Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Your Cat

I’ve got a bit of a plug, or perhaps a reminder, to kick off this issue. Your Cat isn’t just a magazine, we’ve got a brilliant e-newsletter. It is free to sign up to the newsletter and you’ll receive extra content and stories, as well as a reminder about the newsletter competitions (as a magazine reader you can already enter these using the form in the magazine or using the code we share in these pages). There is the website too. There is a whole library of expert advice you can trust (you can use the search box to look for any topics you need), blog content, the gallery, and our shop which sells delightful cat products. Your Cat is a full brand with website, newsletter, and social media —…

Veterinary charity PDSA and pet food manufacturer Royal Canin’s latest educational collaborative campaign #WeighUp is encouraging pet owners to act on the “paw-demic” of obesity seen across the nation’s pets. The drive to increase education on pet obesity follows research from the PAW Report, created by PDSA in conjunction with YouGov, which revealed 1.4 million cats and dogs across the nation piled on the pounds in the 12 months from the start of lockdown. Royal Canin has worked with PDSA to create the educational materials using its detailed understanding of pet obesity, which aims to empower owners to ensure kittens and puppies live happy, healthy lives and for longer. PDSA vet nurse Nina Downing says: “Worryingly, the detrimental health effects of obesity in our four-legged family members don’t appear to…

CATS PROTECTION’S TOP SUN SAFETY TIPS: • Keep pet cats indoors when the sun is at its hottest, typically between 10am and 3pm. • Speak to a vet about suitable sunscreen for pet cats. • Provide plenty of opportunities for shade outdoors, such as cat hides, large cardboard boxes, or plant plots placed close together. • Always provide an outdoor water source as there is a risk of your cat becoming dehydrated in the heat. • To stop cats feeling overheated, place a plastic bottle with frozen water inside a towel and place it in an area that the cat frequently visits.…

Rasma’s mission to find homes for the rest of the cats she brought back from Ukraine and pay their vet bills continues, as does her work to help refugees with pets settle into Latvia. You can help to support Rasma’s work by donating to the organisation with which she volunteers. You can visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Dzivniekupalidzibasdienests/ (The page will have English translations on.) However, Rasma didn’t want to share her story with Your Cat readers to help fundraise. She is a huge lover of the magazine from the time when she worked in the UK. She wanted to tell the cats’ stories with people who love cats as much as her. So, when asked about fundraising, she says that if readers do want to help, they can send help…

Della Whisker: This is Flin exploring a local field. I started him on a kitten harness, as I have with all my cats. Once they’re used to it, I’ve been able to take them away. But it is difficult finding cat friendly places. Margaret Stringer: My daughter tried lead training once with her Moochie (may he rest in peace). She bought a cat-proof harness. It wasn’t Moochie proof! Moochie got scared, slipped out, and ran. It took us three days to find him. Moochie obviously wasn’t a walking cat so my daughter never tried it again. Louisa Mann: Misty was approximately six years old and a stray when we adopted her. I trained her by putting the harness on first, starting little and often in the house, using a few…

“He seems to have some kind of intuition that I need additional comforting.” Our series on Pets As Therapy cats has seen animals who have volunteered in schools, hospitals, hospices, and even airports. But our feline friends can also bring comfort and support at home to those who are ill or going through a challenging time. Love is blind for Carrots and Katie Ginger and white Carrots lost his sight as a kitten but that hasn’t stopped him from spreading love and giving support to people who are seriously ill — and that includes his owner. The fluffy tomcat first started visiting the Marie Curie hospice in Bradford in 2018 as a Pets As Therapy volunteer but at home he also supports his owner, Katie Lloyd, who has a rare…

ETCHED GLASS CAT GIN GLASSES, BY FOUR HANDS These beautiful etched gin glasses were hand etched by Jo and Adam of Four Hands Etched Glass. Holding 645ml, they are perfect to fill with your favourite gin. They make a perfect addition to any home! Other cat designed items are available from their website www.fourhands.co.uk and can also be personalised. Be sure to check for more from Four Hands by following on social media platforms Instagram @fourhandsglass Facebook @fourhandsglass We have one pair of gin glasses to give away. • Online Code: Celebrate • Online entries live 10th – 24th June ‘I LOVE MY CAT’ CUSHION COVERS, BY THE LITTLE HANDCRAFTED COMPANY! A fun cushion cover for every cat lover! Made from 100% natural cotton canvas, these lovely thick covers can…

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 Clare Hemington DipCAPBT is an accredited feline behaviourist. She has a cat behaviour referrals practice and runs her Honeysuckle Cat Toys business with the help of her Siamese, Billy. You can find…

Q Our cat was in the vet hospital for 16 nights and the diagnosis is Effusive FIP. He is on twice weekly Interferon and antibiotics. We are feeding him chicken for his arginine levels and we are now also giving him colloidal silver and chlorophyll. We would be grateful if you have any ideas or suggestions. Your Cat reader AGA SAYS: A Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a viral disease in cats and one of the most heart-breaking diagnoses that a veterinarian can make as it is almost always fatal. Both forms, non-effusive (‘dry’) and effusive (‘wet’), create a diagnostic challenge and we still don’t have a commercially available product that can make a big difference to affected cats. It is very difficult to offer specific advice without being able to…

Thomas Frederick is delighted to announce that they have sold over 3,000 Petloo litter trays since January. Customers are delighted and re-ordering every four weeks. Many customers have mentioned they use the litter trays when they go on holiday and their cats are quite content to use by the side of the car! They would also like to point out they only charge one price of £2.95 for P&P so if you order more than one pack, the price is still £2.95. • You can find Petloo disposable litter trays on Amazon and Ebay. theinsuranceemporium.co.uk/YC99…

Alison Jones set up North Notts Cat Rescue, a not-for-profit rescue based in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, three years ago. Alison has been involved in cat rescue for the last 38 years and after the rescue she was volunteering at closed, she decided to set up her own. She is supported by a small team of dedicated volunteer foster carers who also fundraise, do home checks, collect cats, and take them to the vet’s, and everyone associated with the rescue pays for the fuel out of their own pocket, as well as any other expenses. Alison is very proud that every penny raised goes towards the rescue’s biggest expense which is their vet bills. They are fortunate to receive generous donations of food and cat litter which helps them enormously. There is…

“The next emergency is only ever a phone call away.” During a busy morning of consultations, we received a call about a farm kitten that had been bitten by a dog. As soon as the call finished, all hands were on deck to prepare for the kitten’s arrival. Being prepared for emergencies is vital in treating trauma patients. An oxygen tent was set up, along with cannulas, breathing tubes, heat pads, blankets, and a selection of emergency medication. Little Mouse, a black and white moggy, arrived at the practice 10 minutes later. Poor Mouse was having difficulty breathing and was very pale. We assessed her body for injuries and recorded her vital parameters including temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Mouse was chilly on arrival which can be a sign…

• FELIWAY Help! helps support cats struggling with stressful situations and reduces signs of stress which include scratching, urine spraying, and hiding. It is an ideal solution for temporary stressful situations including parties or having house guests to stay, changes at home such as new furniture and decorating, and during holidays or short breaks. Eighty-three percent of cat owners saw an improvement in their cat’s signs of stress after using FELIWAY Help!, which provides more cat owners with the opportunity to use FELIWAY for temporary stressful situations and complements the FELIWAY behaviour range of products. FELIWAY Help! is available as a FELIWAY Help! starter kit comprising an innovative, new device and cartridge providing pheromone support for seven days and covering 50m2. The device is plugged into an electrical socket which…

A specialist-led team at a London-based animal hospital has saved the life of a cat stricken with a coronavirus-like disease. Two-year-old Bengal Nala was referred to London Vet Specialists (LVS) in Belsize Park, north London “with not a moment to lose” as the team raced to save her life. Nala has made a full recovery after receiving two blood transfusions and a course of the drug Remdesivir, which is widely used to fight Covid-19 in humans. Mary Fletcher, an internal medicine intern at LVS, explains: “Nala was referred to LVS with not a moment to lose. Her circulating red blood cell count was low at 18 per cent, compared to normal packed cell volume which should be between 30 per cent and 52 per cent. Nala received immediate supporting care…

• COUGHING: cats often look as if they’re trying to be sick as they retch and gag. After a bout of coughing, they may hunch their body low on to the ground, stretch out their neck, and move their head from side to side. This position helps to open the airways and maximise their oxygen intake. • NOISY BREATHING (WHEEZING): this is usually heard as your cat exhales (breathes out) and is due to mucous rattling around in narrowed airways. • FAST BREATHING (TACHYPNOEA): your cat may breathe quicker to compensate for a reduced lung capacity. • DIFFICULTY BREATHING: if your cat is struggling to breathe, it’s a medical emergency. Open-mouth breathing or a blue tinge to their nose and lips are signs your cat may have low oxygen levels.…

“It was a very emotional three-day trip…” The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been devastating. Lives have been lost, families forced to flee, and landscapes turned to rubble. As war continues to rage on the long-term impact it has on Ukraine and the wider world, with food shortages and poverty predicted, remains in the balance. Anything but a victory for those defending their homeland feels unthinkable, but even that will have come at a dreadful cost. Amidst the horror, it has been heartening to see great humanity. People have welcomed refugees into their homes and communities and sent aid to those who desperately need it. Rasma Kreica is one of those compassionate people but her dedication to helping took her to into Ukraine and the warzone itself. A huge cat lover from…

The ‘Bullies Go Away’ feature in the May issue was really interesting. Many years ago, we had a ginger tom cat called Peter. He was a lovely boy who grew up alongside my now adult children and he was a real member of the family. He would go out during the day while we were at work — we’d get messages from neighbours to say he had popped in to see them. Then during the evenings, he would be there to play and snuggle up with us. He loved heading out but would relish being at home when we were there. Then we went through a nightmare phase. We noticed that Peter wasn’t going out as much as he used to. Eventually, we worked out that there was a new…

The Trust is dependent on donations from clubs and members of the Cat Fancy, although GCCF also actively supports it with a regular monthly contribution, to ensure that funds are available to support our important research projects. In recent months, we have all been made aware of the massive welfare issue affecting thousands of pet animals displaced, along with their owners, because of the conflict in Ukraine, or simply abandoned as families flee to safety. It was amazing and heart-warming to see the immediate efforts of the countries surrounding the borders of Ukraine as they pulled out all the stops to assist people arriving with some of their possessions, often including their pets who were wrapped in blankets or tucked in their owner’s coats. As cat lovers ourselves, GCCF wanted…

Q My elderly cat, Maggie, needs to go to the vet’s regularly for various health issues. She absolutely hates being put in her carrier. When I put her in, she tries to double back and get out again and it is always a struggle. As I am elderly too, I am finding this increasingly difficult. Your Cat reader CELIA SAYS: A Maggie is not too old to learn how to go into her cat carrier when requested. There are three videos on Youtube showing Dr Sarah Ellis, author of ‘The Trainable Cat’, teaching her cat Herbie to go into the cat carrier of his own free will. What I like about these is that they do not speed up the process. They show you just how much patience you will…

Sandra was bemused when she came home from work to find Oscar playing with a ball of wool. She didn’t knit. She had no idea where a ball of wool could have come from. But then she saw what remained of her favourite jumper and realised her hooligan cat had been at it again. Somehow Oscar had pulled at a thread and unravelled enough to turn the jumper into a crop top. “Oscar, you bad cat,” said Sandra, picking him up. But Oscar didn’t appear chastened. Instead, he purred, snuggled his head into her shoulder, and she forgave him. Again. While she sometimes questioned her decision to get a cat when Rob had left, at least Oscar wasn’t a cheat. Bundling the remains of her jumper into the bin, Sandra…

Wilson 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, Wilson, from Barnsley, 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…

A one-eyed kitten has found a new home after coming into Blue Cross’ care “petrified with a painful ruptured right eye.” Vets found tabby kitten Candy Cane in a lot of pain, which led to them having to remove her eye to help her feel more comfortable. Foster carer Wendy Penfold, from Kent, provided round-the-clock foster care to Candy Cane at her home as she recovered from the operation and to help build her confidence. Wendy says: “When Candy came to me, she’d lost her trust in humans and was very nervous. She would run and hide when I’d come into the room, but by the end of her time with me, she became more inquisitive to know what I’m doing and staying in the same area as me. “After…

Here one of Penny’s cat-loving clients tells us about how she managed when her cat Poppy was diagnosed with asthma. “I first realised something was wrong with Poppy in December 2020 when she was eight years old. She started to have strange coughing episodes about once a week. It looked like she was trying to bring up a fur ball as she’d crouch low on the floor, extend her neck, and make a wheezy cough sound. By the end of the month, Poppy was having three or four coughing episodes a day and becoming increasingly more panicked each time. “I booked an appointment at Avonvale Veterinary Centre to see our vet, Andrea Davies. She checked Poppy over and looked at a video of her coughing. After X-raying her chest and…

I am really enjoying the James Bowen column in the magazine. I loved the Street Cat Bob books and think their story is so heart-warming. They saved each other and it shows the power of cats to transform our lives. Hearing of Bob’s passing was so very sad and every pet owner knows the dreadful pain that losing a pet puts you through. For James that pain was probably even deeper after everything he and Bob went through. I am so pleased that Bob has a wonderful memorial in such a fitting location — it is on my list of places I want to visit. James and Bob’s story belongs to everyone which you can see in the millions of fans they have throughout the world. It is lovely that…

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy’s (GCCF) main business, if you want to call it that — meaning how does it generate its income — is primarily from the registration of pedigree kittens. However, for the past 34 years, GCCF has also had its own charity arm, the Cat Welfare Trust. The charity was set up in December 1988 by an original group of five trustees who were all active members of the Cat Fancy at the time. The trust deed was written to enable funds to be used for the widest possible range of activities to benefit cats. RESCUING CATS When it came to rescuing cats, it was quickly realised that this vital work was already well covered by large charities, such as Cats Protection, the RSPCA, and…

OPEN TO ALL These giveaways are open to magazine readers, newsletter subscribers, and web visitors to enter — no online code needed PET BED TEEPEE, FROM DANISH DESIGN The Pet Teepee offers the perfect place for your cat to escape to and relax. This cosy space is made with a soft felt effect fabric, and features a luxurious faux fur cushion and 100% natural wooden tent poles. It is easy to assemble and the modern design also features hand-stitched detailing for a unique feel. We have one teepee to give away, • Online entries live 1st – 15th July COMPLETE CAT FOOD BUNDLE, FROM YARRAH ORGANIC PETFOOD Good food is made from pure ingredients and nothing else. That is why Yarrah is organic. Organic is better, for your pet and for…

Q Do you have to teach or encourage a cat to use a scratching post? I have bought my cat a really nice scratching post but they don’t seem bothered about it. Your Cat reader CLARE SAYS: A Scratching is a behaviour which is innate in all cats and there are a number of reasons why they do it: To exercise the muscles of the forelimbs and the claw-motion used in hunting and climbing, to remove worn outer claw sheaths, and to give them a way of stretching out their bodies to help relieve muscular tension. Importantly however, scratching is also used by cats as a way of marking their territory. Cats have scent glands in between their toes which produce a unique smell. When they scrape their claws down…

Leaving the Surrey and Sussex cat show in March 2020, I remember wondering whether this would be the last cat show for a while, and so it was, as the very next day the Prime Minister announced: “Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact and travel.” Shows scheduled for the following weeks had to be hastily cancelled, with some clubs suffering financial loss. Initially, not being able to take part in our hobby felt unimportant compared with everything else that was happening. Then it was clear that the GCCF office in Bridgwater would need to close. This didn’t have the same impact as on some other businesses, as registration of kittens is almost exclusively done online by breeders. The staff were supplied with laptops and worked from…

We are building a section for people passionate about rescue cats Ty-Nant Cat Sanctuary is a not-for-profit registered charity based in Port Talbot. It was established in June 1990 by Teresa Ahmad in response to unwanted or stray cats and kittens in the area. They originally had sheds to house the cats, but Teresa’s husband made the cats a purpose-built cattery. Nicky Morgan, one of the trustees, said: “A lot of the cats that we take in are battered, bruised, and are afraid. We often find that cats who present as feral are in fact just frightened cats and once time is spent with them, they are able to be placed into new homes. We just want to give them the best chance possible to have their happy ending. “The…