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Catworld October 2014 Issue:439 ÂŁ3.25

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e t i r u o v a f s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; K U

Eating advice How to keep fussy eaters fit and healthy

Leopard cubs are rescued by comedian

naked truth

Sphynx is sleek, elegant and...cuddly!

feline aggression Recognise the signs Front_439.indd 1

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Contents

38 Handle with care

Four categories of common, aggressive feline behaviour

4 Mews Round

22 Take a ‘fresh’ look

6 Katy Edge

A range of natural pet food from award winning manufacturer Arden Grange

News and views of all things feline

Katy introduces lonely Happee to a new playmate

8 Leopard triplets rescued

by comedy star

TV funny man helps rehome three rescued leopards

11 A vet service like no other In-home geriatric, hospice care and dignified euthanasia for pets

12 Fussy eaters

at Arden Grange

23 Lost and found service

widens the net

Agria Insurance cover now includes a lost and found pet benefit

24 When cute turns

Help is at hand for some concerned readers

48 Show news

Forthcoming cat shows around the UK and Ireland

26 Food for thought

A call for a central pet medical database

Your cats’ photo parade

16 Hollywood Cats

30 Kurilian Bobtail

This natural breed is gaining new fans around Europe and the USA

do or who we would contact?

36 Nelson is Cat of

52 Kims World

There’s a birthday and an uninvited guest this month

53 Eight hungry faces

Out of hours emergency 17 SOS for Special Needs Cats 32 How many of us consider what we would

What our cats should be eating and why

46 Ask the experts

50 Show dates

28 Album

vegetarian to you?

The Pet Charity shares concerns about selling puppies and kittens in pet shops

Agria Pet Insurance are doing all they can to make insurance affordable to all

14 Felix could be at risk

18 Do I look like a

44 Kittens for sale?

expensive…

One reader’s experience of introducing wet food to their cat’s diet

One charity is offering help to overseas cats

Charlotte Rixon urges anyone thinking of adopting a moggie to give a black cat a chance

Carole Kemp reports from some of the latest shows

When your cat won’t eat, it could be you that’s at fault

Meet some of the feline film stars that shared their studios with famous humans

40 Black cat magic

the Year

Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards 2014 on Thursday 7th August

One British family took on an unexpected challenge whilst holidaying in France!

54 Proving the critics wrong The rise and rise in poularity of the remarkable Sphynx

59 See more skin

Photographer Chris Harison and his family just love living with Sphynx

CAT CLASSIFIED 7266 KITTENS FOR SALE

Britain’s leading breed-by-breed guide to kittens for sale

76 BREEDERS DIRECTORY The UK leading directory of pedigree cat breeders

79 STUD DIRECTORY Find a suitable stud, together with details of parentage 2

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Welcome 60 Felines, furniture and mess Lorraine Schofield turns a blind eye to a little upheaval around the house

63 Wavy tailed and wonderful Discover why cats were so important to the Ancient Egyptians

64 Natural health

Richard Allport believes natural treatments and conventional drug therapy can work alongside each other

66 Living with Gordy

The summer heat proved to be an unexpected challenge for Gordy

68 Let’s go clubbing

Get sociable and join one of the Britain’s many cat clubs

70 Nature’s diet

How many health concerns are attributable to what we feed our cats?

Usually at this time of year I am sitting in a warm jumper, the sandals have been packed away and winter boots are on. The colder weather also makes me want to eat more (never a good idea for human or feline!) so this month’s Cat World is all about diet and nutrition as we prepare to welcome winter. What we feed our cats is so important to their health and general well being and it may need to be a happy compromise between what you think is best and what kitty will actually eat. I hope the suggestions and advice will prove helpful and if you have a computer, why not visit Purrform’s Facebook page for the chance to win some free natural food for your cat. It’s a bit of a star-studded issue this month too. Comedian Jim Moir (better known as Vic Reeves) helps rescue some orphaned leopard cubs in Africa and we peek inside a new book about some of the felines that have graced the sets of Hollywood ﬁlm studios over several decades. All the cats are pictured with one of the famous stars of the day and the photos really capture the glamour of that time. If you think your favourite feline could be a star too then email a photo to editor@catworld.co.uk and you could see him or her in our Album pages. Till next month

Jill

82 Photo ﬁnish

Jill Mundy, Editor • editor@catworld.co.uk

Front cover image by Frank Dueker

Editor: Jill Mundy editor@catworld.co.uk Media Consultant Maria Fitzgerald maria@ashdown.co.uk Designer: Wendy Crosthwaite wendy@ashdown.co.uk

Contributors: Richard Allport, Carol Hebden, Alison Logan, Inga MacKellar, Sonja K Steiner, Libby Ruffle, Denice Penrose, Tim Relf, Lorraine Schofield, Katy Edge, Kim Rogers, Pat Clements, Malcolm Welshman Carole Kemp - Show Reporter

UK office: Unit 5E, Park Farm, Chichester Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 0AG Tel: (01903) 884988 Fax: (01903) 885514

Write for Cat World We’re always looking for new writers to join our talented team of contributors. So if you have a talent for writing, and a passion for cats, we’d love to hear from you. We especially want to expand our team of specialist writers, with an in-depth knowledge of particular areas. So if you think you fit the bill email richard@ashdown.c o.uk

Subscriptions

1 year (12 issues): UK £39; US $120; ROW £67 iMAG £43 Add the iMag Digital Library to your subscription for only an extra £38 per year. Printed in the UK Distributed to the newstrade by Comag

OCTOBER 2014

All editorial contributions in the form of articles, letters and photographs (b/w or colour print or transparencies) are welcomed by Cat World but cannot be returned unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. In any event the publisher can accept no responsibility for loss or damage to contributions. All material accepted solely on the basis that the author accepts the assessment of the publisher as to its commercial value. All material submitted to the magazine is accepted on the basis that copyright in the work will be vested in the Publisher who assumes all rights world-wide, in all forms and media. catworld.co.uk NOVEMBER 2013

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Mews round

Catch up on the latest news and mews on all things feline

solution for cat

rol ngth flea cont veterinary stre

ks kills fleas & tic e pet trade! exclusive to th

Look out for your post card from Johnsons Summer 2014 will see all the UK’s pet shops receiving a postcard from Johnson’s announcing the major launch of their new & exclusive, veterinary strength Fipronil Spot-on for cats. 4,500 post cards detailing the new product are going through the royal mail network to the pet trade, so look out for yours soon. Johnson’s new Fipronil Spot-on, only the second generic to gain AVM/GSL status, is available for sale by all pet stores and other similar GSL/OTC outlets. With the same active ingredient, Fipronil, as the market leader, it kills fleas & ticks for up to five weeks on cats & kittens over eight weeks of age.

•

Johnson’s full range is available exclusively to Pet Stores, Garden Centres etc., from all major wholesalers, or for further details and information, contact your area sales manager or: Johnson’s Veterinary Products Ltd., Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. B75 7DF Tel: 0121 378 1684 Email: info@johnsons-vet. com.

A ‘lightbulb’ moment A brilliant solution to eradicate cat litter smell problems Our LightMagic titanium dioxide coated bulbs will eradicate all smells, odours, viruses and even bacteria and acts like a quasi air-conditioning unit in any internal space. Lightmagic.biz has been asked to promote, in the United Kingdom, a specially coated light bulb that will eradicate all pet and other smells in the home and at the same time will destroy all air-borne bacteria. As the result of a wonderful invention by a Sri Lankan scientist, Manju Gunawardana, who won the Gold Medal at the Geneva Inventions Convention 2013 against over 600 other entries, all pet and other smells can be eradicated by the use of the LightMagic bulb. The special Hygia Photocoat coating, incorporating precious metal oxides, generates an oxidation process, which together with the light from the bulb will split the germs and bacteria into non harmful gases and H20. The special coating does not present any health risk as it is already used in the food, medical and cosmetic industries, as confirmed by US FDA (Chapter-73) The bulb will be effective in an internal area of up to 100 square feet, so in other words, in any normal living room.

The bulb is low energy, will last up to 10,000 hours and is not required to be alight for 24 hours a day. It will have an instant effect once lit and the cleaning effects of the bulb will last long after the bulb is switched off. The bulb has already been tested by many people and organisations, including allergy sufferers, those with asthma and people who own cats and dogs. They have all found the bulb to be highly effective. In the case of asthma sufferers their symptoms are reported to have been reduced. The LightMagic bulb is available via our website www.Lightmagic.biz. The cost of one bulb is £27 plus p&p of £3. For each additional bulb the cost is £23 plus p&p.

Product review

Two members of the Cat World team reviewed the LightMagic bulb; both own pets and one has teenage children. Their findings were very impressive with each reporting back that smells such as cat spraying, wet dog fur, football boots and sport socks all completely disappeared. The husband of one is also an asthma sufferer and he felt that the air seemed a lot cleaner in the room where the bulb was installed. Although the review took place during the summer months, when the need to have a light bulb on is reduced, still the results were amazing.

‘Bacteria are well known to be the cause of some of the most repugnant smells on earth’ - Newcastle University, August 2010

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■ Send your feline facts, news & cat gossip to Mews Round. Email them to: editor@catworld.co.uk

Charity launches live Q&A sessions with cat experts The UK’s leading feline welfare charity Cats Protection is launching regular live Question and Answer sessions with cat experts on its Facebook page to promote better understanding between cats and their owners. This will give owners the opportunity to ask anything they’d always wanted to know about feline behaviour, neutering and veterinary medicine from the comfort of their own home. “There is so much interest in cats which are rather mysterious and misunderstood creatures,” said Gemma Smith, Digital Communications Officer at Cats Protection. “We get so many questions on our Facebook page that we thought it would be a great idea to make our resident cat experts available to share their wisdom. We welcome any questions owners would like to ask as we’re hoping this will help to increase understanding about our feline friends and improve cat welfare.” The experts include Jane Clements RVN, Neutering Manager, Maggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVS, Director of Veterinary Services, and Nicky Trevorrow BSc (Hons) PG Dip (CABC) RVN, Behaviour Manager, who will be on hand to answer questions that are posted on Cats Protection’s Facebook page www. facebook.com/catsprotection during the hour-long sessions. The dates and times for the upcoming sessions are: 11 September 2pm: Neutering Q&A with Jane Clements 23 September 2pm: Veterinary Q&A with Maggie Roberts 17 October 2pm: Cat behaviour Q&A with Nicky Trevorrow 31 October 2pm: Neutering Q&A with Jane Clements 17 November 2pm: Veterinary Q&A with Maggie Roberts

Caught in a mousetrap A four-week-old kitten, who had to have a leg amputated after getting caught in a mousetrap, is looking for a new start in life thanks to Blue Cross pet charity. The tiny black and white kitten, named Babybell, arrived at Blue Cross’s rehoming centre in Lewknor, Oxfordshire after she was discovered in a local back garden with one of her front legs snared in a trap. She was rushed to the charity’s animal hospital in Victoria, London where she was given emergency pain relief and an examination by Blue Cross vets. Sadly, the damage to Babybell’s leg was so severe that vets decided the kindest thing to do would be to amputate it. Cristina Bull, Blue Cross Veterinary Surgeon explained: “Poor Babybell has really been through the wars and her leg was in a really bad way after getting it caught in a mousetrap. The trap had caused

irreversible neurological damage and the wound was infected. Babybell was very lucky she was found otherwise she wouldn’t have survived much longer.” Babybell is now being cared for by Blue Cross in Lewknor where she is being fostered by a member of staff. She will be available for rehoming when she is around nineweeks-old. Lisa Kent, Animal Welfare Assistant at Blue Cross added: “Babybell is so young that she will adjust well to life with three legs. She’s already amazed us all with how well she’s doing after her operation. She’s very sweet and hopefully her disability won’t put people off giving her a home.” Blue Cross cares for over 40,000 sick, injured and homeless pets every year. If you can help pets in need like Babybell, please visit www. bluecross.org.uk.

Free natural cat food

Purrform are giving away 2 boxes of their Simply Pure & Natural Complete Raw Cat Food range to two lucky people. All you have to do is like their Facebook page and if you are the 500th person to do so and also the 600th person to do so, then you will receive two boxes of any flavour of your choice. Go to https://www.facebook.com/PurrForm?fref=ts to be in with a chance. catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014

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Katy Edge

Confessions of a 20 something cat lady

LIVING ON THE EDGE

Taking a ‘now or never’ approach, Katy takes pity on lonely Happee and introduces her to a new playmate

eet Widget. He’s a ginger tabby British Shorthair kitten who came to live with us a couple of weeks ago. He’s also the most chilled-out, laid-back animal I’ve ever met. It seems a lifetime ago that we lost our ridiculous brown tabby, The Squee, in tragic and completely unexpected circumstances and I can hardly believe that he was still with us six weeks before now. We’ll never forget him, of course – but poor Happee was lonely being an only cat, so after much deliberation, we made the exciting decision to get a new kitten. My boyfriend and I agreed that, in the wake of Squee’s sudden loss, it was something we’d do immediately or not at all. Widget has already made quite an impression at our vet’s. For a start, in typical British Shorthair fashion, he hates being confined – so caging him after his neutering op was a nonstarter. 6

Apparently he wailed the place down and even scaled the walls of his enclosure in a desperate bid for freedom. What earned him a little more respect was his almost instantaneous recovery from anaesthetic, casually hopping down from the operating table while the vet was tidying up, taking himself off on an impromptu tour of the surgery. When I phoned to book him in for his post-op check, I began to reel off the usual details – name, pet’s name, address – only for the receptionist to interrupt me by saying, “Oh, Widget. The noisy escape artist.” I haven’t owned or even known a pedigree cat before and while I’m all for rescue moggies (which Happee, our black-and-white girl cat, is), we had quite a scare with The Squee’s mystery illness and wanted to know more about the background and parentage of our next cat. I had no idea, however, that the temperament of a pedigree can be quite so predictable. Widget has done, to the letter, what the books said he would: he lies next to you but

rarely on you; he follows us around; he hates being shut away, no matter how small or big the space; he doesn’t like being picked up. Most importantly of all, he’s totally relaxed about our other animals and was quick to ingratiate himself with our five-month-old Labrador, Holly. Winning Happee over is a work in progress – she’s such a diva – but he’s getting there. From the moment Widget swaggered out of his carrier, it was clear he’s going to be the family comedian. He hasn’t been with us long but he already goes by the nicknames WidgettyGrub (witchettygrub), Sticky Widget (sticky wicket) and Sandwidge (sandwich). He’s silly and he can laugh at himself – a good thing, really, given his habits of snoring and sleeping with his face buried in my boyfriend’s slippers. He also seems to be some sort of patchwork beastie, with the velveteen paws of a panther, the snub nose of a pig, and the ringed tail of a raccoon. While he’s a real character, like The Squee, he’s definitely his own cat; he knows what ‘up’ means (poor Squee never realised there was a world above eye level), he fears nothing and he leaves his legs in all kinds of strange arrangements. Basically, he’s just what we needed.

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award winning cat food AWARDS 2013

Our award-winning, grain free â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Adult - fresh chicken & potatoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dry cat food is naturally hypoallergenic and includes generous helpings of fresh chicken. The recipe also contains natural supplements and vitamins including, taurine, prebiotics MOS & FOS, joint supplements, cranberries, pea fibre, and omegas 3 & 6. See for yourself why it was voted cat product of the year.

For more information call 01273 833390 or visit www.ardengrange.com catworld.co.uk october 2014

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LEOPARD TRIPLETS

thank their lucky stars TV funny man helps rehome three rescued leopards

omedian Jim Moir (better known as Vic Reeves), wife Nancy and daughters Lizzy and Nellie, had a wild experience in South Africa this August, when they flew out to Shamwari Game Reserve with international wildlife charity The Born Free Foundation. Jim, who is proud to be a patron of the charity, was asked to assist a team of wildlife professionals in moving three rescued leopards - Sami, Alam and Namira - to their new enclosure at the Born Free Big Cat Rescue Centre on the Reserve. The triplets were sedated by Dr. Johan Joubert and carefully moved with the help of Land Rover Experience in two Land Rover Discoverys to their new home. The Moir family assisted throughout and were thrilled to be able to get so involved with these majestic creatures. Jim described moving the leopards as: “An incredible experience. They’re such big, powerful beasts that you wouldn’t want to go anywhere near them when they are awake!” Describing the moment the animals arrived in their new enclosure, Nancy said: “When we saw them go into their new home, we all cheered!” Having been found as orphans in the Sudanese Bush, the cubs’ plight 8

caught the attention of Virginia Lundin, wife of the President of Lundin Oil in Sudan. They contacted Born Free for help and soon the cubs were rehomed at Shamwari, where they now live in a three acre natural enclosure. Their newly upgraded living quarters have been funded in part by their dedicated group of Born Free Adoptive Parents, including Jim himself, who kindly donated prize money after appearing on ‘Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ and ‘Tipping Point Lucky Stars’. Wildlife lover Jim has dreamt of

going on safari since he was a child and once aspired to become a ranger himself. He described the opportunity to see some of the world’s most endangered and beautiful animals in their natural environment as: “A dream come true.” The Born Free Foundation was founded thirty years ago by legendary actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna OBE and her late husband Bill Travers MBE. For information about the vital work of the charity, and to find out more about the leopard triplets, including how you can help to provide them with lifetime care through an adoption package, visit: www.bornfree. org.uk

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After you’re gone, we promise to be there for your cat We know your cat means the world to you which is why Cats Protection promise to be there for them after you’re gone. Register with our free Cat Guardians service today and you can be assured that, after you pass away, our caring staff and volunteers will look after your cat until we find them a loving new home. Find out more about how Cat Guardians could bring you peace of mind – request your leaflet today. If you’d also like to find out how you can help Cats Protection keep our promise to never put a healthy cat to sleep, please tick the box to request our gifts in wills booklet too.

Call 01825 741 271 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm) Or go online www.cats.org.uk/catguardians

Please send me a FREE Cat Guardians leaflet Simply complete and return this form to: Freepost RTJK-TJKK-GREZ, Becky Tichband, Cat Guardians Service, Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT. No stamp needed.

Yes, I’d also like a FREE gifts in wills booklet Title:

Name:

Address:

Postcode: Tel:

It really helps Cats Protection if we can keep you informed about our exciting work, campaigns, activities and fundraising. If you would prefer us to not contact you by post or telephone, please phone: 08707 706 827, email: cp@cats.org.uk or write to us at the Freepost address: Freepost RTJK-TJKK-GREZ, Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT. Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

LA1409

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Only a few vets in the UK offer in-home geriatric, hospice care and dignified euthanasia for pets. Luckily for pet owners in Sussex and Surrey/Kent borders, there is veterinary surgeon Susan Gregersen and Vets2Home Veterinary Service

A VET SERVICE

like no other

hen the end finally came for Kruger (named after the South African National Park), a pretty and smoky tortoiseshell rescue cat, her owners Jay and Bindi Parmar had no doubt who to turn to. Vets2Home had helped and supported 19-year-old Kruger through thyroid and liver problems with medication and home visits, but 18 months later the elderly cat was refusing to eat food containing her thyroid tablets. “Kruger had always loved her food, so when she stopped eating we knew it was serious,” said Jay. “We were about to go away to America for two weeks so we called Susan for advice - even though it was in the evening. She

said, very gently, that if anything happened to Kruger while we were away, it would be traumatic for both her and for us, and it might be better to consider saying goodbye before we went. “As soon as we booked the appointment it was as if Kruger breathed a big sigh of relief. In our last week together, her body started to pack up but we felt she was thanking us for saying she could go. On the last night we slept with Kruger, taking it in turns to look after her at our home near Brighton. “Usually she would hide from visitors but that final day - 25th October, 2013 - she greeted Susan and then walked round the room looking at all her favourite places before settling

down in the corner of the windowsill – her ultimate spot. Susan then administered the final injection gently into her side, because Kruger was so bony that to try to inject into a leg would have hurt and stressed her and not something Susan would normally do, being a very experienced, specialist vet in gentle home euthanasia. It was painless and quick - she had passed into a deep sleep within 15 seconds - and took her last breath after just a Above left: Susan Gregersen, Chief Veterinary Surgeon with her rescue cat, Spud. Above: Susan Gregersen, Chief Veterinary Surgeon with her two rescue dogs, Romeo and Sundae.

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BOOK REVIEW Kimmy’s Furry Diary by Christine Wilson

Above: Kruger in her favourite spot - the windowsill. Below right: A lovely last resting box. few, peaceful minutes. There was no trauma and it was all so calm - and very beautiful, actually. We put her in a little box that we’d decorated especially for her but before we took her to the crematorium ourselves, we brought in our tabby cat, Samson, so he had closure too. He sniffed her little body and Susan said: “He knows”. “It is a fantastic service that Vets2Home offers, on many, many levels. We were so grateful that we’d had a chance to give Kruger a great life but she also had a very beautiful final journey, without pain and in peace, at home with the people who loved her.” Veterinary surgeon Susan Gregersen and veterinary nurse/practice manager Alex Gravett started Vets2Home in Sussex in 2005 as a mobile veterinary service. After more than 6,000 home visits Susan decided to dedicate her practice to geriatric and end-of-life home hospice care and to gentle twostep euthanasia. “We’d learned that the often-intense care and unhurried attention needed at the end of life is best given at home, by a personal vet available to come out 24/7,” she explained. “Cats can often be upset by being moved or having to travel in a car, particularly if they are in pain or have a nervous disposition. The same goes for some dogs, if they are scared, large, in pain or just frail. Our greatest aim is to ensure that the last transition is completely calm and free from worry and pain for both the families and the pet.” Vets2Home’s geriatric and end-oflife palliative home vet care includes treatment and tailor-made medication

plans to suit the presenting health issues, plus advice and guidance by phone, text, email or home visits available 24/7. Advice by phone, text or email is always free of charge. Home visits and unhurried vet consultations including registration with the VIP priority club, can be arranged anytime - daytime, evenings or weekends - at the same rate of £125. At the very end, Vets2Home offer their specialist service around the clock; the two-step gentle in-home euthanasia service, ensuring a very peaceful end at all times. As the time for this can be difficult to plan, home visits for a gentle goodbye do not require prior registration and will always include a pain-free sedative prior to the final injection. This unique home service is priced at £150 for a cat. Prices for dogs start at £165 for a small dog and depend on the breed and size. Vets2Home also respectfully transports pets to a small, accredited pet crematorium (Chestnut Lodge) and collects and returns the ashes home.

This is the third book about Kimmy, a tabby and white cat, and her life with Christine which, in the second book, found them moving from Bath to Northern Ireland - quite a journey for a cat. In this book, Kimmy is enjoying an Irish summer, being spoilt rotten and generally enjoying life. But she has to face a far greater challenge than moving house when a visit to the vet for dental treatment discovers a lump of the worst kind. Most diary entries are written by Kimmy, with additional ‘notes’ from Christine and occasional contributions from others. The story that follows is one of care and compassion and it is clear the two of them share a very close bond. The text is well written and the diary format makes it easy to dip in and out of without the need to reach the end of a chapter - although I have to confess that I didn’t want to put the book down! Despite the delicate and perhaps upsetting subject, it was a very enjoyable read and I would thoroughly recommend it. (Just have a tissue handy perhaps). Following the success of ‘The Kimmy Diaries’ and ‘Kimmy’s Irish Diary’, Kimmy became a bit of a celebrity, even having her own Facebook page. Kimmy’s Furry Diary sees her story continue and if you have enjoyed the other two titles, this one is a must. However, it can be enjoyed as a story in its own right. Christine adopted Kimmy from Bath Cats and Dogs Home and all author royalties from the sale of this book are being donated to the charity. www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk

•

For further information contact Susan and her associates at her small Mid-Sussex-based, familyrun practice on www.vets2home. co.uk, email contact@vets2home. co.uk or - if more urgent - ring 07962 423567 catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014

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It’s frustrating when your cat snubs the food you put down for them, especially when they seem to be hungry. But is the food the problem - or could it be you?

FUSSY

eaters nutritional balance of a high quality cat food and may lead to obesity.

Eating out?

ou’re shopping and the local supermarket has a particular brand of cat food on offer. Great! It is such a good deal that you buy several boxes and rush home to try it out on kitty. For a couple of days, they appear to enjoy the new flavours – there is much lip licking, with one flavour in particular seeming a clear favourite. Then one day, for no apparent reason, Kitty sniffs the dish of food, looks up at you and walks away with contempt. There you are, out of pocket, stuck with boxes of this food and a finicky cat that won’t eat what you put down for it. Sound familiar? I am afraid, if you think you have a problem eater, it may be you that is the problem. Ask yourself the following questions and see if you can solve the fussy feline puzzle.

you find a nutritious diet your pet enjoys eating, stick with it.

Offering variety?

Constant changes in diet will create a cat that expects those changes to be maintained. As you can’t speak the same language, there is no way a cat can communicate the particular brand or flavour they want to eat that day. Variety in a human diet is important to ensure nutritionally balanced meals. Cats however can get all the nutrients they need when they are fed a quality, nutritionally complete cat food appropriate for their life style.

When you ﬁnd a nutritious diet your pet enjoys eating, stick with it.

Giving in?

If your cat likes its food one day but refuses it the next, chances are you give in and change your cat’s diet or put something else down in an effort to please them. This only reinforces their picky behaviour. Equally, frequent changes of cat food brands can also create a finicky eater. The cat holds out to see what will be offered next. When

Too many treats?

Treats and titbits, as well as feeding food from the table, can create a finicky eater. Is there a particular family member who slips your cat treats and food from the table? Sensible feeding can be undone by treats. Food surreptitiously fed can also upset the

An outdoor cat can easily pick up scraps of food from bins, from neighbours who think they are being kind in offering food and through hunting. There is not a great deal you can do, other than asking neighbours not to feed your cat but just enjoy their company.

Over-worrying?

Do keep in mind that in the wild, cats are hunters that eat as and when they are hungry, rather than sitting down to three square meals a day. Seldom do they eat voraciously as dogs often do. Cats nibble at their food, walk away and return at intermittent intervals. Their occasional nibbling is sometimes misinterpreted as not liking a certain diet.

The solution

Consider the points above and watch your family and friends for any of these feeding traits. The solution is a strategy that combines a proper feeding regime and strict monitoring of your pet’s feeding habits. That way, you will win the battle of mealtime wills and stop wasted food - and money! If your cat has trouble chewing, swallowing or appears to have lost a lot of weight, you must take them to a vet for examination as soon as possible in case there may be an underlying problem.

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This pen £1086

Eradicates viruses

Eradicates food smells

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

Eradicates cooking smells

Eradicates bacteria

The TiO2 coating generates an oxidation process, which together with the light will split the germs and bacteria into non harmful gases and H2O. One bulb will be effective in an area of up to 100sq.ft. This coating does not have any health risk as it already used in the food, medical and cosmetic industries. As confirmed by US FDA (Chapter-73) This bulb will improve the air quality in any internal space, including offices, kitchens, bathrooms or lavatories, to such an extent that you will be amazed. All pet smells will disappear with the use of this bulb. You will not want to be without this special bulb in the future. The bulb lasts for up to 10,000 hours so will not need replacing for many years The bulb has already been tested by many people and organisations including allergy sufferers, those with asthma and people who own cats and dogs. They have all found the bulb to be highly effective. In the case of asthma sufferers their symptoms are reported to have been reduced. The LightMagic bulb is available via our website. The cost of one bulb is £27 plus p&p of £3. For each additional bulb the cost is £23 plus p&p. To place an order call +44 (0)7872 900149 or order via our Contact page at www.LightMagic.biz

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A study by one leading insurance company has prompted a Manchester-based software company to call for a central pet medical database

FELIX COULD

be at risk E

xactly how lucky is the pet named Lucky? Well now we know...sort of. Anglo-American technologists, Aquarium Software, believe that a bizarre study, which found that Megan is the unluckiest name for a dog, has shined the light on an opportunity for the pet insurance industry to tighten up the way it works. The survey used information from vets, consumers and insurers to unearth the results; however Mark Colonnese, Sales and Marketing Director at the software company, believes that it’s time the industry used this kind of information as a way to better educate owners and vets and ultimately lower pet insurance premiums for most customers. “These surveys show that some form of comprehensive pet records already exist but it’s up to insurers to communicate what data they are gathering and why, and gather more intelligent data that will help drive premiums down for the average cat and dog owner. That in turn will make pet insurance a more palatable proposition for consumers, as it is undoubtedly viewed by some at the moment as overpriced.” The study found that dogs called Megan were three times as likely to end up on the vet’s table compared to the ‘average’ dog. Felix was the riskiest name for a cat, with poor Felix twice as likely to have received treatment, when compared with the average feline. Aquarium Software have long believed that a central pet and vet database, not dissimilar from the information used in this survey, would make the whole industry both more efficient and more affordable, whilst at the same time allowing greater ability to track fraudsters who play a significant part in

pushing up prices. One potential pitfall in effecting the database of all pet databases is finding a solution which can gather, integrate and update so much information from so many disparate sources; but Aquarium believes it has the answer. “This is exactly the kind of data challenge Aquarium was created for,” said Colonnese. “We’ve been providing technology integration solutions for the car and home market for years but now we’re turning our attention to improving the efficiency of the pet market.” Their experience shows that car insurance claims technology allows claims to be processed

Felix was the riskiest name for a cat, with poor Felix twice as likely to have received treatment, when compared with the average feline. using vehicle registration, tax and driving licence information, as well as information from other insurers; the home insurance market is similar. “Our vision is one of bringing a similar philosophy to the pet market, using the records of each individual vet and insurer, storing them on a centralised, all-encompassing database, which is then updated with every

visit to the vet and with every claim made. This way, every time an insurance company processes a claim or a policy application, cloud software solutions access all the relevant information in seconds, allowing applications and claims to be validated and processed quicker, allowing for more accurate, fairly priced premiums.”

14 OCTOBER 2014 catworld.co.uk

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The Wren Infra Red Heat Lamp Exclusive to

Britain’s Top Cats compete for the prestigious title of

Supreme Exhibit 2014

www.diamondedgeltd.com

at the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy

Standard Unit, as illustrated £52.50 incl. VAT + £3.00 p&p.

38th SUPREME CAT SHOW

SATURDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2014 Halls 17 & 18 NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT

Quantity discounts available.

Around 800 Pedigree and Non-Pedigree Cats in Competition and on Exhibition

We also offer an extensive range of control options; thermostats, time switches, etc.

Tickets are available in advance from the Ticket Factory on +44 (0)844 338 0338 E tickets available from www.theticketfactory.com

Please visit our website for full details and prices. DIAMOND EDGE LIMITED 126 Gloucester Road, BRIGHTON, BN1 4BU Tel: 01273 605922 and 683988 Fax: 01273 625074 Email: diamondedge@btclick.com

www.supremecatshow.org

Royal Canin Cat 2kg

The following Royal Canin cat 2kg bags are on offer

at only £13.99

Hillier Garden Centre, Dept. CW10, Woodhouse Lane, Botley Nr. Southampton SO30 2EZ. Tel: Botley (01489) 781260/781811 email: sales@grangepetcentre.co.uk web: www.grangepetcentre.co.uk

Kitten – Exigent Savour sensation – Sensible – Fit

Manufacturers of cat dwellings and accessories. Deliveries Throughout U.K. Mainland

Hamwick Hideaway

£221.00

Overall Size: 7’6” long x 3’0” wide x 5’1½” high House Size: 3’0” wide x 1’3” high x 1’3” deep raised 1’0” with legs

The Hamwick is an inexpensive run and shelter providing a secure area The above has been treated with red cedar wood preservative - this is an additional cost.

LOW COST VETERINARY DIETS NOW AVAILABLE. PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

THE SEVERN SUITE CAT HOME

Overall Size: 9’3” long x 4’0” wide x 6’1½” high House Size: 4’0” wide x 3’0” deep x 3’0” high Framework: 38mm x 38mm planed timber. House area: is clad with 12mm x 100mm tongued and grooved boarding. There are two access doors and a two way magnetic pet door. The roof is covered with bitumen felt. A glass window is at the front of the house. Run area: The run is covered with 1/2” x 1” x 19 gauge galvanised Twilweld.

Only £379

Carriage £55.00

The above has been treated with red cedar wood preservative - this is an additional cost

C6 Kiti-Kit Cat Run

C60

Carriage £55.00

2820mm (9’3”) long x 1830mm (6’0”) wide x 1868mm (6’1½”) Constructed of 38mm x 38mm planed timber covered with 13mm x 25mm x 19g galvanised wire. Other gauges and size of mesh can be quoted for. We are always pleased to quote for any extensions or alterations you may wish to make.

Only £246.00 Carriage £45.00 The above has been treated with red cedar wood preservative - this is an additional cost.

Honeycomb 17” round cat bed

Build your own cat home or run

This fibre filled cat bed is high sided, has towelling lining and has a removable cushion, warm & cosy.

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Visit us online at www.grangepetcentre.co.uk C39

Microchip cat flap

The SureFlap microchip cat flap identifies cats using their unique identification microchip, unlocking only for your pet and preventing strays and neighbourhood cats from entering your home. Easy setup, installation & operation: Learns your cat’s existing identification microchip The only multi-format microchip cat flap works with all common microchip types Simple one-button programming learns your cat’s chip in seconds SPECIAL OFFER Elegant two-part design enables quick installation in doors, windows and walls ONLY £65.99 Fits into the hole left by many existing cat flaps

Arun Chalet

Superb value at only Carriage £55.00

£401.00

Overall size: 9’0” long x 4’9” wide x 6’0” high House size: 4’9” wide x 3’0” deep x 6’0” high The above has been treated with red cedar wood preservative - this is an additional cost.

We have an enviable selection of panels that are all manufactured in our own factory. The benefit of these panels is that it is possible to design your own cattery, run, pen etc. If the panel you require is not shown please contact us, as the diverse number of panels we produce run into hundreds. All planed timber Panel 6’ x 3’ - ½” x 1” 19G galvanised wire £18.45 each Door Panel 6’ x 3’ - ½” x 1” 19G galvanised wire £32.85 each

YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT THE CAT HOMES, RUNS, PENS, Carriage £45.00 on any quantity BOOKS AND ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE AT VERY MODERATE PRICES IN OUR FREE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE. Carriage terms on accessories - orders over £75.00 free delivery. Orders under £75.00 add £5.50 Excludes Scottish Highlands & Lowlands & Offshore Islands, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isles of Scilly & Isle of Man PLEASE SEND £1 STAMP FOR YOUR COPY master card and visa welcome. All card holders can purchase by mail or telephone by quoting card number - open 9.00am - 5.00pm daily

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BOOK REVIEW

Hollywood Cats Take a trip back in time to the glamorous world of Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Clark Gable and meet some of the feline film stars that shared their studios

’m sure we all have our favourite feline film stars - TC or any of the other Top Cats perhaps; the Aristocats also spring to mind along with Jonesy, the cat rescued by Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) at the end of the first Alien film - finally there was a cute creature in that film - and of course, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland... There have been so many cats appearing in Hollywood productions over the years that it might be impossible to remember them all but help is at hand. Hollywood Cats, a new hard back publication from Antique Collectors Club, takes us back to the golden age of film, from the 1920s through to the late 1960s. Each page plays host to a well known Hollywood star of the era, with a cat in their arms or by their side. With over 150 pages, it is a book to be visited

time and time again. Some of these cats were genuine feline ‘actors’, brought in specifically for the part. Others were strays that lived around the studio buildings; the land had been the natural home for many of them prior to the film industry moving in. And we should not forget to mention Jackie, the MGM lion for nearly twenty years. A large number of Hollywood stars enjoyed the company of their own cats at home too and this is also reflected within the pages. Pedigree breeds were popular; for instance, Kim Novak and Vivien Leigh were both lovers of Siamese, while Jean Harlow favoured a black Persian named His Royal Highness. Black cats were often used by Hollywood in horror films and ghost stories, in true stereotypical fashion. However, they seem to have been a popular choice for pets with many of the stars in this wonderful book. The nostalgic photographs are all from the John Kobal Foundation, an archive of some 22,000 black and white original negatives from 1920 -1960, featuring scene stills, star portraits and publicity images. The introduction by

Gareth Abbott is very informative and gives an interesting insight into some of the behind-the-scenes felines and those who appeared front of camera. A flick through the book will certainly jog a few memories and introduce you to many more famous and not so famous felines along the way. However, I’m sure you will want to spend much longer than just a few moments with this book, as each turn of the page reveals a wonderful new cat or kitten to ooh and aah over... who knows, a little Hollywood magic may rub off on you and your own star feline. Images taken from Hollywood Cats: Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation, Edited by Gareth Aboott, published by ACC Editions.

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SOS FOR Special Needs Cats We often hear news from charities around the UK and Ireland but many organisations exist that help cats overseas too

OS for Special Needs Cats is an organisation that finds homes for cats with special needs, mostly from overseas. Many of the cats come from Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia; others have been from Greece and Bosnia. There are many homeless cats and dogs living on the streets with nobody taking care of them. Cats living on the streets are very prone to eye infections which, if not treated, can cause permanent damage and loss of sight. Street cats are frequently victims of road accidents, resulting in a limb or tail being amputated. Some injuries are caused by dog attacks from the many dogs also living on the streets. Last but not least, there is deliberate abuse - with many cases of cats being shot with air guns or deliberately beaten. There are some wonderful dedicated rescuers in all countries who take in these damaged cats and get treatment for them, then care for them until they can be adopted. Sadly, finding homes for these cats is almost impossible in many countries, which is where the organisation comes in. Lynn Maguire is asking for your help on behalf of SOS for Special Needs Cats: “We need help to change people’s perception that these ‘special’ cats are

CATBITES Collars get smart

•

A new collar for pets will be introduced in the UK next year that ‘tells’ owners how their pet is feeling. The ‘smart’ collar for cats and dogs is a high-tech version of the gadgets and gizmos many sports enthusiasts are already using. The collar will be able to monitor pulse rate and how many calories are burnt. Vets seem to be generally in favour of this new device, hopeful that it may cut down the number of overweight pets and could also help to manage illnesses.

BA offers new in-flight experience

•

Street cats are frequently victims of road accidents, resulting in a limb or tail being amputated. difficult to care for. Their issues can range from very minor - a cat with no tail may look a little different but can lead a normal life - through minor disabilities such as one eye, to more serious problems like partial paralysis. We also are asked to help find homes for cats with conditions such as diabetes and unusual genetic conditions. We are currently seeking a home for a cat with Ehler-Danlos syndrome, meaning he has fragile skin. He is a gorgeous boy and needs a quiet home where he is the only pet. I know you will see many requests for help but these cats need help more than most. Some of them have suffered terrible pain and fear and have had a long road to recovery. Their stories only really end when they are finally adopted.”

• If you think you can help by making a donation or would like to adopt a cat, please email worldanimals@btinternet.com or visit www.specialneedscats.co.uk/ for more information.

British Airways recently launched its new ‘Paws and Relax’ channel as part of the in-flight entertainment options. From September, passengers on long-haul flights will be able to watch footage of cats and dogs being cuddled and stroked, popular animations and documentaries about cats such as Simon’s Cat and The Secret Life of Cats, amongst other calming animal films. Some of the featured animals are awaiting adoption at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Research has shown that animals can be very comforting in times of stress and can make people smile and laugh, relieving tension. British Airways hopes that the new channel will help nervous passengers enjoy their flight better, allowing them to sit back and relax.

Smallest kittens in the world

•

Born on April 8th at Philadelphia Zoo, three Black-footed kittens made their public debut in August. Blackfooted cats are the smallest species of cat anywhere and the three cute kittens are the smallest in the world. The tiny African cat gets its name due the the black paw pads and underside of all feet. Females weigh around 3.5 pounds with males weighing in between 4.5 and 5.5 pounds. Their small size makes them very vulnerable but they have large ears, very acute hearing and are known to be quite ferocious! catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 17

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Do I look like

a vegetarian to you?

When it comes to choosing food for our felines, careful consideration of the ingredients and nutrients is a must By Jenny Philp, Clinical Director, Vet’s Klinic

hen admiring my serenely sleeping cat curled up cosily at the end of the bed it’s hard to rationalise that this beautiful elegant creature, who has become an affectionate companion and confidant over the years, is in reality a lean, mean killing machine. For most cat owners, the fact that we are actually harbouring a skilled assassin is something we would rather turn a blind eye to. However, the impressive features of a natural born predator are hard to deny; strong agile bodies with lightning

reflexes, stealthy silent gait, razor sharp claws, long canine teeth, excellent night vision, highly attuned hearing and a superior sense of smell. Acknowledging the glaringly obvious truth about these unique creatures we share our lives with is fundamental to understanding all aspects of their healthcare. So why does this often get forgotten when it comes to the most essential of topics – nutrition! Currently 70% of cat owners feed a commercially prepared diet to their cat, of which half feed a mix of wet and dry

food; the other 30% of owners feed table scraps, raw diets or real prey based plans. Raw and prey diets are potentially very biologically appropriate. However, home prepared diets are notoriously difficult to balance correctly and can be time consuming and inconvenient for most. Worryingly, a recent study in the US found 82% of home prepared diets to be deficient in multiple nutrients. Even so, some commercial diets are just as inappropriate; they may well balance better on paper but it only takes a glance at the back of a packet of some commercial diets to highlight their inadequacies. For example, take the two marketleading dry food brands; the analytical constituents read 30-32% protein, 10% fat and 7.5-8.5% ash. What the manufacturer doesn’t need to declare is the carbohydrate content. Most of these dry

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NUTRITION diets are over 40% carbohydrate and rely on the carbohydrate to create the kibble structure. So why should this be a concern?

Biological requirements

Cats are biologically different to us, they are classified as obligate carnivores. If you are a ‘carnivore’ you derive your energy and nutrients from a diet exclusively or mainly from animal tissue. If you are an obligate carnivore you depend solely on animal tissue as opposed to a facultative carnivore that, in the absence of meat, can choose to use non-animal sources for their nutritional requirements. In contrast humans are classed as omnivores, deriving their energy from a variety of food sources, and dogs are a topic of controversy and can be classified as either omnivore or facultative carnivores. The domestic cat’s natural diet consists of small rodents and mammals. On average a prey item is 62% animal derived protein, 10% fat with 14% ash, which is mainly mineral content from bone (see the table below). This protein rich diet has caused obligate carnivores to evolve with completely different biochemical pathways for processing food and metabolising nutrients when compared to other species we are familiar with, such as ourselves or dogs. The universal source of energy to all cells in any creature is glucose. For humans and dogs, glucose is readily available from breaking down the carbohydrate in our diets. However for carnivores, their diet of fat and protein requires them to obtain glucose in a different way. Hence cats have well developed pathways to convert the building blocks of protein, amino acids, into a source of glucose. These pathways exist in humans and dogs but they are part of a collection of pathways to create energy that can be altered dependent on the type of food ingested. For cats, even when a cat has not consumed any protein, their body cells still demand a source of amino acids for energy and, in the absence of dietary protein, they have to start utilising existing body protein, i.e. muscle mass, to Prey Species Crude Protein % Mouse Rat Small bird

62 63 62

maintain normal cell function. Cats naturally consume a high amount of protein in their diet, 62% if they consume a mouse. Comparing this with the commercial diet at 30% it doesn’t take an expert nutritionist to identify a potential discrepancy! Moreover, the other important question that needs to be considered is where the protein originates from. Protein in a diet can come from animal tissue but is also found in many vegetables and grains. The only way of determining the source of protein is by analysing the composition (ingredient) list on the back of the packet. The list is ordered by weight in descending order, so to satisfy a cat’s biological requirements, a source of meat based protein should be first on the list. For the two diets in our example the first three ingredients read: cereals, animal and meat derivatives (10%), vegetable protein extracts. Therefore the protein declared in these diets is largely derived

Fat %

Ash %

11 9 9

13 14 15

from non-animal sources. Other than the obvious fact that I have never witnessed a cat with a desire to stalk vegetables, why does this matter? Cats require specific amino acids and vitamins in their diet which are essential for normal cell function; some of these can only be obtained naturally from animal tissue. Arginine, Taurine, Cysteine and Methionine are amino acids used in lots of important processes in mammals but cats have to rely on a dietary source making them essential; this is not the case in dogs and humans as they can synthesise these molecules from others. For cats this process is not efficient and their daily requirements are much higher, consequently they utilise them faster than they can be created.

The result of deficiencies

Deficiencies can cause serious disease, for example taurine deficiency can cause heart disease and blindness. Commercial diets have to follow strict guidelines to

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NUTRITION ensure that these molecules are present in adequate amounts and in cases where levels are inadequate, supplement them artificially. Surely the more logical and natural approach is simply to feed what the cat naturally requires - meat based protein! How many of us have seen a black cat that has a reddish brown tinge to their coat? This is something that many of us may have observed in passing without realising but is a classic example of the effects that a diet deficient in meat can have. Tyrosine is an amino acid only found in animal tissue that cats can’t synthesise themselves. However it is not a necessity for body function and therefore is not a regulated requirement to be supplemented in commercial diets. Tyrosine is a key component of the pathway that creates melanin, the black pigments responsible for their coat colour; so in a deficient state, a black cat turns brown.

best for digestion

Even when animal protein is included in a diet, the majority comes from rendered sources. Rendered meat or more commonly named ‘meal’ comes from animal tissue that has been heated for a prolonged time at extreme temperatures and pressures to remove the fat. Rendered meat is on average only 75% digestible. This

means that for every 10g of rendered meat consumed, only 7.5g can be utilised by the body. When you compare this to some of the new technologies using fresh meat as an ingredient, with 96% digestibility, this protein source certainly looks to be a more favourable ingredient. Furthermore, digestibility is affected by the carbohydrate content in the diet; the higher the carbohydrate content, the less digestible the protein. There are several factors contributing to this but predominately carbohydrates accelerate gut transit, so reducing the time available to digest protein in the diet. More importantly on this topic, as illustrated by the figures above, a cat’s natural diet does not contain large amounts of carbohydrate; therefore cats have evolved with a reduced ability to process and utilise carbohydrates. The process of breaking down food is carried out by specific molecules called enzymes. Different enzymes are responsible for breaking down different types of food. Amylase is an enzyme responsible for carbohydrate breakdown; this is present in saliva and is then also secreted by the pancreas gland in both dogs and humans. Cats possess no salivary amylase and have very limited levels of pancreatic amylase so have reduced capacity to deal with this type of food. Cats can process carbohydrate to some extent and once broken down they can use simple sugars very efficiently. However, they have limited ability to store them for future use. In a dog or human, excess sugar is stored in the liver, as a large chain of sugars, in a molecule called glycogen; this can be readily broken down if the animal suddenly needs a source of energy. A cat’s biochemical pathways are not efficient at storing sugars in this way; instead any excess sugars are stored by converting them directly to fat which in turn predisposes cats to weight gain. This process is slower

and can lead to prolonged periods of hyperglycaemia after eating.

Growing concern of obesity

Both obesity and prolonged hyperglycaemia are key factors thought to contribute to the development of diabetes. Obesity itself is one of the greatest and growing health issues we face with our domestic felines; it is now estimated to affect 30% of the cat population. We all have a responsibility to reduce this growing health concern and this starts with diet awareness. Although feeding high carbohydrate and vegetable based diets is not going to cause cats any direct short term harm, it is hardly promoting better health and may well be predisposing them to problems long term. Nonetheless commercially prepared dry diets do provide a convenient way of feeding our cats and beneficially reduce tartar formation and the subsequent development of periodontal disease. Dental disease in cats is another key health problem in the feline population and one of the greatest risk factors of developing problems is feeding commercial wet food. Therefore dry diets should continue to play a role in feeding our feline companions. Armed with the knowledge of a cat’s unique biochemistry we can select diets that are more aligned to their physiological needs by being savvy. Assessing food for its ingredients and nutritional breakdown, rather than selecting one based on the most appealing cat on the pack, will help your cat’s long term health and wellbeing.

Quality control

So when you’re next in the supermarket or pet store aisle considering what to buy, take the packet off the shelf and compare the backs of packs. Look for diets which have the first ingredient listed as a good animal based protein, ideally from a fresh meat source, and compare the amount of protein, fat and ash. We have focused here on dry diets as an example as they are easier to compare. Wet diets have large amounts of moisture in them which varies between brands and makes comparison more challenging. The take home messages though are still the same, consider the quality of the ingredients and the sources of protein. In short we should all be looking for cat food to ‘be more mouse’.

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For details on the promotional opportunities available through

Catworld

lots of lovely things to brighten your autumn

please contact Maria Fitzgerald on 01903 884988 or email: maria@ashdown.co.uk

www.tattypuss.co.uk

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What we do know is that cats are obligate carnivores and require a high protein diet to satisfy their needs and lead a happy, contented life. All our recipes are natural raw minced meat and bone with no preservatives or any palatant enhancements and are grain free. All our recipes are made with 100% human grade food.

Our Simply Pure & Natural frozen complete raw cat food is available to purchase in 2 ways :70 g pouches in boxes of 6, convenient and easy to serve. Available in 5 delicious flavours. 450 g tubs, especially for breeders, a convenient and cost effective way to serve multi cat households. Available in 2 tasty flavours. For more information, visit our website:-

www.purrform.co.uk e: enquiry@purrform.co.uk or call us: 0800 909 8099

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Take a ‘fresh’ look AT

Arden Grange

Award winning pet food manufacturer Arden Grange offers your cat nutrition without compromise

ereal-free, grain-free and glutenfree recipes are becoming increasingly popular with cat owners and the Arden Grange feline range has been specially developed to suit cats who suffer from allergies or intolerance to such ingredients. The products also provide wholesome and gentle nutrition for felines who have no specific reason to avoid cereals and grains but whose discerning owners simply prefer to feed a diet which does not include them. The new recipes include a special concentrated chicken & potato recipe for kittens; two standard adult diets ‘Adult – Chicken & Potato’ and ‘Adult – Salmon & Potato’; a new ‘Light’ recipe which is lower in calories and fat; and an improved ‘Sensitive – ocean white fish & potato’ food, for cats with particularly sensitive skins or stomachs. We know how important protein is to the diet of a cat, which is why all our feline recipes contain at least 26% fresh chicken or fish as their primary ingredient. Chicken has a high biological value, making it an excellent protein source for cats. Salmon and white fish are a rich source of essential amino and omega 3 fatty acids, excellent for maintaining a healthy skin and coat.

The Arden Grange feline range has been specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of the cat. As obligate carnivores, cats have a high requirement for protein and all Arden Grange recipes include meat or fish as the primary ingredient. For example there is 48% salmon in the ‘Adult – fresh salmon & potato’ recipe and 51% chicken in the ‘Adult – fresh chicken & potato’ recipe. This ensures that sufficient amino acids are available to support the structural and metabolic demands of the feline body. Arden Grange recipes are designed to more closely reflect a cat’s natural diet, while providing the balanced nutrition required by our domesticated feline friends. Palatability is of key importance and the high proportion of chicken and fish in the diets ensure that cats enjoy the taste of Arden Grange. The kibbles are specially shaped to ensure that they are easily eaten when fed dry. All our 2kg and 4kg cat foods are available in new, re-sealable bags to ensure maximum freshness for longer. Each of our recipes contains its own unique blend of nutrients and natural supplements to help promote the optimum health, vitality and condition of your pet, including:

Cranberry extract – Cranberries may aid in maintaining urinary tract health. They also have antioxidant properties and may be effective against certain bacteria and fungi. Nucleotides – Nucleotides play an important role in the metabolism of the body and may benefit both the digestive system and the immune system. Prebiotics FOS & MOS – Prebiotics promote the growth of friendly gut bacteria that in turn may reduce the buildup of harmful bowel flora. Natural dietary antioxidants – A special blend of antioxidant vitamins, minerals and plant extracts to help to protect the body from the damage caused by free radicals. Dietary antioxidants may also help to support dental health. Minerals – Minerals are important and have many roles within the body but too much of any nutrient can be just as harmful as a deficiency. The Arden Grange feline recipes include controlled levels of magnesium and phosphorous which in excess are two of the trace elements associated with struvite crystal formation Glucosamine, Chondroitin & MSM – These nutrients are integral to the development, maintenance and reparation of cartilage and joints. Together they may help to promote mobility and joint longevity. Arden Grange is one of the few commercial pet food manufacturers to include these nutrients in all our com-

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lost and found service widens the net New lost and found pet beneﬁt now included with agria policies

plete cat foods. Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids – Derived from high quality natural ingredients, the correct ratio of these essential fatty acids is associated with benefits to the heart, digestion, skin and immune system. Taurine – Taurine is an essential amino acid which our feline friends cannot synthesise themselves. Cats are therefore reliant upon a diet that contains added taurine in order to ensure the correct level is provided for its many roles, including a healthy heart, sight and nervous system. Natural fibres – Cats can be prone to fur balls and the inclusion of these natural fibres may help to ease the fur gently through the digestive tract. The fibres also help to provide a highly palatable ‘crunch’ to the kibble. Natural preservatives – Every Arden Grange cat food recipe is stabilised naturally with mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) and rosemary extract. All our products are naturally hypoallergenic and free from wheat gluten, beef, soya and dairy products. This may reduce the risk of dietary intolerances and allergies that can cause digestive disorders and skin complaints. Arden Grange pet foods are manufactured in the UK to a strict recipe and we will never reduce the quality of our ingredients because of market prices.

•

arden Grange have a range of complete, super premium, naturally hypoallergenic, grain free diets suitable for cats of all ages and lifestyles. for more information and stockists, visit www.ardengrange.co.uk, email enquiries@ardengrange.com or call 01273 833390.

rom September 2014, any pet owner continuing an Agria 4 Weeks Free puppy or kitten policy will be given free membership of leading lost and found service, Pet 24. Membership of the service is a new benefit Agria is making available to all owners moving their pet onto a full policy from Agria Pet Insurance, the Agria Breeder Club, Kennel Club Pet Insurance or the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF). Pet 24 is designed to complement micro-chipping, with pets registered on the scheme wearing a tag on their collar carrying a unique code. Should they go missing, the person finding them can simply call the number on their tag and quote the pet’s individual reference number. The Pet 24 emergency team – who has so far reunited over 20,000 pets with their owners – can then instantly access owner details to have the pet safely home as quickly as possible. If emergency veterinary treatment is required, Pet 24 will also arrange this, as well as help the finder take care of the pet until the owner has been contacted. Since the new benefit was introduced, hundreds of owners have already automatically been sent their Pet 24 packs along with their confirmation of insurance details. The packs include an Agria branded tag for their pet’s collar and instructions on how to register their details online. Sitting alongside Agria’s 24-hour Pet Health Helpline, Pet 24 is included by the pet insurer to give owners a policy that provides support to owners beyond simply providing veterinary cover. It is also

proving helping for breeders keen to encourage new owners not to allow their insurance cover to lapse once their 4 Weeks Free expires. “Pet 24 is delighted to have teamed up with Agria, who we see as leading the way in pet insurance. Both Pet 24 and Agria care for pets, and we are proud of our role in returning straying cats and dogs to their owners 24 hours a day,” said Romek Kriwald, Managing Director of Pet 24. Simon Wheeler, Managing Director of Agria Pet Insurance added: “We are very excited to add Pet 24’s lost and found service to the policies we sell to new owners. This visual identification system complements micro-chipping and enables anybody finding the pet to make contact with the owner really quickly through Pet 24’s emergency team. Moreover if a pet is ill or injured when found, there’s vital confirmation for any attending vet that Agria insurance is in place.”

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WHEN CUTE TURNS

EXPENSIVE… Agria Pet Insurance is doing everything possible to make insurance affordable to all with flexible policies for lifetime cover

hen it comes to kittens, you never really know how they’ll turn out. Watching them grow from a sleepy ball of fluff to a mad adolescent and then settle into life as an adult is one of the great privileges of sharing your life with a feline. But another, less magical unknown is quite how much they might cost you. Take Gracie, the three-month old domestic shorthair. She’d only been in her new home for a couple of weeks when she fell ill and was rushed to the vet. At just three months old her frantic new owners were told she has a lifelong heart condition. Fortunately, Gracie’s breeder had set up an Agria 4 Weeks Free insurance policy for Gracie, and so Agria settled a claim of £1,611 direct to her vet. Although she’s doing well and her condition can be managed with medication, she will need it for the rest of her life – which she can continue to claim for,

as long as she keeps her insurance with Agria.

Finally – lifetime cover that’s affordable

Lifetime insurance like Gracie’s however, has a reputation for being expensive, which understandably puts owners off. Often cheaper policies are generally achieved by reducing cover which, sadly, means they almost certainly are not going to provide cover for life – instead they will have been restricted by a time or financial limit – or both. The lifelong costs of a condition like Gracie’s can really add up and, in some cases, force owners to take a difficult decision about their cat’s treatment. But one of the oldest pet insurers in the world, Agria Pet Insurance, takes a fresh approach to lifetime insurance – making it a much more realistic option for owners. The 125 year-old Scandinavian market leader came to the

UK in 2009 with a different attitude to pet insurance. It’s developed this approach over the company’s long history of working closely with vets and leading animal organisations. In the UK, this includes the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and the Kennel Club. These working partnerships give Agria unique insight to fine-tune their policies and give owners of every cat, from a Maine Coon to a moggy, the core lifetime cover they need, without paying for any benefits they don’t.

Build your policy, cut the cost

Flexibility is the key and Agria’s lifetime policies (they don’t offer any other type) have this in abundance. Starting

• Kaiser the Siamese stopped eat-

ing at 16 weeks old and rapidly lost weight. He needed emergency treatment for an intestinal condition, and because he had an Agria policy in place, £1,538 was settled directly with his vet.

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with core cover, owners then ‘pick and mix’ what they want included in their pet’s policy. So if you don’t travel with your cat, why pay for travel cover? If you won’t need emergency boarding benefit, then leave it off your policy and you won’t pay for it. But if you plan to breed from your cat, you could include Agria’s cover for breeding risks, just in case you need it. By making their policies flexible, Agria has enabled lifetime cover – that may once have been out of reach for many owners – to become affordable.

Caring customer service when it matters most

Another reason why Agria Pet Insurance is growing so rapidly in this country is the company’s reputation for outstanding, UK-based customer service. Agria is committed to employing staff that are pet owners and animal lovers to give customers a service built on empathy. This really shows when you phone customer services and it can make all the difference when something’s wrong with your cat. And by employing experienced Veterinary Nurses in its claims department, who liaise directly with vets, the claims process is handled quickly and efficiently. “We don’t simply provide insurance; at Agria we believe in genuine partnerships with breeders, owners and their pets for life. This is why we add extra free benefits to our polices to help out – such as the Pet Health Helpline, a 24-hour veterinary advice line, and Pet 24, the lost and found pet service,” said Simon Wheeler, Managing Director, Agria Pet Insurance.

Arrange insurance early!

If you’re about to bring a new kitten home, having a 4 Weeks Free policy in place, like Gracie

• Hugo the tabby was luckily insured

with Agria when he was clipped by a car a few months ago and suffered from a head fracture. The resulting bill for his immediate and after care was both totally unexpected and eye-wateringly high. However, not only was his vet able to give him the treatment he needed to get him back to health, Agria settled £2,402 pounds direct to his vet to cover the cost.

did, is great reassurance in those early days. Many breeders will automatically set this up for you – so it’s worth asking if they can arrange Agria cover for your new kitten. It’s crucial that those initial four weeks are then continued to a full policy to ensure there’s no break in your cat’s cover. That way, you won’t run the risk of illnesses or conditions being excluded in the future. Agria gives owners continuing their 4 Weeks Free cover the added incentives of 50% off for the first two months, membership of leading pet lost and found service Pet 24, and continued free membership of the Pet Health Helpline – a round-theclock veterinary helpline.

Making it easy for breeders

Agria has always been dedicated to supporting breeders,

and this has recently been taken to a new level with the launch of the Agria Breeder Club. The Club is designed to give breeders a platform to make sure every puppy or kitten sold, whether registered with the GCCF, the Kennel Club or un-registered, can benefit from crucial early insurance with an Agria 4 Weeks Free policy. Breeders can join the Agria Breeder Club online and then use their login details to register puppies or kittens all in one place for their first insurance policy. Agria is committed to giving as many young animals as possible insurance in those early weeks and so rewards breeders in the Agria Breeder Club for every time an owner continues their free cover with Agria by taking out annual cover. “Veterinary treatment is extremely sophisticated these days and the resulting expense can be significant. The right veterinary treatment, however, can make such an enormous difference to a pet that we work hard to provide as many owners as we can access to the best care when it’s needed. The Agria Breeder Club is a great way to help breeders help us with this and we’re delighted to have had so many join already,” said Alastair Cook, Sales and Marketing Director, Agria Pet Insurance.

•Find out more about Agria’s policies at: www.agriapet.co.uk

• If you’re a breeder, find out more about the Agria Breeder Club at: www.agriapet.co.uk/abc

• Did you know…? Agria insured its first animal, a horse, in 1890 catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 25

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Food for

thought

Introducing wet food to our cat’s diet seemed like the right thing to do but when she refused to eat it, what to do then? By Edward Breen

ur cat Skippy is a funny one when it comes to food. Actually come to think of it, she is a funny one when it comes to a lot of things. But we wouldn’t change her for the world. My partner and I were clueless, to be fair, when we first got her, as neither of us had owned a cat in the absence of adult supervision before. We had a lot to learn and that included what best to feed her. She came from a family who fed her dry food exclusively but we didn’t think this was enough. We did some reading and found that, while most dry cat foods on the market will provide everything they need, in terms of micronutrients, it is better for them to have a mix of dry and wet food some people even say wet exclusively. This gives them a better balance of protein to carbohydrate and can help control calories in tubby kitties. To that end, on the way home from picking her up, we bought a well known generic tinned food. And so began the saga of Skippy and food. Don’t misunderstand me, she didn’t react badly or anything. She just wouldn’t really eat the wet food. She would sniff it, maybe lick it a little and, from time to time, nibble a tiny bit but that was as far as it went. The kitten biscuits though were a hit. The type we got had some little treats mixed in and that sealed the deal. However we just didn’t like the fact that she was eating no meat - her being a carnivore and all. I heard, through work, of someone who cooked fresh meat for her cats. So I did some more research and found

that it could be done. Great! We just had to be careful not to give her too much liver (more specifically vitamin A) and there is also apparently a fine balance of nutrients that a cat needs to survive and be healthy. Also, red meat like beef and lamb isn’t great in high quantities as it can be hard for them to digest. Another thing we learned is that tuna contains high levels of mercury, for cats at least. As we wanted the very best for her, we cooked a mix of chicken and lamb hearts and a very small amount of liver, supplemented with biscuits and some tuna from time to time. It was all going well until we decided she was getting too old for kitten biscuits and started moving her onto adult

ones. The results were seen - and smelt - all over the garden! After this episode, she went right off all her food and ate nothing for days, until we relented and put her back on the kitten biscuits. We knew she could cope with them and it worked in so far as her tummy was improved and she ate them. More research had to be done and I came across some very simple, natural but balanced dry foods, all of which looked very good but wow, were they expensive. This created a dilemma. We thought about it for a while and during this process we were in a local supermarket and saw a British made cat food on the shelves which was about a third of the price. Careful observation of their packaging and website showed that they were balanced and natural, with no added nastiness. We just needed her to like ‘it’ and ‘it’ to agree with her. Then we were in business. We bought a small box and slowly introduced it along with her normal biscuits and, after a couple of days, she was mostly having the new food, with no issues. We had the dry food, now we needed to address the meat. Cooking was time consuming and frankly, we weren’t sure the balance was exactly right, so we decided to go back to buying it. We found that most tinned cat foods contained about 4% of the meat advertised on the tin, the rest being ‘crude protein’, ‘meat’ and other unsavory looking things. The ones with higher percentages were invariably very expensive. While looking through these in a pet shop, we found one that was not overly expensive

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Supreme time again Cat World show reporter Carole Kemp suggests you might like to join her at this year’s Supreme

Y Most people reading this wouldn’t eat fast food everyday. Some wouldn’t ever dream of eating processed food. So why should we feed our precious little kitties the equivalent. No more I say! and reasoned that if she actually ate it, then it would work out better than buying tonnes of cheaper stuff she didn’t eat! The food in question has upwards of 80% meat and no nasty bits. In fact it looks like human food more often than not. It also doesn’t have that ‘cat food’ smell that most brands have. To our surprise, the chicken smells and looks like chicken and the same goes for the fish. What’s more - she eats it, almost all of the time. She has her favourites, and some days doesn’t eat all of the food we put down, but it’s a vast improvement. And she is eating more meat, with less additives, so we are delighted. There is one type of food that she will always eat. If she is having a bad day or a good day, even those days where you can barely get near her she is so grumpy, she will eat cat treats! She loves the crunchy pillow-type ones, the meaty ones, even the liquid ones. We know they are not the best things to give her too much of but we try at least to give her the best we can. We give her anti-hairball crunchy treats, as she gets very upset when she brings one up. With the meaty treats we

try to get the highest meat content we can find (currently 75%). And we use the liquid ones to try to convince her to eat her wet food, if she is having a bad food day. I know a lot of this is more for our conscience than her well being but you should see her little face light up when we shake that box of treats. The way I see it, most people reading this wouldn’t eat fast food everyday. Some wouldn’t ever dream of eating processed food. So why should we feed our precious little kitties the equivalent. No more I say! You don’t need to spend a fortune if you are adventurous enough to cook your own. Just make sure that you are giving them all of the right nutrients and not too much or too little of anything. If like us, you prefer to buy natural, wholesome wet food, you can look out for deals, get reward cards and offers to keep the cost reasonably low. As long as you do plenty of research (if in doubt ask your vet) and try to do the best for your little moggie, they will be happy and healthy just like our little princess.

es it’s coming up to that time of year again - the pinnacle of the show year, the show that everyone talks about - it’s the Supreme 2014. Held as usual at the NEC, this year it is being held on Saturday 22nd November 2014. As always, the Supreme winner is decided upon by ring judging to begin with, the judges whittling it down to the Best of Variety in each of the seven breed sections and also in the Non Pedigree and Pedigree Pet sections. The Best of Variety adult, kitten and neuter are taken to the main stage for a judging panel to narrow it down until all they have left is one of each of the adult, kitten and neuter. They then decide who is going to be the overall Supreme Winner. Not only does all of this judging take place from 9.30 in the morning but there is also a section called Club row. This is for any of the Gccf affiliated clubs to be on show to the public. They can try and encourage people to join the club, buy merchandise and learn about the respective breeds. There are also examples of the breeds on exhibition that people can see and ask questions about. It is a good place to see some of the new breeds on exhibition. You will also find stalls selling all manner of cat-related products for the discerning cat and owner, from food and toys to t-shirts, handbags and the like. There are also some of the cat charities represented, who no doubt will hold a tombola to try and raise money to help the cats in their care. It’s a wonderful day out if you are a cat lover. If you want to know more about it you can always have a look at the Gccf website, where you can see photos of past winners. www.gccfcats.org catworld.co.uk october 2014 27

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Chilled out Chester

Anita from Macclesfield loves this pic of 9 year old Chester. “He was bathing in the sun, looking at me with those eyes and it melted my heart.”

Mal Nash, Warwickshire is thrilled to have one of the kittens from the first litter of Sonnenblume Buttercup (CW 437 centrespread), born on the 27th of May. “He is a beautiful, loving and cheeky little boy and I feel very lucky to have him. He has quickly been accepted by my other four cats and is keeping us all well exercised and entertained. I took these pictures on my visits to Sonnenblume to meet him.”

CATalbum

If you want to see your cat featured in our album, then email us a large-file picture along with a few details about them and what they are doing. Don’t forget to tell us who you are too! Email: editor@catworld.co.uk Don’t forget to visit the Cat World Facebook page too!

Get your cat in our album!

Ben for the high jump

Kevin Morton emailed to say: “I thought you might like this picture of our cat Ben who I caught on camera recently jumping from our fence onto the neighbours’ kitchen roof. Quite a jump for him.”

 HiLife r winne

Here’s Ben again, relaxing after being so energetic jumping that fence!

Lucy was adopted as a kitten from Leybourne RSPCA two years ago and leads a very happy life in Orpington with owner Kessy. An electronic cat flap lets her out until 9pm but she still manages to hunt a few things mostly moths, spiders or leaves.

WIN HiLife Indulge Me! The winner will receive all six recipes in the new HiLife Indulge Me! 80g pouch range. HiLife Indulge Me! is a completely new, ultra premium cat food, prepared to the highest standards, for the most discerning cats! Each variety offers exquisite luxury and something truly special. The range includes all-natural, hand-prepared ingredients, gently steamed to retain their goodness and flavour. The Indulge Me! range includes Chicken Breast with Brown Rice, Flaked Chicken Breast with Lamb in Light Jelly, Flaked Skipjack Tuna with Mackerel in Light Jelly, Shredded Chicken Breast with Ham in Sauce, Skipjack Tuna with Shrimps & Brown Rice and Shredded Skipjack Tuna in Sauce. 28 OCTOBER 2014 catworld.co.uk

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FREE catnip toy for your loved one

Subscribe today! Subscribe to the printed edition of Cat World and we’ll send your loved one a fabulous treat - one of these adorable catnip toys. Your cat will love these toys from The Natural Pet Company. They’re beautifully sewn in cotton fabric and filled with pure dried catnip herb - no artificial filling. Cats go crazy for these toys, whether it be the mouse, rabbit or fish. Subscribe today at www.catworld.co.uk and claim your free gift. Or call us at the CW office on 0800 435553 (calls are free in the UK) Outside UK: +44 (0)1903 884988 US: 1-866-606-6587

One year magazine subscription (12 issues): UK £39; US $120; Rest of world £67

PRICES/OFFERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE & AVAILABILITY. OFFERS APPLY ONLY TO NEW SUBSCRIBERS TAKING AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

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KURILIAN

BOBTAIL

Nicki Fenwick-Raven showcases of the newest Championship breeds in TICA, gaining new fans around Europe and the USA

ccepted into Championship status by The International Cat Association in May 2012 and one of only thirteen natural breeds recognised in TICA, the Kurilian Bobtail is progressing slowly outward from its Russian and Japanese roots and can now be seen in the catteries of progressive breeders in the USA and Europe who are interested in promoting the breed both as beautiful show cats and excellent family pets. As a natural breed the Kurilian traces its origins to the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island, volcanic islands stretched between Russia and Japan. The cats have been documented on the Islands for more than 200 years and it seems were introduced as catchers

of vermin to Russian households, due to their natural ability to catch small rodents, and have very successfully adapted to become favoured pets. The Kurilian Bobtail is an independent, highly intelligent, clever and inquisitive cat. If there is something going on, you can bet the Kurilian will be at the centre of it. They are sociable, playful and excellent with children as they are the most gentle of felines. Possibly due to their natural beginnings, the Kurilian is an active and energetic feline with a penchant for heights and a natural swiftness of foot which is surprising for such a cobby

feline. They are excellent tree climbers and love nothing more than to sit on top of doors or cupboards, surveying what is going on below. They move pretty quickly too and are happy to play with other felines, dogs or humans! The body is medium to large, compact and semi-cobby, with a broad chest. The head is large, a moderate modified wedge with rounded contours and wide at the cheekbone. Eyes are walnut shaped, oval on the top and rounded on the bottom. The ears are medium sized, triangular in shape, wide at the base and slope slightly forward. On first seeing a Kurilian Bobtail you may think that the cat is not particularly heavy but upon lifting, it becomes apparent that these marvellous creatures are very solid and brawny. The coat is soft and silky, generally non-

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matting and pleasant to the touch. The Kurilian Bobtail comes in a variety of traditional colours in solid or tabby, and these colours with any amount of white on their body. Some of the most stunning Kurilian Bobtails also exhibit silver highlights; however they do not, and should never, carry the pointed gene.

• IW SGC Tisima Anyu Bliklya of Amisti • International 10th Best Allbreed Kitten • Best of Breed Kurilian Bobtail LH Adult • Best All Breed Kitten Region EW The most remarkable part of the Kurilian is their fabulous tail. No two tails are the same; just like a human fingerprint, each has its own signature. It’s a dominant gene so even if the Kurilian were to be mated with a domestic cat, all the resulting kittens would have short kinked or twisted tails. Although it is known as a Pom Pom, really the structure is very different. The short, busy tails can be shaped like a whisk, a spiral, a stump or a snag that consist of anywhere between 2-10 vertebrae, kinked many times in various directions. Each tail felt is a new adventure. The amazing ways that each tailbone can articulate, twist, turn and spiral makes you want to feel them again and again. It’s an amazing ‘structure’ and good to know that the gene that makes it happen is not a dangerous, life threatening one for the breed. Whilst the fabulous tail of this feline is both imaginative and unique to its breed, the personality of this cat is surely its second most endearing feature. They are simply one of the best companion cats. They love nothing more than to be close to their human slave and to be involved in everything that their human companions get involved in. They will move from room to room as their owners move, so strong is their bond and want to be together with their owners. Like it or not, they are into everything and being highly intelligent they can be trained to do most things including fetching a ball and opening

we are now expecting our first litter of kittens! The Kurilian Bobtail is a sturdy cat with no health issues and a well-balanced character who loves family life. What better feline friend than a Kurilian Bobtail…

doors and they are the most superb fly catchers! Exceptionally social, they love to play and are excellent with children, other cats and dogs. My first encounter with them was in Moscow, Russia in 2011. Fifteen adults and kittens were present at a TICA Cat Show which was running alongside a companion animal show. The Kurilians however, took my breath away. Creatures of magnificent stature and with immense presence, I was fascinated with them from the first look. Fortunate enough to be able to handle the cats on show, their sheer size and musculature and yet gentle disposition made them a truly engaging feline breed. It was amazing that a breed with such bulk and substance was such a gentle and loving cat. I kept in touch with the breeders I met and in early 2013 was pleased to welcome three cats from different breeders into my cattery in the UK and

Information desk

Nicki Fenwick-Raven Amisti Kurilian Bobtails www.amistibirmans.co.uk

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hen our cats are fit and healthy and only require a visit to the vet for their annual boosters, many of us probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give a second thought to our beloved feline friend having an accident or requiring emergency medical treatment. Unfortunately emergencies happen and usually at a time when we least expect them, so it is important to be prepared. Whichever veterinary practice your cat is registered with, always find out who you would contact in the event you may need an out of hours vet. That way, if there is an emergency, having something simple such as the telephone number written down saves valuable time. Many practices operate their own 24 hour, in house emergency care, whilst other practices opt to use dedicated out of hours emergency vets. If you are not aware of what arrangements are in place with your regular vet, call them to find out, even if they are closed, as they will have a recorded message advising on what to do. All the practices I have researched offer owners free telephone advice and will be able to advise as to whether you need to bring your feline friend into the clinic for immediate treatment. In almost every emergency case you will need to take your cat into the practice, where they have the staff and all the facilities in order to provide the best treatment and care for them. Before you get to the point of needing to call for veterinary help, there are certain questions you should ask yourself and various points to be considered.

Transport

Out of hours

emergency

How many of us consider what we would do or who we would contact in the event of our beloved feline friend having an accident or requiring a sudden medical emergency? By Sonja K Steiner

In the event that your cat requires emergency treatment in the evening, have you got transport? If not, is there a friend or neighbour who could give you a lift? One of the other considerations is to keep handy the telephone number of a local taxi firm who would be willing to transport your cat to the clinic if you have had an alcoholic drink at the time.

Costs and payment

Why is the cost of emergency care more expensive? The out of hours practice has to be fully staffed every night of the week, including weekends and bank holidays and will never know what emergency will come through the door or how many cases will be seen. They offer free expert

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telephone advice prior to an appointment being offered. However not all calls to the practice result in your cat needing to being seen; in fact around 20% of those calls result in an appointment with an emergency vet. Like with any veterinary treatment, the costs depend on which part of the country you live in. The vets who work out of hours are qualified veterinary surgeons who are experienced in emergency and critical care veterinary medicine and many actually work permanent nights. Since the majority of cases are seen 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 and 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 by debit or credit card as a commitment to the treatment. 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 even be able to get help from a local charity.

Provide information

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 can be from antifreeze, food such as onion, garlic, tomato and chocolate, human medication, lilies, rat poisons or 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. Other factors predispose cats to becoming ill once they have been exposed to a poisonous substance; these include their small body size, their ability to hide so that exposure is not immediately evident and because cats, being specialist carnivores, lack particular liver enzymes, they are unable to break down 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 harmful then 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 a cat involved in an RTA may appear initially well, internal bleeding can occur without the cat showing any outward signs initially, so it is important that they see a vet as soon as possible as certain conditions can take time to show and time is of the essence.

Trauma – bites, abscesses and infected wounds

Injuries to cats who are bitten by other cats and dogs can be serious due to the bacteria in the other animal’s mouth and should not be ignored. There may be puncture wounds which may have caused

The emergency vet may not have access to your cat’s medical records so if your cat has a medical history, ensure that you give as much information about their condition and what medication they are on. Below are some of the most common feline conditions seen by out of hours vets, although this list is not comprehensive:

Blockages of the urinary tract

If you notice that your cat is either not producing any urine, is urinating frequently or you notice blood in the urine, then seek immediate veterinary advice as this may be a sign that your cat has a life threatening blockage. Blockages are more prevalent in male cats than females.

Breathing difficulties

With any changes in breathing patterns, persistent breathlessness or openmouthed panting lasting more than a minute, then your vet should be consulted as a matter of urgency.

High temperature

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the best way to avoid expensive vet bills is to be prepared in the case of an emergency:

•Keep the out of hours telephone

number for the emergency vet and handy Know the telephone number of someone you can call on for help with transport Keep a record of your cat’s medical history and any medication they are on take out an insurance policy that suits you and your cat(s), for financial peace of mind Keep calm

• • • •

damage to the underlying muscles, stitches may be required and your cat may require a course of antibiotics. Abscesses are by far the most common in cats who have access to the outdoors. They can develop into serious wounds that may require veterinary care and result in prolonged healing times. Untreated abscesses can lead to a deeper and more widespread infection, so your cat should be seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

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

Insurance cover

I always recommend that people insure their cats;

although there are many different policies out there, 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. I insured Willow and Suki when I adopted them and thank goodness I did, as they have cost thousands of pounds between them. If you have insurance, some or all maybe covered by the policy but cover varies from policy to policy so you will need to check exactly what is covered and what excesses apply. Many people opt not to take insurance out and instead put the money aside each month on what the insurance would cost. However an emergency consultation is £100.00 upwards, and that is without any treatment, so the £10 a month you may put away could soon be spent. Another consideration is if your cat required emergency surgery. If 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

If you have a PDSA near you and live within a defined catchment area of a PDSA PetAid hospital or practice, and if you are in receipt of housing benefit or council tax benefit (which does not include single person discount; second adult rebate and council tax exemption do not qualify), then you should be able to access their services. There are more details on their website www.pdsa.org.uk However they also say it is worth considering taking out insurance to ensure you have peace of mind and your feline friend has the protection they need. The Blue Cross has four hospitals in the UK, three of which are located in London and the other in Grimsby. In order to qualify you would need to live within the catchment area and be on certain types of means tested benefits or low incomes. More details can be found on their website www.bluecross.org.uk No-one ever wants to have to deal with an accident or seek emergency treatment but unfortunately we may all need to at some time. If you are prepared and have all the information ready in advance, those few minutes saved may well make all the difference. Always seek veterinary advice if you are at all concerned about your cat. Suggestions concerning insurance can be found on page 24 of this issue or see the June 2014 edition of Cat World for some further information. My thanks to Vets Now, for the information they have provided to enable me to compile this article.

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Robert Fox LBPPA Specialist Photographer

Experienced with pets and people portraits, show events and weddings. I come to you and no distance is too far. Special price to Cat World readers Home Visits at ÂŁ115.00 plus mileage, for a limited period only. Telephone: 01323 484282 or 07885 630654 www.photopaws.co.uk

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PHOTO BY RICHARDSONS

Above: Nelson with Dave Crow and Andrea Huntley-Crow Below: Model Lucy Pinder, pictured helping out at Cats Protection, was one of the judges

Nelson

NELSON IS

cat of the year The Savoy Hotel in London was host to Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards 2014 on Thursday 7th August

nown as the ‘Feline Oscars’, the National Cat Awards celebrate real-life stories of heroism, survival and bravery in the cat world. Celebrity guests joined finalists, journalists and various Cats Protection supporters at a sit-down lunch followed by a heart-warming ceremony where the winners of the five categories, as well as the overall National Cat of the Year 2014, were announced. Plucky puss Nelson, a one-eyed former stray who survived near-drowning and 15 years living rough, won the top honour.

Twenty-year-old Nelson was named overall National Cat of The Year after winning the Most Incredible Story category. The plucky older gent has used up a fair share of his nine lives during an eventful life. Callously thrown into the sea in a sack with his littermates, he survived when a fisherman plucked him from the waves. Tough times followed as Nelson spent 15 years living rough on the docks at Seaham Harbour, County Durham, with only the shelter of a fisherman’s cabin to protect him from the bitter elements. Having lost an eye, dodged dog attacks

and endured a gang throwing rocks at him, Nelson was eventually scared away from his home when heavy machinery was brought in to start building work on a new marina. But he hit the jackpot in 2009 when the Huntley-Crow family, who had heard about his eventful life from fishermen, took pity on him and took him to live at their home in nearby Seaton Village. In January this year Nelson was diagnosed with an inoperable heart tumour, but despite a bleak prognosis he has amazed vets with his zest for life. Nelson was chosen by a panel of celebrity judges including model Lucy Pinder, actress Lesley Joseph and newsreader Jan Leeming to win the title. Before being named overall National Cat of The Year, he was picked as the winner of the Most Incredible Story

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Holly

PHOTO BY ANDREW COLLIER PHOTOGRAPHY

Mr Chips

PHOTO BY AJAR PHOTOGRAPHICS

Right: Holly and Keith There was also a Special Recognition Award, presented by Cats Protection’s Chief Executive, Peter Hepburn to Keith Smith, of Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, owner of loyal puss Holly. Holly is everything to Keith, for the most tragic of reasons. In 2012, he lost four of his grandchildren - Reece, Holly, Ella and Jordan - in a house fire in Freckleton, Lancashire. Not long after this, his son also sadly passed away. Keith said: “I haven’t got a lot left in my life anymore and Holly has always

•

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and helps over 194,000 cats each year through its national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 31 adoption centres. To adopt a cat, please visit www.cats.org.uk or call the charity’s national helpline on 03000 12 12 12.

Elias

PHOTO BY ANNA BRAITHWAITE

PHOTO BY PHIL CARPENTER

Legz

been there when I get home and when I wake up in the morning. I love her to bits.”

Cleo

PHOTO BY ANNA BRAITHWAITE

category by celebrity judge Paul Copley, best known for his role as Mr Mason in Downton Abbey. Paul said: “To survive all that he has and still be able to trust humans is quite something!” Nelson’s owner Andrea Huntley-Crow said: “We used to visit the harbour and the fisherman would tell us all about his tough life. He had some shelter in the fisherman’s cabin, but certainly none of the comforts of a home. “He had to contend with a lot, the threat of dog attacks and gangs that threw rocks at him, which may be how he lost his eye, not to mention the bitterly cold winters. To do that for 15 years is quite something and we’re just pleased he now finally has the warm, loving home he deserves.” Andrea was at the ceremony at The Savoy in London, made possible thanks to the sponsor, to accept Nelson’s prizecategory and overall winner’s trophies along with three months’ supply of cat food courtesy of PURINA® Other celebrities attending the awards included Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper, Republica singer Saffron Sprackling and Hollyoaks actress Carley Stenson. Nelson beat four other finalists to take the top prize – pub cat Legz, who has helped bring communities together; loyal Cleo, who stayed by her owner’s side when he suffered a heart attack; caring puss Elias, who helps his owner break free from bouts of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; and Mr Chips, who has helped his owner cope with a serious medical condition.

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Cats Couch ON THE

INGA MACKELLER

Inga a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist with a Masters Degree. She is also a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.

Handle with care Inga MacKeller studies four categories of common, aggressive feline behaviour in the first of a two part series

ggression is a word that worries many pet owners as it conjures up connotations that they have a ‘nasty’ vicious cat. However, aggression is part of the normal behavioural repertoire for many species. Indeed, most members of the human race are aggressive to one degree or another. Even the most mild mannered and gentlest of people would almost certainly resort to aggression if they are provoked sufficiently, feel threatened enough or in the defense of their family or property. If a human is aggressive in one situation, it does not mean that they will be aggressive in another situation. A display of aggression does not a homicidal maniac make! Therefore, when dealing with feline or, indeed, aggression in any other species, it is vital to understand why the aggression is occurring. Most aggression has a cause and if that cause can be found, then actions can often be taken to prevent the aggression reccurring. Cats can be aggressive to their owners or towards visitors or strangers. Some aggression is targeted towards other cats in the household, whilst others may attack other cats in the neighbourhood. Other species are also affected, with dogs being a fairly common target and, in the case of predatory aggression, prey species such as birds, rabbits, small rodents and fish, are all fair game. Although owners often say that their cat is unpredictable in its aggression, more often than not, upon careful observation, the aggression is often predictable. If a cat is displaying aggression, it is absolutely vital that it is not dealt with by aggression. Aggression is a vast subject area but

I hope to give Cat World readers an insight into the various categories of feline aggression, so that they can gain a better understanding of why their cat may be behaving aggressively.

Predatory aggression

Although aggressive in nature, predatory aggression is different to the other types of aggression, as the cat is hunting. Because the ultimate aim is to catch prey, unlike other forms of aggression, predatory aggression is very stealthy and silent, so as not to frighten off the target. Cats need to have the opportunity to display this natural behaviour and, if denied access to the outdoors or to suitable toys which replicate the potential prey or its movement, can display predatory behaviour towards other moving objects such as the owner’s ankles or hands. More often than not, the victim will squeal when pounced on, which may stimulate the cat to attack even more. It is, therefore, important to encourage kittens to play with appropriate toys and for owners not to use their fingers to tease the cat or to ‘wiggle’ their feet under the duvet as these actions will stimulate a predatory response. Having a cute little kitten pounce on your feet can be fun…. but that little bundle of fluff will grow into an adult cat with sharp teeth and claws, which are extended when displaying predatory aggression. Cats are more likely to display predatory aggression in the early morning or early evening, so if owners are worried about their cat killing, then it is best to keep them in during these hours. Predatory aggression is normal behaviour for cats and they will still hunt, no matter how well fed they are.

Fear aggression

This can occur or develop for a number of reasons but one of the most common is insufficient socialisation and habituation during kittenhood. The critical time is between 2-7 weeks and, if a kitten does not receive sufficient and appropriate handling and socialisation at this stage, then it may be wary and fearful of people and other species in the future. Therefore, as many breeders of pedigree cats do not sell kittens under the age of 12 weeks it is vital that they ensure that the kittens are well socialised and habituated whilst still in their care as, by the time the kittens are sold, the main socialisation period is over. Another reason for fear aggression is that the cat or kitten may have suffered trauma or mistreatment, thereby associating a particular type or sex of person, or other stimulus, with the bad experience. Cats should never be physically punished and owners who smack or reprimand their cat can cause their cat to develop defensive, fear related aggression. Cats will normally take the flight option but, if they feel sufficiently threatened and feel that they have no means of escape, then they will take the fight option – they will be aggressive. Quite often the cat may vocalise and use its paw to take a swipe at the perceived threat. Whilst the aggression may initially be defensive, the situation can become more complex and the cat may progress to offensive, unprovoked aggression.

Redirected aggression

Redirected aggression occurs when the cat is reacting to, for example, a strange cat that it sees entering its territory through the window. It may become highly aroused and, as it cannot get to the other cat, it may lash out at whoever happens to be standing close by, be it their owner or another cat or pet. This behaviour can cause further problems as, if the cat redirects its aggression onto another cat within the household, that cat may then become fearful of the aggressor and it will react defensively towards it in the future; an inter-cat behaviour problem within the

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house may develop. Similarly, redirected aggression can be the cause of relationship breakdowns between owner and cat or the cat and, for example, the family dog where, previously, they have got on well. In many cases of redirected aggression the owners often feel that the attack has been unprovoked as they may not be aware that something else has aroused the cat and caused it to behave aggressively. Sharp observation is necessary from the owner to notice what is causing it.

Frustration aggression

Some cats may show aggression if something that they are expecting does happen if something differ- to house.or However, it is also important that there was a reg-notthe in mind illness can cause aThis change surrounding floor. ent bear happens tothat their expectation. to a cat’s toilet habits. If your cat has uriparticular type of aggression is oneathat nary tract infection or an upset tummy, it breeders, who may have to sometimes mally urinate and def- may not get to its tray on time. hand rear kittens, need to be very aware ns when outdoors. Also, older cats can have mobility problems that one try in the homeof. It so,isif believed you have an oldfrustration or unwell catrelated place a caused hand oblems. As a generalaggression few extracan traysbe around the when house, aparticuhas anot learnt deal ti-cat households, I reared larly kitten if you have home with how more to than one er cat plus an extra with floor. If your cat has always been clean and frustration. suddenlyastarts soiling, it checked Whilst queen willget spend someover 70 by the vet to ensure that all is well. Swiftin per cent of her time with the kittens is always best as, often, a short course the action first few weeks of their life, once the so be vitally imporof antibiotics can solve the problem. If left kittens are approximately three weeks idious creatures and unattended, over time, the cat may then becomes less or tolerant f their soiled litter of age startshe to prefer to urinate defecateofontheir

rom the tray. Try to other surfaces, such as carpets or soft er, when seen, and furnishings. litter. Do not be If you cat does have to be given ving every particle medication, for whatever reason, grains left behind never be tempted to give the pills 38-39_CW 439.indd 39 that the tray is the whilst your cat is sitting on its tray.

demanding behaviour and spends more time away from them. Even when she is allowing them to suckle she may walk away before they have finished feeding, thereby causing them frustration. They therefore learn to deal with frustration. More often than not, hand reared kittens are never denied food and are constantly fed on demand so they never learn to cope with being denied what they want and can potentially develop aggressive behaviour later in life due to their inability to control their frustration. However, even kittens that have been weaned normally by the queen can still develop frustration related aggression if they are over indulged by their owners and all their demands are responded to.

Categories of feline aggression

• Predatory Aggression • Fear Aggression • redirected Aggression • Frustrated Aggression • Social Aggression • Inter-Male Aggression • Territorial Aggression • Maternal Aggression • Pain Aggression • Idiopathic Aggression

tip of the month

bEHAVIOUr TIP OF THE MONTH

The depth of litter Be aware that an aggressive cat, although quite small, can be an extremethat you provide a ly dangerous creature and possibly cause immense injury to vulnerable cat in the litter tray is areas suchDoasnot thebeface. Never attempt to handle an aggressive cat but, important. if you must, keep it well away from your face. Scratches and bites can tempted to economise andbad onlyinfections place a very layer care always needs to be taken. 50 to 74% of cat bites cause sothin utmost ofcontain litter. Cats like to have several the bacteria Pasteurella multocida, so always wash the wound with soapy centimetres of litter depth tap. so that water under a running Seek medical advice if you are worried. they can rake the litter over. If you are experiencing some behaviour problems with your cat, to find your nearIf you put too little litter in est APBC Member (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors),visit www.apbc.org.uk the tray the cat may be tempted to toilet elsewhere. catworld.co.uk OCTObEr 2014 39 If you are experiencing behaviour problems with your cat, 14/09/2014 to find your

21:34

NATIONAL BLACK CAT WEEK

BLACK CAT

MAGIC

Cat lover and black feline fan Charlotte Rixon can’t believe black cats get ignored at rehoming centres and urges anyone thinking of adopting a moggie to give a black cat a chance

s a lifelong cat lover, I’ve always believed that every cat is lucky, beautiful and deserving of a loving home. But as the proud owner or perhaps more accurately, the butler, of two black furred beauties, I can’t help being a little biased towards cats of a black hue. As far as I’m concerned, black fur looks sleek and glossy, perfectly offsets emerald or amber eyes and accentuates the feline form. So I was staggered to learn that animal charities around the UK face a constant struggle to find homes for rescued black cats. Roughly half of the five to six thousands cats in the care of Cats Protection at any one time are black or black-andwhite and each one takes around a week longer to re-home than their white, grey, tabby, ginger and calico counterparts. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of the moggies in residence at RSPCA rescue shelters are either black or black-and-white. No one knows for certain why black cats get overlooked but a spokesperson for Cats Protection suspects that visitors to the charity’s centres are “...naturally attracted to the different or the unusual,” so that “their attention is drawn to the brighter-coloured tabbies and gingers.”

Myth and superstition

Re-homing teams have encountered some bizarre excuses from people rejecting black cats as pets, including: “It’s too scary for my daughter who will only be able to see its eyes in the dark” and “we won’t be able to see it in the garden as there are other black cats and we won’t recognise it.” In addition, it’s possible that myths and superstitions about black cats being the

familiars of witches may linger on at the back of some people’s minds. Black cats feature as both good and bad omens in folklore around the world; the ancient Egyptians believed that they could gain favour by hosting black cats in their homes, while in Japan, a lady who owns a black cat is said to have many suitors. Although black cats are often regarded as lucky in UK folklore, during the Middle Ages they were killed due to superstitious beliefs, leading to rising rat populations and the spread of the Bubonic Plague. Sadly, finding a home isn’t the only challenge facing black cats; they are also more likely to suffer from abuse or neglect. However, the fact that a black cat may have had a tough upbringing isn’t a reason not to take it on, as according to RSPCA welfare officer, Hayley Plows: “Strangely some of the nicest cats we’ve had have been some of

those who have had the hardest start in life.”

Photography tips

That black cats tend not to photograph well doesn’t help their plight, because they may not stand out to people searching for a cat to adopt via an animal charity website or appeal to those wanting to take the perfect pet selfie. Black cats can be tricky to photograph because of the way their fur absorbs and reflects light but it only takes a bit of patience to capture their good looks on camera. Award-winning photographer Kathryn Collinson, quoted in The Cat magazine, published by Cats Protection, advises against using a white background as this “...tricks the camera’s auto exposure into thinking the scene is lighter than it is,” and instead suggests “going for a background that complements the cat’s fur but doesn’t contrast too much, such as something that works well with their eye colour.” Good lighting is also essential; however, says Kathryn: “Ideally you want the light at an angle across the fur because if it’s too direct, the fur won’t have any texture and will look wet.”

Changing luck

Thanks to campaigning from animal charities, black cats are beginning to change their luck.

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NATIONAL BLACK CAT WEEK Cats Protection set up National Black Cat Day (31st October) in 2011 and each year invites people to share their black and black-and-white cat stories, pictures and videos via its Facebook and Twitter pages. While it has taken a few years for the campaign to have an effect, attitudes now appear to be shifting. Cats Protection figures show that adoptions of black and black-and-white cats were up by 42 per cent during the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year. “This is part of a general upturn in the homing of cats but could also be part of a changing mood amongst the British,” says a charity spokesperson. “It may be that black cat lovers are kindly spreading the word and persuading more people to adopt one.” Personally, I didn’t need any persuasion to adopt my black cats but having done so, I can confidently explode all the myths: they don’t look remotely like each other or other black cats in the neighbourhood; children aren’t frightened of them, they adore them; they are highly photogenic; and they spend remarkably little time consorting with witches. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Model Lucy Pinder, who is supporting National Black Cat Day, said: “Black cats make just as good pets as the more colourful moggies and often have particularly striking and noble looks, so I’d recommend adopting a black cat to anyone thinking of getting a cat.”

•

To support National Black Cat Day 2014 visit: http://www.cats.org.uk/get-involved/ national-black-cat-day/ and to follow the antics of my two black cats check out: www.drillingbehindthesofa.wordpress.com

My top 10 black and black-and-white cats To celebrate National Black Cat Day, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite black and black-and-white cats in literature, film, TV and comics. Here goes: BAGHEERA: All domestic black cats are miniature black panthers at heart, getting up to their own adventures in the big, scary jungle beyond the catflap. Bagheera, hero of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, may be wild, bold and reckless, but he is also the mentor and best friend of man-cub Mowgli, ensuring he reaches the safety of the man-village and escapes the nefarious clutches of tiger, Shere Khan. THE CAT IN THE HAT: Sometimes, when the house is covered in cat fur, muddy paw prints and half-eaten cardboard boxes, it feels as though we’ve had a visit from Dr Seuss’s zany creation, ‘The Cat in the Hat’. The black-and-white lunatic wreaks havoc at Sally and her brother’s house with his two companions, Thing One and Thing Two, much to the consternation of the sensible goldfish. BLACK MINNALOUSHE: Belonging to Maude Gonne, the muse of the poet W.B Yeats, Black Minnaloushe inspired the ethereal poem ‘The Cat and the Moon’, in which Yeats compares the ‘changing eyes’ of ‘the creeping cat’ to the changing phases of ‘the sacred moon overhead’. JESS: Faithful feline of the hapless but loveable Postman Pat, Jess has been enchanting children for decades. If she hadn’t been a black-and-white cat, the theme tune to the classic British cartoon series wouldn’t be nearly so catchy. SLINKY MALINKI: Creation of children’s author Lynley Dodd, Slinky Malinki is ‘blacker than black’. The feline fiend is charming by day, but becomes a notorious thief after dark, behind the disappearance of everything from a slipper to a string of sausages. FELIX THE CAT: With his wide grin and crazy antics, Felix is one of the most iconic characters in cartoon history. Star of the 1920’s silent film era, black-and-white Felix featured in animated shorts, as well as appearing in comic strips and even inspiring Jazz songs. THE BEAR: Named for his resemblance to a black teddy bear, 18-year-old The Bear stars in Tom Cox’s hilarious books, ‘Under the Paw’, ‘Talk to the Tail’ and ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Furry’. The melancholy philosopher is simply not understood by the less intelligent cats he lives with and it seems as though ‘he holds all of the world’s sadness in his eyes’. SALEM SABERHAGEN: Talking black cat from the comic book and TV series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Salem, has been sentenced by the Witch’s Council to spend 100 years as a cat as punishment for trying to take over the world. Despite his constant plotting and terrible advice, Salem can always be relied on for a witty one-liner and is clearly devoted to Sabrina. JELLICLE CATS: Of all the weird and wonderful characters in ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ by T.S. Elliot, the ‘Jellicle Cats’ sound the most delightful. The ‘rather small’ black-and-white cats have ‘cheerful faces’ and like to ‘practise their airs and graces’ while dancing at ‘the Jellicle Ball’ by the light of the ‘Jellicle Moon’. (MEG AND) MOG: Created by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski in the 1970’s, The Meg and Mog books tell of Meg, a charismatic witch whose spells never turn out quite right, and her long-suffering and achingly sweet black-and-white familiar, Mog. catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 41

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centrestarâ&#x2DC;&#x2026;

ALNAKEED

Breeder of World and International Champions Beautiful home reared, show quality Sphynx kittens. All colours including white, chocolate, black, torties. Odd eyed white babies and blue eyed white babies available now, to loving homes. Tel/Fax: 01383 721311 Mobile: 07939 116861 Email: alnakeed@aol.com More images available to view on Facebook, search Carole Langham.

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kittens

for sale? The Pet Charity warns that selling puppies and kittens in pet shops is not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’

he Pet Charity is the national, public-facing body that promotes the joy and benefits pets have on society. The Charity commends Marc Abraham and the leading welfare charities for the PupAid e-petition that brought the debate in the House of Commons and raised further awareness of the blight that is puppy farming. Cat owners also need to be aware of the need for careful legislation regarding the sale of kittens in this way. The Pet Charity agreed with the

sentiments expressed in Parliament on 4th September – that it is not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops. Whilst the debate did fail to pin down just how many puppies and kittens come from the two per cent of “high street pet shops” licensed to sell puppies and/or kittens**, what did emerge were the issues The Pet Charity had previously highlighted. The need to tighten the Pet Travel Scheme: The Pet Charity suggests stricter enforcement of border control

to stop the huge rise in these animals being imported from across Europe. Endorsement of the (currently) voluntary guidelines to limit advertising of pets for sale on the internet: The Pet Advertising Advisory Group has worked to put voluntary guidelines in place with regards to advertising pets for sale via the internet, which has successfully resulted in around 100,000 pet adverts being removed. The existing legislation already allows local authorities to restrict animal types for sale within a pet shop premises if the facilities are not adequate: The Pet Charity called for an improved resourcing model to allow local authorities to complete more thorough pet shop inspections. Alongside this, more training should be offered to help local authorities make decisions on a case-by-case basis using the existing Model License Conditions. **Response of 311 (79.5%) of the 391 councils in 2014 showed that 4.3% issued licences for selling dogs (92 shops) and 7.7% for kittens (169 shops). Further, George Eustace,

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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister, noted that the Model Licence Conditions and the Model Conditions for Pet Vending both cover the important issues surrounding socialisation. The Pet Charity would encourage all outlets for animals, whether inspected or not, to adopt these standards. However, on one issue there is overwhelming agreement from MPs and charities; the public needs better advice to avoid being ‘duped’ into buying a ‘farmed’ puppy or kitten. The Pet Charity will campaign to raise awareness in the public domain. We seek collaboration from all the welfare charities to ensure that pet owners meet equal standards from all outlets and have this consistent message to guide them during what should be a most happy and joyful experience of bringing a cat or dog into their family. If you ever suspect you may be buying from a disreputable vendor, walk away from the purchase and report your concern to the authorities.

tighter controls needed for stolen and missing pets

Following the above-mentioned debate in the House of Commons, The Stolen & Missing Pets Alliance (SAMPA) was launched on 8th September at Westminster. Five leading organisations in the field of pet theft and loss have combined forces to push for greater reform to reduce the impact the issue has for owners. Launching at Westminster with Neil Parish MP, chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Committeefor Animal Welfare and Angela Smith MP Shadow Defra Minister, the Alliance is to push for five key reforms. Three lie with microchipping: Compulsory scanning of microchips by vets, rescues and animal wardens, and of deceased pets by highway authorities and Network Rail. This, the Alliance, believes will be crucial in reuniting pets with their owners. An Alliance spokesperson said: “The compulsory microchipping of dogs scheduled for England in 2016, and Wales next year, provided the ideal opportunity to implement these reforms, but sadly Defra has not taken this on board.” The Alliance also wants a microchip to be absolute proof of ownership rather than simply the regis-

tered keeper so that ownership disputes can be more readily resolved. Another strand to the campaign is through the judiciary, whereby the Alliance is asking for animals to be reclassified under theft legislation. As the legislation stands, theft of a pet is no more serious than the theft of an object. Prosecutions are few and custodial sentences unheard of. A spokesperson for the Alliance continued: “We have already made a submission to the Sentencing Council and this has been supported by Neil Parish in his capacity as AGPAW chairman.” The five organisations comprising SAMPA are DogLost – the country’s largest reunification organisation; Dog Theft Action; Pet Theft Awareness; the Dog Union and Vets Get Scanning –

run by Sir Bruce Forsyth’s daughter, all of which have a common interest in pet theft and microchipping. Marc the Vet, whose Pup Aid campaign prompted the recent parliamentary debate, also supported the launch. To summarise, SAMPA believes that with this consultation comes a unique opportunity to change the sentencing for pet theft to a custodial sentence and reflect the position that pets have in a 21st century society as well as making a differential between an inanimate object and a valued living possession*. Much of what SAMPA is recommending falls within the draft guideline on the sentencing of theft offences but simply suggests that the theft of someone’s pet, which in many cases is irreplaceable, is more valuable than a car, sat-nav or laptop, irrespective of the value of the inanimate object. *A ‘valued living possession’ is an animal that is considered by the owner as a non-human family member, which cannot be replaced with a similar animal where it is obvious that the owner will be in distress at the loss.

• For full details and more information

about sAMPA, visit www.stolenandmissingpetsalliance.co.uk

If you ever suspect you may be buying from a disreputable vendor, walk away from the purchase and report your concern to the authorities.

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Ask the experts

If you have a problem with your cat we’re here to help If you are worried about your cat’s health, our panel of experts will try to help. Here are some answers to your questions on cat welfare and veterinary issues Why won’t she use the cat flap?

We recently acquired a young kitten who was orphaned at birth. We already have three cats who get along well but until we had introduced our new kitten (Margot) to them, we gave her limited freedom during the day and put her in a pen at night. Margot is now out all day and we put her in the pen last thing at night. Our other cats have freedom to come and go as they please, using the cat flap. Margot has shown no interest in it so far and I wonder if she will be safe to be allowed out all the time? I can’t keep her away from the cat flap without restricting the other three cats too, which doesn’t seem fair. Margot is 15 weeks old, microchipped and has had all necessary vaccinations.

Should he have steroids?

My elderly cat has a rather bad cough which doesn’t want to go away. I have taken him to the vet who decided it was probably an allergy and prescribed antibiotics. These help and while Fergus is taking them, his cough disappears, only to return when he stops taking the antibiotics. Because this has been going on for some time, my vet has now suggested steroids but I am reluctant to give these to Fergus. What would you recommend?

If you were to give Fergus steroids, it is unlikely he would ever come off them so I can quite understand your reluctance. There would also be a risk of adverse side effects. Steroids prevent the immune system from working properly, meaning any cat on steroids has a chance of picking up additional infections, an increased risk of

any cat or kitten who is hungry will not wander too far away. Of course, cats should only be released into the outside world once they have had their vaccinations and these have been allowed time to take effect. It does seem

A friend of mine has always had several cats in her home, all of whom can come and go as they please, day or night. She always worries when she has a new cat or kitten to introduce to the household and they go out to explore for the first time - as anyone with an outdoor cat will do. Her fears are usually unfounded though, the cat returning home before the next mealtime. I firmly believe that

conditions such as diabetes developing and a risk that behaviour will be affected - depression and lethargy can be common symptoms. Antibiotics are normally given to treat infection rather than allergy but it does seem strange that the cough improves while Fergus is taking them. It is possible that the he is actually suffering from a recurring infection and not an allergy or it could be that as the allergic reaction worsens, a secondary infection sets in which the antiobiotics will deal with. In either case, I still would not recommend the steroids. There are a few things you can do to try to alleviate the symptoms for Fergus. Try to minimise the presence of anything in the atmosphere of your home that may aggravate the cough - avoid smoking in the house, do not use air fresheners and aerosols of any kind and make sure there is good ventilation in

all rooms. If you have central heating on now the evenings are cooler, try to prevent the air from becoming too dry by using humidifiers if necessary. Without knowing more about Fergus’ medical history it would not be ethical to suggest specific treatment but you could try this natural remedy that can help a general cough in any cat: Manuka honey is a soothing, natural cough remedy that also contains antiinfective and healing agents. It can be found in most supermarkets these days. Give half a teaspoon daily, by mouth if possible, or mixed in with food. I would suggest you ask your vet to refer you to a vet with experience of holistic therapies for pets. Chronic persistent coughs can be difficult to resolve but natural medicines have a remarkably high success rate in controlling them which will make life much more comfortable for Fergus.

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quite young to be able to roam alone at margot’s tender age but many cats do so without incident. If the cat flap will be the only way margot can gain access into the house then you must be guided by her ability to use it. It would be mean to put her outside only to find she can’t make her own way back inside through the cat flap. try putting her outside when you know she is hungry as she will know by now that home is where she will be fed. try to keep her indoors at night, particularly if she hasn’t yet been neutered. It is harder for drivers to spot cats at night, increasing the risk of being hit by a car when it is dark. It will take time for margot to build up some road sense, even during daylight hours. In an ideal world a cat would be kept indoors from dusk until dawn but this is often when they are naturally most active. It would also be difficult and rather unfair to change the ways of your other cats but it would be best to allow margot to get used to being outdoors during daylight and with supervision if at all possible.

Grand designs

My two indoor cats love their scratch post. In fact they love it so much it is looking very tatty, with bits hanging off it everywhere. I would like to replace the rope with something similar but in a different colour so it blends in with the other furnishings. Do you know where I can obtain something suitable?

you might not like my answer but actually, I would not recommend replacing the rope. you might think it looks scruffy and untidy but your cats will think the shredded scratching area is wonderful. they will often claw over old scratch marks to shred the surface as it feels good underfoot. the existing rope will also be full of their scent and removing that may cause them some distress and make them more likely to find a new place to scratch, such as your sofa. I would also advise against trying to

Is two a crowd?

I was never allowed pets while I was living at home with my parents. A year ago I moved in to a flat on my own and now I would love to have a kitten. My question is would it be better to have two kittens so they are company for each other or should I start with just one?

If you ask an animal behaviourist this question, they are likely to tell you that multicat households can lead to behavioural problems. however, this is more common with adult cats as it is their natural behaviour to compete with each other; they

dye the existing rope a different colour. many dyes are toxic and even though your cats would not eat the rope, some residue dye may rub off on their paws, only to be ingested later perhaps, when they clean themselves. It just wouldn’t be worth the risk.

will fight over their territory and over you. cats that have known each other since kittenhood are much more likely to get on well, meaning there is usually only a minor risk of problems developing. you should consider how much space you have in your flat and if you are able to provide them with their own space if they need to be alone; also the cost of looking after more than one kitten. If you do decide to have two, then getting two sibling kittens will mean there is a better chance they will get along without too much confrontation.

why don’t you try purchasing a new post, in a colour you prefer, to replace the existing one in that particular room. the old one can be placed elsewhere in the house, giving your two cats the option of two scratching places. I am sure they would welcome that! catworld.co.uk october 2014 47

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Show news WITH CAROLE KEMP

A great day out 50th Anniversary Show for the West of England and South Wales Cat Club

s usual for the August Bank Holiday, off I went to the show at Thornbury. It’s a favourite of mine as it is held in such a lovely village on the outskirts of Bristol. This year was a special one for them as it was the 50th Anniversary of the show. The first ever show was held on the 25th September 1964 at the Corn Exchange in Bristol and a poster for that event was displayed on the wall. Twenty years ago they moved to the current venue - the Thornbury Leisure Centre - and it has been held there ever since. Fifty years ago the Mayor and Mayoress opened the show; this year they presented the Overall BIS winner with their prize. The hall

had a lovely friendly and happy atmosphere about it. A lot of effort had gone into making the hall look attractive and there were 50th Anniversary balloons all over the place, not only in the hall where the cats were but also in the other hall where the stalls were. Large gold ‘50’ banners were hung on the walls even the BIS pens had balloons attached to them. In addition, there was a lovely cake with 50 on it which we were all able to sample after the morning judging had finished. There was also a sweepstake competition with a cost of £1 per entry. The winner won half of the money that had been collected - I remember last year the win was worth £140! It was soon time for Best In Show, judged by Mrs Harper. There were seven lovely examples of each section for her

to choose the overall best in show winner from. In the end she whittled it down to four cats: Persian, British, Sphynx and Siamese. The Overall Best in Show for 2014 went to the British, a lovely female neuter, Pinemartin Tina Sparkle, owned by Mrs P Hopgood and bred by J D and D Parry. Congratulations to the proud owners and breeders. Best in Show for the pets was judged by Mrs Hector, the President of the club. She had to choose between the winner of the Non Pedigree section, Tabby, a three month old tabby kitten owned by Mrs B Willis, and the winner of the Pedigree Pet section, Troublemaker, a four month old seal point, owned by Mrs L Meadows. After much deliberating she chose Troublemaker as the Overall Best In Show Pet for 2014. Congratulations to his

Above left: Imperial Gr Pr Dairymaine Kasabien with his owner Debbie Newman. Top: Overall BIS and BOV British Pinemartin Tina Sparkle owned by Mrs P Hopgood and bred by JD and D Parry. Above: BIS SLH Squishy Jesse Pinkman owned and bred by Mrs M Wait. owner. This show is always a pleasure to enter and I shall be back next year. Although it is always on the bank holiday in August, I have never had any problems getting there on the M5, so if you fancy a great day out I’m sure you wont regret it if you enter their next show.

Left: Overall BIS Pet and BIS Pedigree Pet Troublemaker owned by Mrs L Meadows. Right: Siberian Neuter Elmarlay Figero first solid and white to be made up to Premier. 48 OCTOBER 2014 catworld.co.uk

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CHESTER & NORTH WALES - BEST IN SHOW & BEST OF VARIETY Show Reporter: Heather Bradley Show Date: Saturday 9 August 2014

OVERALL BEST IN SHOW ALGERNON WALKTHELINE (PER a 03 21)

Above: BIS Pens. Right: Poster for the first ever show.

BEST OF VARIETY OVERALL BEST IN SHOW Pinemarten Tina Sparkle (BRI j) OVERALL BEST HOUSEHOLD PET Troublemaker PERSIAN

ADULT GR CH Persilus Mr Bigglesworth (PER w 62) KITTEN Balooboo Collabro (PER n 21) NEUTER IGR CH Lomoras Chanel (12 1)

SEMI LONGHAIR

ADULT Squishy Jesse Pinkman (MCO a 03 22) KITTEN Nicadaemus Royal-Gala (SBI c) NEUTER UK & IGR CH & IGR PR Brizlincoat Toomai (SOL n)

BRITISH

ADULT Steelaway Mr Brightside (BRIa) KITTEN Kernmere Summerbreeze (BRIa) NEUTER Pinemartin Tina Sparkle (BRIj)

FOREIGN

ADULT Husani Ziggy Obsidiaan (IMP) (MAU ns 24) KITTEN Ragousity Cleopatra (84 31) NEUTER IGR PR Sphynxland Dudley (SPH d 33)

BURMESE

ADULT GR CH Gares Gemasis (BUR c) KITTEN Nemorez Fam Fatal (BUR n) NEUTER UK OBIGP Papagena Nadina (BUR h)

ORIENTAL

ADULT CH Hemlock Caribbean-Queen (OSH b) KITTEN Sinope Sakarat (OSH n) NEUTER PR Willhavetodo Onecoolcat (37fn)

PERSIAN ADULT IMP GR CH JEM-DANDY RICHARD (PER e 03) KITTEN ALGERNON WALKTHELINE (PER a 03 21) NEUTER GR & GR PR GEMKIN CUPIDS BEAU (PER a 03 21)

SEMI LONGHAIR ADULT CH PHATPAWS PILLOW TALK (RAG a 03) KITTEN SARMOYAH ENCHANTRESS (SBI b) NEUTER UK OG IMP GR PR KASSARO CISCOKID (MCO n 03 2)

BRITISH ADULT PAWSOME ROCKSTAR (BRI a) KITTEN XZIBIT TEENAGE DREAM (BRI as 22) NEUTER SHINYFAIRY DUMBLEDORE (BRI c 03)

FOREIGN ADULT GR CH FRILFORD NINNANANNA (ASH as 11 31) KITTEN SYRINX MOON RIVER (ABY n) NEUTER CH & GR PR JAYSHELM TAMARISK (SIN)

BURMESE ADULT GR CH WILLIAM THE SWEETIE CHARLESBUR (BUR c) KITTEN ROSSIKHAN RAINDROP (BUR c) NEUTER CH & UK IMP GR PR GATTINI LA LUNA (BUR a)

ORIENTAL ADULT GABLME AREZZO ROMA (OSH n) KITTEN ALDERSTAR HARAJUKU GIRL (OLH hs) NEUTER GR CH & GR PR PIPPASTRO JAY SILVERHEELS (OLH ds 11)

SIAMESE ADULT DRESTOTHRILL SIAMAZING-BEAU (SIA n) KITTEN MERRYTIAL KEZIAH MY JOY (SIA n 21) NEUTER BELROO MONTALBANO (SIA p)

HOUSEHOLD PETS

SIAMESE

NON PEDIGREE PET UK & OG IGMC RAINBOW DREAMCATCHER (SH Tortie & White) PEDIGREE PET OS IGMC BARNEY RUBBLES (SLH Blue Colourpoint)

HOUSEHOLD PETS

Is your cat a winner? Do you want to let everyone know? •Contact Maria on 01903 884988 or email maria@ashdown.

ADULT CH Jomese Sassy Jassy (SIA g) KITTEN Abicasa Gabriella (SIA b) NEUTER CH & IGR PR Jomese Jenni-Igotbluspots (32b2) NON PEDIGREE PET Tabby PEDIGREE PET Troublemaker

co.uk for details of our special Congratulations Boxes catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 49

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Show dates

FORTHCOMING SHOW DATES AROUND THE UK GCCF SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 20 Scotia Cat Fanciers The Hub C.E. Centre, 405 Kilbowie Road, Clydebank G81 2TX

Bucks, Oxon & Berks Cat Society The Bracknell Sports & Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berks RG12 9SE East Sussex Cat Club The Bracknell Sports & Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berks RG12 9SE

SEPTEMBER 27 South Western Counties Cat Club Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Cheddon Road, Taunton, Somerset TA2 7QP North West Cat Club Leigh Indoor Sports Centre, Leigh Sports Village, Sale Way, Leigh, Lancs WN7 4JY

OCTOBER OCTOBER 04 Tabby Point Siamese & Progressive Breeders Cat Club Melbourn Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Herts SG8 6EF Siamese Cat Club Melbourn Village College, The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Herts SG8 6EF

Progressive Ragdoll Breed Cat Club Hadley Learning Community, Telford, Shropshire TF1 5JU Egyptian Mau Club The Grieg Leisure Complex, Gunnings Road, Alcester B49 6AD

Tabby Cat Club The Grieg Leisure Complex, Gunnings Road, Alcester B49 6AD Burmese Cat Society The Grieg Leisure Complex, Gunnings Road, Alcester B49 6AD Long Haired & Semi Long Haired Cat Club Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berks RG12 9SE Maine Coon Breed Society Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berks RG12 9SE Norsk Skogkatt Society Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berks RG12 9SE

Seal & Blue Point Birman Cat Club Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berks RG12 9SE Turkish Van Cat Club Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berks RG12 9SE

Ocicat Club Ettington Community Centre, Robers LAne, Ettington CV37 7SX

Russian Blue Breeders Association Ettington Community Centre, Robers Lane, Ettington CV37 7SX

OCTOBER 11 Cumberland Cat Club The William Howard School, Longtown Road, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 1AR

Havana & Oriental Lilac Cat Club Wistaston Memorial Hall, 75 Church Lane, Wistaston, Crewe CW2 8ER

OCTOBER 19 Colourpoint, Rex-Coated & AOV Club Bloxwich Leisure Centre, High Street, Bloxwich, Walsall WS3 2DA Selkirk Rex Cat Club Bloxwich Leisure Centre, High Street, Bloxwich, Walsall WS3 2DA

OCTOBER 25 Caesarea Cat Club Elim Rock Community Centre, Plat Douet Road, St Saviour, Jersey JE2 7PY

Yorkshire County Cat Club Doncaster Dome, Bawtry Road, Doncaster, S. Yorks DN4 7PD North of Britain Long Hair &

Semi LH Cat Club Doncaster Dome, Bawtry Road, Doncaster, S. Yorks DN4 7PD British Shorthair Cat Club Doncaster Dome, Bawtry Road,

TICA OCTOBER 4/5 BCCGB North Solihull Sports Centre, Conway Road, Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, West Midlands B37 5LA (EW Regional and regional Awards Banquet)

OCTOBER 25/26 TickedTICA Perth

OCTOBER 18

NOVEMBER 01/02

Kentish Cat Society Lockmeadow Market, Barker Road, Maidstine, Kent ME16 8RG

Cattica Newbury

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BENGAL

BRITISH SHORTHAIR

Charmoden Simply…the Best

Glitterglam Bengals

Your guide to the top breeds in the UK

TOP

Specializing in Blues, Blue/Cream and Cream. Also Black, Bi-Colours and Tri-Colours. Silver spotties & tabbies in red, blue, cream and black.

Have stunning brown rosetted/ silver and snow kittens for pet, show & breeding. Phone Jill: 01778 341220 (Peterborough) www.glitterglam.co.uk

BURMESE

SANLIS BURMESE specialising in Browns.

Photo - UK & OGIGC Sanlis Shameless

cats

Reg/vac/ins. Blue silver black silver red silver cream silver spotted and classic tabby kittens currently available

Call Sharon on 02476 684350 / 0777 3818803 or email me on charmodenbritish@btinternet.com www.charmoden.co.uk

MAINE COON

Lunaris Maine Coons Beautiful home reared kittens all colours

To represent your breed in our next breed summary feature call Maria Fitzgerald on 01903 884988 or email: maria@ashdown.co.uk

PERSIAN

Marmelstien Persians

Affectionate fun loving kittens full of confidence, from Champion lines, available to loving permanent homes, specialising in Solids and Bi colours. PKD neg lines, vaccinated, registered insured.

RAGDOLL

EMERISLE

Specialising in Ragdolls since 1988. 11 years running P.R.B.C.C. Breeder of the year winner.

email: sanlisburmese@hotmail.co.uk website: www.sanlisburmese.co.uk

SAVANNAH

SONNENBLUME

email ronbrown10@supanet.com

SPHYNX

ALNAKEED Beautiful home reared, show quality Sphynx kittens. All colours. Odd eyed white babies and blue eyed white babies available now, to loving indoor homes.

Make your cat a

PHOTO: KRISSI LUNGREN

Home of Award Winning Savannahs, Bengals and Chausies

Regional Winner & Supreme Grand Champion Sonnenblume Buttercup www.sonnenblume-bengals.co.uk

Tel +44 (0) 1832 720359 www.lunaris.uk.com

Breeder of World and International Champions Tel/Fax: 01383 721311 Mobile: 07939 116861 Email: alnakeed@aol.com See more photos on Facebook

01491 641487 / 07725269735 www.marmelstienpersians.co.uk

TOYGER

LEXIFERS

Beautiful mischievous Devon Rex cross British Shorthair babies available to loving homes. Bred for health & temperament.

Toygers are rare with only a few hundred worldwide and less than 20 in the whole of Europe. Kittens sometimes available as pets, please enquire Gaynor Jean-Louis QueenAnne Cats 07714 092518 gaynor@queenannecats.co.uk www.queenannecats.co.uk

Reasonably priced kittens available with wonderful personalities. Vaccinated, vet checked, GCCF reg. and insured. Telephone: 01943 461852 or 07774 650217 (Yorks) www.emerisle-cats.co.uk

VARIANT

The Toyger is a relatively new breed, bred to resemble the appearance of a small tiger with a strong, muscular body and braided markings. Excellent family pets; they are intelligent, playful and full of character.

Photo: Tetsu Yamasaki

All breeding girls and boys have tested “normal” for Hypokalemia. Kittens occasionally available to permanent loving homes.

PHOTO: ROBERT FOX

Older cats sometimes available.

ccentrestar ce ntr tre tr res es ★

Call Sarah - 01443 225373 lexifers@talktalk.net www.lexifersdevonrex.co.uk

This advertisement is

only £40.00 plus VAT

NEXT ISSUE

Nebelung Call Maria on 01903 884988 or email maria@ashdown.co.uk for prices and further information.

Breed profile November issue 440

contact Maria on 01903 884988 for more information or email maria@ashdown.co.uk

Take this opportunity to promote your prefix, breed and any kittens that are available for the next issue of Cat World. Deadline for the November 2014 issue 440 is 22 September 2014 catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014

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Kim’s world AT HOME WITH KIM ROGERS It’s a tale of two halves this month with birthday celebrations followed by nightly vigils to keep a predator at bay

yril and Tiptoes have had a birthday! They are now nine years old, although they still behave like kittens. They constantly play with their mice and chase butterflies in the garden. They still jump up in the air all of a sudden and then shoot off down the path at one hundred miles an hour. They still climb up the tree and the new arbour. I don’t notice them getting older and haven’t stopped calling them ‘the kittens’ when I am talking about them even though on boxes of cat food they are apparently Seniors over the age of seven. They don’t get birthday cards but they do get treats and toys and a special birthday meal. I think I enjoy the day as much as they do.

Cuddles for all

I have been seeing lots of cats’ tummies and noses this month. At home and at the Sanctuary the cats seem to tumble all the time to show me their tummies or ask for a tummy tickle. Either that or push their wet noses into my face or arm. I don’t think I will get fed up with it, both are nice to see.

Everyone just seems so cuddly at the moment. I haven’t been scratched or bitten by a Sanctuary cat for ages now. They all seem to just want a lap and a scratch or tickle from me. I had two or three cats all eager to jump into my lap at one time which was a bit of a problem. I don’t have enough hands to stroke them all so have to give them each ten minutes so that they all get their fair share. People say that cats are independent but in the sanctuary they clamour for attention. One never really knows the background of the cats that have come into the Sanctuary. They may not have had much in the way of cuddles and playtime with their owners so any kind of attention is thrilling for them. I wasn’t allowed to touch Freya on this visit as she may have ringworm – I think they were being over cautious but two kittens that had recently come in had it and are now in the Isolation Block being cared for. Freya didn’t come into contact with them so hopefully it is nothing. It was so sad that I couldn’t stroke her though or have her on my lap

and she was desperate to come up and see me. She followed me all round the sanctuary (in the rain) waiting for me to sit down so she could jump on my lap – bless her! I hope she is better soon otherwise I will get Freya cuddle withdrawal symptoms.

Neighbourhood watch

My neighbour has got a pest problem. Not the usual pest of a rat or mouse but a sparrow hawk which keeps trying to attack the sparrows that nest in her hedge growing up the front of her house. I can see it directly out of my front room window; early in the morning and just before it gets dark is when the hawk will come. I have lost count of the number of times I have banged on the window or opened my front door to shoo it away but I have to say, it is very persistent. I am sure it must have caught a sparrow there in the past to keep coming back but I was a bit shocked that it would come to such a built up area, especially when it’s right next to the road. It is starting to annoy me now because I can’t help but be on the look out every night to see if it comes and am all ready (slippers by the door!) to scare it away. I know people will say that it has to survive and that it is nature doing what it does but what bugs me is that cat owners get the blame for the decline in garden birds yet my cats have caught only one bird this whole year and that darned sparrow hawk is killing one or

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two a day. Besides which I have seen these sparrows make their nests and have their young fledge from that hedge so they are like little friends to me. I really don’t want them to be dinner for a bird of prey. Annoyingly the hawks have no predators and are protected as well which seems a bit strange when there appears to be hundreds of them around these days – especially in the countryside where I live. There are more buzzards and hawks about than ever before but if nothing feeds on them, surely their numbers will just get out of hand? I am determined that it won’t get any supper from around here so am staying on hawk vigil until further notice. It’s a shame that the cats sitting in the window don’t seem to scare it away - mind you, they’re not exactly very frightening. From the outside looking in they probably look like a couple of stuffed toys as they are so fluffy!

Kim Rogers is an active volunteer at her local animal sanctuary. Ferne Animal Sanctuary Chard, Somerset TA20 3DH

EIGHT HUNGRY FACES How one British family took on an unexpected challenge whilst holidaying in France!

inda Headon and family were on holiday in July in Peymilou near Bergerac. They were on a house-swap with their French friends who were staying at their house in Surrey. Part of the deal was that each family would care for the other family’s cats. Cerise, in France, had just given birth to eight kittens who the Headon family were looking forward to meeting. However, on day four of the holiday, tragedy struck and poor Cerise was killed on the road, leaving eight two-week old, very hungry kittens. The Headons had no option but to learn how to feed them and so they telephoned the SPA (animal protection society) in Bergerac for advice. In the meantime, they gathered the kittens into the only suitable receptacle they could find - a laundry basket! The SPA referred them to a local British-run animal rescue organisation called Phoenix Association. Lynda Atkins, who is responsible for rescue and re-homing of Phoenix’s kittens, gave the Headons some vital advice on bottle-feeding the kittens. Sensing they were feeling overwhelmed, Lynda offered to take

four of the kittens herself. Shortly after this, the Headons reported this update: “Having no idea how to properly care for kittens of that age, it was amazing to speak to Lynda Atkins who told us everything we needed to know and kindly offered to care for four of the kittens for a short time. This was an incredible relief. The bottle feeding seems to be going well and the kittens are thriving. Our French friends have returned and we have taught them how to care for the kittens. We are all so grateful to Phoenix for their help.” Phoenix is still caring for three of the female kittens, who will be ready to go to new homes at the end of September. For more information, please visit Phoenix’s website at www.phoenixasso.com or contact Lynda Atkins on lapuille@gmail.com or +33 05 53 81 30 44 Phoenix Association is an animal rescue organisation based in Dordogne, France. “We are mostly British but well integrated here and we rescue and re-home approximately 80 cats a year, as well as 130 dogs.”

www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org

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Proving the

critics wrong Since its introduction to the UK, the remarkable Sphynx has continued to grow in popularity over several decades and is now a favourite of many

airless cats have been around for centuries but it took a kitten called Prune to smooth their path to fame. It was back in 1966 when a black and white pet cat in Canada gave birth

to a hairless kitten. The owner called him Prune because of the wrinkled skin and then bred him to try to create more hairless kittens. The resulting kittens became known initially as Canadian Hairless Cats, but the name that stuck

was Sphynx, because the cats looked liked the Ancient Egyptian cat sculpture. However, these early kittens had serious health problems and it seemed the breed might not continue. It was not until 1975 that a turning point came, when a cat in Minnesota produced several hairless kittens. One of these, named Epidermis, was bred to create a new line of hairless kittens and so became one of the most important cats

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PHOTO: CHRIS HARRISON

in Sphynx history. Fast forward to 1978, when three hairless kittens were found on the streets in Toronto, Canada. One kitten, named Bambi, was male and two were female. The females were named Punkie and Paloma. Bambi stayed in Canada but the two females were sent to Doctor Hugo Hernandez in the Netherlands who bred the cats to a male Devon Rex and started the original line of European Sphynx. Significantly it was this very magazine, Cat World, which played a part in the Sphynx’s arrival in the UK! The curious cats had caught the eye of two English cat breeders, Jan Plumb and Angela Rushbrook, who brought the first Sphynx to England. “We were looking through Cat World and saw a photograph of these rather strange looking cats,” explained Jan when she was asked to write about their experience. Jan and Angela visited a cat show in Paris where they were able to view these cats first hand and were so impressed by the breed’s charm, they decided to buy one of their own. This was Hathor de Calecat, a female who, of interest, was the first imported cat of modern times to be allowed into the country without quarantine. New legislation, known then as the ‘Balai Directive’, allowed breeding cats to travel between breeders, doing away with the obligatory quarantine. One cat turned in to more cats and Hathor was joined by other imports. Other breeders too became interested and the group wanted to

BREED PROFILE

show their cats off so decided to put them on exhibition at the shows in Britain. At first the GCCF allowed examples of the Sphynx to be on exhibition but the breed’s nakedness caused so much commotion that powerful members of the cat fancy decided to outlaw the breed, preventing them from attending any more of the council’s shows. Meanwhile, the Cat Association of Britain with its open mindedness and progressive attitude, had welcomed these cats where they could compete first as a new breed, which they did very successfully. This provided the Sphynx breeders with a much needed shop window, where many a curious cat lover could come and view these cats for the first time. Later, when recognised with FIFe championship status, the breed classes were well supported as this was the only opportunity for a Sphynx to compete in this country and there were many visitors anxious to get a glimpse of these new cats. The history of the Sphynx just goes to show how every so often, something unusual will turn up on Mother Nature’s roulette wheel. The Sphynx cat was one such example; unusual because of its lack of conventional fur and it must not be forgotten that this is an entirely natural occurrence. Unlike many modern breeds it was

not man-made. However this was not the first hairless cat, nor will it be the last, for hairlessness (genetically speaking) is possible in any breed. Only by the support of cat fanciers and the manipulation of the cat breeding fraternity will a spontaneous genetic mutation such as the Sphynx be allowed to become established as a cat breed. This involves many resources of time, expertise, money and - above all - daring.

Size

Those handling a Sphynx for the first time are often surprised at just how heavy it is. These cats are no featherweights - they are much heavier than they look and this is written into the breed standards. Both sexes are solid, muscular and overall medium sized though, as to be expected, the males are often larger than the females and can weigh up to seven kilos. There may also be the impression that these cats feel hotter than some other breeds but this is only due to the lack of fur to insulate the body.

Body and legs

Immediately noticeable is the rounded and hefty appearance, with a broad barrel chest and a tubby, almost ‘full’ torso; a look which suggests there must be a very good larder at home! The strong legs are medium in length in proportion to the catworld.co.uk october 2014 55

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Eyes

Required to be ‘lemon shaped’, the large eyes slant towards the outer edge of the ear. They can be absolutely any colour so long as it conforms to the skin colour.

Tail

The long, slender tail is fairly broad at the base, tapering to the tip, the length being in proportion to the body length. Often described as ‘rat-like’, some tails have a ‘puff ’ of hair at the tip like a lion.

Coat

Although Sphynx cats may appear to be totally naked they usually have a very short, fine layer of down covering the skin. Short, fine, soft hair is allowed on limited areas – the feet, the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the backs of the ears, the tip of the tail and in male cats, the scrotum. Elsewhere the skin is relatively hairless with a unique feel, likened to the touch of warm chamois or the skin of a peach. The breed standards describe it as ‘a feeling of resistance may be felt when stroking the skin of some cats’. Wrinkles are a desirable and unique characteristic, especially around the muzzle, between the ears and on the shoulders, though breeders are mindful that this characteristic should not be overdone. Whiskers and eyebrows are usually short and sparse or totally absent. PHOTO: CHRIS HARRISON

medium-long body, with the hind legs appearing slightly longer than the front. The oval paws are fascinating. Toes are more prominent than in other breeds and are long and slender just like fingers. The pads on the paws are thicker than other breeds, giving the appearance of walking on cushions or wearing their own special brand of sneakers.

Head

Slightly longer than it is wide, the breed standards describe this as a ‘modified wedge’ shape, triangular in general outline but with rounded contours. However some examples could be in

danger of becoming too long. The forehead is flat with a rounded skull and characteristic prominent cheekbones. The nose is straight and medium long, with a slight ‘stop’ at the bridge.

Ears

The ears are large and should certainly never appear small. They are required by the FIFe standard to be ‘upright, set at a slight angle on the head’ and ‘not flaring’; broad across the base and open with slightly rounded tips. The insides of the ears are completely hairless, although a slight amount of hair is permitted on the lower outside edge and on the back.

Colours and patterns

Although they have no normal coat of fur, the colour and pattern of the Sphynx can be seen in the skin. However because they have no fur, pigmentation can look different in a Sphynx. Light colours, particularly white, can take on a pinkish tone. For example, a cat which in fur terms would be blue and white might look blue, white and flesh pink with the white more obvious at the body extremities, especially the face where there is a slight covering of fur. Any colour/pattern combination is allowed in show circles and patterns from self to colourpoint and tabby. Solid colours in white, black, blue, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, red, and cream; tortoiseshells of all shades; tabbies and torties in all colours; colour pointed, smokes, silvers and goldens. All of these have the added attraction of optional patching with white in any amount and in any design. In the Sphynx it’s a case of ‘anything goes’.

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BREED PROFILE

Care

Although there is no brushing or combing to do, Sphynx owners need to pay attention to skin care, keeping it clean and supple. Regular bathing or sponging is recommended using only shampoos produced especially for cats, as Sphynx still secrete oils into the coat

even though they have no conventional fur. Many breeders recommend starting bathing when the kitten is still young so that by the time the kitten is a full grown cat it will be well accustomed to the routine. Some owners even take their Sphynx into the shower with them! They need to be towel dried in a warm atmos-

Key care points: l Produces less dander than other cats l Regular bathing or sponging is required to remove oils on the skin l Need to be kept warm or they can catch a chill l An indoor cat rather than outdoors, mainly due to their vulnerability with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no coatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

PHOTO: CHRIS HARRISON

phere to ensure they do not chill. Using a special cleaner and cotton buds, the large ears also need regular cleaning to keep the skin inside in good condition and, like many other breeds, they need protecting against excessive sunlight in order to prevent damage by solar dermatitis. Contrary to belief, these cats are not hypo-allergenic. They still produce dander to which a small number of people are allergic although there are sufferers who can tolerate a Sphynx in preference to other breeds. Essentially an indoor cat, Sphynx should be kept in a warm environment since, like most cats in the UK, they tend to be sensitive to extreme cold and damp weather. They dislike cold surfaces, so comfortable bedding and carpeting should be provided in any outside or conservatory accommodation. catworld.co.uk october 2014 57

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BREED PROFILE

Did you know? l The skin of the Sphynx should have the texture of chamois. It may be covered with very soft, fine down, which is almost imperceptible to both the eye and touch. l Sphynx cats are known for a sturdy, heavy body, a wedgeshaped head, and an alert, friendly temperament. l How different their personalities are. l They enjoy being around people and other animals and like being the centre of attention. l Sphynx cats are very active and have a great deal of energy. They enjoy playing, running and climbing.Â l They make good family pets. They get along with children very well along with dogs and other cats.

PHOTO: CHRIS HARRISON

Scale of points (TICA) Head Shape Profile Muzzle & chin Cheekbones Shape of eyes

5 5 5 5 5

Ears Shape, size, placement

Body Chest Abdomen Neck

10 10 5

Legs & paws Tail

5 5

Coat Quality, texture & wrinkles Condition

25 5 100

Anyone buying a Sphynx pet kitten will usually receive instructions and guidance from the breeder regarding the special care and diet for their lovely new kitten.

Character

Sphynx are known to be very people orientated and simply love attention. They are lively and energetic, always interested in playing games and make affectionate house pets for people of all ages. They are great posers and love to stand in a characteristic pose - with one front paw raised.

Here to stay

Once regarded as a curiosity (a cat without fur!), and for that very reason, lacking that seemingly essential element the regular cat worshipper looked for, the Sphynx has proved those who ever doubted it in the UK to be entirely wrong. More suited to the lifestyle of the modern day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and with a growing fan club who admire its naked bod - the Sphynx is here to stay.

Hypo allergenic?

No cat is completely hypoallergenic they all produce some amount of dander, which is what can cause cat allergies in people. However, because the Sphynx has next to no fur, it produces far less dander than the average cat, making it a good compromise for cat lovers and allergy sufferers.

Look for

Wrinkles are desirable, especially around the muzzle, between the ears and on the shoulders. Whiskers and eyebrows are usually short and sparse or totally absent.

Sphynx are known to be very people orientated and simply love attention.

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See more skin So what’s it like living with a Sphynx? One family has two decades of experience and home wouldn’t be home without one of these striking felines

at a cat show in 1994 and after a more personal meeting, I found that I was not allergic to this wonderful breed. (Although they are not hypoallergenic and should never be advertised as such). People can be allergic to the hair, the saliva and/or the dander on the skin, which all breeds have. However, this enigmatic and affectionate breed was the answer to my dreams. No longer sniffling or itchy conjunctivi, we soon became the proud owners of our original Sphynx boy, aptly named Seemoreskin; we have never looked back. A bit like Marmite, you either love them or hate them. Having shared our life and home with Sphynx for over 18 years, we see them as no different to any other cat. Majenta, our beloved Belgian red & white girl and our friends’ Champion blue Russian import sire have blessed us with a beautiful litter. Both parents HCM tested clear. Felv, FiV negative home. Sphynx are renowned for their affectionateness and these little hot water bottles of fun are no exception, with their superb skin and condition

Sphynx and us

A bit like Marmite, you either love them or hate them.

We are the Harrison family: Chris, a children’s nurse and Sarajayne, mother of our two children Matthew 15, James 11 and our extended family Barney, a four year old Sphynx Neuter Male, Majenta, a two year old female Sphynx Queen, Sonny our eight year old mini Dacshund and our free range Japanese bantams. We live in King’s Lynn in Norfolk and have shared our family home with Sphynx for 20 years. We first became interested in the breed because as a child I was allergic to cats. We met our first Sphynx

perfect for snuggling. They are a very sociable and affectionate breed of cat, intelligent and outgoing. They adore human company and will happily follow you around the house or, even better, will sit on their owner’s shoulder and be carried around the house!. Sphynx also love to play, whether it is with their owner or another cat or even dog. They also expect

PHOTO: CHRIS HARRISON

he ancestry of the Sphynx cats we have today can be traced back to Elizabeth, a black and white domestic shorthair cat, who gave birth to a hairless male kitten called Prune in Ontario, Canada in 1966. Prune was subsequently mated back to his mother and the resulting litter contained both coated and naked kittens. These cats, along with other hairless mutations born later, formed the foundations of Sphynx cats worldwide. Sphynx were first imported from Canada into Holland by breeder Hugo Hernandez, who used youngsters Punkie and Paloma to establish an original European line of Sphynx, which was personified in his home bred cat Q’ra. This was the start of the breed as we know it today. The first Sphynx cat to enter the UK from Holland, in 1988, was a four year old female called Hathor de Calecat (Tulip), bred by Hattie Nathon who worked closely with Hugo Hernandez. Tulip became a great ambassador for the breed in the UK and lived to be over 15 years old.

plenty of hugs and love nothing more than snuggling up with you at the end of the day. Sphynx happily live with other breeds of cat and other animals - they adore and need company so should not, if possible, be kept alone. Sphynx, although described as hairless, are not hairless and in fact should have a very fine ‘peach like’ covering across their bodies, with sometimes a little more on their nose break, and sometimes feet and tail end. Due to their lack of coat they do need regular bathing, which they get very quickly used to if done from an early age. In fact ours will often hop into a bubbly bath with toys to play with!

This beauty routine also includes cleaning wax deposits from their huge, open, hair free ears and the cleaning of deposits in their nail beds between their toes. Just as we have oils on our skin and hair, Sphynx do too but without the take up from long hair, this grooming routine isn’t much different from grooming long coated cats in order to keep them clean and in tip top condition. Just like any other cat, Sphynx are expert groomers and do much of this work themselves; however a little pampering is always reciprocated with a hot snuggle from these beautiful cats, with their warm bodies and affectionate personalities. catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 59

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Felines, furniture

and mess As an owner of more than one cat, Lorraine Schofield is happy to turn a blind eye to a little upheaval in return for the devotion of her contended feline companions

s an ardent cat lover with more than one cat in residence, one of the most frequent questions that I am asked by friends and acquaintances is how on earth I manage to cope with the mess? My response is always that if you want a perfect house then do not even think about getting a pet and especially not three at a time!

Indeed, as I look around my house, it is all too apparent that animals live here. Firstly, in my living room, the condition of my sofa bears testimony to the sharpness of my cats’ claws as it has been plucked more times than a violin’s strings! The worst offender was my recently demised cat Tilly, who loved to sharpen her claws daily on the sofa,

despite my remonstrations to her not to do so. However, I have never found that scratching posts work and also the sofa was passed on to me by a friend whose own cat had also had a good scratch at it, so I have found that is best to turn a blind eye to it - until I can afford a new sofa. My living room also shows many signs that cats live here, from the clumps of fur on my rug to the nose marks on my windows and also the fur that lines my curtains! Of course, I can appreciate that many people would find this very irritating but having to vacuum the rug once a day, clean my windows a little more often or wipe down the insides of my curtains with a damp cloth to remove the fur is, to me, a small sacrifice worth making if it means that my cats are settled and content. Likewise the huge pack of Dreamies, that is in permanent residence on my fireplace, I guess indicates that when it comes to appearances, my cats’ welfare takes precedence over any aesthetic considerations. Indeed, should my living room not suggest that I have cats in residence, my kitchen certainly does and my friends are often flabbergasted by the amount of cat bowls strewn upon the floor. Unfortunately, I have a terrible habit of producing another bowl each time I feed one of the cats so that there are usually about four or five on show. In fact my friends like to chuckle at what I call the ‘tabby banquet’ as I also have a tendency to put another dish down if the cats are having their favourite tuna fish treat or the odd bowl of single cream. To me, as a rather laid back and admittedly a rather untidy person, I do not see that this represents a problem, unless of course I have guests for tea in which case both the bowls and the litter tray are moved out of sight. However, a definite ‘no’ for me is to allow the cats to walk upon the kitchen work surfaces or the kitchen table, as I am well aware of the hygiene issues involved. Nonetheless, the upstairs of my house is also open territory for my cats and needless to say, they love to snooze on both mine and my son’s beds. Therefore, despite having throws on the beds, my duvet covers usually have a liberal coating of cat hair upon them. Indeed, my senior cat Tibbles always retires to bed with me every night and more than once he has left dirty paw prints on my bedding if he has been outside on a wet evening.

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Again I think that the soothing presence of a purring cat on your bed at night more than compensates for a few paw prints or fluff upon the bedding. Similarly, knocked over ornaments sometimes get damaged or broken and this often occurs in both my bedroom and living room. Although it is somewhat annoying, it is par for the course in a multi cat household. For me, the only solution is to place more valuable items out of the reach of my frolicking felines. Certainly living with cats requires patience and some accommodation, as cats do have many undesirable habits which cannot be broken. For instance, with the case of fur balls, the only way for a cat to eliminate them is through vomiting. I have therefore become resigned to regularly cleaning up cat vomit, and as such, find it to be no great deal. However, I do wish that Tibbles, in particular, would

remember to be sick on the wood floor as opposed to the living room rug or my bedroom carpet, which are his favourite spots! Likewise, my Tilly used to make a terrible mess with the litter tray and her constant digging and scratching had me wondering at times whether she had unearthed some hidden treasure. Finally, Toby has the terrible habit of sitting on my laptop and messing up my computer settings, despite his many tellings off. Living with cats then requires patience and flexibility and if it is a perfect house that you are seeking, cats are definitely not for you. However, despite the housework and tidiness issues, for me my cats make up for it in so many other ways, with their love and wonderful companionship, that I am hardly going to lose any sleep over a few wisps of fur or the odd dirty paw print!

cAt FIGHt The lovable Dicken, one of the first kittens born to our previous centre spread Sonnenblume Buttercup, playfighting with his big brother Poco shortly after arriving at his new home. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sure they are now the best of friends

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WAVY TAILED AND

wonderful Would you give the hair from your own head for your cat? It seems the Ancient Egyptians did, if you believe what one famous Greek had to say

tories of how much cats were revered in Ancient Egypt are well known and accepted but it was a Greek historian, Herodotus, who probably made the first reference in the Western world to the relationship between cats and their Egyptian owners, in around 450BC. Herodotus revealed that cats were very intelligent creatures (as we all know!) and that females have a close bond with their young. He went on to say that male cats were very impatient for sex and, as the females refused them while they were caring for their young, the tom cats would creep up on the kittens and kill them. This kept the feline population down and satisfied the tom cats’ lust at the same time, as the females gave in to their advances, being keen to have a new litter of kittens. Even today, many still see tom cats as a threat to a young litter. The Egyptians had several types of domestic animals, not only cats, and would appoint an overseer for each kind. Cat overseers were to make sure their animals were fed. This was financed through a bizarre scheme where religious people made vows to the appropriate god and shaved the hair from their own head and those of their children. This hair was then weighed, with the equivalent weight in silver being given to the cat overseer in order to purchase fish with which to feed his cats. Women could also be cat overseers and the job was passed down through

the family. This hereditary occupation and responsibility meant Ancient Egypt was kept clear of unruly strays. Cats were undoubtably the most sacred of animals and when one died, a complicated procedure was required to be followed. The cat’s body would be taken to an official ‘parlour’ where it would be embalmed. It was then taken to the town of Bubastis for burial. Herodotus tells of a belief that cats could save an owner from the ravages of fire. If a house caught alight, people would seize their cats to protect themselves from the flames before beginning to fight the fire. However, the cats struggled to free themselves and leapt across people to sacrifice themselves in the flames. It is hard to imagine cats would do this voluntarily but they may have been so desperate to free themselves from restraint that sadly they fled straight into the heart of the fire. If a story was not known to be completely accurate, Herodotus was guilty of adding his own explanation to the events, so it can be assumed that the above tale is not wholly reliable but we do know that many mummified cat remains have been found in recent years,

proving this part at least to be true. And if we take one thing from the Greek language, the word for cat - ailouros - means ‘wavy tail’. What better definition of a cat is there?

Herodotus tells of a belief that cats could save an owner from the ravages of ﬁre. catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 63

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Naturalhealth WITH Richard Allport

Richard specialises in homeopathy and other therapies. He is president of the British Association of Homeopathic Surgeons.

If Richard Allport has his way, natural treatments will always be used alongside or instead of conventional drug therapy

n the August issue of Cat World I tried to explain the basics of natural health. I this issue I discover that it is possible to find some natural therapies in the NHS physiotherapy, acupuncture, homoeopathy are all available - but availability is still very patchy. The same is true of animal treatment. All these therapies and more are available but there are very few vets providing them and many clients have to travel long distances to find a vet offering anything other than conventional treatments. It is interesting that we call modern Western ‘drug’ treatments conventional, as though they are the norm. Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. Herbs have been used since mankind first existed. Homoeopathy has a couple of hundred years behind it already. In reality modern Western medicine is the ‘alternative’, the newcomer – and I do believe that it has a part to play in treating illness and disease. I tend to look at conventional medicine as being like a

bright teenager – full of new ideas, energy and enthusiasm but thinking it knows it all, disrespectful of its elders, and believing that everything that happened before it was born is outdated and useless. Whereas what you might call traditional medicine is (or should be) ready to accept new ideas but a little more mature and wise, and willing to integrate new treatments with the old. In general terms, conventional drugs, surgery and other treatments are pretty quick to work, get good short term results, but need a specific diagnosis. Unfortunately the treatments are often traumatic for the patients, as can be the investigations needed to make a diagnosis. In addition, many treatments can cause side effects, which can be serious and even lifethreatening. Treatments tend to be suppressive, relieving symptoms but leaving an underlying problem remaining, so that the condition recurs – needing more and more suppressive treatment. On the other hand traditional medicine

can be slower to work but gives better long-term results. Treatment does not necessarily depend on a diagnosis and invasive tests and investigations are not required. Treatments are not suppressive and most therapies are free of the danger of side effects. Therapy is more likely to be curative but if long treatment is required, this can be given more safely.

Case study

A cat was referred to me with chronic persistent diarrhoea. The referring veterinary practice had carried out the following investigations to attempt to diagnose the condition: blood tests, ultrasound, x-rays and intestinal biopsy. Because the cat concerned was, shall we say, a little fractious, so each of those procedures had required sedation or general anaesthetic. A diagnosis of ‘Eosinophilic enteritis’ was eventually arrived at; the only treatment that would be effective was longterm steroids. The use of these drugs would be likely to cause numerous side effects, ranging from weight gain and lethargy to diabetes. I saw the cat and took a full holistic history. The trauma here involved one journey to his home and back, one examination by me and one period of boredom while I talked at length to the cat’s carer. I prescribed a course of homoeopathic remedies, some Slippery Elm (a herbal anti-diarrhoeal treatment) and a couple of flower essences. There was also a pleasant little session with our wonderful healer. The cat in question was able to come off the steroids after we gradually reduced the dosage, and progressed well. The diarrhoea had not recurred, he had more energy, was more playful and became quite mischievous again.

A question of balance

What I’ve described above is obviously the worst of conventional medicine and the best of natural medicines. I’m not implying that this is the scenario in all patients at all times but it is the end result of the ‘reductionist’ approach of Western medicine and the holistic approach of traditional medicine.

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If I see a cat with a life threatening infection, I will suggest antibiotics. If I see a cat with a broken leg I will suggest surgery to mend it. If I’m asked about vaccinating a young kitten I will say “go ahead” - although with some caution and caveats. But if I see a cat with short-term diarrhoea, I will probably suggest Slippery Elm, a five day course of lacto B (a natural probiotic for pets) and a few days on something like homoeopathic Merc. sol. I would be very unhappy to hear of a vet dispensing antibiotics for such a case, unless that vet had taken a faecal sample that proved an infection was the cause. In my view, Western medicine is good at dealing with the acute problems in life - the accidents and injuries, the malignant tumour that needs removing pdQ, the serious infection, the hyperacute inflammation. But the enthusiastic teenager I mentioned before has been guilty of over-using these treatments in inappropriate cases: long courses of antibiotics for persistent skin disease and short courses of antibiotics for minor illnesses. and the result? Massive problems with antibiotic-resistant bacteria – MRSa, E-coli and the like. MRSa is becoming a serious concern in veterinary operating theatres too. conventional medicines are so good and so easy to use that they have been doled out like sweets to our unsuspecting pets. To be fair, vets are now realising the severity of the problem and are usually more circumspect these days in the drugs they dispense. However, the temptation to go for the quick fix, the blunderbuss approach, is always there.

An ideal world

In my veterinary utopia, all vets would be trained in all therapies, traditional and conventional, ancient and modern. The normal approach to any patient would then be to assess the presenting problem holistically, carry out any tests and investigations that were essential but to keep them to an absolute minimum. Where possible, natural, traditional medicine would be used to treat the condition, with the backup of conventional drugs, surgery and other treatments

if necessary. I’m certain this approach would cut down on veterinary costs, would be effective for the patient and would reduce the chances of adverse reactions to treatment. It would also be better for the environment – the production of conventional drugs often involves using substances that cause pollution. It would leave pets healthier and happier. Unfortunately, it would reduce the profits of large pharmaceutical companies enormously – these companies have enormous power and influence and would obviously not back such an idea. Veterinary training is paid for, in part, by sponsorship from drug companies. So my idea may still be a pipe dream for the moment but the number of vets becoming involved in traditional medicine is increasing slowly and the interest in, and demand for, natural medicines for pets is also increasing. Which brings me on to the point – what natural treatments are available, what can they treat, and how effective are they?

Which natural treatment?

The therapies that are most commonly available for cats are acupuncture, flower essences, healing, herbal medicine, homoeopathy and manipulative therapies (such as physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy). There are a few other therapies you might come across, such as colour therapy, radionics and the like but these are much less easy to find. Next time you have to take your cat to your vets, do ask what drugs are being given and why. and if antibiotics are being prescribed, enquire the rationale for their use: Is an infection definitely present? If not, why is the antibiotic being given? You might feel that your vet won’t like you asking but any vet worth his or her salt should be quite open to being asked for information about treatment and be prepared to justify it. The long-term health of us and our pets depends partly on the reduction of unnecessary and inappropriate drug therapy – so go on, ask the question. catworld.co.uk october 2014 65

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Living with

GORDY

Elaine Mead shares the latest challenges that come from living with an adorable cat called Gordy, who just happens to be brain damaged

t’s been hot this summer. Temperatures in my back garden have read over 30 degrees on the terracotta guage on the side of the glass studio. I always worry about my dogs in the heat but never really have given any thought to my cats through the years, all of them having been street wise. With my dogs though, I get up early; we like to be down at the river by 9am. Izabel loves a good swim and Defi being the wuss that he is won’t swim but he does love a good paddle, one back paw always clinging on by toenails to the shallow river bed. We are really lucky to live where we do, surrounded by farm land with plenty of good sniffs for the dogs and rats for the cats, even if Claude used to terrorise the neighbourhood when he was alive. I think even badger and fox were scared to enter our garden when Killer Claude was around; now they wander through, safe in the knowledge that Claude has hung up his boots and is now resting peacefully next to Megan under the bamboo. I remember seeing Claude the last summer he was with us. He was 22 and still wise, despite showing signs of senile dementia. He never strayed from the garden for the last few months, with the exception of the one day he went under the wooden gate and into our very

quiet country lane. He just sat there lost and bewildered. A lone car stopped and the lady got out to see what was wrong with this little cat, all skinny and grey whiskered. She got more of a shock seeing me run down the drive in pink crocs and wild hair shouting: “That’s Claude, he is ancient, is he OK?” at the top of my voice. After that day he never went to the front of the house or near the gate again but he did favour Defi’s paddling pool, a big blue plastic shell, stored under the big old tree that shelters the compost heap and the old potting table. The sun would warm up the shell during the morning and Claude would snooze his afternoons away in the shade of the Lime tree, his bones being warmed by the residue heat emanating from the plastic shell. We always knew where he was and he was always sensible about the sun. It came as a bit of a shock when we found our Gordy overheating and very dehydrated one afternoon during the recent heat wave. Gordy loves the sun; if he had his way he would lie on one of the drains in the garden, the hot metal lids almost too hot for pink paws, and let the sun bake his black and silver stripes. Due to his brain damaged state, Gordy’s body doesn’t seem to tell his brain that he is cooking from the inside out and even if it did, his brain wouldn’t register this as being a problem, so he cooks - and I mean roast! We have three windows in our kitchen dining room and Gordy is allowed to sit in the small one on the east facing side of the house. The kitchen windows face east and the third, that is the dining area, faces south. During the morning and most of the day, the kitchen

is the warmest room in the house. We have all our blinds drawn throughout the day, only opening them during the cool evening and throwing the windows wide to let in any breeze that might be passing. Gordy’s window has the vertical blind drawn until just after lunch when the sun has moved round. It has taken a few training sessions for him to realise that trying to get behind the blind could result in getting strangled by the strings and beaded cord that holds the strands of the blind together. One afternoon the sun had gone round the house and Gordy took no time to position himself in the window, stretched out full length, snoring on the warmed up wooden sill. We all popped in and out and kept an eye on him as he has been known to fall off and end up sprawled across the sideboard and printer that is beneath the window. On one occasion he even managed to land down the back of the sideboard, clinging on to the printer with his front paws, not knowing which way was up! He was snoring soundly and so we left him be. For several hours. I decided that after a while it was time he rallied round a bit, had something to eat and stretch his legs so I woke him from his slumber. I picked him up and he was all floppy. More than normal. Gordy has this fabulous floppy pose when he is picked up that we have named the ‘road kill’ look. He just allows his body to relax, perfectly secure in the knowledge that whomever has him won’t drop him. Besides, when it comes to falling off things, this is his tried and tested method of not hurting himself on impact with the floor. I was immediately worried and started to run my hands over him, feeling just how hot he really was...and he was hot! His eyes, normally round and dominating his face, seemed more vacant than normal and his tongue was completely dried up of dribble, with a small crust forming around the very tip. It’s amazing how you miss that dribble when you don’t have it! My first reaction was to tell him off but that was en route to the

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hall where he has his food and, being in the middle of the house, it’s much cooler. I put him down next to his food bowls and he immediately fell off the bookcase, where he has his food. Now I was really worried. He lay sprawled on the floor looking most pathetic. By this time my daughter had come to see what I was doing, as between Gordy and I, we were not quiet. She put her hand on him. “He’s very hot” she said; “maybe we need to put him in a bowl of water.” I remembered reading about how dogs can react badly to being made too cold if they have become over heated so rather than a bowl of water we got the nearest cloth, which was the old duster waiting to be washed in the sink of the utility room, and ran it under the cold tap, wrung it out and wrapped it around Gordy. He wasn’t over impressed at this bright yellow jumper he was now sporting. My attention then turned to the tongue. I figured that if the dribble had dried up, then he was seriously dehydrated but how to get water into him? Anyone that has tried to get a cat to drink will know just how impossible a task that is but Gordy isn’t like a normal cat and due to the sticky out tongue, we have a permanent open mouth. Gordy is most happy being held like a newborn baby, upside down in the cradle of your arms, so wrapped in his fetching damp yellow top I picked him up and took him to the sink. I ran the cold tap and using just my fingers I dripped water into that mouth. After a few drips he started to have the reflex swallowing action and, after what seemed like an age, he actually started to drink the water, licking at my fingers, so I put him down next to the water bowl he shares with Iz and Defi. It’s a large bowl that Gordy does like to stand his front paws in to drink and I was hoping he would this time too, but he didn’t. He didn’t drink either. He just swayed there until he toppled over. Either he was still sleepy or the heat had upset his already precarious balance. I picked him up again and started rummaging in the kitchen drawer for something suitable to drip water into him. Having had a couple of kids, that ‘mummy’ ability to hold the baby

BLACK CAT MYTHS

B and still be able to make drinks, rummage in drawers, answer phones and a myriad of other one-handed activities is still there. I found the turkey baster and tried to feed him with that. It didn’t work. We both got covered. Those big amber eyes were hugely unimpressed at the yellow jersey and the soaked tummy from the turkey baster flooding both him and me, so I resorted to a teaspoon and it worked! He sucked the water off the spoon as fast as I could fill it. We must have been doing this for several minutes until he started to struggle to be set down, at which point he wandered drunkenly over to the water bowl and started drinking for all he was worth. We learnt a very valuable lesson that day. Gordy is still allowed on the window sill but he is timed. He gets 10 – 15 minutes, depending on how hot I determine the sill to be, then he is moved and shut into the hall, with his food and water bowls, to stop him going back. I have, on occasion since, had to spoon feed him some water, as I deemed him to be too hot for his own good. Am I right or wrong to do this? I really don’t know but it seems to help him maintain his version of normal. At night we have a fan on in the bedroom and the dogs and Gordy vie for the spot just in front of it, which did prompt my husband to come back one day with a gift for Gordy - a small fan that plugs into the laptop, the place where both he and I spend too much time. I think Iz and Defi were slightly jealous that Gordy got his own fan, which he loves. I pull a chair over to his radiator bed and the fan can sit on that and cool him whilst he sleeps. If you try and move it, he opens one eye until you put it back, then he curls up tighter and snores.

lack cats have played a major role in folklore, superstition, and mythology for many years and even though we know they are stories, they are still quite fascinating. The Middle Ages was the time when the black cat was most associated with evil. The fact that cats are nocturnal and roam at night led people to believe they were supernatural servants of witches, or even witches themselves. Depending on where you live in the world (and the century), black cats can either bring good or bad luck. In the US, people say it is unlucky to have a black cat cross your path but in Asia and the UK, a black cat is considered to be lucky. In Germany, it all depends on the direction a cat walks across your path: if they pass you from left to right, it is a bad omen; if they pass you from right to left, the cat is bringing you good fortune. Some people believe it is lucky to dream of a black cat and, if you live in Scotland and find a strange black cat on your door step, it is believed it will bring prosperity to the occupants. It is the long association with witches and witchcraft that most people think of when a black cat is mentioned, particularly around Halloween. Black cats are often seen on items used for costumes, home decor, and party themes. These celebrations are so popular today, maybe we have forgotten that the modern holiday we celebrate as Halloween has ancient beginnings that, at times, have been rather sinister. Let’s continue to celebrate - but celebrate black cats themselves rather than any spooky associations. catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 67

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Joining one of Britain’s many cat clubs can be a great way to meet like-minded people, whether you are a show enthusiast, budding breeder or just love cats

Let’s go

clubbing S

o you love cats? You may not even be owned by one but the main thing is – you love them. Or perhaps you are surrounded by these furry little funsters at this very minute and yearn for yet more involvement. How can you indulge your feline passion further? Well you already read Cat World magazine, which is an excellent start. Then there’s the website and digital i-mag library to give you general and expert information, not to mention the chance to read about likeminded people. You may have work colleagues, friends, family and neighbours to whom you can ‘cat chat’ and of course there is

the Internet where you can surf for feline needs. But there is another way to ensure you get ‘catisfaction’ for your passion – a suitable cat club. To find the right one, there are some questions you will have to ask yourself: What cats do you like the most? How far can you travel to participate in club activities? What learning opportunities are there? Do you want to show your cat (some clubs even have a ‘moggy’ show section)?

Area clubs

When you choose a pedigree cat, you can then choose a club to join which

represents that breed and/or your local region. Clubs are usually designed for those people living in a certain area, and are known as Area Clubs, Breed Specific clubs or for people interested in their particular breed of cat. Area clubs vary their activities but almost all of them will hold an annual show and there are usually special classes for club members. This also provides an opportunity for the personal touch. If a club is doing only one show a year, its members have plenty of time to plan it and dream up the special events to take place at the show. Social events can also be part of the area club calendar for members, such as a Christmas party, a summer garden party, a prize-giving event or a coffee morning. Committees may also arrange for speakers on a particular subject to give a seminar, or lecture. Such events afford the opportunity for people to get to know each other and to exchange ideas and experiences about their particular breed of cat. Many clubs, both breed and area clubs, have a system

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for awarding special cups to their members based on the performance of cats in the preceding year. The presentation of these trophies is often the basis for a summer garden party which, if the weather is kind, can be an extremely enjoyable afternoon amongst cat friends, with the added bonus of going home with hard-earned trophies.

How to find and join a club

breed clubs

For those of you with a passion for a particular breed, there is a specialist club for just about every breed. Many of them advertise their details in Cat World; otherwise look on the Internet for cat organisations and breed clubs. Breed clubs are usually a little more exclusive, as you are perhaps aware, and you may need another member of the club to introduce you and act as a referee. If you have a pedigree cat yourself or are a breeder, you are probably still in touch with the person from whom you bought your cat and they should be able to guide you in the right direction towards a relevant club. A breed club is a must if you plan to be a serious breeder, as it provides you with a means of learning about a breed from other experienced breeders. The breed club also protects the future of its breed and the breeding programme in general. Within many organisations, the

choosing a club

Again, consider what it is you are hoping to get from joining a club and ask your self the following questions: What will joining this cat club do for me and my cats? How much will a year’s membership and activities cost? Can I travel to attend the social events? What skills could I offer the club? What learning opportunities do I have? Does the club welcome ideas and input? Does it produce regular newsletters to keep me informed? Why is this club more suitable than others?

• • • • • • • •

breed club actually formulates the standard and is responsible for any amendments. In other organisations, the breed club has the strength to bring information and proposals on the breed to the organisation. Both breed and area clubs often produce a magazine which is distributed to the members. This is a good way for you to keep in touch with members who may live far away. The magazine may contain articles of interest about the breed as well as general information on events and future plans such as shows; also a list of breeders offering stud services and kittens for sale.

gccF

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, or GCCF as it is commonly known, was founded in 1910 and is purely a governing body with over one hundred and forty affiliated clubs, most of whom welcome new members. It provides the registration of pedigree cats, classifies cat breeds, licences cat shows and protects the welfare of cats and interests of cat breeders. Each club stages its own shows and, under licence to the GCCF, this provides for high quality events nationwide. In addition to the vast range of pedigree exhibits you will find classes for household pets with some excellent awards and opportunities, including a chance to exhibit at their annual Supreme Show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre.

Many clubs have their own website, which enables information on the club and the breed to be shared with a much wider audience. If you want to become part of a club, first decide what kind of club you want to join. You do not need to be a cat breeder to join an area club and if you are looking for the company of like-minded people, this may be right for you. When you find a cat club you would like to join, write to the secretary asking for information and an application form. It’s best to enclose an sAe. Alternatively, contact them initially via email to find out more. Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone in the club who will propose or second you; a note of introduction from your vet is usually acceptable, as is one from the breeder of your kitten. try a visiting a few and have fun!

• best of british Shorthairs

www.bestofbritishshorthairs.co.uk 01652 654574

• burmese cat club

www.burmesecatclub.com tel: 01899 229424

• the Maine coon cat club

www.maine-coon-cat-club.com 0114 2692306

• the british ragdoll cat club www.tbrcc.co.uk 0161 248 8940

• traditionalist ragdoll cat Society www.traditionalistragdollcatsociety. org.uk membersec@traditionalistragdollcatsociety.org.uk

• uK ragaMuffin cat Society www.ukrmcs.co.uk 01730 300692

• each club offers its own benefits package. If you want to know more about the club nearest you, contact the gCCF at governing Council of the Cat Fancy, 5 King’s Castle Business Park, the Drove, Bridgwater, somerset tA6 4Ag or telephone: 01278 427575.

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Nature’s diet Some of the main worries and concerns for cat owners in the Western world are kidney disease, obesity, terrible teeth and renal failure. How much is attributable to what we feed our cats?

or thousands of years cats roamed the ancient world. They made their homes on the Savannahs of Africa, the plains of India and the forests of Eurasia and the Americas. Cats, big and small, swirled through every type of terrain in every climate. They hunted in every different niche, surviving on mainly fresh herbivores – rats and rabbits, deer and buffalo in the case of the big cats. A cat will eat the whole of its prey, except the gall bladder – this is the squidgy green-red thing that the cat leaves for you in the morning if it has been eating prey in the kitchen as you slept soundly upstairs. Unlike dogs, they are eaters of fresh meat, not older, scavenged meat. Similar to dogs, however, they will eat the entire carcass – whole rabbits included. In this way they gain complete nutrition; the prey contains all the protein building blocks in muscle and connective tissue but also fatty acids are absorbed from adipose tissue from fat deposits, nerves and central nervous tissue. So where do cats get their carbohydrates from? Answer: From the gut contents of their herbivore prey! Yes, their rabbit dinner is full of partially digested grass, cereal and vegetable matter, all ready to give the cat the vitamins and minerals unavailable to it from other sources. There you have it – the complete meal, ready packaged and keeping fresh out in the neighbouring fields or nearby mouse nest. All ready for a nutritious snack containing all the vitamins and minerals the cat needs – all in exactly the right proportions. Isn’t nature clever?

Feeding domestic cats

An increasing number of people believe domestic cats should eat a raw diet: raw meat, pureed raw fruit and vegetables and raw chicken wings (for

calcium and for their teeth). It is simple to feed and logically, it is what cats were and still are, designed to eat. Cats should be fed on a variety of raw meat and chicken wings. Just sticking to one meat source is no good as you don’t get all your nutrients. Poor quality cuts with gristle and a bit of fat are better than pure meat. Do not feed pork. For every 90-95g of meat, feed 5-10g of pureed raw vegetables. Cats will avoid vegetables at all costs. By pureeing the food, you can smear it on the raw meat which will usually be eaten with gusto. By giving such a small amount of veg it is easily hidden. Onions are toxic to cats – do not feed. Quantities – Feed similar quantities as for wet food or one-and-a-half times the volume of dried previously fed. Feed raw chicken wings a minimum of once or twice weekly. Raw chicken wings are easily chewed and digested. It is very unlikely, although not impossible, that they will get stuck in the gut. If you do not give bones to clean a cat’s teeth, a general anaesthetic for dental work is very likely. Feed fresh, non-frozen viscera (kidney, heart, lung or liver) once a week instead of meat. Remember, wild animals come with viscera (organs) alongside the meat

• •

•

– it is a necessary part (however distasteful) of a balanced diet. Vary the organ meat weekly, but make sure heart is often on the menu. Cats cannot live without taurine; fresh heart is high in taurine, but frozen meat has little or no taurine. Do not feed cereals.

•

Bending the rules

If you cannot bear to feed raw meat, light cooking in olive oil to ‘seal’ the juices is okay. Pureed raw vegetables will last for 48 hours in the fridge, so you can do the blending only three times weekly but remember, it loses its goodness pretty quickly after liquidising. Alternatively puree the mix and put into an ice cube tray and freeze – thus you can take out small quantities daily.

Warning words

A concern about raw feeding expressed by veterinarians is whether or not a homemade diet is balanced and contains all necessary nutrients. This is where the owner has to take responsibility for educating themselves in basic nutritional needs and providing balanced recipes. There are dozens of books and websites and other resources that provide this information, however over time, owners tend to simplify or modify the recipe, dropping supplements or not varying the meats and vegetables used; which can have a negative effect on the balance and ultimately, your cat’s health. To provide a homemade diet correctly takes a real commitment on the part of the owner. It’s a bit more complicated, and bit more expensive, especially for mulitcat households and there are all sorts of health and hygiene things to take into account. However, those who feed the raw diet to their cat swear by their animal’s good health, coat and general wellbeing. Food for thought.

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CAT CLASSIFIED BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK

72 KITTENS FOR SALE

76 BREEDERS DIRECTORY

Britain’s leading and most comprehensive breed-by-breed guide to cats and kittens for sale. All of the country’s top breeders use it to advertise their cats and kittens that are available. Look within these pages and search online at: www.catworld.co.uk

The UK’s top directory of pedigree cat breeders. Just choose one in your area from our pages. If you’re looking for something special in your life, there’s no better place to start your search.

79 STUD DIRECTORY

81 SHOPPING DIRECTORY

To help breeders find a suitable stud we list the names of studs available together with details of parentage. A wide range of breeds are listed, so you should be able to find a perfect match!

From catteries to scratching posts, pay a visit to our busy Shopping Directory pages to find the cat services and products you need today.

Sponsor our Kittens for Sale section and have your advertisement appear in this prime position. Various levels of sponsorship available. Call Maria on01903 884988 or email: maria@ashdown.co.uk for details. catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014

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KITTENS FOR SALE

BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK ABYSSINIAN ABYSSINIAN breed profile Online digital download

Australian Mist kittens available various colours and patterns ready now. Special price to promote the breed. Tel 0118 9811109.

British Shorthair Breed Profile Online digital download

bengal Bengal Breed Profile Online digital download We celebrate one of the UK’s most popular cat breeds in our question and answer profile on the fabulous British Shorthair.

The world’s oldest, original breed falls under the spotlight as we introduce the elegant and intelligent Abyssinian in all its glory. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

Asian Asian breed profile Online digital download

An agreeable pet, comfortable in the show arena, easy to care for with a wide choice of coats and colours. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

AUSTRALIAN MIST Australian mist breed profile Online digital download

Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99. Bold and beautiful Bengals; stunning coat patterns and a lively personalitymake this breed a full-on family favourite. Great pictures and fun profile. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

Barbara Boizard-Neil, Gillingham. Bambino Bengals. Experienced breeder, breeding for type and temperament, specializing in the whitetummies Bengals in brown, rosetted, marbles and blues. Superb temperament. Kittens available to approved indoor homes for pet, show or breeding. All registered, vaccinated, microchipped and insured. Telephone: 01747 826667 www.bambinobengals.co.uk email: bboizard@aol.com

BIRMAN JANDOUGLEN BIRMANS, lovable home reared kittens available now. 01359 221200. Suffolk.

Larnikat British Shorthairs - Specialising Colourpoints in all colours, + Tabby Colourpoints, selfs in Blues and Lilacs, sometimes Spotties and Tabbies. Reg/Vac/ Ins/Microchipped. PKD screened. Lovingly raised indoors with other cats. Tel: 01922-620505. W.Midlands. Email: lin.larnikat@talktalk.net. Web: www.larnikat.com Catbalu British Shorthair, Selkirk Rex, Scottish Fold - Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Cinnamon, Fawn, Red & Cream, Self, Tabby, Tortie & Bi-colour. Surrey. Tel: 01932-886728 email: dee@catbalu.com web: www.catbalu.com LEAHSBLUES KITTENS, home-reared, various colours including Blues, Blue Points & Chocolate. Reg/Vacc/Ins. Tel: 01442 236860/ 07866 266477. e.mail:

johnbaxter@leahsblues.fsnet. co.uk web: www.leahsblues.com Hertfordshire Crowvalley. F.A.B. Listed cattery breeder of British Shorthair Silver Tabby/Spotted and Black Smoke. All kittens are home reared with Ped/Reg/Vac/ Ins.flea & worm treated. Parents can be seen. 01495 785546 CHARMODEN BRITISH. Specialising in Blues, Creams, Bi/ Tri-Colours, Blue-Cream, Whites, Blue Silver spotted and tabbies and Red Silver Spotted Tabbies 02476-684350/0781-4007212. Coventry.

BURMESE

Burmese Cat Club For information about breeders of Burmese kittens Tel: 01622 730861 Burmese publications 01908 679031 Burmese lost & found, rescue & rehoming 01483 828625 Homes wanted for neutered adults

www.burmesecatclub.com

PENWYNKATZ BURMESE. Kittens sometimes available, all colours possible. Home reared with children and dogs. Lincs 01529 302236 email: pennypallister@talktalk.net

BURMILLA GAZZELLA BURMILLAS and Asian Smokes - Experienced breeder. Cats tested PKD

BRITISH SHORThair

Meet the new ‘kits’ on the block, as this adorable breed arrives in the UK for the first time ever in this Cat World exclusive. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

Kernmere. British Shorthairs - Silver Tabby, British Blues, Creams and Spotteds, Colourpointed, Lilac and Chocolate Selfs, and related colours in Tortie and Bi-colours. GCCF registered. Tel: 02476 681335 Mobile: 07751 572362 Email: jeanette.Knapp@btinternet.com Web: www.kernmere-cats.com

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

Telephone: Valerie: 01652 654574 Sharon: 02476 684350

THE LEADING BREED-BY-BREED GUIDE TO CATS & KITTENS FOR SALE 72 OCTOber 2014 catworld.co.uk

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KITTENS FOR SALE

BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK

negative. Home reared, microchipped kittens sometimes available, see web-site for current details.Gloucester 07507 649294. 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

foReIgN Ch.SIRed foReIgN Whites kittens sometimes available. Also Siamese, Orientals. 01707 264450. pentirah5@ntlworld.com Herts

Janet Green explains what puts the X Factor into the Exotic; the Persian’s cute and clever cousin. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

www.catworld.co.uk FROM THE APP STORE ONLY £5.99

At other times we have Brown Tabby/White and Silver Tabby/ white. NoRwegIAN foReST CAT BReed PRofILe online digital download

KoRAT KoRAT BReed PRofILe online digital download

Can a cat be mighty yet gentle at the same time? You bet! See our full breed profile covers all angles on this handsome feline. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

eXoTIC eXoTIC BReed PRofILe online digital download

MAINe CooN BReed PRofILe online digital download

What a sweetheart! Read our Korat breed profile and fall in love with the little cat with the heart-shaped face. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

KooRAhK KoRATS quality kittens. Reg/Vacc/Ins. Microchipped. 0161 281 6482. koorahk_korats34@hotmail.com www.koorahkkoratsdirect.co.uk

Meet Norway’s national treasure and a legend in its own right in our Norwegian Forest Cat breed profile. Visit Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

THE MAINE COON CAT CLUB

PeRSIAN

GCCF AFFILIATED, ESTABLISHED 1985

For general information about the breed or the club, contact Steve Butters on 0114 2692306

PeRSIAN BReed PRofILe online digital download

For details of kittens available countrywide, contact Val Kaye on 01484 666728 Or visit the club’s web site at

www.maine-coon-cat-club.com

MAINe CooN AMoRAMIST MAINe CooNS Colourpoint and Persians. Enquiries always welcome. Mareen. 01326-240907. mareenholdenritchie@yahoo. co.uk www.amoramist.com

Buying a Kitten Now available in the app store is Buying a Kitten, just one of our brand new apps for cat lovers and breeders. We have everything you need to know about welcoming a new kitten into your home, from picking your breed to introducing your little one to the family. Complete with interactive galleries, videos and more, this is the only app you’ll need. At only £5.99, you’d be mad to miss it!

LeAhSBLUeS KITTeNS, home-reared, various colours including Silvers, Blues, Torties & Reds. Reg/Vacc/Ins. 01442 236860/07866 266477. johnbaxter@leahsblues.fsnet. co.uk www.leahsblues.com Hertfordshire LUNARIS MAINe CooN home reared quality kittens. Kittens available now - see website. Reg/Vac/Ins. 01832-720359 Northants. www.lunaris.uk.com

NoRwegIAN foReST eLfeNTANz NoRwegIAN foReST kittens available now. Beautiful kittens. Litter born 20/04/13. 1 white male, 2 white females, 1 brown tabby and white female 01592 267002. Fife. www.elfentanznfc.co.uk elfentanz@btinternet.com

An overview of breed type, coat colours and temperament, for those who love the timeless appeal of the chilled out Persian. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

goRgeoUS PeRSIAN KITTeNS, PKD Neg. CH x GRCH sired. Enquiries, phone 01303 261065 / 07747 654707. Email: rosemary@soneripersians. co.uk www.soneripersians.co.uk

www.catworld.co.uk For more breed adverts see

p o T cats on page 51

CLosiNG dAte For NoveMBer issue No. 440: NooN, 22 sePteMBer catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 73

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THE BRE K

KITTENS FOR SALE

BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK pixie bob Pixie-Bob Breed Profile Online digital download

Suitable pets or breeding. 01564-792560/07909-684866. Warwickshire. www.farisle.co.uk AMIGAMIA RAGDOLL. Blue, Tabby & Seal in all three patterns. Multi-champion lines. www.amigamia.co.uk Mid-Cheshire 01606-883528.

serengeti A fascinating insight into the Pixie-Bob and a definite must for anyone who likes their cats with dog-like traits!

Serengeti Breed Profile Online digital download

www.woozlessphynxcats.co.uk sue@woozlessphynxcats.co.uk ALNAKEED WORLD Champion babies to loving indoor homes. Kittens often available. Reg/Vacc/Ins. 01383-721311/07939-116861. alnakeed@aol.com Find me on Facebook under Carole Langham Sphynx Breed Profile Online digital download

Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

ragamuffin

UK RagaMuffin Cat Society

Want a wild-looking cat with a domestic temperament? Stop looking and start reading, you’ve found it in our Serengeti profile.

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

Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

ragdolls

SIAMESE

Ragdoll Breed Profile Online digital download

KHANCOBAN KITTENS. Siamese. Chocolate Point, Seal Point, Lilac Point. Ready May. 01495 740367/07813 027090. Siamese Breed Profile Online digital download

Possibly the most unusual-looking cat breed; the Sphynx is a cat that can really get under your skin – and this feature reveals all! Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

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

Advertise your

kittens for sale in a display box and include a full colour photograph.

Read all about the background and characteristics of this unique, cuddly breed and find out how they got their unusual name. Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

EMERISLE KITTENS. Ragdolls from breeder of the year 11yrs running, Tiffanies, Scottish Fold, British Shorthair. 07774-650217/01943-461852 www.emerisle-cats.co.uk FARISLE KITTENS, Blue, Seal, Colourpoints. Also Tabby kittens. House reared and socialised. Reg/Vacc with Pentofil/Ins.

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 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 THe International Cat Association Phil Cornwell, Regional Director 31 Louthe Way, Sawtry, Cambridgeshire PE28 5TR Tel: 01487 800014 www.tica-uk.org.uk Cats Protection National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 7TT. Tel: 08707 099 099 Fax: 08707 708265 Helpline: 0300 12 12 12 www.cats.org.uk Blue Cross The Animal Hospital, Sheppard House, High Street, Victoria, London SW1V 1QQ. Tel: 020 7834 1128 Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Tel: 020 7622 3626 Lost Dogs & Cats Line: Tel: 0901 477 8477 (calls cost 60p per minute) BEHAVIOUR aDVICE LINE: Tel: 0905 020 0222 (calls cost 25p per minute) www.dogshome.org Everycat UK 41 Randolph Road, Gillingham Kent ME7 4PP. Tel: 01634 575278 www.everycat.co.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

Stylish, svelte, sexy, sassy – it must be the every popular Siamese cat. Make sure you know all about the feline with superstar status.

Petsearch UK Nationwide network of free helplines and register for lost and found animals. 851 Old Lode Lane, Solihull, West Midlands. Tel: 0121 743 4133

Visit www.craft-club.com and download this article from the Online Store for just £1.99.

The Blue Cross Animal Welfare Society Shilton Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4PF Tel: 01993 822651

SPHYNX WOOZLES SPHYNX. Reg/ Vacc. Happy outgoing personalities. 01621 815769 (Essex).

Useful addresses

Call Maria on 01903 884988 or email maria@ashdown.co.uk for more information

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)

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CAT CLASSIFIED BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK ✔ Web

directory ✔ More free words ✔ Search by breed ✔ Link your website ✔ Add a photo ✔ Add births ✔ Even better value ✔ One easy package

on’t miss our exciting Find-a-Kitten section, which offers breeders even wider coverage and even better value for money. To make things simple, we’ve created one supersize Breeder Package that fulfils all your needs – and at the right price. When you book with Cat World, not only do you get a host of extras in the UK’s leading magazine directory, you also appear on our fabulous, designed Find-a-Kitten online directory. The Cat World website is the most popular cat site in the UK, and regularly tops the search lists in Google. We have always attracted thousands of keen kitten buyers, but our site boasts many improvements that are certain to bring even more people searching for a new kitten.

Find-a-Kitten makes it easy for kitten buyers to find you. So make sure you’re listed in the UK’s top directory.

Here’s what you get when you book a Breeder Package

On the Cat World website, in the Find-a-Kitten section:

● A listing in the online Breeders Directory. Approx 40 words free. ● An advert in Kittens For Sale. Approx 40 words free. ● Free links to your own website. ● Change the number of kittens available every month ● Add Date of Birth to your advert when you want ● Tell buyers the number of boys and girls you have available ● Your advert will be searchable by breed ● Add a photo to your Kitten for Sale advert for only £5 extra a month ● A chance to link to a video of your kittens (coming soon) ● Special reduced rate in Stud Directory.

PLUS

In the UK’s favourite cat magazine:

● An advert in the Breeders’ Directory. 40 words free. ● An advert in Kittens For Sale. Approx. 40 words free. ● Semi-display style in bold at no extra charge ● Special reduced rate in the Stud Directory.

NEW LOW PRICE

le £150 for a who year’s entry.

CALL ELIZABETH ON 01903 884988 email elizabeth@ashdown.co.uk

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BREEDERS DIRECTORY

BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK *indicates ownership of a stud cat of the given breed/colour

CAT

Berkshire

CORNWALL

Bambino Bengals. Beautiful spotted/rosetted pedigree boys and girls. Vaccinated, microchipped, registered. Home reared. Available as loving pets. Telephone Barbara on 01747 826667 www.bambinobengals.co.uk email: bboizard@aol.com

ROSE VALLEY. Australian Mist kittens. New breed to the UK. Claimed to be the perfect family cat. Special price to promote the breed. Spotted or marbelled in six colours. Tel 0118 9811109. Also Burmese kittens

KERNMERE BRITISH BLUES, Creams, Silvers, Colourpoints, Chocolates, Lilacs, Bi-colour, Torties. Tel: 02476 681335 Mobile: 07751 572362 Email: jeanette.Knapp@ btinternet.com Web: www.kernmere-cats.com

Alison Newman. Oakmere Hall Amigamia Bengals and Ragdolls. Family reared indoors, well socialised, affectionate from multi champion lines. GCCF/TICA ref TBRCC/PBRCC VACC/INS. www.amigamia.co.uk MidCheshire 01606-883528.

Mareen Holden-Ritchie, Mullion Amoramist Maine Coons - Based on original USA Import. *Silver Tabby. *Brown Mackerel Tabby. Breeding silver and brown tabby lines with or without white Amoramist Persians and Colourpoints (Winner of Supreme) breeding Chocolate lines. Persians Selfs CPC. All PKD negative and reared underfoot. 01326 240907 mareenholdenritchie@yahoo. co.uk www.amoramist.com

Avon

Cheshire

iamese S fact file

Essex Mrs Sue Bloxham, Colchester. Woozles. Sphynx - Happy outgoing personalities. Indoor homes. Various colours. 01621 815769 sue@woozlessphynxcats.co.uk www.woozles.uk.com

FIFE 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.

CAT Origin: Thailand Size: Medium, but long and slender Coat Length: Short (long = Balinese) Grooming: Easy

Vocal: Highly!

Energy: Lots of it!

Average Litter Size: 4-6

Temperament: Outgoing, extrovert and can be extremely noisy. They demand attention and to be part of the family so a Siamese is not an ideal cat for someone out at work all day. Compatibility: Medium compatibility with children and other pets.

Do not accept a poorly kitten. It should be bright and alert with clean skin and coat. No sneezing or runny eyes.

TIPS

It is recommended that kittens should be at least 13 weeks of age before going to a new home

TIPS Mrs Elinor M B Herbert Kirkcaldy Elfentanz. Norwegian Forest Cats Brown Tabby, Brown Tabby/ White, Blue, Black. 01592 267002 elfentanz@btinternet.com www.elfentanznfc.co.uk

Gloucester Gazzella. Burmillas & Asian Smokes - Experienced breeder. Cats tested PKD negative Home reared, vaccinated and micro-chipped kittens sometimes available. See website for current details. Gloucester 07507 649294. barbara@gazzellacats.co.uk www.gazzellacats.co.uk

HERTFORDSHIRE Ms Marjorie Davidson-Smith, Hatfield. Ootha. *Siamese, Foreign White & Oriental SH. Kittens sometimes available. 01707 264450 pentirah5@ntlworld.com Leahsblues. British Shorthair Blues, Blue Points, Chocolates, . Maine Coons - Silvers, Blues, Torties & Reds. Reg/Vacc/Ins. 01442 236860/07866 266477. johnbaxter@leahsblues.fsnet. co.uk web: www.leahsblues.com

LINCOLNSHIRE Mrs P A Pallister, Sleaford. Penwynkatz Burmese.

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Y BREEDERS DIRECTORY

BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK Advice for the first time kitten buyer

Cream*, Chocolate*, all colours possible. Home reared with children and dogs. 01529 302236 pennypallister@talktalk.net

MANCHESTER

Here at Cat World we take every care to ensure that all those represented in our pages are reputable breeders. However, to help ensure you are buying your precious kitten from the best possible home, there are several important points you should be aware of:

•The GCCF recommend that all kittens are house-trained, vaccinated and in good health before being placed in new homes. If a kitten doesn’t look healthy don’t buy it, no matter how cute it seems.

Koorahk Korats often have kittens available. Home reared with love. Registered, Vaccinated, Insured, Microchipped. Own stud. Tel 0161 281 6482. Email: koorahk_korats34@hotmail. com Web: www.koorahkkoratsdirect.co.uk

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Mrs Jean Brown Aldwincle Lunaris. Maine Coons - Quality home reared kittens sometimes available to approved homes.

CAT Always see a kitten in its own home. It should not be brought to you to view

TIPS 01832 720359 ronbrown10@supanet.com www.lunaris.uk.com

SOUTH WALES Mrs Betty Williams Pontypool Crowvalley. F.A.B. Listed cattery breeder of British Shorthair Silver Tabby/Spotted and Black Smoke. All kittens are home reared with Ped/

Reg/Vac/Ins.flea & worm treated. Parents can be seen. 01495 785546 crowvalleycats@btinternet.com

suffolk Mrs Ann V C Mott Bury St Edmunds Jandouglen. *Birmans - Seals, Blues, Chocolates, Lilacs, Reds. Also Tabbies in these colours. 01359 221200 ann.mott@freeuk.com www.ann.mott.freeuk.com

SURREY CATBALU BRITISH, Selkirk Rex, Scottish Fold. Self, Bi-Colour, Tortie, Chocolate, Lilac, Cinnamon. 01932-886728 email: dee@catbalu.com web: www.catbalu.com

•Beware of buying underage kittens. No reputable breeder will sell a kitten under 13 weeks of age. •Your kitten’s pedigree should show at least four generations. You can ask to see the pedigree at the outset, and make sure you get a copy when you collect your new kitten. •Ensure you are also given registration documents, a transfer of ownership form, and vaccination certificates. •You should also collect a diet sheet outlining the types of food the kitten is used to, and the appropriate times of feeding. •Most importantly, be sure to check that your kitten’s paperwork is in order at the time of purchase, and check that you fully understand the conditions of sale.

Next issue

Nebelung

Breed profile November issue 440

To advertise your Nebelung call Maria now on 01903 884988 or email maria@ashdown.co.uk

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BREEDERS DIRECTORY

BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK WARWiCKsHiRe mrs Pat Westwood Henley in Arden mobile: 07909 684866. FARisle RAgdolls - Blues, seals, & Tabbies for breeding, show and pets. Kittens raised in the home. 01564 792560 07909 684866 pat@farisle.co.uk www.farisle.co.uk mrs sharon Chance, Coventry. mobile: 07773 818803. CHARmoden. British shorthairs - specialising Blues. Also Blue-Cream, Cream, Bi-Colours, Tri-Colours and Whites, Blue silver spotted and tabbies and Red silver spotted Tabbies Royal Canin Top British shorthair Breeder 2006/2007. 024 76684350 charmodenbritish@btinternet. com www.charmoden.co.uk

WesT midlAnds lARniKAT. British shorthairs kittens, Colourpoints in all colours, + Tabby Colourpoints, selfs in Blues and lilacs, sometimes spotties and Tabbies. Reg/vacc/ins. Home-reared. PKdnegative tested. 01922-620505.W.midlands. lin.larnikat@talktalk.net www.larnikat.com

Catworld IF YOU’RE A BREEDER, MAKE SURE YOU’RE LISTED IN THE UK’S LEADING DIRECTORY Call Elizabeth on 01903 884988 or email elizabeth@ashdown.co.uk or see page 75 more details

YoRKsHiRe mrs Jeanette Fitzpatrick emeRisle CATs. Ragdolls - all patterns & colours. *seal Colourpoint, *Blue Colourpoint, *seal 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 26 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

CAT

Upgrade to a

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Do not bring a new kitten into a home where family routine is about to be disrupted

cats

advertisement - see page 51 or call Maria on 01903 884988 email: maria@ashdown.co.uk

FROM THE APP STORE ONLY £5.49

TIPS

BEGINNING CAT BREEDING Now available from the app store is our brand new app Beginning Cat Breeding, perfect for cat lovers everywhere looking to take their first steps into the exciting world of breeding. Complete with interactive galleries and videos, we’ve got everything you’ll need to get started, from selecting your breed right up to birth. At only £5.99 you’d be made to miss it!

fitzpatrick.jeanette@googlemail. com www.emerisle-cats.co.uk

Kindle users need not be disappointed. We’re available on Amazon.

FACTS ABOUT CATS 1. A cat’s collar bone is not connected to any other bones, which is what helps them squeeze into all those tight spots! 2. Cats respond most readily to names that end in an ‘ee’ sound. 3. The largest breed of cat is the Ragdoll; the males weigh in at around 20 pounds. The smallest breed is the Munchkin; (left), and the male weighs 7-9 pounds. 4. The most popular cat breeds in the UK are British Shorthairs, Siamese, Bengals and Persians. 5. A cat cannot see directly under its nose, which is why it may have a hard time finding tiny treats on the floor right in front of it. 6. In general, cats have five toes

on each front paw, but only four on the back paws, unless they are polydactyl. 7. A cat has a total of 24 whiskers, with 4 rows of whiskers on each side. The upper two rows can move independently of the bottom two rows. As you know, a cat uses its whiskers for measuring distances and gaps. 8. Due to cat’s nocturnal nature, they are often known to enter a period of increased hyperactivity and playfulness during the evening, dubbed the ‘evening crazies’, or ‘mad half hour’. 9. Cats have much better noses than humans. A cat has approximately 60 to 80 million olfactory cells - a human has 5 to 20 million.

10. The first year of a cat’s life equals (in terms of development) the first 15 years of a human life. After its second year, a cat is 25 in human years. After that, each year of a cat’s life is equal to about 7 human years. 11. The hearing of the average cat is at least five times keener than that of a human adult. Careful what you say! 12. Cats have 32 muscles that control the outer ear (compared to human’s 6 muscles each). 13. A cat can rotate its ears independently 180 degrees, and can turn in the direction of sound 10 times faster than the best watchdog.

THE LEADING BREED-BY-BREED GUIDE TO CATS & KITTENS FOR SALE 78 OCTOBER 2014 catworld.co.uk

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STUD DIRECTORY

BOOK YOUR ADVERT OR SEARCH FOR KITTENS ONLINE AT WWW.CATWORLD.CO.UK To help you find a suitable stud, this list gives the names of studs, and brief details of parentage, together with owner’s name. Further details appear under the relevant county in the BREEDERS DIRECTORY (unless the county is followed by an *).

10 CHINCHILLA Gorgeous chunky silver boy (carrying gold). Good type and eye colour, fabulous temperement. DNA PKD and FELV negative, fully vaccinated. Limited availability to experienced, tested and vaccinated queens. 07709772938 wishlistpersians@yahoo.co.uk

13C1 BIRMAN SEAL POINT Foye Champagne Charlie13c1. (Blood group B). Sire Ch.Caroona Toujour Lamour 13c1, Dam Ch.Foye Morsi de Luce 13c1. Charlie has excellent type and temperament. Also very good eye colour. Supervised matings. Snowqueen Birmans 0117 9682929 mobile 07970 012020. Email cmd.318@virgin.net. BRISTOL. Demilune Jenicol Jackson (13C1) (blood group “A”). Sire Shantatal Jackofhearts 13C1. Dam Adfurlo Angeleyes 13C2 J.J (short name) has excellent pedigree breeding seal and blue lines only. Supervised mating’s. Contact Mrs Viv Green 01379 898884 or email: vivi.green@btinternet.com area Suffolk/Norfolk. Grand CH, Snowqueen Charles Lafitte 13C1 (Blood group“A”). Sire Foye Champagne Charlie 13C1. Dam Snowqueen Jasmine 13C2. Charlie has excellent type and temperament also very good blue eye colour. Supervised mating’s. Contact Mrs Viv Green 01379 898884. Email: vivi.green@btinternet.com

13C12 BIRMAN BLUE TABBY POINT Ch Jandouglen Cuil Lodair. Ch Camulodunum Jandouglen Ben 13c12 x Camulodunum Ladyoftiree 13c2 carries dilute. Super temperament. Supervised matings. Mrs Ann Mott, Suffolk 01359 221200. Email: ann.mott@freeuk.com

15 BLACK BSH Vinery Zanzibar (GrCh Catbalu HarryPotter 15c x Ch Sheephouse

Winnie-Niger 15) Blood Group B Carries Lilac and Chocolate Sussex 07713270755

15D RED SELF BSH Achuri Erik. Gr Ch Satinmist Apollo (15) x Achuri Iolanthe (31f). Five Merits. Blood Group A. Sire of many winners. Miss R. M. Stiles. DEVON. 01803 327811.

16 BLUE BSH Vinery Devon (Sheephouse SunnyJim 31d x Westways AzureLatte 28) Blood Group AB Carries Lilac and Chocolate Sussex 07713 270755 Achuri Meconopsis. Champion Achuri Meconopsis Miletree Tushka (16) x Achuri Mayqueen (16) blood group A. Tested queens only. Lovely eye colour. Friendly gentle temperament. Miss R M Stiles. DEVON. 01803 327811

19 RED TABBY BSH Baritophanie Merlin (19) GCh Vectensian Red Admiral (19) x Dubolly Brilliant Red (19). Very loving and gentle boy. Margaret Wood. Middx. 0208 894 3544. rogerwood01@tiscali.co.uk

27 BROWN BURMESE Ch Chinkara Joe Brown. Planxty Dragonheart (27) x Gr Ch Chinkara MixnMatch (27e). Carries Blue and Chocolate. Approved tested queens only. Mrs Carolyn Clark. ESSEX. 01206 331376. email: carolyn@chinkara.freeserve.co.uk

27C LILAC BURMESE UK & Imp Gr Ch Anokhi Boy George. IGR Ch Anokhi Masterblaster (27a) x UK Gr Ch Mainman Kissangel (27b). Supervised matings to recently tested queens. Luxury stud-house. An experienced gentle boy siring healthy kittens of superb type & temperament including show winners. Mrs Mary Moore. OXFORDSHIRE

01608 810631 email: dulcamara-burmese@zen.co.uk

27B CHOCOLATE BURMESE Gr Ch. Chathera Catotigernos. Sire Prefere Chocolate Rondo (27b) x G Ch Chathera Mirranda (27c) Super temperament. Carries Blue. Approved tested queens only. Mrs P. A Pallister. LINCOLNSHIRE. 01529 302236. Email pennypallister@talktalk.net

27F CREAM BURMESE UK Gr Ch Penwynkatz Creme Delight. Sire UK & Imp G Ch Chathera Coolcolombo (27c) x Ch Oakford Amira (27j) Super temperaments. Lilac Based. Approved tested queens only. Mrs P.A. Pallister. LINCOLNSHIRE. 01529 302236. Email: pennypallister@talktalk.net

31D RED/WHITE BI.COL. BSH Sheephouse Sunny Jim. Catbalu Macduff (31f) x Sheephouse Speciality (21b). Supervised matings. Limited stud. Jenny Vaughan. EAST SUSSEX. 01825 840236. Email: jcartervaughan@aol.com

Marian Denyer Sussex 07946716424. Email catriona.cats@gmail.com

66W SEAL POINT MITTED RAGDOLL Ch Willowbeck Wolf Ofemerisle. Adentlo Ambrose Ofemerisle (66w) x Emerisle Mistee Morn (66a). Stunning large boy of superb original Ragdoll type. Tested normal for MYBPC3 gene and FELV & FIV neg. Faultless temperament, gentle and patient with novice queens. Deep, deep blue eyes finish off this perfect boy. Stud and kitten enquiries. Mrs J. Fitzpatrick. YORKSHIRE. 01943 461852 or 07774 650217. email: fitzpatrick.jeanette@ googlemail.com

76B30 BLUE-EYED SNOW SPOTTED Jetspots Mr Bombastic. Benlotte Crescendo (76a30) x Karsuka Suneta Sharma (76b30). Big beautiful boy, extremely gentle, brand new stud quarters and fully supervised matings. Tested queens only. GCCF & TICA registered. Mrs Davida Bemister. DORSET/ HAMPSHIRE BORDER. Email: davidabemister@sky.com www.bootyliciouscats.co.uk. 01202 479439.

31F CREAM & WHITE BSH Vinery Cattuccino (Sheephouse SunnyJim 31d X Westways AzureLatte 28) Blood Group A Sussex 07713 270755

54 GOLDEN PERSIAN LH Admewlo Charlie Boy. Adentlo Golden Billyboy (54) x Adentlo Dillylilly (10). Hand-some, friendly, affectionate. Sires beautiful kittens. Mrs Shakides. KENT. 01322 280795. Email: shaklaw@ntl world.com

MAINE COON Acoonamatata Fire in the Sky. Gr Ch Acoonamatata Quiff Riley 64 43 fsw Mullycoonz Sapphire Mist 64 18g. Gentle experienced boy. HCM negative. Supervised matings. Limited stud. Approved FELV/FIV tested Queens only. Siring beautiful kittens.

RAGDOLLS Emerisle (various boys, some are titled). All active boys tested normal for MYBPC3 gene and FELV & FIV neg. All have fabulous size, type, temperament and eye-colour. All patterns in Cream, Blue & Seal, Mrs Jeanette Fitzpatrick. YORKSHIRE. 01943 461852/ 07774-650217.Email: fitzpatrick. jeanette@googlemail.com

SNOWSHOE - SEAL Ferry Vom Friedewald. Snowangels Hitop Sneakers (83w) x Southpole Xshu Xshu (83aw). Gentle affectionate boy. Siring top quality kittens. Mollie Southall. WARWICKSHIRE. 01926 402937. Email; coldenufforsnow@hotmail.co.uk

CLOSING DATE FOR NOVEMBER ISSUE NO. 440: NOON, 22 SEPTEMBER catworld.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 79

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Reach over 100,000 cat lovers with your advertisement in Cat World. ST? RATCHING PO WHY BUY A SC

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How to advertise - Deadline for adverts 22nd September 2014

1 CHOOSE YOUR ADVERT

SNOWSHOE

2 CONTACT US TO PLACE YOUR ADVERT Trade advertisers freephone:

0800 435553 Book online: www.catworld.co.uk Email: maria@ashdown.co.uk Post to: Cat World, Unit 5E, Park Farm, Chichester Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 0AG

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Abyssinian

Name: .............................................................................................................................................

Example of ls pexcia s4cm 1 column

............................................................................................... Postcode: ........................................

r 4x1 colou £52 for all Unit 5E, Park Farm, Chichester Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 0AG. Tel: 01903 884988 maria@ashdown.co.uk www.catworld.co.uk

Double colour display (4cms x 2 columns) Colour display without photo (4x1)

Unit 5E, Park Farm, Chichester Road Arundel, West Sussex BN18 0AG Tel: 01903 884988 maria@ashdown.co.uk www.catworld.co.uk

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Address: ..........................................................................................................................................

Tel: ..................................................Email: ...................................................................................... I enclose my cheque/p.o. payable to Cat World or debit my Card Number:

MASTERCARD

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Start date: ..............................Expiry date: .......................... 3 digit security no:............................... Signed:............................................................................................................................................ ADVERTISEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Cancellation of advertisements will only be accepted 4 weeks prior to the copy deadline for that booking. Series discounts only apply as stated. Ashdown.co.uk Ltd reserves the rights to repeat an advertisement from a previous issue if the copy is not received by copy deadline. Customer proofing of advertisements can be arranged by special request subject to copy arriving prior to copy deadline. We can offer a full design service for advertisements, please ask for details. All classified advertisements are to be prepaid by the deadline of the first insertion. Failure to do so will cause loss of requested ad space. Although we do our best to place advertisements as requested, we cannot guarantee placement of your advert. Trading accounts for businesses in operation for one year can be opened within 24 hours (subject to acceptance). However, we ask that you pre-pay for your first advertisement. All major credit cards are accepted in payment for advertisements. Overseas accounts are asked to use credit cards as payment. All payments must be made payable to Ashdown. co.uk Ltd. ASHDOWN.CO.UK LIMITED REGISTERED IN ENGLAND No. 1424650 VAT No. 315760564

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We have your interests at heart hallow

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ions decorat spooky these with add some scene You can Halloween Colijn heads to your By Marianne fun mummy

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I felt need messy. YOU’LL a it a bit looked make wrapping on messy head the wet bit spookier. and leave 5: Place surface next day Step The heads the non-stick overnight. mummies. ummy a fun to it to dry finish your will make for you needwhite you can Check if with decoration They 6: spots Step Halloween. you any bald small spots objects—the size on, are cover in any when If they of ■ Round the object of fabric to cool made of fabric. glue a bit the size pretty size it better can be on a look big is stiffyou can determines head— like. They them togetherbut you anything fabric and mummywell, as if it is the your you group mantelpiece, the it with dry. work to woodfrom cover or a to eyes on beads foam or them table Leave two white hang dangle as foam ener. well can also have them 7: Add I used tiny or Step area. en ballsstiffener You can very ceiling some the black I cut in half. beads or for a tree. ■ Fabric in only need these that or half container balls I glued You will beads to make ■ Old are paint. the stiffener things and they also use of white fabric— tacky mixing simple dots extra handcotton on with even balls add an cotton mini mummies, ■ Thin way to Halloween the foam to dry. old white work well your a great Leave or feel to glue. kerchiefs beads spooky white the scenes. ■ Tiny balls for stiffener fabric foam can your to 1: Mix that you is eyes surface dry Step the old container where the project in an ■ Non-stick area mummies off when a black let the get rid to add be. is 1 part strip, black on will stiffener 2 parts finished. a fabric of eyes with most The fabric 4: Chose ■ Permanent a ready mixed Step squeeze the glue also buy marker wood and gently out. Wrap object glue if you’d You can the water. stiffener, ■ Tacky projpermanent the moisturearound your fabric a small for this to each strip mixed 8: With black dot fabric you leave use that Step sure add a uncovered. like, and fabric eyes. making eyes head marker, white for the your ect. mummy’s until the very and mix area 2: Tear of the strips wrapping can wrap Step Keep narrow You stiffener and into long the fabric covered. what I did is do soaked. with or them are really round neatly, until they Pick up a marker 3: black Step Use the RLD WO object. USE

see BIG BEAD SHOW TICKET FOR EVERY READER inside

2014

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Bead &JEWELLERY

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.indd

for details

Issue 56 August/September 2014

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8 EXTRA

PAGES OF

BEARS

Paws for thought

Calima Triang les

PETS TO ADD LIFE TO YOUR HOUSE

WELCOME TO WONDERLAND

halloween donuts

WITH DEDICATED ALPACA BREEDER

tray of trick&or QUICK EASY TREAT DONUTS BRONZES

Autumn jacket knitting pattern

BEHIND THE SCENES

Decorate a tray of tasty donuts for your mini Trick or Treaters with this fun project

MAKE TRAYS OF DELICIOUS DOUGHNUTS

THE MUNSTERS IN MINIATURE

•Shaped Beads •Mixed Media •Wirework and more

Key to My Dreams

By Caroline of Hummingbird Miniatures oin the fun this spooky season with these Trick or Treat Donuts! They are a great addition to your miniature Halloween dessert table or cake shop display. You want to work on a clean

BEAR ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD

surface—ideally a ceramic tile or a surface lined with disposable tin foil. Make sure your hands are clean and dry.

■ Polymer clay in beige ■ Sculpey Translucent Liquid ■ Chalk pastels— orange, brown, green, and purple ■ Glitter in ‘Halloween colours’ such as purple and orange ■ No-hole beads in ‘Halloween colours’ ■ Clay conditioning machine ■ Craft needle tool ■ Ceramic tile or cookie sheet for baking clay on ■ Craft knife such as an X-Acto blade ■ Toothpicks ■ Small paintbrush ■ Raw spaghetti pasta

ART DECO

HOW MINI CLUB MADE MEETING IN TWELFTH SCALE

● Bear repairs ● Fair news

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Step 2: Roll a long snake approximately 3/8” thick against your clean work surface. Cut 6 even sized pieces (again approximately 3/8” in width). Step 3: Roll each piece into a perfect ball using your fingers and the palm of your hand. Step 4: Press each one down

PAGES OF PROJECTS

against your work surface to make them into a flatter ball. Push the needle tool into the centre to make a hole.

Step 5: Holding the clay shape in one hand, gently wiggle the needle tool inside the hole to make it bigger until it resembles a donut shape. Step 6: Do the same for

Step 7: Take any chosen colour of chalk pastel, and use the craft blade to scrap against your chalk pastel to make a small pile of powdered pigment. I chose Halloween colours such as orange and purple, and I also used mint green and chocolate brown. Wash your hands at this stage and try not to spread this powder around your surface. Step 8: Squeeze liquid Sculpey onto the surface next to the

october 2014 D O L L S H O U S E W O R L D

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USE IT IN YOUR SCENES

wave

ISSUE 265

DOLLS HOUSE WORLD: OCT 217

Juicy Jewels

crest of a

9 770961 092055 27/08/2014 15:31

Step 1: Soften 1/4 block of beige polymer clay using your hands or a clay conditioning machine for a faster result.

40 OVER

another three donuts, but leave two of them as they are (without holes).

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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