Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Your Cat

Most of us made banana bread during the pandemic. But the lockdown didn’t stop two cat lovers from taking massive career steps: one fled the corporate world to start up his own cat-sitting service — courtesy of a new franchise that the other launched! Covid brought the fun and pressures of home schooling to Gregory Deaton, and made him rethink his job of more than 30 years, working in the world of high-end business to business coffee machines. He said: “Lockdown put a stop to my daily work and instead I was home schooling my son, William, who was five at the time. Spending more time with my family in lockdown made me reevaluate what I wanted in life. “Then I came across The Cat Butler franchise which was up…

Share a cute photo of your kitten for a chance to win a Kittyrama Collar! For the lions in training! Kittyrama kitten collars are purrfect for curious kittens! Breakaway, soft, comfy, and hypoallergenic. Find out more at www.kittyrama.co.uk (UK only. Colours may vary.) ENJOYING THE PETER NEVILLE COLUMN The new Peter Neville column has been really good. As a long-time reader of the magazine, I always enjoyed Peter’s diary where he would take us through a case study of one his clients and explain how he helped to solve a problem. However, I must admit I think it has been a good thing to change it up. Peter has a host of stories to share and I really enjoyed his piece last month on the cats he had met that…

OPEN TO ALL These giveaways are open to magazine readers, newsletter subscribers, and web visitors to enter — no online code needed KENSINGTON CAT BED, FROM SCRUFFS® The Scruffs® Kensington Cat Bed provides a safe and comforting environment for your feline friend, with its eco-suede design and super-soft, deep-plush fabric with a reversible cushion. The bed features a roofed exterior and the attached string toy will offer hours of entertainment. We have six Kensington Cat Beds to give away! • For more information, visit www.petslovescruffs.com • Online entries live 22nd July — 5th August HAMPER, FROM FELIGHT We’ve got 12 hampers of NEW Felight Eco Cat Litter PLUS accessories to give away. Felight Eco is a first of its kind 100% recycled cat litter. Helping you to save the planet…

Q I live on a smallholding and we have got rats in our barns. I want to get an outdoor cat that will catch rats and reduce the rodent numbers. Should I keep the cat hungry so that it has to catch more rodents? CELIA A What you need is a couple of feral cats that are used to living outside a human home. Most cat rescue shelters have some of these and are always looking for good homes in stables and farms. Getting them from a good cat charity, like Cats Protection, Blue Cross, RSPCA, or Woodgreen, will mean the cats are healthy and neutered so you won’t end up with a huge population of diseased kittens. Yes, you should definitely feed them. Cats hunt, whether they are hungry…

My cat Jasper was never the most active of cats but he did go through a brief phase of catching frogs! My other cat, Maisie (also 19 years old), is the tree-climbing explorer and he’s more of an observer. Jasper was in his early teens when I realised he was slowing down and avoiding jumping on to furniture. Sometimes after rest he seemed stiff (especially on his front legs) but soon loosened up. During warmer weather, his symptoms disappeared (he loves to stretch out in the sun) but on damp, cold days he didn’t seem quite as happy. I started giving Jasper nutritional supplements and a daily non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killer. Very quickly he resumed his usual activities (mainly snoozing on our beds!) This suited him for a few years…

• SPIN: Use the target stick to teach your cat to move in a circle. Ask for just a few steps to start with and gradually build up to a whole circle. Once mastered in one direction, teach him to go round the other way. • LEG WEAVE: As well as being an impressive looking trick, this can also help keep your cat supple. Stand in front of him with your right leg forward and heel raised so your knee is slightly flexed, and use the target stick to lure him through, from front to back. Click as he passes through and toss a treat on to the floor just in front of your foot so he’s ready to turn back to repeat the manoeuvre. Repeat until he can fluently…

If you love cats, you’ll know cats bring so much joy to our lives, and Your Cat Magazine is a celebration of all things cat, every month! FREE GIFT The Wrendale Notecard Pack is perfect for letting your friends know you are thinking of them and jotting down your notes in style. Featuring two cats on 4 notecards, 8 correspondence cards, 12 envelopes, and a stylish notebook. It’s easy to become a subscriber! www.yourcat.co.uk/wrendale 01778 395176 & Quote CATS/PRINT T&Cs: This offer is available on direct debit only, go to www.yourcat.co.uk/subscribe to view the full range of credit/debit card offers.…

Yarm Cat Rescue (YCR) is a not-for-profit rescue that was set up over 16 years ago by Janey Cunningham and David Davies. It is run entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers and has eight foster carers, one of whom is Becky Hart. One weekend in May, Becky received a phone call to alert her about a mother and kittens who were seen on the roof of a bungalow. The person had originally contacted a large national rescue who simply passed on Becky’s number saying they could not help. Since this was not something the rescue had any experience with and no equipment, Becky asked another large rescue for help, but they declined. She and her son went to the property to assess the situation and contacted Stockton Fire Brigade…

A third of pet owners wouldn’t know their pet was suffering with eye disease, a study has found. For the study — from eyesight experts All About Vision in collaboration with a leading medical reviewer specialist in veterinary medicine Matthew Belden — 1,000 UK pet owners were surveyed in a bid to raise awareness about eye disease in pets and how important it is to look after their eyes. The study revealed 32% of pet owners wouldn’t know if their furry friends were suffering from eye disease and one in three (33%) don’t know the impact if these diseases are left untreated. It was also found that 80% of pet owners said that better education is needed on how to look after their pets’ eyes correctly, as nearly half (40%)…

Cats Protection joined 25 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to discuss the charity’s work across Scotland to improve feline welfare including through its campaigning work. The parliamentary reception, held on 16 June at Holyrood, was hosted by Mark Ruskell to highlight ways that politicians can help support Scotland’s 685,000 pet cats and their owners. Among the work discussed was Cats Protection’s campaign to encourage more landlords to allow tenants to keep pet cats and its calls for compulsory microchipping of pet cats in Scotland. Cats Protection’s advocacy and Government relations officer for Scotland Alice Palombo says: “It was wonderful to welcome so many MSPs who were keen to find out how they can support cats and the people who care about them. “Scotland is a nation of cat lovers, with…

Looking back over the past decades as a cat owner, I can see the enormous strides that have been made in preventative veterinary medicine. Vaccinations for cat flu were first introduced in the mid-1970s and were then combined with the primary vaccinations in kittens for Feline Panleukopenia, or enteritis, and we know that regular vaccination reduces the risks of disease. Similarly with nutrition, the only foods available for my first cats were canned meat, such as Whiskas or Kit-E-Kat, or fresh meat and fish. Looking at one of the first cat books I bought about breeding and caring for Persian cats, published in 1974, the recommendations for weaning kittens included using dried milk for human babies, plus glucose, then thickening with baby cereal, then giving them minced rabbit or fish,…

HANDMADE CORK CAT COLLAR, BY TABBY TIES Tabby Ties is a small business specialising in cat collars, stamped ID tags, and accessories. All products are designed and handmade in their home studio in Leeds. They package orders in environmentally-friendly packaging and plant a tree with every order! The winner can choose any collar from their range. • For more information, visit www.tabbyties.com • Online Code: Safety • Online entries live 15th – 29th July LEAPING CAT NECKLACE, BY JANA REINHARDT You can win this leaping cat necklace by sustainable jewellery brand Jana Reinhardt. Featuring a playful cat, it really captures the sleekness and grace of our feline friends. The perfect gift for cat lovers, the pendant is handmade from 100% recycled sterling silver. We have one to give away. •…

Q My cat usually sleeps on the bed with me. She cuddles up close to my body. But this summer she has begun just to sleep at the bottom of the bed, near my feet but without touching me. I feel quite upset by this. What have I done wrong? Has she gone off me? CELIA SAYS: A When a cat sleeps touching a human, it is a sign of affection, but it is also a sign that they are enjoying our body heat. It could just be that in summer your bedroom is warmer so she is finding it too hot to snuggle very close. Alternatively, if you have been tossing and turning during your sleep, she may find it quieter lower down the bed! Do not be downhearted.…

Q I want to give a home to a homeless cat but I live on a very busy road. Already one local cat charity has said that they will not let me adopt one, even though I have a garden at the back of the house. I don’t want to have to buy a kitten but it looks as if I might have to. Any suggestions? CELIA SAYS: A There are ways round this problem. You could offer a disabled cat that cannot go out safely, an indoor-only home. You could also offer an indoor-only home to an FIV positive cat. These cats carry the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus but can live long and healthy lives with good care. Finally, have you thought about fencing in your garden? That way, a…

Training isn’t just a dog thing — it can be a great activity to try with your cat. With patience and the right rewards, you’ll be able to impress friends and family with his amazing new skills. But it’s not all about showing off how smart and talented your cat is. There’s a saying that the journey is more important than the destination, and it’s very true of training. While working towards your end goals, you’ll be having fun together and learning to communicate more clearly with each other; in to petting and playing games, it’s a terrific way of creating closer bonds. Target stick training is both fun and easy to teach so can be a good place to start. It offers a whole host of ways to have…

ALL FOR JUST £12! Puppies can be expensive to look after, but even in times of economic uncertainty, we know you’ll want to provide your four-legged friend with the best life possible. An annual membership to Your Dog costs just £12 (that’s it for the year, no monthly fee!) and entitles you to a range of SAVINGS, DISCOUNTS, AND PERKS. THE YOUR DOG PUPPY PACK INCLUDES: • ‘Your First Puppy’ book — a comprehensive guide to health, care, and training for your new pup. • 2022/23 Offers & Discounts book and membership card. • Full online access to over 350 discounts and offers — all dog friendly! Short breaks, days out, pubs, restaurants, online shopping, essentials, and much more. Everything made easy, and all in one place. • Your Dog…

Sandy’s cat, Pippa, had been an influencer for six months now. It had started by accident when Sandy made a funny video of her new tabby kitten, watching her typing over the top of her laptop. The clip had gone viral when Sandy shared it on social media. After that, Sandy made sure to share at least one video of Pippa each week and watched in surprise as her videos gained more and more likes. Before long, Sandy was being contacted by companies who wanted Pippa to test their new cat basket or cat toy, so she set up Pippa with her own channel. That only garnered more attention from brands and more offers of things Pippa could test. All free in return for exposure on Pippa’s feed Kitty-In-Charge. Sandy…

“You can take a virtual tour of the museum” Continuing with the Your Cat Tourist Guide, bringing you cat-themed destinations around the world, this month, we’re heading to Amsterdam to the most quirky, feline-themed museum of them all! The KattenKabinet — which literally translates as ‘cat cabinet’ — was founded by wealthy Dutchman Bob Meijer in memory of his beloved cat, the grandly named John Pierpont Morgan, who died in 1983 at the age of 17 and was described as his “stubborn, headstrong companion.” This museum, located on the banks of the Amstel river in the Herengracht district, was opened in 1990 and is filled with cat-inspired artwork, paintings, photographs, posters, and statues in Morgan’s honour. Meijer adored his cat so much that every landmark birthday of his was marked…

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has welcomed the Government’s announcement to help renters to be allowed to own a pet. Proposals contained in a new white paper titled ‘A Fairer Private Rented Sector’ outline legislative commitment “to ensure landlords do not unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge a decision.” The UK Government has already published model tenancy agreements (MTAs) that encourage allowing pets to be the default position in England’s rented sector, unless landlords have a justifiable reason for not allowing them to do so. However, the latest change would put the plans into law. Battersea has long campaigned for more people to have the opportunity to enjoy the many physical, mental, and social benefits of…

About week into the making of the first Street Cat Bob film, I was asked to come along to do some shots with Bob on the Millennium Bridge. A stand-in for Luke Treadaway would walk with his back to the camera with Bob either on his shoulders or walking alongside on a leash. I told them that this would be very easy to do because Bob loved sitting on my shoulders. So, I set him up on the shoulders of this fellow called Jay who from behind could pass for Luke Treadaway. We did the shots without any problems and continued on. I went back to the base where they were filming some scenes in Covent Garden, outside the station where I had once used to busk. Now I was…

Jeanette Ricketts Yeo: “I’ve got hundreds, how long have you got? I have just taken four boxes of ornaments to the charity shop because my 10-month-old grandson has started walking and everything within reach had to be moved!” Sarah Richards: “I love this one of my Steiff Birman.” Liz Howard-smith: “This is one of my collections!” Judy Stanford: “I think there are some mice and birds with these figures to give them something to look at!”…

Did you know? You can find out more about International Cat Care by visiting icatcare.org When it comes to helping cats, Claire Bessant is one of those people who has been on the frontline for a long time. Now, after 28 years as chief executive of leading charity International Cat Care, she is stepping down from the role. During her tenure, Claire has seen the landscape for cats change dramatically, with better healthcare and standards of welfare. Working with veterinarians, rescues centres, other charities, and the cat-owning public across the world, International Cat Care has done so much to help lead on that change. Here, we chat to Claire about her career and find out what it means to have worked to help so many cats. “I will still contribute to…

“Little Tinkers has rehomed more than 1,000 cats.” 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 is Louise Fowler, who runs Little Tinkers Cat Rescue in Blackburn, Lancashire. NOMINATION: Louise and the team received several nominations for a Community Cat Hero Award. Beverly Eastham said: “Louise Fowler is always out and about not just in Blackburn but in surrounding towns and…

ONLINE ENTRIES LIVE FOR ALL 14TH JULY – 10TH AUGUST SIMON’S CAT ‘BON VOYAGE’ LUGGAGE TAG This fun luggage tag depicting every cat lover’s favourite character, Simon’s Cat, is perfect to add to your suitcase for your holiday. The Simon’s Cat design can be seen on the front of the tag and there’s an area for you to add your contact details on the back. The PVC luggage tag can be firmly attached to your bag and measures 6.5cm x 10.5cm. We have three luggage tags to give away. • Online Code: Holiday GINGER CAT WITH FLOWERS WINDCHIME This cute windchime comes with a sweet ginger cat with flowers design. It’s perfect for hanging up in your garden this summer! Cat lovers will adore this colourful and cute cat-themed windchime,…

Q My 11-year-old son says that when our cat is staring at us, she is sizing us up for a kill. Could this be true? Gerty is a very affectionate cat but sometimes she gives us a hard stare. What does this stare mean? CELIA SAYS: A Yes, a hard stare from a cat can sometimes be part of how they hunt prey, but that doesn’t mean Gerty thinks you are a mouse. You need to look at the rest of her body to judge what is going on in her mind. During proper hunting, cats usually twitch or lash their tails, tense their whole body, and put their ears forward, while they eyeball their prey before pouncing on it. Staring is also what cats do to intimidate other cats.…

Breed special! Clue: you might need one of these for your holidays (3,6). Kittyword ACROSS 4. A recent addition to the fancy, its name reflects its look of a little werewolf (5) 6. A shorthair french breed with a dense greyish blue coat (9) 7. Known for their blue eyes, they are known as the ‘Sacred cat of Burma’(6) 8. The most popular pedigree cat in the UK (7) 9. Famous for being the breed with no tail (4) DOWN 1. A curly coated breed that originated in a small village on Bodmin Moor (7,3) 2. A cat that has been bred to look like a miniature tiger (6) 3. Known for its lack of fur (6) 5. A glamour puss with a pansy-like face (7) 9. Large cat breed…