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.
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.”
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:
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.
The necessity of taking Cats Protection’s children’s education talks online because of the pandemic has had an unexpected benefit as the charity can now deliver these talks to the length and breadth of Scotland, no matter how remote the classroom.
Volunteers and education officers from Cats Protection love going into schools and community groups to share their feline knowledge with enraptured children, so when the pandemic hit the charity had to quickly look ways to continue these activities.
The challenge was how to deliver an online class that was still as engaging, fun and interactive as in-person ones had been for many years.
The talks help children understand cat welfare and how to be a responsible pet owner using games, animations and storytelling.
Using an online learning platform, the charity has come up with an offering that surpassed expectations and means it can reach more children than ever before as it is no longer constrained by volunteer numbers or geography – the only ask is for a robust internet connection.
Delivered via a readily available video conferencing platform the talks are tailored to three age groups 5-11 years, 7-9 years and 9-11 years. Careers-based talks for secondary pupils and guest lectures for students studying Animal Management at further education level can also be arranged.
Education Team Manager Shelley Brown said: “Delivered by experienced education speakers, our talks are perfect for children and young people across a range of ages.
“We offer a truly interactive learning experience that allows the whole class to get involved. Our exciting new talks feature videos, stories, challenges and games enabling fun learning in a safe way. As potential pet owners of tomorrow, we help children to develop empathy and an understanding of cats and their needs”
What was meant to be just a day of volunteering for an Edinburgh worker at an animal adoption centre, soon turned into a promising future for a stray kitten.
42-year-old Kenneth Lennon, who works as a customer experience agent at Edinburgh-based People’s Postcode Lottery, fell in love with kitten, Layla from Cats Protection’s adoption centre in Glasgow, after spending a day volunteering there.
The charity is one of many supported by the lottery’s players, with team members getting to spend two days of their annual working hours volunteering at nearby good causes.
The black-and-white kitten born to a stray mum has been the perfect addition to the family for animal lover Kenneth, and a much-needed companion for Kenneth’s other cat, Bill.
Kenneth said: “After volunteering for a day at the centre through my role at People’s Postcode Lottery, I knew that I wanted to rehome a cat from there. The team is so knowledgeable and clearly dedicated to what they do.
“I got my Bill and his sister Bonnie as kittens 12 years ago. Sadly, we recently lost Bonnie, and while I know many cats are perfectly happy being on their own, Bill does seem to enjoy the company of other cats. Since we moved to a house with a bigger garden, I often see him following the neighbouring cats around, so I had a feeling he would take well to having a new cat in the house.”
“We met Layla virtually and decided straight away that we wanted to adopt her,” added Kenneth. “We had been thinking of naming her Luna but as I’m a big fan of Eric Clapton, and his song of the same name, we decided to keep her name as it was.”
While Bill did not immediately take to the new arrival, following advice from the centre team about how to manage gradual introductions, the two are now happily playing together and sleeping close to one another.
“I think having Layla around has given Bill a new lease of life as he’s not played this much in ages. They’re like two peas in a pod!” Kenneth said.
With Sun Awareness Week taking place between 3–9 May, Cats Protection would like to advise cat owners to be aware of the risks posed to their cat by the sun.
Pale-coloured cats, or those with unpigmented white noses or ears, are particularly at risk from the sun’s rays which can cause sunburn and skin cancer.
Those affected can suffer long term damage including, in severe cases, having to have their ear tips removed to prevent the cancer from spreading.
Following a few simple tips owners can help protect their cat from the harmful effects of the sun. These include keeping them indoors on sunny days between 10am and 3pm, asking your vet for advice about suitable sunscreen and ensuring you provide plenty of shade to enable your cat to shelter from the sun’s rays.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Sarah Elliott BVetMed MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) MRCVS
At Cats Protection we have much to be grateful for. This year has challenged us like never before but we have come through with greater focus and a renewed commitment to improving the welfare of cats and supporting better cat ownership.
As we mark the anniversary of the first lockdown measures, we want to learn from our shared successes and experiences and acknowledge what we have achieved together.
One year ago we launched Hands-Free Homing, a pioneering online adoption process that has become the new normal. Prospective owners pick a pet from our website and, after a chat with our adoption team, the cat is delivered to its new home.
This programme has been a triumph, allowing us to successfully match more than 20,000 cats with their forever homes to provide much-needed companionship.
Additionally, the number of cats returned by their new owner has gone down by a third.
We do not underestimate this incredible achievement and the dedication of everyone involved in helping us reach this milestone.
It is just one example of how our team of colleagues, volunteers and supporters have risen to every challenge and proven how we can progress by embracing change. Thanks to their hard work, cats in need continue to receive our support, even in these most trying times.
I would like to thank everyone at Cats Protection who has contributed to our response to extraordinary circumstances and who continues to be part of our outstanding team.
Cats Protection has created an online tool for cat owners that it hopes will help persuade more landlords to allow their tenants to have a cat.
The Cat CV has been created after it was estimated that one million households across the UK would like to have a cat, but can’t due to the fact they are in a rental property.*
Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: “During the past year, we’ve heard countless stories from owners about how important their cat has been. People tell us their cats have provided comfort in worrying times, a playful companion for children as they home school, and helped reduce stress while getting to grips with working from home.
“But very sadly, many people have been denied the simple pleasure of owning a cat, simply because they rent rather than own their home. Now more than ever, we all deserve the chance to own a pet cat, and it is heart-breaking that so many people are not able to.
“Cats rarely cause problems in rented homes, but our Cat CV can help reassure landlords who may be nervous about allowing them. We hope it will help more renters find a happy cat-friendly home where they can feel settled.”
The charity’s Purrfect Landlords CV tool is available to download for free, and helps owners create a summary to show their cat is responsibly owned and well cared-for. Owners can also include references from previous landlords to confirm their cat has not caused any problems.
Caroline Sherlock created a CV for her three rescue cats – Susie, Tia Maria and Sadie – when she was looking for a short-term rental while her own home was being renovated in Horsham, Sussex.
She said: “I wanted to rent a property for just a few months, but it was so hard to find properties that allowed cats. There were lots of adverts for rented properties on websites, but when I ticked the ‘allows pets’ filter, I was left with barely any. I spent hours and hours searching and it was a very stressful experience.
“I found the Cats Protection Pet CV template and drafted one for the three cats, including details of their microchips, flea and worming treatment and their background.
“Then when I found a property I liked, even though it didn’t mention allowing pets, I sent it to the letting agent. He thought it was a great idea and I think it really tipped the balance in my favour as it showed I was a responsible cat owner. I got the property and my cats didn’t cause any problems.
“Cats are fantastic pets, and mine bring me so much happiness and companionship. It’s tragic that so many people can’t have a cat because they live in rented housing, especially during these difficult days when we’re all at home and missing family, friends and work colleagues.
“I really hope the Cat CV will help more people find a suitable rented housing and help landlords take a more open-minded view towards allowing cats.”
With World Spay Day coming up on 23 February, Cats Protection is urging that unneutered pet cats are kept indoors to prevent a potential kitten crisis.
We estimate that around 70 per cent of kittens born in the UK are the result of unplanned pregnancies, which puts severe pressure on owners to arrange for their feeding, care and rehoming.
The pandemic has meant that we are currently only able to take in a small number of cats as emergency cases. This is why we’re asking the public to help us by ensuring that unneutered cats are kept indoors, and unneutered siblings kept apart.
The coronavirus has affected many vets too. Many have had to prioritise emergency appointments, meaning access to neutering operations will vary. It is important to check with your vet for availability and make an appointment in advance if you can.
Cats Protection can help owners on limited incomes with the cost of neutering pet cats.
To find out if you are eligible, call our Neutering Line on 03000 12 12 12 (option 2) or visit www.cats.org.uk/neutering where you can also find out more about neutering and its benefits.
Looking to add some cat-themed fun to your Pancake Day? Or would you simply like to give your breakfast some moggy magic? Then have a go at our pawsome pancakes, decorated to look like cute kitties.
You could take inspiration from our designs or style your pancakes to look just like your own cat. Don’t forget to share photos of your creations with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, we’d love to see them!
Remember, these pancakes are for humans only. Don’t feed them to your cat!
Mix together the flour, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.
Gradually pour in the milk, whisking as you go, until a smooth batter forms.
Add 1tbsp of oil to a non-stick pan and put it on medium-low heat.
Add a couple of tablespoons of batter to the pan and shape it into a cat face (alternatively, you could make round pancakes and cut them into cat shapes later).
Cook the pancake for 3-4 minutes, until the surface starts to bubble, then flip it over and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until it’s golden on both sides.
Repeat the process, cooking your pancakes in batches until you’ve used up the batter. You may need to add a little more oil to the pan each time.
Use your toppings to create cat faces on your pancakes. Don’t forget the eyes, nose, mouth, whiskers and ears!
Looking for more cat-themed baking inspiration? Discover our Kitty Bakes series of recipes over on our YouTube channel
