Newsletter for the Telford & District Cats Protection
Our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Happy New Year! It´s 2012 and after festive season it is time to look to the new year ahead. In the Cats Protection we are hoping to help even more cats and kittens in finding a loving home. Telford & District Cats Protection looks after the welfare of cats in the Telford area (TF postcodes) and also some surrounding areas such as Newport, Shifnal, Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock. We are run entirely by volunteers. If you would like to know more about the charity and maybe you would be even able to support our work then visit our webstie: www.cats.org.uk. We appreciate any help towards better life of abandoned and homeless cats!
Rescue cat Liilia.
Cats Protection champions neutering as the Although some owners try and recoup this only effective way to reduce the number of cost by selling kittens, there are already thousands and thousands of unwanted cats unwanted cats in the UK. and kittens out there, we don’t need more! We seek to dispel myths, spread the neutering Many owners also find that kittens are harder message and make it easier for owners on low to sell than they first thought. incomes to get their cats neutered. In 2010 we helped neuter 176,000 cats making us the largest single cat neutering group in the world! Neutering is a safe, painless way of controlling the cat population. It also helps reduce your household costs as caring for a mother and kittens is very expensive.
Six months old kitten Ziggy waiting for a new home.
Feral cats are those either born wild or that have lived so long away from humans that they can no longer be found new homes as pets. They are the same species as our pets and are equally protected in law. An uncontrolled feral colony will grow quickly; the cats will be susceptible to disease and may also become a nuisance. Simply removing the cats is not a long-term solution, as a new colony will soon move in. The best option, therefore, is to neuter all of the resident feral cats within as short a time frame as possible. Over a period of years this will reduce the size of the colony. A controlled, healthy and manageable colony will deter other ferals from moving in and will keep vermin levels down. The contribution is for assistance with neutering costs only and must not be used for other veterinary treatment or euthanasia. Your application needs to be made in advance of any neutering taking place, as payment cannot be made after the event. Our local branches may be able to help both with costs and practical assistance - depending on their resources and volunteers. In areas where we do not have a branch we may be able to provide financial assistance.
Neutering is a safe procedure which has become commonplace in veterinary practice for over 30 years. The following are some common questions we're asked about neutering. When can a female cat start reproducing? Puberty usually occurs at around five to eight months in cats, although it can happen as early as four months depending on the breed of cat. We recommend neutering both male and female cats from an early age. However, it is important to note that the vet responsible for your cat will specify when they are prepared to carry out the neutering operation - usually at around four months of age. Your vet will consider each case on its own merits. Cats Protection’s current policy is to neuter pet cats from four months and ferals from weaning age. Will the cat get fat? Neutered cats need less food after surgery, so you will need to reduce their daily food intake after they are neutered. Neutering in itself doesn’t make cats fat. What aftercare will the cat need? Your vet will advise you how to care for the cat after surgery. In most cases cats are ready to come home the same day. Most will need to be kept in for a few days after surgery and in some cases they may need to be taken back to the vet’s surgery for stitches to be removed 10 days after surgery. How can I tell if my kitten is male or female? To tell if your kitten is male or female, you will need to lift the tail and look at the back end. Both sexes will have two holes but on a female the holes will be fairly close together, whereas on a male there will be a space where the testicles will develop. What behavioural signs does an unneutered tom display? Unneutered toms tend to be larger and generally more confident than neutered males. They tend to maintain a large territory area, as they will cover a large area looking for females that are coming into season. Because it is so important for toms to maintain a large territory to reproduce, they are more likely to fight with other cats and leave urine spray marks inside or outside.
Vet neutering a cat. Picture and text from the Cats Protection website.
The benefits to neutering are massive: Financial - Neutered cats cost less to feed and are less likely to get sick or injured, saving you money Social - There are too many unwanted cats in the UK, we don’t need more. Neutering also reduces cats’ likelihood to roam, fight, spray and otherwise be a nuisance Health-improving - neutered cats are generally healthier
From: 27-Jan-2012 - To: 28-Jan-2012 Venue: Madeley Branch: Telford & District
We will be having a collection / awareness campaign outside the above supermarket on these dates. Please come and lend your support, or to obtain information or advice.
Hi Cats Protection!
Dear Cats Protection!
I have a two year old cat and would like to know how can I keep my cat's teeth clean and healthy? Thanks!
I have 6 months old kitten, who loves to explore everything. How can I encourage my cat to stay in my garden, so as not to upset the neighbours?
Mike– Newport
Emma– St. Georges Many adult cats suffer from heavy buildup of plaque or calculus on their teeth which causes them great discomfort when eating and will eventually lead to a refusal to eat and/or teeth loss. Plaque and calculus can be removed by a veterinary surgeon while the cat is under a general anaesthetic. You can also buy food which loosens plaque and calculus while eating and teeth cleaning products are available. Many cats do not like having their teeth brushed; however, if brushing is started when they are young kittens tolerance levels increase.
It is impossible to eradicate your cat's natural desire to explore, but it can be curbed somewhat by neutering. You can also encourage your cat to stay in your garden by making it as interesting as possible so he won't want to leave. Neighbours are most often upset by cats toileting in their garden; you can encourage your cat to use your own garden by providing a good toileting site within your own boundaries. A good toileting site for a cat is somewhere with easily raked material, which is also private and secluded. Digging over an area that is enclosed by bushes and easily accessible from the house could well be enough to encourage toileting closer to home. You can also enclose your back garden using a fencing kit; however this can be costly and is not always 100 per cent effective.
Send your questions to pr.catsprotection@gmail.com
Our cats are always neutered, microchipped and vaccinated prior to rehoming. They also come with 4 weeks free insurance. Cats Protection ask adopters for a fee when rehoming a cat. If you feel able to make a donation on top of the fee that would, of course, be gratefully received. We know times are hard so thank you for your decision to rehome a CP cat. Our branch is entirely run by volunteers and all proceeds go to the welfare of our cats. Monty is a shy two year old cat looking for an understanding semi-rural home, with no young children, with a good-sized garden or land where he can hunt. He would prefer to be on his own or with one other cat.
Lettuce is an independent kitten and isn't keen on being picked up and cuddled. She is very active and everything is an adventure to her. She needs to be kept entertained, or she'll be climbing your curtains! She loves to play with cardboard boxes.
Rosalea is a beautiful black kitten, who was born in our care.
Betty is very affectionate and talkative kitten. Sorry about the blurred photo, but she is also very lively!
If you are looking for a feline companion, please visit our website: www.cats.org.uk/ telford/adopt-a-cat
Cats Protection is asking cat lovers to remember them in their will, in light of a campaign which highlights that people leaving at least ten per cent of their estate to charity will benefit from an inheritance tax break. Launched this month, the Legacy 10 campaign is being supported by high profile figures including Sir Richard Branson and points out that from April 2012, people who leave at least ten per cent of their estate to charities will pay less inheritance tax - 36 per cent instead of 40 per cent. Cats Protection helps over 230,000 unwanted cats and kittens each year through a network of 257 branches and 30 branches, and over half of its income comes from gifts left in wills. For every cat the charity finds a home for, there are many more waiting to come in, hence Cats Protection is keen for more gifts so that they can continue and hopefully expand their cat welfare work.
Matt Vincent, Cats Protection’s Legacy Officer, said: “Cats Protection would be half the size it is today if it wasn’t for people leaving us gifts in their wills - they are a vital part of our funding and enhance our ability to find homes for unwanted cats, neuter cats to prevent unwanted kittens and provide cat care information to the public. “If more cat lovers leave us gifts, then we could help countless more cats in the future. There’s also the added incentive that people who leave ten per cent of their estate or more will benefit from a tax point of view. “Remembering a cause close to your heart isn’t just for the affluent and super rich – any gift, no matter how large or small, would make an incredible difference to the lives of the cats and kittens we care for. Considering that 74p in every pound goes directly towards helping unwanted cats, whatever people can give will go a very long way.” From Cats Protection Website (www.cats.org.uk)
Rehomed cat Simona.
Routine vaccination has greatly reduced the extent of several feline diseases (including some that can prove fatal). It is vital that your cat has all the necessary vaccinations and boosters. What vaccines does my cat need? Cats Protection, as a member of The Cat Group, recommends vaccines for the following feline diseases: Feline infectious enteritis (FIE) - a vaccination must Feline infectious enteritis (a severe and often fatal gut infection) is caused by the feline parvovirus (or feline panleukopenia virus). Vaccination against FIE has been very successful. Unvaccinated cats are at great risk because the virus is widespread in the environment. Cat 'flu - a vaccination must Two types of cat 'flu are vaccinated against feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV). These viruses are very common and vaccination will protect your cat against prolonged illness, but because there are many different strains of cat 'flu the vaccine will not totally eradicate the threat. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) - a vaccination must for outdoor cats FeLV is a lifelong infection and unfortunately most cats will die within three years of diagnosis, usually from a subsequent disease like leukaemia, lymphoma (tumors) or progressive anaemia. It is not an airborn disease and can only be passed on via direct contact between cats (usually by saliva or bites). Because of the serious nature of the disease, CP recommends FeLV vaccination. Feline chlamydophilosis - depends on your circumstances This bacterium, which causes conjunctivitis in cats, can't survive in the atmosphere and is thus spread by direct contact between cats (affecting multi-cat households and kittens predominantly). Your vet will discuss your situation and advise as to whether this vaccine is necessary.
From the Cats Protection Website (www.cats.org.uk)
Our second Cat Playhouse goes to Brooke from Telford . Congratulations to the winner!!! Although a Fire Engine and Plane have found lucky owners, we still have two more prizes.
In the next issue a tank Cat Playhouse will find a lucky owner. All you have to do is sign up for our digital newsletter and send us an email to pr.catsprotection@gmail.com with the title subject “sign up”.
Pink car Cat Playhouse is yet to come :)
Prizes were provided by “SUCKUK” visit them at www.suck.uk.com or call them at 020 7923 0011
Do you introduce your cat when guests come to your house? Do you watch bad TV because the cat is sleeping on the remote? Does your cat "insist" on a fancy Sunday breakfast consisting of an omelet made from eggs, milk, and salmon, halibut, or trout? Do you make it every Sunday? Does your cat eat out of cut crystal stemware because you both watched the same commercial on television? Does your cat like to sleep on your head? Do you like it also? Would you rather spend a night at home with your cat than go out on a bad date? What about a good date?
There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with approximately 40 recognized breeds. The heaviest cat on record is Himmy, a Tabby from Queensland, Australia. He weighed nearly 47 pounds (21 kg). He died at the age of 10 . The normal body temperature of a cat is between 100.5 째 and 102.5 째F. A cat is sick if its temperature goes below 100 째 or above 103 째F. A cat has 230 bones in its body. A human has 206. A cat has no collarbone, so it can fit through any opening the size of its head. The oldest cat to give birth was Kitty who, at the age of 30, gave birth to two
A little boy was with his dad looking at a litter of kittens. Upon returning home, the little boy could not wait to tell his mother that there were 2 girl kittens and 2 boy kttens. "How do you know?" asked his mother. The boy replied, "Daddy picked them up and looked underneath. I think it's printed on the bottom."
Unscramble each of the clue words. Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.
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www.facebook.com/pages/Telford-District-Cats-Protection Latest information and updated with events, lost & found cats & cats available for adoption. We are now on the Google+ social networking site. Already a member? Search for "Telford Cats Protection" to find us!!!