Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i Your Cat

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…

CAT PRODUCTS ● Celebrating the launch of ‘The Electrical Life of Louis Wain’ film, the brand that is named after the artist who drew cats and changed how people viewed cats is promoting a great range of Wain products. Cheshire & Wain have a new range of Louis Wain cat collars which come in the vibrant colours Wain’s work was known for. They come in Electric Blue, Chartreuse, Purrsimmon, or Pastel. Made from the finest Italian leather with a matte rubberised surface, each collar has a contrasting soft suede lining for comfort and contrast stitching, with optional bell. Handcrafted in their East London workshop, the collars feature Cheshire & Wain’s signature breakaway safety catch and arrive beautifully presented in a special edition Louis Wain gift box. The company are also…

LEARN A NEW SKILL TOGETHER A good way to bond with your cat is to try something new together, such as learning some new tricks or starting a new hobby together. It will depend on your cat’s age and willingness to learn, as well as his natural inclination towards rewards. Some prefer to be rewarded with treats, whereas others prefer playtime. Clicker training will not only give you and your cat some quality time together learning new skills, but will also help your cat keep active and healthy. If it’s not something you’ve already started with your cat, Blue Cross has this advice on how to begin clicker training with your cat: Find a quiet area where you and your pet can concentrate. With your pet beside you, click once…

ONLINE FANS We asked our Facebook fans to tell us what makes their cat so special… Margo Green: “My fur baby Toby will be 17 next April. He is half Siamese, very chatty, and very quirky. He enjoys a game of fetch. He is my shadow, following me everywhere. He likes to sleep snuggled into my leg on the sofa and enjoys cuddles for as long as you can give them. He has me wrapped around his paw and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” ● Jemma Bachelor: “I adore my cat as he is always making me so happy. He’s FIV positive so he’s an indoor only cat so we have a lovely bond.” ● Sharon Terry: “Not only is Tormund the naughtiest cat I’ve ever met, he’s…

COMMUNITY CAT HERO AWARD HALF A CENTURY of saving cats Incredible Pauline has been a lifeline to felines in Birmingham. This award acknowledges those cat lovers who have gone above and beyond in their communities to make the lives of their local cats better. After we posted an appeal on social media for our online followers to nominate their community cat heroes, we received more than 1,000 nominations from all across the UK, ranging from dedicated cat rescues to individual cat lovers who just try to make a difference in their communities. This month’s Community Cat Hero Award winner is Pauline Beasley, who has been running Wellcat in Birmingham for more than 40 years. NOMINATION: Ammy Col nominated Pauline via our Facebook post. She said: “Wellcat’s Pauline Beasley has devoted…

OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS GENERAL CARE Celia Haddon MA MSc MA is a well-known pet columnist and author of numerous cat books. She is a cat lover and owner, with a cat behaviour qualification and broad experience of feline issues. VETERINARY Aga Zoltowska BVSc MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) DipCABT MRCVS graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2005 and is passionate about cat welfare. Find out more at www.thecatboxsolutions.com BEHAVIOUR Kim Houston BSc (Hons), Dip (AS) CABC, CCAB is a consultant in feline behaviour. She works with clients throughout the UK, helping to resolve cat behaviour problems. Find out more at www.cat-astrophes.com HOLISTIC Holly Mash BVSc IVAS MRCVS specialises in complementary medicine including herbalism and acupuncture. She also runs online courses. BEREAVEMENT Dr Sue Dawson is a counselling psychologist specialising in…

A force for good No matter how old or young your cat is, regular play is hugely beneficial to his health and well-being, and while some cats will happily keep themselves entertained by pouncing on a shadow or jumping up at a fly, it’s still important to be able to offer him some toys to challenge him, stimulate him, and distract him from any anxiety that comes his way. There are two main ways to get your cat playing. You can use toys that allow you and your cat to play interactively together, and secondly, you can provide toys that your cat can play with alone. It’s possible that your cat might prefer one over the other or enjoy both types of play, so it’s a good idea to have…

Countdown Good planning will help ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible for both of you — a countdown can be helpful: 1-2 WEEKS BEFORE YOU MOVE: Decide on a ‘safe room’ in both your current and new home where your cat can stay while everything is being moved. Empty the safe room, if you haven’t already done so, so nobody needs to go in there for anything. Set up everything your cat will need in there (see Setting up a Safe Room further on for guidance). Start feeding your cat in there so he gets used to being in there. Start doing some carrier training if your cat is unaccustomed to it or to improve his associations with it if he’s only ever gone in it for a…

SHORT STORY HER SPECIAL BOY Cathy has a special bond with rescue cat Morris — but can she help him find his forever home? A short story by Esther Chilton. “It’s a miracle really how Morris had survived” “You’re so good with him, Cathy,” Sarah looked up at the manager and smiled, before her eyes once more to the adorable bundle of black fluff. Dear Morris. He’d come a long way. She gently stroked the soft fur, listening to the contented purr. “He’s not like this with anyone else, especially prospective owners,” Sarah sighed. “He cowers in the corner and everyone wants the more confident cats. Poor love, he’s been here for months and months now. You’ve formed quite a bond with him. You should take him home.” “I’d love…

SOMERSET Finding Florence Every now and again a cat comes into rescue who doesn’t just tug on your heart strings but pulls them in every direction. Ginny Parratt from Cats in Distress, based in Somerset, was contacted in December about an elderly cat who she was told was around 19 years old and has since been named Florence. Apparently, she had been living in the smoking shelter of a factory and had a comfy bed and was fed and watered. She had been around for so long that no one could remember when she had first turned up and it was clear from the state of her that she had been like this for a considerable amount of time. Her fur was matted into huge solid lumps so tight that…

TOURIST GUIDE The Catboat Cats are known for not being fond of water, so this cat sanctuary in the Netherlands is truly unique — for not actually being based on dry land! Images: courtesy of Alamy Stock Photos. In last month’s magazine, we brought you the first ever Your Cat Tourist Guide, introducing our readers to some cat-inspired tourist hotspots around the UK and beyond. This month we bring you something a little more unusual—a cat sanctuary that’s based on a barge! De Poezenboot — the catboat — located in Amsterdam, was first set up by cat lover Henriette van Weelde back in 1966, when she found a mother cat and her kittens under a tree opposite her house on Amsterdam’s Herengracht canal and took them in. Before long, the…

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,…

NEW COLUMNIST James Bowen The incredible story of Street Cat Bob and James is loved by fans worldwide. In a new monthly column, James tells about his life now, introduces us to his cats, and shows how Bob’s legacy lives on. Image: courtesy of Alamy Stock Photos. So, I’m 99 per cent sure that most of you readers know who I am already. But for those of you who are wondering: who is this guy and why has he been given a column? Well, Your Cat Magazine has always been a great supporter of my work and I am honoured to be able to now be a regular contributor, so here is a brief introduction to myself: I am an author, a musician, a blogger, an influencer, and a dedicated,…

COMMUNITY CAT HERO AWARD! PAULINE BEASLEY How you can help Running an animal rescue is, as you could expect, very expensive and keeping Wellcat going is a huge financial struggle. Food, heating, and lighting can cost up to £1,500 a month and that’s not including the numerous vet bills they incur. Every cat who comes into their care is neutered, if they aren’t already, as well as given any treatments they need, such as for fleas, worms, vaccinations, and any medications. Wellcat relies solely on the donations, fundraising, bequests, and volunteers, and Pauline and her team of helpers and volunteers fundraise as much as they can during the year, with table top sales and other fundraisers. Pauline said: “We always need food, as you can imagine we go through it very…

What it’s really like… RUNNING A CATTERY! We go behind the scenes to find out if running a cattery is the dream job for cat lovers. Jill Eckersley is a freelance journalist based in London, with a passion for cats, especially her Mayhew rescue, Mo. It sounds like the dream job for any cat-lover, doesn’t it? Surrounded by beautiful cats all day, popping in to give them a cuddle or play with them whenever you, and they, feel like it. We’ve been talking to cattery owners about whether the job really is a dream-come-true — and if there are any tips and hints they could give to any Your Cat readers who are wondering whether it might be the career for them… “IT’S A TOTAL WAY OF LIFE” Chantal Barford…

CAT BREED INDEX: THAI Korats wearing different coats, would the sociable Thai make a good companion? Rosemary Fisher entered the cat fancy in 1974 when she purchased her first pedigree cat — a Chinchilla called Brylou Moonstone. She breeds Persians and Exotics, and judges in several sections. She is currently a GCCF Board member and also serves on the genetics committee. HISTORY In an earlier article about the Siamese breed, I mentioned that the modern Siamese cat that you see at shows today looks rather different to its original ancestors from Thailand, brought to the UK in the 1880s. The Thai has a common ancestry with the modern Siamese breed, but after the Second World War, breed development of the Siamese has favoured a more svelte, slender version with a…

THE VET EXPLAINS… FELINE ASTHMA If your cat has ever coughed, you’ll know how dramatic it looks. As well as trying to clear their throat, they gag and retch while stretching their neck at an odd angle. Despite how it looks, this is the most effective way for cats to clear their windpipe. More often than not, there’s a simple explanation for coughing, such as the dreaded hairball or a rogue piece of grass at the back of their throat. But occasionally, it can be a sign of a more serious disease, such as feline asthma. THE VET Penny Clarke, BVetMed MRCVS, graduated in 2003 from the Royal Veterinary College. She is a cat-loving clinician at a busy, small animal hospital in Warwickshire. Penny writes about all things veterinary and…

WORD OF WARNING A word of caution about any toys you choose. Make sure that parts that can be bitten off and ingested are removed before giving the toy to your cat. Likewise, avoid leaving any string or rod toys out where your cat could get caught up in them. If you use paper bags, ensure any handles are removed. Choosing the right toys for your cat is no easy undertaking, especially when you consider how a cat plays and what he plays with is more than likely shaped by his genetics, experience, and how he’s feeling at any given moment. Something else for us to think about is that when it comes to real prey, cats tend to have specific preferences. So, if you have a cat that always…

DIARY CEO Claire Bessant updates us on projects which help cats lead healthier lives. MORE HELP IN RECOGNISING PAIN Pain in cats is a topic International Cat Care comes back to again and again because it is so easy to miss — cats don’t give much away! In last month’s column we talked about changes in behaviour that can help owners to recognise pain in their cats. While this time last year, we introduced The Feline Grimace Scale and Your Cat readers fed back into a survey to see if cat caregivers could recognise pain using the Scale, which was originally developed for vets. Now, the team behind The Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) have launched a smart phone application for real-time acute pain assessment of cats by cat carers and…

RESCUE COMMUNITY CHESHIRE Silk Cat Rescue Many thanks to Sonja K. Steiner for writing these stories as our rescue correspondent! “She is a typical naughty tortie!” Silk Cat Rescue is a registered charity set up by Mike and Irene North and their friends in October 2018. Based in the village of Pott Shrigley near Bollington, the name of the rescue came from its heritage with the silk trade for which nearby Macclesfield is renowned. With almost two decades of experience in cat welfare between them, the pair are passionate about helping the most destitute cats and making a difference to their lives. This volunteer-only rescue has 10 dedicated foster carers and volunteers who give up their time to help cats in need. They rehome 50 — 60 cats a year.…

Pawtraits Take a look at these gorgeous and playful kitties! Zasha wins an Ancol Premo XL Activity Centre, worth £21.90, while the others receive an assortment of cat toys, including a Jittery Mouse, courtesy of Ancol Pet Products. For more information, call 01922 402428. (UK only) SEE YOUR CAT HERE! Email a clear (non-blurry) image of usable size (around 300dpi and 1MB) to pawtraits@yourcat.co.uk Please include your full name, address, and phone number, as well as your cat’s name. www.facebook.com/yourcatmagazine @yourcatmagazine pawtraits@yourcat.co.uk…

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…

DANDY’S SCRATCH POST I read with interest the letters about cats scratching furniture. I don’t think our first cat had ever used one but we bought a sisal scratch post to prevent this problem. I realised cats learned this behaviour by copying, usually their mum. I showed Dandy his scratch post and putting myself in cat-like mode on the floor, I pawed at the post, making sure he was watching. Then I gently held his front paws so he could have a go. I repeated it and praised him and gave him a little stroking. He got the message straight away. We were then able to take our cat on holiday to any guesthouse knowing he would use the scratch post. Our hosts were usually impressed. We probably knocked off…

FROM THE COUNCIL John Littlemore, Head of Housing & Community Services at Maidstone Borough Council, explains what this new policy means for Maidstone. He said: “The policy aims to raise awareness with our staff and providers of the dilemma of people with pets who find themselves homeless. We want to help these people into more settled accommodation so they can keep pets. “Traditionally, people get one offer of accommodation and that’s it, which makes it difficult if the landlord has a No Pets Policy. With the new policy, people can refuse the accommodation if it’s no good for their pets without being penalised so we can search for something more suitable.” John said that John Chadwick’s tragic death and Dee’s positive approach inspired the change. “When someone takes their life…

Confessions of a Cat-sitter How did Chris get into a career of cat-sitting? It started with babysitting! Chris Pascoe is a cat-sitter and author. He has written five books, including ‘A cat called Birmingham’ and ‘You can take the cat out of Slough’, which are available to buy from Amazon. Somebody asked me the other day how I got into cat-sitting. The truth is I actually started with babysitting. I know you wouldn’t normally train to be a cat carer by honing your skills on a baby, but this was actually our own baby and I’d given up work to look after her (bit of a no-brainer — I earned less than the local nursery charged). In my early days of babysitting, I had absolutely no clue what I was doing and…

THE SCIENCE OF CATS HOW TO STROKE CATS ACCORDING TO SCIENCE Want your cat to enjoy your interactions more? Try following Dr Lauren Finka’s expert guidelines. Dr Lauren Finka is a behaviour and welfare scientist specialising in the domestic cat. She has a PhD in cat behaviour and also works as a consultant for various animal welfare organisations. When the ‘Science of Cats’ series was running in the magazine a few months ago, I mentioned an exciting research project that I was undertaking in collaboration with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. After a long period of video analysis and cat behaviour coding, I am delighted to be able to now return with a one-off Science of Cats to share with you the key findings from this study. The focus of the…

Cat care Got a question? The Your Cat experts are here to help with all your feline dilemmas! Send your question to our experts by email (catcare@yourcat.co.uk) or post (see page 61 for our address). GENERAL CARE TOO EARLY TO NEUTER? Q I volunteer for a small cat rescue that homes kittens at about nine weeks and makes adopters promise to get them neutered when they are older. However, I have heard that some of the larger rescues are now neutering their kittens at about nine weeks, before handing them over to be adopted? Is this safe for the cats? Should we be following their example? Your Cat reader CELIA SAYS: A Experts now believe in neutering kittens as early as possible, as long as the kittens are in good…

ON THE MOVE! Moving house can turn your cat’s world upside down. Here’s our guide to making the move as smooth as possible for your feline friend. Toni Shelbourne A Tellington TTouch practitioner and certified animal behaviourist, Toni Shelbourne has three decades of experience working with companion animals. The author of six books, she lives in Oxfordshire, where she sees clients, runs workshops, and gives talks and webinars. You can visit her website: www.tonishelbourne.co.uk Moving house is near the top of the list of most stressful life events — and that goes for your cat as well as you. Felines are territorial creatures so an upheaval to everything they know about their environment can be a challenge for cats. This step-by-step guide to each phase of moving should help the…

BLACK-FOOTED CAT GOING ON SAFARI! Getting a glimpse of the smallest wild cat in Africa is a rare phenomenon, but Peter and Andrew give us a glance on their safari tour! Peter Neville has spent over 30 years as a professional pet behaviourist, writer, and educator. In 1993, he co-founded COAPE International (coape.org), now a leading online provider of education courses in pet behaviour. Peter is the author of 16 books, including the international best-seller, ‘Do Cats Need Shrinks?’ He now lives in Helsinki, Finland, with his partner Stella, and two cats, Asla and Trista. Andrew Rae has been guiding safaris in both southern and east Africa for the last 28 years. South African by birth, Andrew and his wife, Moira, started their own exclusive safari company, RAE Safaris, in…