Customer Q&As

Q A&Customer solutions

Intruder alert!

Cat behaviour

A feline intruder can make your cat miserable.

We have a cat that invades our house! What can we do?

Many owners have signifi cant problems with other people’s cats. Nearly a decade ago, Your Cat (our sister title) ran a survey and found that a third of owners whose cats have freedom to come and go have issues with their neighbours’ pets, in particular with cat fi ghts, intimidation, and entering their homes.

Cats are curious by nature and some extroverts simply enjoy visiting neighbours. A lucky few are welcomed and cause no problem. Others cause a nuisance, stealing food, spray marking, and fi ghting. Worse, they can intimidate the resident cat making them scared to leave the house and raising their anxiety levels.

Prevention is better than cure, so it is a good idea to not interact with cats that come into your garden. Even if they’re friendly, it’s best not to encourage them and certainly do not offer food as otherwise they’ll return and potentially cause problems for your own cat.

● Move food away from the cat fl ap so cats are not

tempted in by the sight of a food bowl.

● Be wary of allowing your cat access to your home via

an open window as other cats will follow suit.

● Upgrade your cat fl ap — quick and crafty cats have

even been known to ‘tailgate’ following a cat into his home via an ordinary cat fl ap. A microchip fl ap will only let your cat in.

Owners who use a secure cat fl ap have signifi cantly fewer problems with cats entering the home to steal food. Cats are very persistent and can be hard to discourage once they have started invading. Of course, a further benefi t to a good cat fl ap is that it can be set to limit access at certain times of day, enabling any keen hunters to be kept in when birds are most active in the garden at dawn and dusk.

If a cat has already started to invade, it’s defi nitely worth speaking to the owner of the other cat if you can. You may be able to organise a time share of when your cats are allowed out. You can help build your cat’s confi dence by heading outside with them, playing games with them indoors, and ensuring they are comfortable accessing all their indoor resources.

Getting it right

How do I toilet train a puppy?

Dog training

Tony says: Puppies have tiny bladders, so of course, they are going to empty them regularly, no matter where they are. However, don’t panic too much. Their urine is pretty harmless and doesn’t have the odour that an adult dog’s has. Puppies also haven’t learned to control their bowels yet, so pooing can occur randomly. If your puppy makes a mistake, never scold him. You can end up with a fearful To begin with, take your dog out into the garden every hour. puppy who wees and poos when you are not around or hides and does it anyway (behind the sofa, for example).

The best method is to be there when your puppy gets it right and reward him; this means regular garden trips. Allow him into the garden every hour; be calm Top tip! and wait. If he wees or poos, give him calm praise during the act and a treat The take-home directly after. You must be out there with him to deliver this praise and reward. message with toilet This reinforces the correct behaviour meaning he is more likely to get it right next training is to be there time. At night, his toilet habits won’t be quite as frequent. However, you can leave when your puppy gets a puppy pad near his sleeping area should he wake up and need to go. it right!

Give your puppy a huge window of opportunity to get it right and to be rewarded for doing so. As he gets older, the hourly trip can become a two-hourly garden visit and then a three-hourly trip.

Never punish him, just as you wouldn’t punish a baby for messing a nappy. If he does mess in the house, calmly take him into the garden, and if he continues out there, give calm praise and reward.

TONY CRUSE is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers.

Vegan diets for cats

Cat nutrition

Cats need meat in their diet.

Can I feed my cat a vegan diet?

Whether for ethical, health, or environmental reasons, people are choosing to eat less meat. Demand for vegetarian and vegan food has increased by 350 per cent in the UK over the last 10 years, according to the Vegan Society, and popularity is growing. But, while there are genuine benefi ts for humans to consume more vegetables and less animal-based products, the same cannot be said for cats. We cannot force a vegan diet on our felines.

All cats are naturally carnivores. But, unlike dogs, which have been domesticated for so long that their physiology has changed from their wild wolf ancestors, cats are still obligate carnivores. This means they evolved to eat meat by necessity.

You only have to look inside a cat’s mouth to see the evidence that our furry friends are designed to hunt and catch their own prey. Their teeth are perfect for ripping and biting; they don’t have fl at molars for chewing, like humans. Their sharp teeth are there to cope with fl esh and bones. Given the chance, a cat will hunt and eat small mammals, amphibians, birds, and reptiles, even insects.

In fact, all of our pet cat’s biology shows their evolutionary history as a predator. Their retractable claws used to grasp prey, highly tuned sense of smell and hearing to seek out small animals, and excellent night vision adapted for detecting movement.

Meat is essential for cats because it contains the nutrients they need to stay healthy. The main ones are taurine, fatty acids, and vitamins A and B12. The consequences of not getting these nutrients from meat can be serious, with cats getting very ill. In 2013, a kitten in Australia was rushed for emergency veterinary care. It was extremely weak and collapsed when it came in. The vet discovered the vegan owners fed their kitten only potatoes, rice, and pasta. After being told to feed their kitten meat, it recovered quickly.

Fighting fl eas

Do I need to treat my indoor cat for fl eas?

Cat care

Yes! In the UK, fl eas can be a year-round problem for both indoor and outdoor cats. We as humans can carry fl eas (adults, larvae and eggs) from the outdoor environment and deposit them within the home environment.

For effective control, adult fl eas on the cat must be killed and re-infestation from the environment prevented with regular application of veterinary prescription-strength treatments and environmental control (frequent vacuuming and fl ea sprays).

An ‘on-off’ approach to fl ea control (treating intermittently) is not recommended as this may provide ideal conditions for the development of fl ea allergic skin disease in susceptible animals and is an ineffective approach to establishing control over the fl ea population.

Indoor cats can get fl eas.

Puppy vaccinations

Can you explain my new puppy’s vaccination schedule; what diseases will he be vaccinated against and how many vaccinations will he have? When will these be given?

Vicky says: There are several dog vaccines licensed for use in the UK and these have slightly different schedules for when each part is given. I will explain the protocol that my practice uses, but it may not be exactly the same as the one your local vet uses.

We usually start puppy vaccines at eight weeks when the puppy is in their new home. The fi rst vaccination covers leptospirosis (I use a fourstrain vaccine, L4, as we are in a high-risk area, but in some areas a two-strain vaccine, L2, might be suffi cient) and distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus (DHP). After two weeks, and when the puppy is at least 10 weeks old, we give the second DHP vaccine and one for Kennel Cough. Because it is so important that puppies get to experience the world at an early age, we advise owners they can take their puppies to training and for short walks a week after their second vaccination but to avoid water, parks, and other high leptospirosis risk areas (places with rats). Two weeks later (four weeks after the fi rst injection) the puppy has their second leptospirosis vaccination and can go anywhere after another week. If puppies are over 10 weeks when they fi rst come in for vaccination they only need one vaccine for DHP and two against leptospirosis four weeks apart (two weeks for some brands).

If there is a high local risk of parvovirus, or in breeds where antibodies from Mum last longer and can stop the vaccination being effective, an extra DHP vaccination might be suggested at 16 weeks.

If your puppy has had a vaccination with their breeder make sure you have a copy of the record when booking with your vet so the vet knows what other injections your puppy needs and when.

The best advice I can give is to contact your local practice who can give you information on the schedule they recommend, as well as local risks, to help you balance protection against disease with training and socialisation opportunities. Dog Health

Puppy vaccines are usually given from the age of eight weeks.

VICKY PAYNE, BVetMed, MRCVS is a holistic vet based in East Sussex.

Ferret advice Introduction to ferrets

Woodgreen say:

Ferrets are fast becoming a popular pet with families who are looking for a fun, mischievous, and affectionate pet.

Ferrets may not be for fi rst time pet owners, but they certainly suit many families if cared for properly. You will have hours of fun and be rewarded with lots of cuddles from these cheeky little creatures. There are many things to consider when taking on ferrets, these fast facts will provide you with some basic information to help you decide if mischievous ferrets are for you. Companionship

Ferrets should live in a minimum of a neutered pair or in neutered small groups. They are predators so should not be housed alongside small pets such as rodents or rabbits. Life expectancy

Ferrets can live up to 10 years. Accommodation

Ferrets need lots of space to keep them fi t, healthy, and happy. They can live indoors or outdoors, each comes with its different requirements. The ideal size accommodation is: Outdoors — a 8ft long by 8ft wide by 6ft high (243cm by 243cm by 182cm) aviary/ run with an insulated sleep area. Indoors — an XL explorer cage (maximum of two ferrets) with access to a ferret–safe playroom for daily free-range time. Diet

Ferrets are carnivores; they require a good quality dry complete biscuit with a few healthy treats for variety.

Health

Ferrets require a yearly vaccination against canine distemper. They also should be given preventative fl ea treatment every three months. Ferrets’ nails can grow very sharp and will require clipping every 6 — 12 weeks. Ferrets are family friendly

Ferrets can make very affectionate and loyal pets; however, they may not suit fi rst time pet owners or families with young children due to their very playful nature which can result in a few small nips when playing with toys. Ferrets need company.

Woodgreen Pets Charity helps pets and people at every step of the way. As well as being a safe haven for vulnerable pets in need of urgent care and a loving new home, Woodgreen provides expert advice and hands-on support to petowners in need of a guiding hand. With almost 100 years’ experience in rehabilitating and rehoming pets, the charity is committed to making sure that pets have the best lives possible. This vital work is only possible thanks to the generosity of supporters. Find out how you can make a difference to pets in need at woodgreen.org.uk

Increase in cases of Lyme disease

How common is Lyme disease in dogs and what are the symptoms? How easy is it to diagnose this disease?

Vicky says: Lyme disease is not common in the UK overall, but it does occur more frequently in hot-spots including The New Forest, Exmoor, The South Downs, The Lake District, North York Moors, and Scottish Highlands and Islands. Rising tick numbers due to changes in the weather are leading to more cases of Lyme disease in dogs and people. Lyme can have vague symptoms including a shifting lameness, fevers, and lethargy. Symptoms can occur some time after a bite from an infected tick. If your vet suspects Lyme they will do blood tests but may start antibiotic treatment while waiting for the results. A vaccine is available against Lyme disease, but using a fast-acting tick control product and removing ticks as soon as they are found is the best way to prevent disease.

Did you know?

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures which feed on the blood of birds and mammals. Ranging in size from 1mm to 1cm long, they have eight legs (they are parasitic arachnids) and their bodies become larger and darker when fi lled with blood.

Dog Health

Ticks are on the increase.