Tag: Cats Protection

Cats Protection calls for tighter controls over fireworks to protect cats in Scotland

The UK’s leading cat charity Cats Protection has backed plans to restrict the use of fireworks across Scotland.

The proposals – under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill – would mean members of the public purchasing or using fireworks would need a license, and public displays would be restricted to certain days of the year, such as Bonfire Night, Hogmanay, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said the proposals would help reduce stress for pet cats, give owners the chance to ensure their pets are indoors during displays, and help protect stray and feral cats which may have no indoor refuge from fireworks.

She said: “Fireworks are incredibly stressful for cats and other animals, especially if their owner has not had the chance to ensure that their cat is indoors and safe. They are also stressful to cats that do not live indoors such as stray and feral cats.

“Cats associate sudden loud noises and flashes of light with imminent threat, and their natural instinct is to flee. However, as cats struggle to locate the source of noise, this often means that they will bolt in an unfavourable direction which may not provide protection. In busy cities, cats are in danger of running into traffic, or becoming lost in an unknown territory.

“We would also like to see a reduction in the maximum noise level of fireworks. Cats have sensitive hearing, having one of the widest ranges of hearing in mammals. The current maximum permitted firework noise level of 120 decibels can cause damage to cats’ hearing, even if there is only brief exposure.”

Cats Protection, the UK’s largest feline welfare charity, has a Scottish network of 22 volunteer-run branches, four adoption centres, and nine charity shops which also offer advice on cat care.

The charity’s Cats and their Stats (CATS) Scotland Report 2021 found 53% of cat owners in Scotland reported that their cat showed signs of stress because of fireworks.

As well as a licensing system, Cats Protection supports the introduction of Firework Control Zones, where the use of fireworks would be temporarily prohibited, but the charity says these zones need to ban fireworks all year round to be effective. Cats Protection says Firework Control Zones should include areas near animal rehoming centres, or in other areas where there are known to be a high number of animals, such as an outdoor feral cat colony.

Cats Protection’s Glasgow Adoption Centre Manager Kim MacKrell said: “Many cats that come into our care find fireworks very stressful. Designating areas close to animal shelters and rehoming centres as Firework Control Zones will protect the health of cats and other animals and potentially reduce their stress.

“It is important that Firework Control Zones operate throughout the year to protect cats from the fear and stress caused by the sudden loud noises and flashes of light from fireworks.”

Cats Protection recommends cats are kept indoors with the TV or radio on and with the curtains drawn overnight while fireworks are being used, however, they are still at risk of suffering from stress due to the sounds.

If cats experience chronic stress this often has a negative effect over time on their physical health, such as cystitis, or leads to behavioural problems such as house soiling, redirected aggression to owners and destructive behaviour around the household.

More advice about what cat owners can do to keep cats safe and relaxed while fireworks can be found at www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/fireworks

Only one month left to give renters more rights over pet ownership

Cats Protection is urging the Scottish Government to lead the way in the UK by ensuring responsible renters can keep a cat.

The charity says that the widespread use of blanket ‘no pets’ policies is unfair and outdated, and that an overhaul of how pets are viewed in the rented sector is urgently needed.

With just a few weeks left on a public consultation on the issue, Cats Protection is urging animal lovers to send a message that tenants must be allowed the chance to own a pet.

Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: “The pandemic has really highlighted just how important pets are in our lives – whether it’s providing companionship to people living alone, comfort for those with ongoing health conditions or simply a fun and much-loved part of family life.

“Yet as the law stands, it can be impossible for people who rent their home to own a cat. It cannot be right that pet ownership is largely reserved for those people who own their own home.”

Research from Cats Protection’s Cats and Their Stats Scotland report, published in 2021, shows just how important cats are to people who are able to own them – with 94% of owners in Scotland saying their cat is part of the family and 91% saying their cats bring them joy.

“This consultation is a big step in the right direction and we’re urging the Scottish Government to continue this momentum. Scotland is a nation of animal lovers and it’s only right that everyone should have the chance to own a cat if they wish.”

Joan Todd, 59, an IT support technician from Peebles, was lucky enough to be able to find a private landlady who was happy for her to own a cat. But despite being settled in a long-term let, Joan says she still lives with the worry that she may one day have to give up her much-loved pet cat Hoffen (Hoffy).

She said: “I got Hoffy a couple of months after the first lockdown, and the difference he made to my life has been incredible. Working from home meant I saw very few people, and having him around gave me companionship every day. My landlady is great, and it’s a long-term let, but of course, it does play on my mind that if ever the property is sold I could be faced with a problem finding somewhere that accepts cats.

“My experience has been that it’s very, very hard to find a cat-friendly property – most simply say ‘no pets’. It’s a worry that’s always in the back of my mind, as it would be so heartbreaking to have to rehome Hoffy.

“It just doesn’t seem fair that people who can’t afford to own their own home can’t have a pet, I can’t see how that is right. There definitely needs to be something in place to protect renters like me so we can feel settled and secure in our homes.”

You can support cat owning tenants by using Cats Protection’s simple online form before the consultation closes on April 14 – it takes only a couple of minutes to complete.

Find out more by visiting: www.cats.org.uk/scottish-renters

Entries closing soon in search for the UK’s most marvellous moggy

Cat lovers across the UK have less than two weeks left to nominate their furry friend in the biggest feline event of the year – the National Cat Awards.

Run by the charity Cats Protection, the annual event celebrates the nation’s most marvellous moggies, with heart-warming tales of devotion, courage and companionship.

This year’s event also features a new Cat Colleagues category to honour the feline heroes who have helped their owners adjust to working from home, or have made going to work a little easier during the pandemic.

Owners have until noon on Thursday 10 March to nominate their cat in one of four categories:

  • Cat Colleagues – Cats who bring joy to the workplace or make working from home a pleasure
  • Most Caring Cat – Cats that positively impact a person’s health or wellbeing
  • Furr-ever Friends – Tales of friendship between children and cats
  • Outstanding Rescue Cat – Fabulous felines adopted from animal charities

Cats Protection’s Awards organiser Kate Bunting said: “Over the past two years, the UK’s pet cats have played an even more important role in our lives – whether it’s keeping the kids’ company during home schooling, being a companion for people living alone in lockdown or simply being there during times of uncertainty.

“From chilled out cats that provide comfort and support, to the mischievous moggies that make us smile, cats undoubtedly have a special place in the hearts and homes of millions of people. We’re thrilled to once again be hosting our National Cat Awards and are looking forward to sharing many wonderful stories of moggy marvelousness!

“We hope that by celebrating some of the UK’s most incredible cats we’ll inspire more people to consider adopting a cat in 2022.”

Winners will be selected by a panel of celebrity cat lovers before being announced at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel on 4 August 2022.

The winner of the National Cat of the Year will inherit the title from Minty, a three-legged moggy from Holywell, Wales, who helped six-year-old Connor Raven cope with severe learning difficulties and medical conditions.

To nominate your cat, or for further information about the Awards, log on to www.cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards

To find out more about adopting a cat from Cats Protection, visit:

www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat

Cats Protection urges Holyrood to do more to help renters

Cats Protection is urging the Scottish Government to do more to ensure people who rent their own homes can benefit from owning a pet cat.

The charity says that the widespread use of blanket ‘no pets’ policies is unfair and outdated, and that an overhaul of how pets are viewed in the rented sector is urgently needed.

Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: “The pandemic has really highlighted just how important pets are in our lives – whether it’s providing companionship to people living alone, comfort for those with ongoing health conditions or simply a fun and much-loved part of family life.

“Yet as the law stands, it can be impossible for people who rent their home to own a cat. It cannot be right that pet ownership is largely reserved for those people who own their own home.”

Research from Cats Protection’s Cats and Their Stats Scotland report, published in 2021, shows just how important cats are to people who are able to own them – with 94% of owners in Scotland saying their cat is part of the family and 91% saying their cats bring them joy.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposals to allow tenants to keep pets in rented housing, and Cats Protection is asking its supporters to back the proposals.

Alice said: “This consultation is a big step in the right direction and we’re urging the Scottish Government to continue this momentum. Scotland is a nation of animal lovers and it’s only right that everyone should have the chance to own a cat if they wish.”

Mum-of-two Stephanie Wood, of Balornock, Glasgow, is backing the charity’s campaign after she was forced to give up the family’s much-loved cat Whoopie when she struggled to find a new pet-friendly home.

The heart-breaking decision, just before the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, came at a particularly stressful time for Stephanie, who works as a clinical healthcare assistant in two NHS hospitals. It meant her daughters – then aged six and one – faced lockdown without their beloved cat and denied Stephanie the comforting and calming presence of a pet.

Stephanie explained: “Our landlord decided to sell the property we were renting, and I found myself in the position of having four weeks to find a new home. I was aware the lockdown was on the horizon, so it felt like a real panic to find somewhere. When I did find a suitable home, the landlord said she’d only consider a pet once we’d been there for six months.

“It seemed like an impossible situation and we had no choice but to give Whoopie up to Cats Protection. It was heart-breaking – me and the girls are still very upset about it. Whoopie was part of our family, she was fun, affectionate and a big part of our lives. She used to sleep snuggled up to my eldest daughter and she had a really calming effect on us all.

“Working for the NHS during the pandemic was incredibly difficult at times, and I often thought how lovely it would have been to come home to Whoopie, but sadly that was not possible. It just feels incredibly unfair that families like mine are denied such a simple pleasure of owning a pet cat.”

You can support cat owning tenants by using Cats Protection’s simple online form – it takes only a couple of minutes to complete.

Find out more by visiting: www.cats.org.uk/scottish-renters

Five signs that your cat loves you

Cats can’t express love with a thoughtful greetings card or box of chocolates but learning to read a few tell-tale pointers can reveal how they really feel about you.

This Valentine’s Day, Cats Protection is sharing five behavioural signs that your cats loves and trusts you, as well as some tips for keeping them happy, healthy and safe.

If your cat displays any of these behaviours, it’s likely you’ve found a very content soulmate:

1. Slow blinking

If your cat slow blinks at you, it’s a big deal. It’s their way of signalling that they trust you enough to close their eyes in your presence. The best response is to slow blink back, letting them know the affection is mutual.

2. Showing their tummy

A cat’s tummy is a vulnerable area and most cats don’t like to be touched there. If your cat rolls over and shows their tummy, it’s a loving greeting and sign of trust. The temptation to stroke their tummy could result in a warning scratch. A better response would be a nice chin rub or tickle behind their ears as a sure way to generate affectionate purrs of appreciation.

3. Head bumps

Head bumps are the cat equivalent of a hug. When a cat rubs their head or cheek on you, they’re transferring some of their own scent, marking you as someone who is familiar and can be trusted. You might see them doing this to objects in your home too, which is marking their territory as safe and familiar.

4. Kneading

Kneading or ‘making biscuits’ is a behaviour cats perform as kittens to stimulate the flow of milk from their mum. Many cats continue doing it into adulthood and it’s thought they do this simply because it feels good and is a sign of contentment. If your cat starts kneading you, it likely means they’re happy and comfortable on your lap. If you can withstand their claws, that’s an extra sign that you love them too.

5. Tail pointing up

Cats can communicate a lot with just their tail. If it’s low and swishing from side-to-side, they’re feeling worried or indecisive. If their tail is puffed up, then it’s likely they’re scared or feeling stressed. But if your cat comes towards you with their tail pointing up, they are happy to see you and the best response is to let them sniff your hand and give them a fuss to show you’re happy to see them too.

Learning to read your cat’s body language is a great way to help you understand when they’re happy or when they’re stressed and want to be alone.

Nicky Trevorrow, Cats Protection’s Behaviour Manager, said: “While there are behaviours that are true for most cats as well as a few things that should be avoided, each cat is an individual. Getting to know your cat is one of the most fulfilling things about becoming a cat owner.

“Take your time, take their lead. Ask your cat to show you how they like to be treated. Some cats take longer than others to build a relationship, so don’t be too disappointed if you don’t become best friends straight away.”

Sharing special moments can be beneficial for you and your cat and there are simple ways to show them you care.

Cats love boxes. Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows how cats will squeeze into the smallest cardboard cartons. As solitary creatures by nature, having somewhere safe to snooze is important, especially if it is up high so they can keep an eye on their surroundings. Try filling a box with a blanket to make it even more cosy and place it in a warm, quiet corner.

Playing with your cat will release their feel-good hormones called endorphins and help to burn off excess energy. As natural hunters driven by the thrill of the chase, not hunger, cats love to stalk and pounce. Just 10 minutes a day will keep them happy, healthy and your best friend.

For more information visit Cats Protection’s online guide to cat behaviour.

Letters: Pet-friendly renting

Dear Editor,

During the pandemic, many of us have benefited from the companionship, fun and comfort that comes from owning a cat. However, for many people in Scotland who rent rather than own their own home, cat ownership isn’t an option.

Blanket ‘no-pet’ policies and limited cat-friendly rented homes can make it difficult for some people to ever experience the pleasure of owning a cat. In other cases, owners are placed in the heartbreaking situation of having to rehome a much-loved cat if they need to move and can’t find another pet-friendly rental.

Cats Protection has been working to help more renters experience the joy cat ownership, and we need the help of cat lovers in Scotland. The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposals to allow tenants to keep pets in rented accommodation, potentially giving responsible renters greater rights to cat ownership. We need your help to back these proposals and send a message that renters in Scotland deserve the chance to have a cat.

You can add your support for the proposals by using Cats Protection’s simple online form – it takes only a couple of minutes to complete.

Find out more by visiting: www.cats.org.uk/scottish-renters

Alice Palombo

Advocacy & Government Relations Officer (Scotland), Cats Protection

Search is on for the UK’s most marvellous moggy

Cat lovers across the UK are being invited to nominate their furry friends for the biggest event in the feline year – the National Cat Awards.

Run by the charity Cats Protection, the annual event celebrates the nation’s most marvellous moggies, with heart-warming tales of devotion, courage and companionship.

This year’s event also features a new Cat Colleagues category to honour the feline heroes who have helped their owners adjust to working from home, or have made going to work a little easier during the pandemic.

Entries open today – Tuesday 11 January – and owners have until noon on Thursday 10 March to nominate their cat in one of four categories:

  • Cat Colleagues – Cats who bring joy to the workplace or make working from home a pleasure
  • Most Caring Cat – Cats that positively impact a person’s health or wellbeing
  • Furr-ever Friends – Tales of friendship between children and cats
  • Outstanding Rescue Cat – Fabulous felines adopted from animal charities

Helping to launch the awards, cat lover and BBC weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans said: “I’m a big fan of cats, not just because they’re such amazing animals, but also because of the incredibly positive impact they can have on people’s lives.

“It’s such an honour to be helping launch the National Cat Awards, and I really hope this national celebration of our feline friends will inspire more people to welcome a cat into their lives.”

Cats Protection’s Awards organiser Kate Bunting said: “Over the past two years, the UK’s pet cats have played an even more important role in our lives – whether it’s keeping the kids’ company during home schooling, being a companion for people living alone in lockdown or simply being there during times of uncertainty.

“From chilled out cats that provide comfort and support, to the mischievous moggies that make us smile, cats undoubtedly have a special place in the hearts and homes of millions of people. We’re thrilled to once again be hosting our National Cat Awards and are looking forward to sharing many wonderful stories of moggy marvelousness!

“We hope that by celebrating some of the UK’s most incredible cats we’ll inspire more people to consider adopting a cat in 2022.”

Winners will be selected by a panel of celebrity cat lovers before being announced at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel on 4 August 2022.

The winner of the National Cat of the Year will inherit the title from Minty, a three-legged moggy from Holywell, Wales, who helped six-year-old Connor Raven cope with severe learning difficulties and medical conditions.

To nominate your cat, or for further information about the Awards, log on to www.cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards from today – Tuesday 11 January.

To find out more about adopting a cat from Cats Protection, visit:

www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat

Letters: Happy and healthy kittens

Dear Letters Editor,

With online pet sales on the increase, Cats Protection would like to warn of the potential risk of buying an ill or diseased kitten.

This year the charity has heard of many kittens that were taken from their mothers at too young an age and sold online for the sake of a quick profit. Kittens should be at least eight weeks old so that they are fully weaned and developing normally from a health and behavioural perspective. 

Unsuspecting buyers did not realise that they bought a potentially sick kitten until after purchase which meant they were sometimes left with high veterinary bills, or in some cases, a kitten which tragically died.

Action Fraud also reports that there has been a six-fold increase in instances of kitten and cat fraud (1,146 in 2020/21 compared to just 190 in 2019/20), underlining the need for buyers to be vigilant.

Please visit www.cats.org.uk/eight-weeks for advice on how to purchase a happy and healthy kitten or give a donation to help Cats Protection care for unwanted kittens.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Maggie Roberts

Director of Veterinary Services, Cats Protection

Cats Protection launches plan to improve feline welfare in Scotland

TIME IS MEOW campaign launches today

Cats Protection has welcomed ground-breaking new laws on animal welfare in Scotland but said more still needed to be done to help cats.

The charity says new licensing regulations which come into force today will help to stamp out rogue cat breeders who put profit before the welfare of kittens and cats.

Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: “These new licensing laws have come at a time when we need them the most.

“Over the past 18 months of the pandemic, a combination of increased demand for kittens and restrictions on household visiting has created the perfect conditions for unscrupulous breeders to flourish.

“We’ve heard countless stories of how people have been duped into buying underage, poorly kittens which either haven’t survived or have needed costly veterinary care. It’s not just the kittens that suffer – behind closed doors there are many female cats forced to have litter after litter in poor welfare conditions.”

Under the new licensing laws, anyone breeding three or more litters of kittens in any 12-month period must be licensed, and female cats will be limited to having a maximum of two litters within a year.

Breeders will also be banned from breeding cats with extreme traits which can lead to health conditions, such as the Scottish Fold.

Erin Macqueen, 22, from Glasgow, had a devastating experience in March 2021 when the kitten she purchased for £250 turned out to be just five weeks old. The tiny kitten, named Frankie, died just a few weeks later from a condition believed to be related to its poor start in life.

Erin explained: “Frankie had been advertised as a male 12-week-old kitten. When I took Frankie to the vets, I was told she was actually a girl, and was in fact only five weeks old.

“Alarm bells had rung when the seller delivered her to me – she wasn’t even in a cat carrier, the seller just had her tucked under her coat. I could see straight away that Frankie was tiny, but by that point it’s just too heart-breaking to say no. I didn’t know what I’d be sending her back to.”

After becoming unwell, Frankie was diagnosed with untreatable Feline Infectious Peritonitis and had to be put to sleep, causing huge emotional distress to Erin and leaving her with a £750 vet bill.

She said: “It was the vet’s opinion that she developed this as a result of being bred in poor conditions, probably among many other cats and kittens.

“With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that Frankie had probably been one of many kittens just bred and sold to make a quick profit. In her last days of life, she suffered greatly, and it was a very stressful and emotional time.”

With the new laws coming into force today, Cats Protection is now launching its Time is Meow campaign to ask the Scottish Government to go further to help protect cats.

The five-point action plan details what is needed to continue to ensure cats are better protected in Scotland, including the introduction of compulsory microchipping for pet cats, a ban on snares, encouraging landlords to allow renters to own cats, inclusion of animal welfare in the National Curriculum and further work to tackle unscrupulous cat breeding.

Alice added: “Scotland is leading the way in the UK when it comes to regulating cat breeding and animal rescues. As well as these new licensing laws, Scotland also has strict laws on air gun licensing which helps protect cats from the random attacks we see in Wales and England.

“This is all great news, but there is always more to be done and we want to see Scotland go further.

“Our Time is Meow cat welfare action plan includes issues which will benefit people as well as cats – in particular, encouraging landlords to allow their tenants to own a cat. At a time when we’re all spending more time at home, pet ownership is vitally important to our wellbeing and for helping tackle loneliness.”

Purrs of delight! Pawsome Afternoon Tea returns to a table near you

There will be biscuits, cakes and tea by the pot this August as Cats Protection’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea returns to raise cash for needy kitties near you.

The popular fundraising celebration provides cat-lovers with the opportunity to host an afternoon tea in a style of their choosing to raise money for the Cats Protection centre or volunteer-run branch of their choice.

This year’s tea will take place throughout August to enable people to meet outdoors or indoors if they wish, while following the latest government guidelines.

Abi Young, organiser of Cats Protection’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea, explains: “You could hold a tea party at home, a bake sale for your office, or enjoy a picnic outdoors – the choice is yours.

“We have some great tutorials online if you’d like to bake your own cat-shaped treats but whether you bake or buy your delicious goodies to share, every slice you sell helps give down-on-their-luck moggies a second chance.

“Each penny donated makes a big difference, for example £20 raised will feed four cats in care for 25 days, £50 will provide eight tiny kittens with milk for 14 days or £110 will pay for an x-ray for an injured cat. Our branches and centres couldn’t help unwanted cats and kittens without the kindness of our wonderful supporters baking and brewing to keep them on their paws.”

Videos showing how to make a variety of kitty bakes can be found here:

Purrfect pawprint cupcakes – https://youtu.be/sXg6gTMIlRk

Cat-face biscuits – https://youtu.be/sXg6gTMIlRk

Cat-face cupcakes – https://youtu.be/AYJKhPPM07U

Catty-dodger biscuits – https://youtu.be/sXg6gTMIlRk

To find more information about your nearest Cats Protection branch or centre visit www.cats.org.uk/find-us and to take part in this year’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea you can register your tea at www.pawsometea.org and receive top-tips as well as a party pack filled with everything you need to ensure your sale is a great success.

All pictures: Cats Protection