/Berks.border.

BURMILLA GAZZELLA. Burmillas & Asian Smokes - Experienced breeder.

Cats tested PKD negative Home reared, vaccinated and microchipped kittens sometimes available. See website for current details. Gloucester 07507 649294 / 01594 564071. barbara@gazzellacats.co.uk www.gazzellacats.co.uk

COLOURPOINT AMORAMIST COLOURPOINTS, chocolate torties and red points available. PKD negative. Micro chipped.

01326 240907 mareenritchie@yahoo.co.uk www.amoramist.com

CORNISH REX Curly coated Pedigree Cornish Rex kittens, vari-

FOREIGN MS MARJORIE DAVIDSONSMITH, Hatfield. Ootha. *Siamese, Foreign White & Oriental SH. Kittens sometimes available. 01707 264450 pentirah5@ntlworld.com

KORATS KOORAHK KORATS often have kittens available. Home reared with love. Registered, Vaccinated, Insured, Microchipped. Own stud.

Tel 0161 281 6482.

Email: koorahkliliwen@gmail.com Web: www.koorahkkorats direct.co.uk

MAINE COONS AMORAMIST MAINE COONS Maureen Holden Ritchie.

Breeding solid whites, tabbies with and without white, and solids. Champion lines. Persians and colourpoints. (winner of Supreme). All PKD negative and reared underfoot.

01326 240907 mareenholdenritchie@yahoo. co.uk www.amoramist.com LEAHSBLUES. Maine Coons - Silvers, Blues, Torties & Reds.

British Shorthair - Blues, Blue Points, Chocolates, Reg/Vacc/ Ins. 01442 236860/07866 266477. johnbaxter@leahsblues.fsnet. co.uk web: www.leahsblues.com

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Y OF BREEDS TO BOOK YOUR ADVERT IN THE DIRECTORY OF BREEDERS CALL US ON 01903 884988

THE MAINE COON CAT CLUB GCCF AFFILIATED, ESTABLISHED 1985

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

www.maine-coon-cat-club.com

LUNARIS. Mrs Jean Brown Aldwincle Maine Coons - Quality home reared kittens sometimes available to approved homes.

01832 720359 ronbrown10@supanet.com www.lunaris.uk.com

NORWEGIAN FOREST ELFENTANZ. Mrs Elinor M B Herbert Kirkcaldy. Norwegian Forest Cats - Brown Tabby, White and Black kittens 01592 267002 elfentanz@btinternet.com www.elfentanznfc.co.uk

ORIENTALS MS MARJORIE DAVIDSONSMITH, Hatfield. Ootha. *Siamese, Foreign White & Oriental SH. Kittens sometimes available. 01707 264450 pentirah5@ntlworld.com

RAGAMUFFIN

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

RAGDOLL EMERISLE CATS. Mrs Jeanette Fitzpatrick. Ragdolls - all patterns & colours. *Seal Colourpoint, *Seal Tabby Colourpoint, *Blue Bi-Colour, *Cream, *Seal Mitted, *Blue Mitted. *Tiffanies. *Scottish Fold. *British Shorthair.

TBRCC or PRBCC Breeder of the year 1999- 2011. TBRCC breeder of the top Ragdoll 1993, 1995/96. Best Opposite Sex 1995/96. Breeder of Supreme Show 1999 Top Ragdoll & sire of the first Ragdoll to win the UK Grand Title 2003. Breeder of the Best kitten, adult & neuter 1999-2003. Established 27 years - our beautiful cats feature on ‘Its a Cats Life’ video, appeared on Granada Live TV and photographs regularly feature in all cat magazines.

01943 461852 07774 650217 fitzpatrick.jeanette@googlemail. com www.emerisle-cats.co.uk OAKMERE HALL AMIGAMIA BENGALS AND RAGDOLLS. Alison Newman. Family reared indoors, well socialised, affectionate from multi champion lines. GCCF/TICA ref TBRCC/ PBRCC VACC/INS. www.amigamia.co.uk Mid-Cheshire 01606-883528.

SIAMESE Ms Marjorie Davidson-Smith, Hatfield. Ootha. *Siamese, Foreign White & Oriental SH. Kittens sometimes available.

01707 264450 pentirah5@ntlworld.com

USEFUL ADDRESSES THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE CAT FANCY, 5 King’s Castle Business Park, The Drove, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4AG. Tel: 01278 427 575 www.gccfcats.org/contact.html BLUE CROSS The Animal Hospital, Sheppard House, High Street, Victoria, London SW1V 1QQ. Tel: 020 7834 1128 FELISBRITANNICA Office of the General Secretary, 63 Fingal Street, Greenwich, London SE10 0JL Tel: 0208 858 5318 Email: felisbritannicasecretary@gmail.com www.felisbritannica.co.uk FELINE ADVISORY BUREAU Taeselbury High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6LD Tel: 0870 742 2278 Fax: 01747 871873 Email: catteries@fabcats.org www.fabcats.org

ALNAKEED SPHYNX world Champion babies to loving indoor homes. Kittens often available. All colours including Lilac. Tel: 01383-721311/07939 116861. alnakeed@aol.com.

Find me on Facebook under Carole Langham.

THE INTERNATIONAL CAT ASSOCIATION Phil Cornwell, Regional Director, 31 Louthe Way, Sawtry, Cambridgeshire PE28 5TR Tel: 01487 800014 www.tica-uk.org.uk ASSOCIATION OF PET BEHAVIOUR COUNSELLORS For details of a behaviour counsellor in your area, send a SAE to: PO Box 46, Worcester WR8 9YS. Tel: 01386 751151 THE BLUE CROSS ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY Shilton Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4PF Tel: 01993 822651 THE PET BEREAVEMENT SERVICE Run jointly by the Society of Animal Studies and the Blue Cross.

Freephone: 0800 096 6606, (between 8.30am and 5.30pm)

VARIOUS EMERISLE KITTENS. Ragdolls from breeder of the year 11yrs running, Tiffanies, Scottish Fold, British Shorthair.

07774-650217/01943-461852 www.emerisle-cats.co.uk

SHOWCASE your special cat Give your cat the recognition he or she deserves with a spot in Cat World’s prestigious breed gallery. maria@ashdown.co.uk call: 01903 884988 (opt. 2)

SPHYNX WOOZLES Mrs Sue Bloxham, Colchester. Sphynx - Happy outgoing personalities. Indoor homes. Various colours.

01621 815769 sue@woozlessphynxcats.co.uk www.woozles.uk.com C AT W O R L D

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CATTY CHATTER

TAIL END

When it comes to wedded bliss, can Catherine persuade her fiancé that a house is not a home without a cat?

F

or years I’ve longed to share my home with a cat. Only my nomadic lifestyle has prevented me from doing so but when I got engaged to John and we started talking about buying a house together, the first glimmer of hope emerged. Naturally, we’ve had all kinds of animated discussions – from the colour scheme of the kitchen to allocation of garage space.

However, the one decision I hadn’t planned to compromise on was whether or not to get a cat. As far as I was concerned, that was non-negotiable. But John had other ideas. In his eyes cats are vicious creatures that pounce on innocent little birds and mice – besides which, he said he wasn’t going to compete for my affection with a cat.

I took him round to my parents’ house and officially introduced him to Smokey, their tabby, who will flirt with anyone as long as they’ve got a comfy-looking lap.

He was up on John’s the minute he sat down and purring loudly within seconds, whilst pummelling his stomach with his paws.

Once Smokey had finally settled down, John tentatively started stroking his head. They seemed to be bonding pretty well so I left them to it and went to make some tea. I was about to re-enter the room when Smokey shot past me and headed straight for the back door. I found a rather forlorn-looking John nursing his wrist.

“He bit me,” he said lamely. This did not bode well for my cause.

A few weeks later John took on a job fitting a kitchen for a female client. “You’ll have to come and meet this lady,” he said. “She’s got two cats.”

I went along as his ‘helper’ on the first day and met Stan and Ollie – the former being as thin as a rake and the latter so large he had a job jumping through the cat flap. “They’re lovely cats,” I enthused, “and

they’ll be great company for you.”

I could tell John was warming to them. Then one day he phoned me in a state of some distress. “Those cats have sprayed the new kitchen and my work clothes,” he groaned.

“Well, they’re just not used to your scent,” I told him in their defence.

Not long afterwards we went on holiday to the Greek Aegean island of Skopelos and rented a small villa there. “Just think,” John said before we left, “no distractions for two whole weeks – no television, no mobile phones and no cats.”

But within days we had adopted a feral cat and her three kittens, as well as another adult cat – they were certainly one happy family.

Despite John’s mumblings at first about ‘not encouraging them’, I often caught him peering out of the kitchen window at the kittens as they scampered around the sideway that ran

alongside the villa. Then he started commending mother cat on her nurturing skills as he watched her keeping her little ones in order.

Finally, while we were having dinner at a local taverna one evening, I witnessed him surreptitiously emptying the remains of his meal into a paper serviette. He must have seen the look of amazement on my face. “It’s for the cats,” he said.

By the time the holiday was over, I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that leaving the cats brought lumps to both our throats. We’ve been back home a while now but we often talk about the Skopelos cats. Last week I read an article on ways to prolong your life expectancy. A happy marriage and owning a cat were way up there on the list. I’m going to leave a copy somewhere that John can’t fail to see it. If he hasn’t been won over already that might just do the trick.

“This did not bode well for my cause.”

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