Hello !!! You are reading the fifth issue of the Cats Protection Newsletter in Telford and Wrekin Area. Hope you enjoy our newsletter!
Consider your pet's future Have you made provision for your pets in case you are hospitalised, die or have to go into care? It may be that family, friends or neighbours would be willing to care for your pets if you are taken ill. If none of these are an option, there are organisations who can help you. We urge you to pre-register your cat before you find yourself in this situation, to avoid undue worry later.
The Cinnamon Trust is a charity whose volunteers help the elderly look after their pets. They will help to keep you together by fostering your pet should you go into hospital, walking your dog, or fetching cat food. They also care for pets when their owners die. Their sanctuaries provide a restful environment for older pets. The Cinnamon Trust can also provide information about which care homes are able to take residents with their pets. Here is a link to their website: www.cinnamon.org.uk
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The Blue Cross have a Pets into Care scheme, which is free to anyone living in England, Scotland or Wales. There is usually a limit of 4 dogs, cats or small animals. They are not able to assist with exotic species or fish. In the event of your death, the registered animals would be taken into care until they could be found a new home. The Blue Cross do not put healthy animals to sleep. For more information or to register your pets, see: www.bluecross.org.uk/2082/pets-into-care-scheme.html
The RSPCA runs a Home for Life scheme. They will take on most pet breeds. Animals will be taken to the nearest RSPCA shelter and assessed for the purpose of finding them a new home. www.homeforlife.org.uk
The Dogs Trust have a Canine Care Card. See this website for more information: www.dogstrust.org.uk/legacies/ caninecarecard2009.aspx
Cats Protection can provide Emergency Cat Care Cards for pet owners to carry. These alert emergency services that you have a pet that will need to be taken care of should you be taken ill. They are included in our legacy pack, which can be requested via this link: www.cats.org.uk/support-us/legacy/how-giftwill-menu/securing-future-menu/
Text from www.cats.org.uk/telford
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Regional Event: Stall at Haygate Vet Centre's Open Day Venue: 78 Haygate Road, Wellington, TF1 1QN When: Saturday 17th March 2012 Haygate Veterinary Centre are having an open day at their newly refurbished branch in Wellington. There will be lots to do, including a teddy bear hospital and also the chance to look behind the scenes. Haygate have kindly given us the opportunity to have a stall there, so please come along and support us between 11am and 3pm.
Dear Cats Protection!
Hi Cats Protection!
I think that there is something wrong of my cat´s ears. How do I know if they might be ear mites and how should I treat them?
Why is my cat spraying? Helen from Ketley
lthough we find urine spraying unacceptable, spraying is actually a normal scent marking behaviour in cats. Cats use scent signals a An infected cat or kitten will scratch his ears, great deal to orientate themselves and shake his head and sometimes damage the skin communicate with others. Facial and flank on his ears and temples. Ear mites live on dead rubbing and scratching are other behaviours skin inside the ear and brown wax will be seen that also leave scent marks. Urine spraying is in the outer ear. Treatment is required to used more in unneutered male and female cats, eliminate them so it is best to take your cat to especially toms, as it is used to indicate sexual the vet. activity. However, spraying will also occur in neutered cats. Spray marks tend to be used in those areas of a cat's territory where a cat feels insecure or threatened, such as where other cats are around. Most often this occurs outside, Answers from the Cats Protection Website but can also occur indoors if a cat is stressed www.cats.org.uk. To ask questions, email inside. them to pr.catsprotection@gmail.com. Ann from Telford
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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. Miss Sophie is a 7 month old tortie and white female. She is afraid of women, so would need to be adopted either by a man, or by a someone who is very patient and prepared to wait for her to approach them on her own terms. She is not suitable for a home with children. She likes a small amount of fuss, but may scratch or bite if she's had enough. She would be lonely without the company of another cat, but needs an equally playful companion as she can be very boisterous.
Hello there, my name's Bill. I'm a 5 year old tabby & white male. I am looking for a best of both worlds home, i.e. somewhere I can come indoors to feed but live outdoors to earn my keep. I'm not a feral but a long term stray and have forgotten how to live indoors.
Hello, I am a gentle and hugely affectionate young white & tabby cat. I can't have too many cuddles! I'm not ready to be homed until approx 10th March as I haven't been neutered or had my second vaccination yet, but if you don't mind waiting you can still get in touch.
If you are looking for a feline companion, please visit our website for further information and updated list of cats for adoption: www.cats.org.uk/telford/adopt-a-cat
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Animals find the taste of antifreeze sweet and palatable. Each year, many cats, dogs and wild animals die a slow death from kidney failure after ingesting this substance. This winter there have already been eight cat deaths in Shropshire attributed to antifreeze. A bittering agent introduced into commercially antifreeze would greatly reduce the number of poisonings. We therefore encourage you to sign this HM Government epetition to bring in legislation to enforce this.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/12547
Our Diabetic Cat Register (DCR) is a helpful resource for people whose cats have been diagnosed with diabetes. When a cat is first diagnosed as diabetic, coping with the daily management of the condition can be a daunting prospect for an owner. That's why a support and advice network is so important and that is exactly what CP has compiled. The DCR contains details of people who have experience of living with a diabetic cat and are willing to share their knowledge (non veterinary only) on a voluntary basis with worried owners.
If you would like to talk to someone who has been in your position and learned to cope with diabetes mellitus’, the DCR is available by contacting helpline by email at helpline@cats.org.uk or on receipt of an A5 self-addressed-envelope (stamps to the value of 50p) from: Diabetic Cat Register (Helpline) Cats Protection National Cat Centre Chelwood Gate Haywards Heath RH17 7TT Text from www.cats.org.uk
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Cats Protection recognises that some people may not want cats wandering into their garden, and suggests the following deterrents: To discourage cats from entering your garden:
To discourage cats from toileting in your garden:
Shoo them away by either shouting or clapping your hands
Cultivate shrubs closely to prevent cats from finding a place to dig
Squirt water at them using a low-powered water pistol (not a super soaker), being careful to avoid their eyes Emit a short, sharp high-pitched noise, such as from a rape alarm. Electronic deterrents which are triggered by the movement of a cat and emit a high-pitched sound audible only to cats, are also available Install an automatic garden spray that is triggered by an infra-red detector that locates movement Erect high, close-boarded fences next to the hedges in the garden, making it difficult for cats to visit Try not to leave food for birds and other wildlife in places that are easily accessible to cats and also ensure dustbin lids are secure. In addition, do not start feeding a cat if you do not want him around
Spread chicken manure around beds and borders, taking care to use Soil Association approved pellets rather than fresh manure Consider covering parts of the garden that you do not want the cat to toilet in with stone chippings, pebbles or small rocks Lion dung-infused deterrent products, the planting of coleus canina and crushed egg shells have been used with varying levels of success to deter cats from toileting in flower beds Hardy plants and the use of tall planters in strategically placed positions (entrances, protruding corners) can help to reduce the effects of cats marking their territory through spraying.
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Text from www.cats.org.uk
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We are currently on the look out for people to fill a variety of roles. Our branch is entirely run by volunteers and so that we can transfer all proceeds to the welfare of our cats. If you are interested in volunteering with Telford & District Cats Protection, please have a look various roles possible.
Fosterer
Fundraiser
All of our cats are looked after by volunteers in their own homes until a permanent home can be found for them. Cats can be fostered either in a purpose built cabin in the garden, or in a spare room of their house.
We rely on volunteers to raise funds and increase awareness of our branch and Cats Protection in general.
In addition to looking after the health and well being of each cat, time is spent grooming and socialising the cats. We do not mix cats from different households, so each cabin will only house a small number of cats.Cats Protection provide cat food, litter and equipment, as well as paying for the cat's vet fees whilst it is in the fosterer's care. We also organise and pay for the installation of the cabin. Cat fosterers should ideally have their own transport and be prepared to take cats to and from the vets. They will also need to collect food and litter from a central location. The only costs incurred by fosterers are petrol and a small amount of electricity for heating and lighting of the pen.
Fundraisers can undertake a wide variety of duties, including helping on stalls, emptying collection boxes, and planning and organising new activities. Our regular events include stalls in Telford shopping centre and at Roden Fun Dog Show. We are looking for new ways to raise money, and these will depend on the skills and interests of the people we recruit. These could include shaking tins outside supermarkets, organising our own events, selling items at car boot sales, or setting up a 100 club. Fundraising doesn't have to involve a huge time commitment. If you are able to assist on a stall for a couple of hours every few months it would still be of great help.
Fosterers must also be prepared to show members of the public into their own homes to view the cats at a mutually agreed time. They will have first had a home visit to check that they can provide a suitable home for the cat.
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Membership volunteer
General help
Cats Protections volunteers carry out the majority of its welfare, fundraising and education activities and each group has a membership scheme which generates income to fund the provision of local services.
This may include:
The Membership Volunteer coordinates the membership scheme and provides support and information to local members on the groups activities and services. This role provides an important link between the group and local supporters and involves looking after the groups membership database, renewing subscriptions and welcoming new supporters. It will also involve working with other members of the group to promote the scheme to attract new supporters to join. Good organisational and communication skills will be important in this role, together with sound administrative and IT skills. Experience of working as part of a team and knowledge of the local community would be an asset.
Transporting cats to and from the vets Taking photos of foster cats for our website Distributing cat litter and food to our fosterers Putting up posters Emptying our supermarket food collection bins Making good quality craft items for sale on our stalls
If you are able to help with any of these, please complete our volunteering enquiry form www.cats.org.uk/telford/volunteering
Secretary As secretary, you will support your local group by taking and distributing committee meeting minutes, and sending correspondence to group members, vets and the general public. You are likely to need to commit around 2 hours per week to this role, and be able to attend our committee meetings on a Tuesday evening. You must also have good communication and IT skills and to be able to work independently and as part of a team.
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Our last Cat Playhouse goes to Elaine from Telford. The Cats Protection will contact the winner.
Congratulations to the winner!!!
Prizes were provided by “SUCKUK� visit them at www.suck.uk.com or call them at 020 7923 0011 Page 10
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1. A cat can’t climb head first down a tree because every claw on a cat’s paw points the same way. To get down from a tree, a cat must back down. 2. Cats make about 100 different sounds. Dogs make only about 10. 3. A cat’s brain is biologically more similar to a human brain than it is to a dog’s. Both humans and cats have identical regions in their brains that are responsible for emotions. 4. Approximately 24 cat skins can make a coat. 5. While it is commonly thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats, the oldest known pet cat was recently found in a 9,500-year-old grave on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. This grave predates early Egyptian art depicting cats by 4,000 years or more.
Do you stand at the computer because the cat is sleeping on the chair? At the store, do you pick up the cat food and kitty litter before you pick out anything for yourself? Will you confess to non-cat owners how many cats you really have? Do you buy more than 50 pounds of cat litter a month?
"No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens." -
Abraham Lincoln "People that hate cats, will come back as mice in their next life." - Faith Resnick "Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." -
Winston Churchill "In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb "As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat." - Ellen Perry Berkeley
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If you would like to know about advertising opportunities in our newsletter or you have any other suggestions, then please contact us: pr.catsprotection@gmail.com