Your Cat February 2022

Editor Note In over 25 years of Your Cat Magazine, I don’t think we’ve ever had a person as the main image on the cover. We’ve broken tradition this month because our latest feature is very special indeed — James Bowen is writing a new and exclusive column. James and Streetcat Bob stole the hearts of millions worldwide from their best-selling books and films, including many Your Cat readers! Their incredible story showed how the bond between a person and a cat can be life-changing, redeeming, and inseparable. When Bob tragically died, the loss was keenly felt by fans from around the globe. In his first piece, James shares his grief at losing his best friend. He also introduces us to the cats he currently shares his life with and…

PICTURE OF THE MONTH The story behind the photo… Images: courtesy of Alamy Stock Photos. Situated in Riga, the capital of Latvia, this fantastic cat sculpture sits on top of a building known as the Cat House. One of two similar cat statues on the building (you’ll be able to spot them both in the inset picture above of the Cat House), the pair are part of a famous tale known to most Rigans. The legend has different versions but the heart of the story is that a tradesman either was refused entry to the Riga Tradesman’s Guild or he fell out with the Riga town council, both of which are situated across the street. So, in retaliation, he wanted the two angry looking copper cats with arched backs to…

What’s new Pussycat? LEGISLATION MICROCHIPPING OF CATS NOW COMPULSORY THANKS TO CAMPAIGN Feline news ● New cat products ● Bookshop ● Instagram star interview ● Legislation December saw a landmark decision made which has seen cat lovers rejoicing — microchipping of pet cats has now become compulsory by law. After 99 per cent of people voted to support compulsory microchipping for cats according to recent Government consultation, the new law has ruled that owners will be required to microchip their cats by the time they reach 20 weeks old and their contact details stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database. Owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted, or face a fine of up to £500 once the…

WELFARE CALL FOR CAT THEFT TO BE CRIMINAL OFFENCE An organisation dedicated to ensuring pets are seen as more than just property and a pet insurance company are working together to call on the Government to make cat theft a criminal offence as “cats are just as much a part of the family as dogs. Following a campaign by Pet Theft Reform, a coalition of animal charities and parliamentary groups supported by celebrities, such as Ricky Gervais and David Walliams, the Government announced plans to add a new criminal offence for dog abduction in the Kept Animals Bill, but it has not included cats in the proposed legislation. Prior to this new offence, dog theft was treated as a loss of property to the owner and cat theft will remain…

NEW BOOKS ‘CATS OF PRESIDENTS’ BY GRACE HANSEN (NORTH STAR EDITIONS) This book has it all: bright and colourful images, historical photographs, and lots of sweet information about presidents and their pet cats. Readers will love seeing every pet owner, from Martin Van Buren to the Clintons. Complete with a picture glossary. Price: £7.99 Available from: www.waterstones.com ‘SOUL CATS’ BY TAMARA SCHENK (MADE FOR SUCCESS) Sometimes life calls upon us to take matters into our own paws. Soul Cats is a book that carries with it a very special and personal mission. The dying wish of “soul cat” Max was for his human guardian to write this very book, as he passed away just a few short weeks after. Soul Cats is teeming with stories following the alpha cat Max,…

What’s new Pussycat? LEGISLATION CHARITIES WELCOME COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING Feline news ● New cat products Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Cats Protection, and the RSPCA have welcomed new microchipping laws. In response to the announcement, Battersea revealed that, in 2020, 57 per cent of cats that were brought to the charity were not microchipped, compared to only 17 per cent of dogs. A lack of a microchip makes it much harder for staff to trace an owner. In 2019, Battersea was able to reunite 456 dogs with their owners thanks to the pets having accurate microchip details, but only 72 cats due to the far fewer number of felines having a microchip. Michael Webb, Battersea’s head of public affairs and policy, says: “Each year Battersea takes in thousands of stray cats…