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.
As temperatures drop once again, Cats Protection is urging owners to spare a thought for the welfare of their pet cat.
Plunging temperatures, icy conditions and snowfall present a number of risks for cats, particularly those who like to wander outside.
Following these simple tips can help to keep felines feeling fine:
Cats are at increased risk of road accidents after nightfall – try to keep your cat indoors overnight and time meals to keep your cat away from roads when they are at their busiest
Antifreeze is lethal for cats so always keep this out of your cat’s way and clear up any antifreeze spills immediately
Ensure your cat can reach his chosen toileting site and if your cat is seeing snow for the first time, consider giving him access to a safe and enclosed area such as a garden and accompany him when he goes out
If your cat does venture out when it’s snowy, wipe off any road grit and other substances that may stick to his paws or fur when he returns
Provide shelter for cats that go outside. Keep the doors of sheds and outbuildings closed, wedged slightly open or install a cat-flap so cats do not become trapped inside
Check your cat-flap regularly to ensure it hasn’t frozen over or become blocked by snow and if you provide an outdoor water source, check it hasn’t frozen over
If your cat seems reluctant to venture outside in snow or ice, provide an indoor litter tray
Cats may climb into vehicle engines for warmth. Be vigilant, and check beneath or knock on the bonnet before starting your vehicle
Take special care of cats with arthritis, as the cold can severely affect inflamed joints.
Provide additional warm and comfortable places to rest or sleep. If your cat is finding it hard to reach favourite resting places then look at ways of making it easier for him. Also ensure he can easily access his chosen toileting site
Neutering is vital, not only to prevent unwanted kittens being born but to reduce roaming, especially during bad weather.
Ensuring your cat is microchipped also increases the chance of being reunited if he becomes lost
This year due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns pet ownership has soared and many charities are warning would be pet owners to consider adopting or rescuing a pet this holiday season rather than shopping for one from an online breeder.
Sadly, the RSPCA has reported that in 2020 there has been a sharp increase in pet abandonments and the charity, like many other pet charities, has concerns that these numbers will continue to rise. Perfect-Pets Books looks at the growing number of pet abandonments and the crisis of re-homing that charities face due to the Pandemic.
Perfect-Pets Books have a variety of essential guides full of practical information to help owners and potential owners provide the best care possible for their furry friend. Why not give a book as a present for Christmas? Visit:perfect-pets.org to browse the full catalogue. Get a 20% discount off any Perfect-Pets book enter Perfect20OFF at checkout.
This year the rise in pet ownership has been complicated by the Coronavirus pandemic. A recent report by Letterone has found that during lockdown a staggering 41% of current pet owners got a new pet, 95% were existing pet owners who got another animal and 5% did not previously own a pet before the lockdown. Some of these pets would have been bought from online breeders with little research done about the breed or the breeder.
According to research by the Kennel Club, the coronavirus crisis has led to a surge in puppy ownership across the UK.
Bill Lambert, head of health and welfare at the Kennel Club said: “There is unprecedented demand. Normally, I get one or two inquiries a month but now it is four or five a day.”
“We do have concerns about those puppies which may have been bought on impulse, without owners doing their homework on how or where to get a dog responsibly, or fully realising a puppy is a new family member for life, not a short-term commodity.”
Although there has been a great surge of interest in pet purchases charities have equally noticed an increase in pet abandonments.
RSPCA’s chief inspector for Cambridgeshire reported a dramatic rise in pet abandonments in her region. She said: “We’ve seen 30% of our usual annual total for abandoned animals in just three months.”
As the UK braces itself for the full economic impact of the pandemic, Dogs Trust is warning we could see a sharp rise in the number of dogs being given up or put to sleep if families struggle to cope with the resulting hardships of the crisis.
The Trust estimates that up to 40,000 more stray or abandoned dogs will be in need of help, especially if – as economists indicate – the country sees a financial crisis on par or worse than the crash of 2008.
Meanwhile, the RSPCA has reported that it is experiencing a “cat crisis” due to Coronavirus and lockdown restrictions. During the first lockdown the charity took more than 600 felines into care, which is more than any other pet. More than 7,000 cat related incidents have been reported to the charity’s hotline since lockdown measures began.
Cats Protection has had some success re-homing its abandoned cats. The charity reported that it has re-homed about 2,400 cats since it began its new “hands-free homing” process during the first lockdown.
The number of cat and dog abandonments reported are staggering and they do not account for the vast array of pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs who are also being abandoned. Many charities are asking potential buyers during the Christmas season to consider re-homing or adopting instead of shopping for a new puppy or kitten.
Even for those not looking for a pet simply offering a donation to support the work of charities such as the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Cats Protection can help during these difficult times.
For any potential dog owners looking to adopt Rescue Dogs the Essential Guide by Perfect-Pets Books offers clear and precise information about how to adopt and make your home a safe and comfortable environment for a new dog.
Cat Care the Essential Guide is useful for any cat lovers who want to rehome a cat or simply provide a happy home for a new feline friend.
The UK’s biggest cat charity has issued a warning about the risk of online sellers capitalising on the COVID-19 pandemic to sell poorly-bred kittens.
Cats Protection says that demand for new ‘lockdown pets’ may make it easier for unscrupulous vendors to sell kittens which may be sick or too young to be parted from their mothers.
With figures from the Government’s Petfished campaign showing a huge 125% increase in adverts posted across online marketplaces during lockdown for puppies, kittens, dogs and cats, the charity says buyers need to be more vigilant than ever[i].
Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: “With so many people now working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s understandable that many would want to bring a new pet cat into their household. But buyers must be aware that this demand creates the ideal conditions for unscrupulous sellers who put profit before welfare.
“These profit-driven sellers may be selling kittens which are sick or too young to be separated from their mothers, which can lead to high vet bills. Sadly, some kittens bred in poor conditions may not survive, which can be incredibly distressing for their new owner.
“Unscrupulous sellers have always existed, but the COVID-19 restrictions can give them an extra layer of invisibility. Before the lockdown, buyers may have heard alarm bells if a seller offered to deliver a kitten to them, or said it was not possible to view the kitten with its mother. But the guidelines and restrictions on visiting other households means it is now very difficult to be sure of a kitten’s background.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we may have been seeing moggies selling for around £50, but nowadays a quick scan of online adverts will find moggies for sale for hundreds of pounds. It is clear to us that there are individuals out there who are intent on putting profit before welfare”.
Cat lover and former keyboardist of progressive rock band Yes, Rick Wakeman, backed Cats Protection’s call for buyers to be vigilant and urged them instead to consider adopting a rescue cat.
He said: “I’d urge anyone thinking of getting a kitten to get in touch with a reputable rehoming charity like Cats Protection. Adopting from Cats Protection gives you the peace of mind of knowing your new pet has had all the necessary veterinary checks, and helps give a cat in need a second chance in life. And by adopting a rescue cat, you’ll help to reduce the demand which encourages unscrupulous sellers from trading in kittens.”
To make adopting from a charity safe and easy, Cats Protection’s Hands-free Homing scheme ensures cats and kittens can be rehomed following social distancing measures.
Cats Protection’s warning follows the Government’s Petfished campaign to help the public research pet sellers thoroughly online before buying a new pet.
Cats Protection advises buyers to think carefully before purchasing a kitten from an online advert and refer closely to its Kitten Checklist.
Cats Protection is the UK’s largest cat charity, helping around 200,000 cats every year through a network of around 230 volunteer-run branches and 37 centres.
Cat lovers have just three days left to nominate their furry friends for the biggest event in the feline calendar – the National Cat Awards 2020.
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.
Owners have until noon on Thursday 12 March to nominate their cat in one of five categories:
Hero Cat – Cats that save the day
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
Purina® Better Together – Celebrating the special bond that has transformed and enriched the lives of both a feline and human.
Cats Protection’s awards organiser Kate Bunting said: “The awards are a chance for us all to celebrate what makes cats such wonderful pets. Whether it’s providing vital emotional support to owners, being a lifeline for people with health conditions or helping small children cope with big challenges, cats can have an exceptional impact on people’s lives.
“There’s still a bit of time left to enter and we’re looking forward to hearing from more cat owners about what makes their cat special.”
The difficult task of choosing the winners will be down to a panel of celebrity cat lovers.
Finalists will be invited to London to follow in the paw-prints of Jeffree, who won National Cat of the Year in the 2019 National Cat Awards. Jeffree (above) was a life-changing moggy from Coventry who helped teenager Finn Hackeson, who has Asperger syndrome, cope with the death of his father.
The awards are sponsored by PURINA® and owners of the winning cats will be presented with their trophies at a star-studded daytime ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel on Thursday 6 August.
Calum Macrae, Regional Director UK & Ireland at PURINA®, said: “At Purina, we’re passionate about enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them so we’re thrilled to be supporting the National Cat Awards for the ninth year.
“The awards are a wonderful celebration of everything we love about cats, shining a spotlight on the incredible bond between pets and owners. We’re looking forward to reading the fantastic entries that Cats Protection will no doubt receive this time around.”
The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after two cats have been poisoned on Taylor Place in Dalkeith. Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted after a cat had to be put to sleep and another, on the same street, took ill after ingesting anti-freeze.Continue reading Scottish SPCA issues appeal after two cats poisoned
Cats Protection has outlined a series of steps which can be taken to help keep felines safe throughout the year:
Although cats often enjoy exploring, their curiosity can lead them into trouble. A few simple measures can help keep cats away from danger and enjoying life.
Keep cats inside during hours of darkness. Cats are at increased risk of road injuries and theft after nightfall. Keeping cats indoors overnight and timing meals to coincide with rush hour will help keep cats away from busy roads.
Ensure cats are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Making sure cats are neutered provides a host of benefits in addition to preventing unwanted kittens being born. Neutered cats are less likely to roam, lowering the risk of car accidents and less likely to fight and contract serious diseases which are spread by saliva. Microchipping offers a safe and permanent method of identification, while ensuring cats are vaccinated will protect against parasites and diseases.
Encourage cats to stay close to home. If cats are content, they are more likely to stay within their own home and garden. Planting cat-friendly plants such as catnip and lavender, providing logs for scratching and long grass for relaxing or to assist with expelling hairballs can all add to the creation of a cat-friendly space. Poisonous substances often found in the home or garden, such as antifreeze, disinfectants, insect and pest killers should be kept securely.
Certain plants can be toxic to cats, for example lilies can be lethal if any part of the plant is ingested. If your cat does show any signs of poisoning, you should seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. A full list of plants that are hazardous to cats can be found on International Cat Care’s website www.icatcare.org
Remain vigilant to possible acts of cruelty. If you suspect somebody is acting suspiciously towards cats in the area, report your concerns to the local police and/or Scottish SPCA, along with any descriptions and car number plates you may have noted. If there is a local Neighbourhood Watch, make them aware and inform your neighbours that there may be suspicious activity taking place.
Mark Beazley, Director of Operations for Cats Protection, says: “We often have reports coming into our branches and centres across the country of cats that have strayed, become injured in fights or been poisoned by seemingly harmless substances around the home. Simply following these guidelines and remaining vigilant can help keep cats safe and enjoying themselves throughout the year.”
For further advice and information on cat welfare-related issues please download http://bit.ly/CatSafeAdvice or for more detail http://bit.ly/CatSafeGuide alternatively call Cats Protection’s helpline on 03000 12 12 12.
