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UK’S FAVOURITE CAT MAGAZINE FOR OVER 38 YEARS £4.99 JANUARY 2019 n ISSUE 490

Stunning
Happy holidays Snowshoe
FOLLOW OUR TIPS FOR A
STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS will melt
your heart

7
WAYS TO
01
A GOOD
NIGHT’S
SLEEP
3 TEDDY BEAR TIMES New Year health check 9 770952 287132 >
 34

theinsidetrack
January 2019 Issue 490
To reach us: Call +44 (0)1903 884988.
Or write to: The Editor, Cat World,
PO Box 2258, PULBOROUGH RH20 9BA
Great Britain
4 MEWS ROUND 48 FELINE STROKE
email: support@ashdown.co.uk Feline news and views How to spot the signs
Website: www.catworld.co.uk
US office: Ashdown Inc., 68132 250th
6 ON THE EDGE 50 KITTEN PREPARATIONS
Avenue, Kasson, MN 55944, USA. Mind your pees and Qs Preparing to welcome kitty
Tel: 507 634 3143
email: usoffice@ashdown.co.uk
8 NEW CAT TREATS 52 FUN PAGE
Innovative food treats Tea-time teasers
Editor: Jill Mundy
email: jill@ashdown.co.uk 10 CAT FLU 53 BUY WISELY
Advertisement sales: Getting the right treatment Advice when buying a kitten
UK office: Maria Fitzgerald
Email: maria@ashdown.co.uk 12 WEIGHT WATCHING 54 CONSERVATION
US office: Sara Vix Tips for healthy living Assisted reproduction techniques
Email: sara@ashdown.co.uk
Design: Wendy Crosthwaite 14 NEW CAT FOOD 56 BOARDING HOUSE DIARY
Subscriptions:
Put your trust in Blink Remembering Willow
UK: support@ashdown.co.uk 16 HAPPY CATS 58 HELP FOR TENANTS
US: usoffice@ashdown.co.uk
Don’t let them feel lonely Purrfect Landlords Campaign
Published by ashdown.co.uk. ISSN 0961 - 0944
Distributed to the newstrade by Comag. 17 HEALTHY EATING 60 VETERINARY CARE
Subscription prices:
Thought for food Vet detective at work
One year: (12 issues) UK £59.99.
European and worldwide prices will be 20 BE PREPARED 62 THE CATALIST
adjusted to local currencies. See online for Have a stress-free Christmas Gift ideas for you and your cat
details at www.catworld.co.uk or please
call +44 (0)1903 884988. All of our sub- 22 HAPPY HOLIDAYS 64 TOBY’S TALE
scriptions are handled by us at CW. Tips for booking a holiday Lorraine’s new book
28 SNOW BUSINESS 66 CONFESSIONS OF A CAT LOVER
Mixed feelings at the rescue Waiting room daydreams
www.catworld.co.uk 30 LILY DANGERS 68 FUNERAL CARE
Postmaster: Send address corrections to Ashdown Inc, 68132
Advice and a true story 25 years of the APPCC
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tional Publications Mail - Sales Agreement No. 546038. 34 MEET THE BREED 69 YIN & YANG
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without the The sublime Snowshoe A little rain must fall
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40 DON’T BE BLUE 70 DON’T OVERINDULGE
sessment of the Publisher as to its commercial value. Fun ideas for bad weather days Healthy living naturally
All material submitted to the magazine for publication in
whatever form is accepted solely on the basis that copyright
in the work will be vested in the publisher who assumes all
42 HAPPY NEW YEAR 72 GORDY & ME
rights worldwide, in all forms and in all media.
Hidden party hazards Feline visitors
© copyright ashdown.co.uk
44 FESTIVE BEHAVIOUR 74 SHOW DATES
Keeping cats calm Upcoming shows in the UK and Ireland

2 C AT W O R L D
afurry warmwelcome 30

2018 is drawing to a close and

winter has finally arrived - I’m
sure our pets are all feeling glad
to have a fur coat at the mo-
ment! When I’m cold I want to eat
more…I guess that’s an instinct
that goes back to when humans
needed to rely on body fat to keep warm dur-
ing the colder months. Thankfully most of us now
have plentiful food supplies and warm houses
but this does mean we can have too much of a
good thing and the temptation is to overindulge.
Our pets are no different but it is up to us how
much and what food our pets eat. The new cat
food from Blink is made with meat sourced from
UK suppliers and has no unnecessary additives
while the milky treats from animonda are an
interesting new option.
With the party season in full swing, spare a
thought for the homeless around the world, many
of whom try to support a beloved pet as best
they can, and also for the victims, animal and
human, of California’s wildfires who are trying to
rebuild their lives and their homes.
Being stuck inside a nice warm house when
the weather is bad can be the perfect opportu-
nity to have extra fun with our feline friends and
we have some great suggestions to lighten your
mood. We hope you’ll give them a try.
Well, that just leaves me time to wish you all
a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
12 21
from all the Cat World team!
Till next month

Jill & the team Want to write or report

for CW? We’d love to 42
hear from you. Email
jill@ashdown.co.uk

75 PASHA & TANNI

Festive fun and games
76 ASK THE EXPERTS
Help is at hand
78 BEST BEHAVIOUR
Tips for undisturbed sleeping
80 PAW POST
Kitty correspondence
82 TAIL END
Indoor playground

C AT W O R L D
3
 THE MEWS
OUR ROVING REPORTERS BRING YOU ALL THE CAT NEWS, GOSSIP, HEALTH AND MORE. EMAIL JILL@ASHDOWN.CO.UK
Cheshire Cat helps
Air Ambulance
The team at Derby-based Scars-
dale Vets has raised almost
£4,000 at a Mad Hatters Tea
Party-themed ball in aid of their
local Derbyshire, Leicestershire &
Rutland Air Ambulance service.
Shottle Hall in Derbyshire was
transformed into a Wonderland
fit for Alice and tasty treats on the
menu included a starter of the
Cheshire Cat’s Favour-
ite Cheesy Fishcake.
Many local business-
es offered raffle prizes
to help raise the total
sum raised to a fantas-
tic £3,800 - enough to
make any Cheshire
Cat grin from ear to
ear.
4 C AT W O R L D
ROUND
Alfie is top cat
This year’s Purr Minister has been an-
nounced by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
who hold the competition each year to
find the top parliamentary cat owned by
MPs. Alfie, owned by Ann Clwyd, MP for
Cynon Valley, has picked up this year’s
coveted Purr Minister 2018 title.
Alfie persuaded his peers with his
‘Manifursto’ which promised purrtec-
tion for cats by making it compulsory to
report cat deaths on roads, purrmoting
Lucy’s Law for cats and dogs – particu-
larly in Wales, and a purrmanent amnesty
for mice, squirrels and birds on Sundays.
Proud owner Ann said: “We want to say
thank you to everyone who voted to elect
him Battersea’s Purr Minister 2018 and he
promises not to let anyone down.”
The tragic wildfire pets
It is heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by the terrible wildfires
that have been sweeping across parts of California recently. Not only have
more than 70 people died but so have dozens of animals, many of them
family pets, and dozens more are still missing. Owners will be hoping they
have found their way to one of the animal rescue centres that have been set
up to care for them. Most have suffered severe burns (cats’ paws in particu-
lar), while some were hit by cars trying to escape the fires.
Our thoughts are with the injured animals, the devastated owners and
also with the vets and nurses who are working tirelessly to save the lives of
these poor animals.
Last minute shopping
Still looking for special gifts be- ish sterling silver Born Free charm
fore Christmas? The Born Free bracelets are available in two differ-
Foundation has a great range ent styles - delicate and chunky - and
to choose from, plus special come in smart Born Free branded gift
Christmas cards. The beautiful boxes. Born Free’s online shop features
new zebra scarf has been per- a whole range of gift ideas, ranging
sonally chosen by actress and from branded hoodies and t-shirts and
Born Free Co-Founder Virginia kid’s clothing to wild animal adoptions,
McKenna OBE and the styl- which cost just £3 per month.
 Ambassador role
for Paul O’Grady
Well known for his ITV pro-
Cat-man-does gramme ‘For The Love Of Dogs’,
comedian Paul O’Grady is pas-
In our September issue lion, leopard and tiger, and the number of sionate about the welfare of all
we introduced you to walked around the busy people who have been animals. Paul recently became
Gareth Legg and his touristic Thamel region willing to support us!” an ambassador for Street Vet, a
two companions who of Kathmandu raising From here they went growing initiative of more than
are currently under- more awareness for their to Phakding, on the first 300 vets and nurses caring for
taking the Trek for Big expedition and cam- night of the Everest Base pets across the UK.
Cats. The three trek- paign. “The Trek for Big Camp Trek. Follow their It was while filming an episode
kers recently arrived in Cats team have been progress at www.trekfor- of his TV show that Paul joined
Kathmandu where the blown away by the sup- bigcats.com or find them some Street Vet volunteers tend-
team members, in their port we have been given on social media. ing to animals owned by home-
outfits representing the by the public and media, less people living on the streets.
He said: “I was really impressed

Chatting with Kuba

PAWS FOR with the dedication of the team
and want to support them to en-

An unusual-looking Bengal x
THOUGHT able them to reach even more
homeless people around the
Sphynx cat named Kuba has ‘No matter country.”
been making a big impression StreetVet provide free veteri-
at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, how much cats nary care for homeless pet own-
and is believed to be the first ers in nine cities across the UK
of his kind to come to the world-
fight, there and was established in 2017 by
famous rescue centre. always seem vets Jade Statt and Sam Joseph.
With his unique voice and distinctive appearance, While the majority are dogs
one-year-old Kuba has quickly become a firm favour- to be plenty of (450 treated so far), Street Vet
ite with staff. He has a great personality and is equally kittens.’ have also treated 15 cats. The
happy exploring the great outdoors or curling up on a episode of Paul’s programme
lap. Abraham Lincoln featuring Street Vet aired on
Kuba is now looking for his perfect new home, which 21st November but you can find
will ideally include a large garden for him to roam in details about the organisation on
and owners who are happy to have a chat with this very social media or at www.streetvet.
talkative young cat. co.uk
There are many other cats at Battersea waiting to be Paul is pictured with Jade Statt,
rehomed. See the charity’s website for details. co-founder of Street Vet.

C AT W O R L D
5
 ON THE EDGE
THE ADVENTURES OF TWENTY-SOMETHING CAT LOVER KATY EDGE
Mind your pees and Qs…zip it!…Don’t let on who did it…
Just another routine day in the Edge household - or was it?

S
omething I’ve
always felt smug
about, when I read
people’s pleas for advice
on cat forums online, is
the fact that our cats don’t
wee anywhere they’re not
supposed to. Yes, Widget
sheds his ginger fuzz like
it’s a competitive sport;
yes, Charlie’s ‘dingleber-
ries’ are a standing joke;
and yes, Happee may de-
liberately aim her gooiest
hairballs at my shagpile
rug (still feeling aggrieved
about that). But they wee
in the litter tray. Every.
Single. Time.
That is, until last week.
The crime scene: our
lounge. The material time:
approximately 2100 hours.
The suspect(s): various.
The trouble is, we didn’t
actually witness the initial
offence. It might even have
been the puppy. Tilly’s
bladder control is pretty
reliable but not entirely
foolproof, particularly if
something exciting hap-
pens, bless her. BUT,
crucially: dog wee doesn’t
smell. Not much, anyway.
Nothing on earth smells
like cat wee. By the time
the olfactory evidence
presented itself, the of-
fender had made good
their escape.
My theory is that Tilly
pup had a wee, we didn’t
immediately spot the wet
patch like we usually do
and other criminally-mind-
ed members of the family
spotted a modus operandi
they’d like to emulate. In
other words… we had
some dastardly copy-cats
in our midst.
Anyway, having set up
a cordon (read: shut the
cats out of the room), I set
about the important busi-
ness of damage control.
We have a pet-safe dis-
infectant spray that we use
for everyday spills and
it’s normally fairly effec-
tive in dealing with still-
warm puppy ‘accidents’.
Unfortunately, though, it
was woefully ineffective
in combating the nasal
assault of cat wee, even
though I doused the car-
pet very liberally.
Commence Phase Two
of the operation: Google.
“It says we need an en-
zymatic cleaner,” I quoted
knowledgeably from some
website or other. “It has to
be biological.”
My boyfriend, mean-
while, was busily attacking
the carpet with what-
ever he could find in the
cupboard – 1001 Carpet
Shampoo, stain removers,
and a bottle that claimed
to have something to do
with Dyson. None of which
made any impression on
the stench of ammonia
that was emanating from
the carpet. Defeated,
my boyfriend eventually
turned to his smartphone
(which is capable of most
things, short of scrub-
bing the carpet itself) for
assistance. “Ah right, we
need a biological cleaner,”
he told me.
“If only we’d known!” I
cried. (My eye-rolling may
have been lost on him.)
Of course, it was too
late for most pet shops
to be open and I didn’t
want to wait for something
to arrive in the next-day
post – we use the lounge
constantly, after all, and the
dogs sleep in there. So our
only option was the local
supermarket, which, oddly
enough, doesn’t exactly
specialise in pet-based
urinary mishaps.
To spare you the boring
detail, I’ll summarise the
ensuing events as follows:
Girl and boy fail to
find biological carpet
cleaner at shop. Girl and
boy purchase biological
washing powder as an
alternative. Girl and boy
return home and mix up
an enormous bucketful of
biological washing paste.
Boy discovers he is aller-
gic to biological washing
powder. Girl checks box

6 C AT W O R L D

and reads “Avoid contact
with skin”. Oops.
Girl applies paste to
carpet while boy is being
a wuss (licks wounds).
Carpet is left overnight
to dry. Carpet still smells.
Cats observed to be
smirking. Girl instructs
boy to go to nearest large
pet superstore and beg
for help. Boy returns with
deluxe extreme pet urine
remover. Girl too relieved
at prospect of clean car-
pet to care about likely
remortgaging of house,
selling of cars and valu-
ables, bequeathing of soul
to devil etc.
Girl and boy apply
deluxe product to carpet.
Carpet has the grace to
smell slightly less of wee.
Girl throws entire con-
tents of deluxe product
(designed, from price,
to last for centuries and
be passed down through
generations like heirloom)
on carpet. Carpet resem-
bles lake. Smell is gone.
SMELL IS GONE!
So yes, we are grateful
survivors of Cat-Pee-Gate.
We’ve put out an appeal
for witnesses but surpris-
ingly enough, none have
come forward. Inspect the
rogues gallery – who do
you think is the culprit?
All I know is, I have a
newfound sympathy for
all those desperate forum
users…
BIG CATS
Six more tigers saved
from circus suffering
T
he wildlife organisation Animal
Defenders International (ADI)
has rescued six more tigers
from circus suffering in Guatemala,
as the organisation continues to help
enforce the country’s ban on animal cir-
cus acts. This brings the total number
of lions and tigers rescued from Gua-
temalan circuses to 21; just one circus
with animals remains.
Adult female tigers Bimbi and Lupe
plus parents Itsa and Sombra and their
two unnamed cubs were removed from
the circus on Saturday 10th November.
During the day-long rescue, part of
which was in darkness, the tigers were
taken from the scrapyard where they
had been living to join six lions and
nine other tigers already rescued by
ADI during its Operation Liberty mis-
sion at ADI’s Temporary Rescue Centre
in Guatemala.
The circus had refused to hand over
the six tigers when ADI removed two of
the lions and nine other tigers back in
June but ADI vowed not to leave them
behind.
Jan Creamer, President of Animal
Defenders International said, “We
vowed to not let these six tigers down
and we kept our word. ADI’s mission
is to ensure that no animal will suffer in
circuses in Guatemala ever again. With
the public’s support we can save them
all.”
At the temporary rescue centre, the
animals have more space than they
have ever known. Enrichment such
as swinging tyres, big hay bags filled
with catnip, and pools for the tigers to
bathe and play in, keep the animals
entertained and healthy. Such simple
pleasures also help build muscles and
improve coordination.
Eventually the animals will be pre-
pared to undertake the long journey
to their new forever homes. For the
lions, this will be to the new 450+ acre
sanctuary ADI is establishing in South
Africa, their natural homeland. The first
nine tigers rescued by ADI have been
offered permanent homes at US tiger
sanctuaries Big Cat Rescue and Tigers
for Tomorrow, and ADI is actively seek-
ing permanent homes for the six new
tigers. However, it is expected to take
several months to complete the docu-
mentation required for this to happen.
Following this latest rescue, there is
just one circus with animals remaining
in Guatemala, reported to have 15 big
cats. ADI is raising funds to save the
remaining animals, and care for the 21
big cats now in their care. Donations
can be made here: https://donate.ad-
international.org/guatemala
C AT W O R L D
7
 Discover the ultimate
A MATTER OF TASTE way of snacking!
D
id you know that cats can’t taste sweet things?
A cat’s tongue is, in fact, designed to help him
taste only the foods that will give him maxi-
mum nutrition. Clever huh?
We humans have around 10,000 taste buds on our
tongues but cats only have between 470 and 500. The
centre of their tongue is covered in hooked barbs that
point towards the back of their mouth and help them
to move and swallow their food. These are why their
tongue feels so scratchy when they lick us and these
barbs do not have any taste buds.
The rest of the tongue contains taste buds in vary-
ing amounts but the taste buds that detect sweet
flavours are not present or not fully developed. They
can, however, appreciate different textures so some
cats will eat sweet things such as ice cream but they
are not tasting the sweetness.
Cats can detect bitter, salty and sour flavours so
the creatures they would catch in the wild contain all
of these and of course provide all the nutrients a cat
needs. Food manufacturers have hugely researched
cats’ preferences and strive to create cat foods that
provide all the nutrients while also tantalising their
taste buds. Having less taste buds than us doesn’t
mean they taste things less than we do and they defi-
nitely still enjoy their food just as much as we enjoy
ours!
Feed your cat a complete food that offers all the
correct nutritional requirements. Offering occasional
food treats as part of their daily food allowance offers
variety and interest.
8 C AT W O R L D
C
ats love snacks – and as something small between
meals, they provide welcome variety. When choos-
ing cat snacks, there are many varieties to suit the
taste of even the most discerning cats. However, the most
important factor remains that cat snacks need to be full of
goodness and great for your cat.
Introducing the new cat snack by animonda: cat own-
ers can discover the ultimate way of snacking. Whether as
liquid snacks in the convenient cup portions or the crispy
crunchy pillows, the delicious milk snacks are always popu-
lar.
Milky Liquid Cat Snacks
The creamy milk-snack that comes in the practical por-
tion packs is so versatile: offer purely as a snack in between
meals or as a topping over dry food.
It is the perfect indulgence for
those who like variety. The liquid
cat snack is absolutely free of arti-
ficial colouring and flavouring.
Milky Crunchy
Pillows
Help them feel good
with simply better snack-
ing. The crunchy pillows
aren’t just crispy and tasty -
they also help to support the cat’s
well-being. The delicious Milky
Crunchy Pillows are free of artifi-
cial colouring and flavouring.
The ultimate way of snacking!

Liquid Cat Snacks

 milky liquid snacks
 indulgence for those who like variety
 no flavour enhancers
 no soya, no sugar
 no colouring or preservatives

C AT W O R L D
9
 WINTER HEALTH
u
e signs n
ossi e re men
Spotting the signs of cat flu in your pet early, especially
if you have other cats, is very important to ensure they
receive appropriate care and treatment
BY DAWN PRIME, ANA AND AWARD WINNING RSQP
C
at flu is a common illness that af-
fects the upper respiratory tract
of cats. As an ANA in a veteri-
nary practice, I commonly see
cat flu, with symptoms affecting the
very young, the very old, those cats
with a weak immune system - includ-
ing cats with feline leukaemia virus
(FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency
virus (FIV) - and cats with a serious
illness.
What causes cat flu?
It is thought that around eighty
percent of cat flu cases are by one of
two viruses; feline herpevirus (FHV)
or feline calicvirus (FCV). Both viruses
may be present in our cats but once
this has damaged the lining of the
respiratory tract, the disease maybe
further be complicated by bacterial
infections. Other causes of cat flu can
include bacteria such as Chlamydoph-
ila and Bordetella bronchiseptica.
How is cat flu spread?
Once the cat is infected, it sheds the
virus particles in nasal or eye dis-
charge, and in saliva. Cats that show
clinical signs are the biggest source of
infection, although some healthy cats
can still carry the virus but don’t suffer
from flu, instead preferring to shed the
flu particles and infect other cats.
It is possible that the particles can
survive for up to a week in the envi-
ronment and be spread by contact
with infected feed bowls or toys, or
10 C AT W O R L D
on people’s clothing after touching an
infected cat.
What are the symptoms ?
Cat flu is similar to a human cold - it
can cause a runny nose and eyes, and
a sore throat. Other symptoms of cat flu
include lethargy, loss of appetite, high
temperature and in some of the worse
cases, pneumonia. It’s essential, if you
see any concerning signs, that you
seek veterinary advice immediately -
but bear in mind that it can take up to
two weeks for signs of flu to appear.
How is cat flu diagnosed?
Cat flu is usually diagnosed based
on the clinical signs that your cat is
displaying. Your veterinary surgeon
may want to take swabs from the cat’s
mouth, nose and eyes which will then
be sent to a laboratory, where the
virus or bacteria can be grown and
identified.
How to treat cat flu
If your cat has been diagnosed
with cat flu then your veterinary
surgeon will prescribe what’s
known as symptomatic treat-
ment. Good nursing care also is
essential – this includes:
O Keeping your cat quiet and
warm with access to food, water
and their litter tray.
O Keep any stress levels to a
minimum; this can involve keep-
ing your cat away from other pets
and noisy children.
O Removing any nasal or eye dis-
charge with a damp piece of cotton
wool. It is possible to relieve nasal
congestion by placing your cat in a
steamy bathroom or close to a bowl of
hot water - please always supervise
your cat around hot water.
O Cat flu is similar to human flu
when it comes to a restricted sense of
smell. You can encourage your cat to
eat by warming food or offering them
a range of smelly foods. Your vet may
also prescribe a diet which can be sy-
ringe fed. Finally, remember to ensure
there is lots of fresh drinking water.
O Your veterinary surgeon may also
prescribe antibiotics; this is medica-
tion to loosen any material in the chest
and to make breathing easier. They
may also prescribe an eye ointment.
It may sometimes be necessary for
the cat to be admitted to the isolation
unit of the veterinary practice. Isolation
is used to avoid the transmission of the

virus to other cats.
If hospitalisation is required due to
your cat being very poorly with the flu,
then there may be need of an intrave-
nous fluid by a drip for dehydration
and some medicines to stimulate the
appetite.
Sometimes if you have a multi-cat
household then it’s an idea to isolate
the infected cat away from your non-
infected cats. Remember, the infected
cat should be provided with separate
food/water bowls and litter trays
- these should be disinfected
with a suitable disinfectant.
Non-infected cats should be
attended to first, with use of
separate clothing/footwear
and a disposable apron and
gloves, to help to avoid the
spread of the disease.
WINTER HEALTH
How do I prevent cat flu?
There are lots of different strains of
the disease and, just as with the human
equivalent, the vaccine is not always
effective against them all. However,
regular vaccinations are the most
effective way of reducing the risk in
developing cat flu. It is particularly
important to remember that your cat
will need to be fully up to date with
vaccinations if they will be going to
a boarding cattery when you are on
holiday.
Initially, kittens get some immunity
from their mothers but, as they get
older, this fades and they become
susceptible to the infection. Vaccina-
tion normally starts at nine weeks of
age, with a second dose of the vac-
cine at twelve weeks and then a yearly
booster thereafter.
Flu vaccines are not always guaran-
teed in preventing the disease but they
will prevent a more serious form of the
disease.
Are there any long term con-
sequences of cat flu?
Many cats with flu will recover
but this can take several weeks.
Unfortunately, your cat may suffer
with on-going issues; including
inflammation to the lining of the
nasal passage, eyes and airways,
due to the secondary bacterial
infection.
Early action is vital when treat-
ing cat flu, so if you notice any
signs that raise alarm, then please
do speak to your veterinary
surgery, who will be able to guide
you on the vaccinations that are
needed.
C AT W O R L D
11

Watching the pounds
can save the pennies
Start 2019 as you mean to go on and encourage your
cat to live and eat as healthily as possible, giving her
the quality of life she deserves
A
s with people, if cats usu-
ally have a healthy diet and get
plenty of exercise, then Christ-
mas excesses, such as turkey
titbits and treats, are unlikely to have
any lasting effect on their weight.
However, New Year is as good a time
as any to turn over a new leaf for your
cat’s health and check they’re in shape
for the year ahead. Cuddly cats may
look cute but if they’re carrying too
much fat then they won’t be getting the
quality or indeed quantity of life they
deserve.
Until recent times, the acquisition
of food for a cat wasn’t guaranteed - it
had to hunt down its prey and each
catch was accompanied by lots of
physical exertion. As our lifestyle has
evolved and we have learnt to culti-
vate and store food in abundance, we
have applied the same practice to our
companion animals in the manufacture
of pet food.
Our cats mostly rely on us for their
well being and it’s reassuring to know
that they are now protected by law, by
the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This Act
has a five point duty of care for own-
ers, one of which is the responsibility
to provide their pets with a suitable
diet.
“Pet obesity and its related illnesses
are a growing problem in Britain and
something we are devoting a lot of
time and resource to,” said a veteri-
nary expert. “It’s sad for us when we
see animals come through the door,
12 C AT W O R L D
WEIGHT WATCHING
BY MANDY WILLETT
struggling to walk and with breathing
difficulties, so we’re trying to educate
owners about the importance of pets
being a healthy weight.”
Type of diet is not the only factor in
obesity and over feeding is the main
culprit. It is us who open the packet
and determine how much food to put
in the bowl. A cunning cat may eat one
meal then go to another member of
the household looking for food and
they happily oblige, unaware that the
cat has already been fed.
Indoor cats often have a more
sedentary lifestyle, with much less
exercise than a cat who spends a lot
of time outdoors. Age also takes its toll
as the older a cat gets, the less ac-
tive it often is and so it requires fewer
calories.
Statistics show that that overweight
cats are three times more likely to
develop diabetes. Academic studies
in the United States showed that obese
cats are twice as likely to develop non-
allergic skin conditions and infections
and five times more likely to develop
lameness requiring medical care, such
as arthritis.
Long term, obesity-related illnesses
can put a strain on your relationship
with your cat as you’re suddenly com-
mitted to a life time of providing insulin
injections or administering pain killers. difficult to talk about a correct weight
as there is a lot of variation between
On the scales cats, so it’s easier to look at their
So how can you tell if your cat needs shape, according to a leading vet. A
to shed a few pounds? Sometimes it’s good rule of thumb is if you can’t feel

Cat treats shown as the average human equivalent.
Remember - if these are given as treats, they are in
addition to regular meals!
Half a tin of salmon = two donuts
One sardine = a chocolate bar
A saucer of cream = a burger with chips
their ribs and their back bone, then
they’re probably overweight.
When you’re running your hands
along your cat’s body, feel for fat stored
above their tail and between their back
WEIGHT WATCHING
legs, which are other signs of excess
padding. You should be able to feel
their abdominal fat pad but it shouldn’t
hang down and when you look at your
cat from above, their waist should vis-
ibly taper in.
One interesting phenomenon to
arise from the increase in cat obesity
is the change in our perception of what
a healthy size for cats is and there can
be a marked difference between a
vet’s assessment and an owner’s. You’ll
hear people make all kinds of excuses
like, ‘he’s just big – boned.’
What they eat
It sounds obvious, but a nutritious,
well-balanced diet and plenty of
exercise are key to keeping your cat
healthy.
If you’re feeding them a complete
pet food from a leading brand then
they should be getting all the nutrients
they need. There is a wide range of
pet foods available, catering for all
life stages of your pet, from kittens to
seniors to indoor cats. You just need
to feed according to their nutrient
requirements and the recommended
amount on the packet.
It’s also good to remember that what
might seem like a small treat to us – a
little cut of meat for example - will be
a higher energy content for a cat. Of
course, treats are a useful way to train
our pets but they shouldn’t be given
too often.
Action plan
If your cat is overweight, start by
cutting these treats out first. Just be
prepared to be patient as it may
require a little willpower. If your cat is
used to being given titbits when they
miaow, then they will miaow even more
intently when you stop. No matter how
mean you feel, try not to give in when
this happens or it will re-enforce to
your cat that this behaviour results in
treats. It’s important to get everyone’s
co-operation too so that your cat isn’t
being secretly indulged by a well-
meaning member of the family!
Buying a smaller bowl may also be
helpful to avoid the urge to put out
too much food. Feeding ‘balls’ can be
purchased which the cat has to roll in
order to release the dry food.
For a cat to stay in shape they need
to burn the energy they consume.
Aside from letting them roam outside,
which isn’t always practical, playing
with your cat is the most effective form
of exercise.
Choose toys that help them ex-
hibit their own natural behaviour like
pouncing and chasing, such as mice
dangling from fishing rods, and balls.
Cats get bored very easily so make
sure you rotate their toys every couple
of weeks to keep them entertained.
They also like you to play with them. If
you have stairs in your home, encour-
age your cat to run up and down them
as part of the toy chasing game - a la-
ser pen shone on the wall or furniture
can be fun.
Is my cat fat?
If you are not sure whether your cat
is overweight, and you are concerned
that your cat’s weight and/or body size
(high or low) is affecting her health you
should book a consultation with your
vet to seek professional advice. It is
then important to follow that advice.
The five points of the Animal
Welfare Act 2006:
somewhere suitable to live
a proper diet, including fresh
water
the ability to express normal
behaviour
for any need to be housed with,
or apart from, other animals
protection from, and treatment
of, illness and injury
C AT W O R L D
13

Tasty new cat food
your feline will love
A
new cat food brand, Blink, has
launched in over 700 stores
throughout the UK. The British
brand popped up in Tesco on
November 5th with a premium range
of complete meals, alongside a fun
collection of nutritious cat treats.
Retailing at £1 for every wet pouch,
the new brand is determined to
introduce high quality products into
the cat food market. All Blink products
are made in the UK and use premium
British shredded meat fillets. Blink’s
recipes also never include any deriva-
tives, grains or fillers.
“The idea started with us thinking
about what a cat would actually like
to eat, as well as something nutritious
at the same time” said
Ben Ford, Blink’s founder.
“We saw many brands
on the shelf with only 4%
meat but filled with other
ingredients we didn’t even
recognise or understand
why they would be in a
cat’s meal.”
Blink meals are all
14 C AT W O R L D
BLINK
complete which means each pouch
contains all the necessary vitamins &
minerals that a cat needs for a healthy,
happy development.
“So we started sourcing real meat
from British farmers and creating reci-
pes that were great tasting and nutri-
tious too. For instance, we only use
the best parts of the chicken - breast,
thigh and wings. No bones, no necks
or anything else. This also means our
pouches smell great!”
“It’s taken us two years to get here
but within one week of launch we had
customers saying that our pouches
were the first meal their cat had eaten
fully in years.”
Blink’s treat range retails from £2,
offering cats a healthier
treat without the high lev-
els of fat and oils. All three
treats: Jumblers, Bangers
& Mash and Cubes, have
at least 50% premium
meat, with Cubes consist-
ing of 80% roasted Brit-
ish chicken. “Other treat
brands have minimal per-
centages of meat and are packed full
of cereals and cheap fillers,” said Ben.
“Why are we called Blink? A cat’s
blink is a sign of trust and affection to
other cats and owners. So we wanted
people to trust us that we would al-
ways put their cat first.”
For further information please con-
tact Amy Rathbone at amy@blinkcats.
co.uk or 01788 825 207. To see more,
please visit www.blinkcats.co.uk
Blink wet pouches all retail at £1 p/p.
Flavours:
Roasted Chicken 85g
Roasted Chicken & Tender Duck
85g
Roasted Chicken & Shredded Beef
85g
Fish Fillets & Roasted Chicken 85g
Blink nutritious treats:
Bangers & Mash 45g- £2.75
Jumblers 50g- £2
Cubes 50g- £2
 Healthy
never felt so
good!
A good nutritious
diet should...
Contain high-quality ingredients

Be tailored to speciic needs

Include supplements to support health

Visit animeddirect.co.uk for great quality food

New customer? Enjoy 10% off your first cat food order*
Enter code CWCF01 at checkout
Free delivery on all UK orders over £29* + Guaranteed low prices + 100% secure and safe + Genuine UK sourced medication + Veterinary advice
We are an officially registered pharmacy with the GPhC and accredited by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). *Excludes temperature controlled items.
*Offer only valid for new Animed Direct customers, expires on the 4th January 2019

oci u er
one fe ine
If you love to take full advantage of the party
season, your pet can feel left out so make sure
he knows you love him with these simple ideas
D
ecember can often be one of the
busiest months of the year - sev-
eral shopping trips buying gifts
and others for food shopping
nearer the day itself. Then there are
office parties, social get togethers and
lunch with friends or relatives.
As lovely as this might be for you,
if you are usually at home with your
cat and suddenly spend half the week
leaving him home alone, he might
begin to wonder what’s going on. Cats
are solitary creatures so are mostly
happy with their own company but
they will notice if you are not there for
the usual cuddles and may feel bored
or lonely from time to time. there isn’t
much you can do about the physical
affection other than give them more at
the times you are home with them but
you can provide plenty of entertain-
16 C AT W O R L D
HAPPY CATS
BY GEMMA STEPHENSON
ment for them when you do go out.
Most of the following suggestions are
simple and inexpensive to arrange
and the chances are your cat won’t
miss you too much while you’re away.
Don’t be surprised if you’re still given
the cold shoulder treatment when you
do return home though!
O Young cats and kittens are intrigued
by looking at themselves in mirrors -
prop a sturdy one at floor level if you
can do so safely.
O A simple cardboard box can enter-
tain a cat and allow them to hide or
explore. Glue two or three together of
different sizes and cut a ‘door’ in each
one so they can find their way through.
O Leave the radio or television on
while you’re out so your cat will feel it
has company. You can purchase spe-
cial cat DVDs with swimming fish that
keep many cats entertained for hours.
O Water fountains are good for your
cat to drink from so you don’t have
to worry about the water bowl being
emptied and your cat going thirsty.
O Activity feeders filled with a little
dried food or treats will encourage
your cat to use up some energy trying
to get at the food.
O Scratch pads and posts are also a
good way to get kitty to exercise, even
better if they are part of a cat tower.
O Place a cat tower or small A-frame
ladder close to a window where your
cat can climb up and watch the wildlife
outside.
O If you have a solar-powered or other
outdoor light that comes on as it gets
dark, leave the curtains open so that
your cat can watch the moths and
other insects that will be attracted to it.
O Keep a variety of toys with different
shapes and textures in a box and each
time you go out, leave a few for your
cat to play with. Changing them each
time will stop kitty getting bored.
O Motorised or clockwork toys are
great fun and will keep going for as
long as the battery lasts.
O Make different sized balls from tin
foil - cats love to bat them around the
floor and chase them.
Despite all of these suggestions,
make sure you play with your cat
when you get home and give him lots
of praise and affection so you maintain
the happy relationship you have built
with him.

A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE
Animed Direct are looking to educate owners about the problems of pet obesity as part
of their focus on nutrition. Discover their top tips to keeping our beloved pets healthy
O
nline pet pharmacy Animed
Direct, have animal health at
their heart. They’re keen to
share their knowledge on pet obesity
so that owners can understand the
negative health implications that come
from being overweight and also learn
some easy, good practice tips that
should help keep their pet’s weight at
healthy levels.
We all love our pets and want them
by our sides for as long as possible.
We would be horrified to think we
were doing anything to harm them but
in many cases, we’re unknowingly kill-
ing them with kindness by overfeed-
ing or feeding pets the wrong diet.
Giving them just that little bit more
every mealtime, combined with ‘treats’
(which often contain high-fat human
food), will quickly see them going
OBESITY
over their optimum body weight and
start to suffer from being heavier.
Overweight pets have a shorter
lifespan. They suffer with their joints
and have mobility issues. They also
experience additional strain on their
heart and can develop diabetes and
other long-term medical conditions.
To ensure your pet is at their ideal
weight, go online and look up a video
or body condition chart which shows
the differences between underweight,
ideal, overweight and obese animals.
Take stock of your own pet’s health on
a regular basis, as weight can easily
creep up unnoticed. If you suspect
your cat is underweight or obese, talk
to your vet for advice.
The next step is to ensure you’re not
overfeeding. Cut out all human food
treats, reduce the amount of cat treats
and most importantly, do not overfeed
at meal times. If your cat is on a dry
food, weigh out the recommended
amount as suggested by the manu-
facturer. For cans and pouches, again
check the amount recommended.
Don’t guess, try to weigh out every
mealtime. If your cat is overweight,
consider changing to a ‘diet’ food until
they get back to their healthy weight
and encourage more play. You should
see results in just a few weeks.
By keeping your cat at a healthy
body weight, you’re giving them the
best possible chance of living health-
ier for longer which is what every pet
owner wants.
You can find more information on
pet nutrition at www.animeddirect.
co.uk
C AT W O R L D
17
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18 C AT W O R L D
 Hillier Garden Centre, Dept. CW10, Woodhouse Lane, Botley
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C AT W O R L D
19

To be ready for anything,
you must be prepared
Stocking up on supplies is just one way to prepare for a busy
festive holiday season; follow these feline-friendly guidelines
for a well organised, worry free time
BY CORINNE MANSFIELD
L
ike Scouts and Guides, living by
the motto ‘Be prepared’ is a very
good way of coping with most
eventualities. This is especially
important during the festive season,
when there are Bank Holidays inter-
rupting the normal day-to-day routine.
Bank Holidays are difficult for vets
because they are unable to schedule
re-checks easily. For example, a cat
running a high temperature would
normally be re-examined the follow-
ing day.
A special appointment will need
to be made with the duty vet if it is
Christmas Day the next day, with
Boxing Day to follow. To make matters
worse, in the years when Christmas
Day is a Saturday, there are two Bank
Holidays after Boxing Day.
Equally, the day following one or
more Bank Holidays is usually ex-
tremely busy, especially when Christ-
mas Day falls on a Saturday.
Veterinary practices try to cater for
this by booking in no routine op-
erations on the day following a Bank
Holiday and the days between Christ-
mas and the New Year - they try to ‘be
prepared’ as well!
Here are some situations that, given
careful thought in advance, can make
the holiday season easier for all con-
cerned.
It’s an emergency!
All veterinary practices offer 24
hour cover all year round. However,
20 C AT W O R L D
GET READY
this could be at a different practice.
Cover may be operated by the prac-
tice itself but there may be a system of
sharing with one or more local prac-
tices or there may be a central emer-
gency clinic.
Seeking veterinary attention out-
side normal surgery hours will usu-
ally involve some form of surcharge,
although advice over the telephone
is generally free of charge and may
be sufficient to see you and your cat
through until the veterinary practice is
open once more.
Emergencies such as an animal
being knocked down by a car will of
necessity require attention from a vet,
of course, but there are lesser prob-
lems which can be sorted out by you if
you are prepared in advance - or even
avoided in the first place.
Opening hours
Find out what the opening hours will
be at your veterinary surgery dur-
ing the festive period, especially at a
branch surgery which may be open
on a more limited basis than usual. It is
worth keeping a note by the telephone
or on your mobile phone, together
with the telephone number to ring in
case of an emergency.
In similar vein, find out what ar-
rangements your veterinary practice
has in place for emergency cover. If
patients are seen at a different practice
when requiring veterinary attention
out-of-hours, then it would be wise
to find out where that practice is in
advance.
This applies at all times of the year
- after all, a delay in reaching the prac-
tice may endanger your cat’s life. If
you have already planned your route,
any time saved on the journey may be
vital.
Food supplies
An abrupt change in diet will often
precipitate a stomach upset, so ensure
a good store of your cat’s usual food.
This is especially important if you have
to feed a prescription diet food availa-
ble only from your vet, since a change
may not only result in a stomach upset
but may also affect your cat’s health,
since you will have been advised to
feed a specific prescription diet food
as part of the treatment for your cat’s
illness.
Medication
If your cat is on long-term treatment
requiring medication on a daily basis,
do carefully assess your stock so that
you will not run out on Christmas Day,
for example.
Many treatments should not be
stopped abruptly, for instance diabe-
tes and heart failure are two examples
of illnesses for which a patient may
need regular treatment. Do bear in
mind that your vet may need to exam-
ine your cat before dispensing further
supplies if s/he has not been seen by a
vet for some time.

This is a legal requirement for any
so-called POM or Prescription-Only
Medicine, and is in your cat’s best
interests in order to be sure s/he is
otherwise in good health. After all, six
months in an elderly cat’s life is equiv-
alent to a far longer time in the life
of a human - a great deal could have
changed health-wise.
Six-monthly examinations of patients
on long-term therapy can be very
worthwhile. There is much that may be
found which may not have otherwise
been suspected by the owner: for ex-
ample fleas, advanced dental disease,
signs of hyperthyroidism, weight-loss
requiring further investigation.
GET READY
the local authority registering the cat-
tery you will be using that vaccinations
should have been given at least one
month prior to the cat’s stay. Oh dear!
One to bear in mind for next year!
The most common illness encoun-
tered by vets over the festive season
is an upset stomach, usually triggered
by eating a different food - one cannot
determine what a cat eats whilst out
and about but ensuring a steady diet at
home is easily accomplished.
Feeding your cat a special roast
turkey dinner sounds great but is not
necessarily wise. It would be a good
idea to have the basis for a bland diet
to hand should your cat have a mild
stomach upset: chicken or white fish,
or even some prescription diet from
your veterinary surgeon.
Hopefully these guidelines will trig-
ger other ideas to enable you and your
feline friends to enjoy the festive sea-
son and to cope with any unexpected
eventualities.

Litter
The festive season is not the time
to change your cat’s arrangements
for urinating and defecating! It is vital
to maintain continuity, not only with
regard to the siting of the litter tray but
also the type of cat litter used.
Again, check your stores of cat litter
- there is nothing more guaranteed to
upset your cat than finding that there is
something with a different smell or feel
in his or her litter tray!

Flea control
Now is also not the time to find that
your house is alive with fleas. Flea con-
trol is a year-round necessity so please
ensure you do not give your cat a
festive break in his/her flea treatment
or else you will give a foothold in
your house for fleas!
Visitors will not appreciate
being bitten on the ankle dur-
ing a special festive meal. Fleas
are not a visitor to be encour-
aged at any time of the year
and certainly not over the festive
season.

Vaccinations
This is not the time to discover
that your cat’s vaccinations were due
in early November, especially if your
cat is booked into a cattery over the
holiday period. Although you can
probably still book to have your
cat vaccinated at this late stage,
it may well be a requirement of

C AT W O R L D
21

Prepare well for
holiday happiness
If you have a pet, especially a cat, taking time away at a
minute’s notice is not all that easy; planning appropriately
for a holiday helps everyone to enjoy themselves
i
f you are going to be away this
Christmas or New Year, you will no
doubt have made arrangements
for the care of your cat several
weeks - if not months - ago.
What those arrangements are will
depend first and foremost on your cat
and where they are likely to be happy.
Hopefully the following look at the
various options will point you in the
right direction if you are still unde-
cided about your next vacation. Early
planning and preparation will be the
first step towards you enjoying your
holiday, wherever it is.
Option 1 - Using a cattery
The many people who use catteries
22 C AT W O R L D
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
BY MANDY WILLETT
assure sceptics that cats are happy in
catteries. A well-constructed, properly
run premises will encourage the resi-
dent cats to settle down after a day or
so. The key is in finding a cattery that
provides comfort, routine and security
and this will mean a bit of research in
your local area to find out what servic-
es are offered for your cat’s needs.
Once you have decided on one (or
perhaps you are lucky to have more
than one option to investigate), ask if
you can go along for a visit to see if
you think it will suit your cat.
What to look for
Anyone can set up a cattery but all
good establishments must be licensed
by the local authority, who conduct
an annual inspection. Recommenda-
tions from friends and local vets speak
volumes, so do ask around, as well as
looking for a list of catteries in your
area online.
If your cat is used to going outside,
then an indoor/outdoor cattery is best.
This takes the form of an outer door
that opens into a safety corridor from
which there are individual run units
for each cat. The outdoor area will be
covered to protect the cats from harsh
weather and inside will have sleeping
areas as well as exercise runs.
Sleeping chalets should ideally
measure around 1.2m square and
1.8m high. A shelf and window are
essential as cats like higher ground
where they can feel safe and they also
like a view outside to see what’s going
on in the world.
The units are usually fairly simple in
construction, to allow for disinfecting
between occupants. Anything deco-
rated with the frills of home are for the
benefit of the cat owner’s conscience,
rather than being practical. In fact the
opposite may be true, as carpets and
curtains will retain the scent of other
cats.
There should be a gap of around
two feet between units to allow air to
circulate and to allow cats to catch
glimpses of each other while remain-
ing far enough away from sneezes or
infection.
When you first walk in to view a
 HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Cattery booking tips:

O Ask about insurance.
O What happens if your cat falls ill
and needs treatment while you are
away?
O Will the cost of any treatment be
covered by them?
O How do they charge for a stay?
O What will your cat be fed and
how often?
O Will your cat get individual at-
tention and, if the cat is longhaired,
will they be groomed?
O Dogs - Some dog kennels also
include a cattery section. Unless
your cat is happy with dogs and
the sound of barking, you will need
to find a specialised cattery.

cattery, take note of whether there is a
smell in the air, either of too much air
freshener or chemical disinfectant, or
of litter trays waiting to be emptied.
Executive suites
Sleeping units should be heated by
infra red lamps, wall mounted pan-
els, tubular heating or heated pads.
However, while it is tempting to give
your cat the ‘penthouse suite’, which
is accessed by a ramp or ladder from
the run, these are not easy to heat.
The suites are most often warmed
by heated pads and although the cat
will lay and sleep on these to keep
warm, they may still breathe in chilly
air, particularly in winter.
Make sure your local cattery has
adequate heating, ideally with wall
panels.

C AT W O R L D
23

Vaccinations and medication
Catteries should ask about your
cat’s health and request up-to-date
vaccination certificates. Cats that need
medication can usually be catered for
so don’t be put off but the cattery will
need to know about any health prob-
lems to ensure proper arrangements
are made.
Any cattery worth putting your cat
in will be happy to show you around
and answer any questions before you
book. If they are not or if they seem
24 C AT W O R L D
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
lacking in care and compassion – walk
away.
Option 2 - Home alone
The main advantage of leaving your
cat at home and having a friend or
neighbour pop in to feed them is that it
causes the least amount of stress; there
is little or no change to their routine
and although you will not be around
for a while, your cat will be in familiar
surroundings. Hopefully they will also
be familiar with the person caring for
them while you are away.
The main problem with this kind of
arrangement is that although someone
will pop in to tend to your cat, your
feline will not have the same amount
of companionship and cuddles they
would do if you were there.
Be sure that whoever is caring for
your cat knows what should happen
if your cat needs veterinary attention
while you are away. You need to make
an agreement with them before you go
that you either leave available funds
or sign a document to say they will
be reimbursed on your return. Leave
contact details for your regular vet
where they can easily find them, plus
the emergency vet too.
It goes without saying that if your cat
is taking regular medication, the carer
should be used to administering it and
is happy to do so for your cat.
Option 3 - Home sitters
Having someone move into your
home and live there while you are
away may perhaps be the best option
of all. Not only will it help to deter bur-
glars if your home is occupied but it
will mean that there is always someone
there for your cat, providing cuddles
and care.
Asking a friend or family member
to stay at your house is ideal but other
people have their own lives and this
might not always be possible. In which
case, you may decide to look at com-
panies that specialise in house and pet
sitting.
These vary from small, local compa-
nies to nationwide organisations. This
option can be difficult, however, for
some people who will find the concept
of a stranger living in their house quite
alien. What you must do is check what
service the company offers, what their
costs are and what they expect from
you.
When you book a house sitter to
come and stay, the company should
ask exactly what your pet’s routine is,
what their temperament is and about
their health. You and your pet should
meet the sitter that will be assigned
to you beforehand to ensure they are
compatible. You should be able to

Insist on the following:
O Meticulous vetting of sitters,
with at least three references
O Personal interviews of sitters
and their experience. It is impor-
tant that they are definitely a cat
person and not just doing this to
earn some cash
O Make sure they accept full re-
sponsibility for all aspects of their
assignment
O A replacement sitter will be
available should the original
choice fall ill
O Full insurance cover for em-
ployer’s liability, public liability,
personal accident and profes-
sional indemnity
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
phone the sitter while you are away
and after you have returned to check
both sides were happy with the assign-
ment.
In the future, if you liked the house
sitter who worked for you, then you
can request them again if you go away
so your pet and the sitter build up a
trusted relationship.
Option 4 - Taking cat with you
If you are planning a holiday in the
UK and your cat is happy to travel in
the car, there is no reason why you
should not take your feline friend with
you. You must, of course, thoroughly
investigate suitable accommodation
options to be sure they are happy to
have your cat stay too. There are a
number of hotels, guesthouses and
individual properties (such as Air B&B)
that offer pet-friendly accommodation.
However, not all are happy to have a
cat, plus litter tray etc. in the room. You
should also ask if they have a dog on
site, especially if your cat is not keen
on dogs.
It is a good idea to take a blanket
that your cat is fond of and some of his
toys, to make him feel more at home
in the holiday accommodation. His
temporary surroundings will be unfa-
miliar to him and as these will carry
his scent, they should help him to settle
more easily.
At the end of the day, you know your
cat best so do what you feel is right for
your cat and your situation, otherwise
you will spend your holiday worrying
rather than enjoying yourself.
C AT W O R L D
25
 PETS WELCOME
Keep calm with CatComfort
from Beaphar

And kitty came too
If you want to get away for a few days but can’t
bear to leave your beloved feline at home, there
are some hotels that are happy to welcome pets
With Christmas and New Year celebra-
tions just around the corner, Beaphar
lunch a brand new calming product
range just for cats.
Just like us, certain events or situa-
tions can cause our cats to feel upset
or anxious. But unlike us, they can’t
simply tell us why they feel this way.
Instead, they communicate their dis-
tress through problem behaviour, like

I
t is fair to say that pet-friendly
hotels are in the minority but
there are several to choose from
if you are prepared to do a little
research. Staying somewhere that
knows what it means to have the
company of your pet is the start to
a great holiday.
Here is just one suggestion that
sounds idyllic.
Cumbrian adventure
Shap Wells Hotel is situated in a
secluded, wooded valley, high in the
Shap Fells, near Penrith, Cumbria.
Surrounded by mountain
streams, Shap Wells Hotel is the
ideal place from which to explore
the Lakes, Dales and the English
and Scottish Border Counties.
“We cater for both leisure and
business events, the hotel is easily
accessible and only minutes from
the M6 (Junction 39) and the A6.
“We are located close to the
Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and
Scottish Borders, surrounded by
open and wooded countryside. You
will often see red deer, red squir-
rels and other wildlife within the
grounds of the hotel and beyond.
Whether you are visiting us for a
leisurely break, a conference, wed-
ding celebration or simply break-
ing your journey on route to the
North or South, we are the perfect
destination for you.
“We even welcome pets so you
do not have to worry about finding
alternative arrangements for them.
Many of our rooms have breathtak-
ing views of the surrounding coun-
tryside and fells, offering a true
taste of the English countryside.
“We pride ourselves on creating
a special dining experience and
have À la Carte and Table D’hôte
menus to choose from, as well as
our Carvery lunches, served every
Wednesday and Sunday.
The hotel has retained many of
its original features over the years
and much time has been taken
to retain the true character of the
building.”
Free WiFi is available throughout
the entire hotel including all public
areas, conference rooms and guest
accommodation.
Complimentary parking is avail-
able at the front and rear of the
hotel.
View the website for more infor-
mation on Special Events and how
to book.
www.shapwells.com or
telephone 01931 716628
reservations@shapwellshotel.com
vertical scratching, urine spraying and
constant meowing, all of which can be
distressing for owners too.
With Christmas and New Year on
the horizon, these events may make
cats feel more unsettled than usual.
The Beaphar CatComfort Calming
Range uses a synthetic copy of the
feline facial pheromone. Pheromones
are clinically proven to promote reas-
surance and happiness in cats, helping
to reduce problem behaviour.
This makes the Beaphar CatCom-
fort Calming Range the ideal choice
for cat owners looking to help their
cats feel more at ease over the festive
party season. Find out more about
pheromones and how we use them in
Beaphar CatComfort in our new video:
https://youtu.be/xUGc76gmg5s
The Beaphar CatComfort Calming
Range includes:
Calming Diffuser - a starter kit
containing an easy-to-use plug-in and
refill, which lasts for up to 30 days.
30 Refill - a replacement reservoir
for the plug-in diffuser. For best results
the diffuser should be used continu-
ously and not switched off at night.
Calming Spray - pocket sized and
perfect for travelling around the home.
Use the spray inside your cat’s carrier
at least 15 minutes before placing your
cat inside for a stress-free journey.
Each spray lasts for up to five hours.
The Beaphar Cat-
Comfort Calming
Range is avail-
able from all
good pets
stores and on-
line retailers.

26 C AT W O R L D
 In need of a holiday but worried about leaving
your pet? Why not bring them along?

Our secluded hotel in Cumbria, surrounded by

mountain streams and set in a wooded valley,
offers wonderful, pet friendly accommodation.
Ideally situated to explore the Lakes, Dales and Border
counties with lots of great attractions near by.

Shap, Nr. Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3QU. Telephone: 01931 716628

www.shapwells.com reservations@shapwellshotel.com

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C AT W O R L D
27
 Making the most of a
For some of the animals at the sanctuary, waking up to
a blanket of snow was a new experience and Pat was
amused to see how each of them handled it
S
now descended on
Carmarthenshire silently
overnight and came as a
great shock the following morn-
ing. All the schools were closed,
art classes cancelled and virtually
no-one went anywhere.
Fortunately I had allowed for this
with a stock of food, both for me
and the animals, so I was able to
enjoy the beauty and not suffer the
drawbacks. The sky was blue and
the sun shone so warmly that my
jacket was soon discarded as I went
about the usual morning animal
chores.
I crunched my way up the drive
to the barn and the fields, idly
wondering what the animals would
make of it. Some are old enough to
have experienced it in the past but,
since we hadn’t had any for ages,
I knew there would be those quite
shocked by this white stuff.
I wasn’t wrong. First out were the
ducks who tore to the edge of the
barn, skidded to a halt as they spot-
ted the snow and quacked loudly.
Two cats appeared, picking their
way daintily across to see what the
fuss was about. Seeing them, the
ducks, clearly not intending to be
outsmarted by two cats, ventured
forth, leaving another type of foot-
print across the yard.
The chickens also shot out of
their shed - and shot back in again
28 C AT W O R L D
pretty quickly. A few picked up their
feet and looked at them in surprise,
clearly hating the cold. I threw their
corn inside and they stayed on the
straw for breakfast, no doubt intend-
ing to try again a bit later.
The farm animals - sheep, pig
and goats - had all seen it before
and couldn’t have cared less. ‘Give
us the grub’ was all they grunted.
Then it was on to the other cats
still in their beds in the mobile
home. Feeding came first and then
they went to the door. Their antics
were hilarious. Some tried to tiptoe
forward but, as the snow was quite
deep, they quickly went down to
their tummies in the stuff. Others
braved a mad dash across to the
yard and the ‘safety’ of the barn.
They climbed onto the hay and
straw, intent on spending the day
there. The sun shines right into that
part and in no time at all they were
curled up and asleep.
That just left PC. She sleeps in
solitary splendour up in the loft. This
is my office, studio, junk room and
is centrally heated. Each night she
feeds with the others in the mobile Shadow and Megan, take her place
home then dashes down to the to await my tapping on the computer
house to be in time for me to open when they sprawl out on the bed until
the loft door and let her in. At the I’ve finished. This particular morning,
same time she tries to look hungry PC was waiting at the door. I watched
and pathetic, hoping for, and usually to see her reaction. Jumping onto the
getting, seconds. top stair, she stopped and stared. She
In the morning the two collies, was reluctant to step onto the snow
a crisp white carpet
then spotted a clear patch on each
stair where it met the wall and slunk
carefully to the bottom.
Of course, when she got there she
had no choice. If she wanted to go
up to get her food in the mobile, she
would have to be brave. A few tenta-
tive steps then, much to my amaze-
ment, she suddenly rolled over, just
like the little dogs, and clearly had
the time of her life. She has a very
thick, short coat so nothing clung to it.
Spotting me watching her, she stood
up self-consciously, her dignity rather
dented. Then she shook herself and
stalked off to find something to eat.
Snow was forecast for the next day
too and the sky darkened quite early
that evening. Bedtime was brought
forward a bit and everyone seemed
more than happy to be tucked up in
bed. That white stuff was very pretty
but a bit cold on the old feet and
other parts.
C AT W O R L D
29

Beware the danger
behind the beauty
There are so many beautiful plants and flowers but
how many realise that a lot of them are actually
poisonous to our feline friends?
t
he festive season brings many
indoor plants, such as festive ber-
ries, holly, mistletoe and poinset-
tia and whilst cats will rarely eat
poisonous plants, there is a danger
that if they brush past them or some
fall onto the floor, the cat could lick
their coat or paws, ingesting some.
Snowdrops generally come into bloom
in our gardens in January and they too
are poisonous.
In spring and summer we see an
abundance of beautiful flowers in the
garden, such as Buttercup, Chrysan-
themum, Clematis, Crocus, Daffodil,
Holly, Ivy, Marigold, Rhododendron
and, Sweet Pea to name but a few - all
are harmful to cats. There are many
more harmful flowers and plants and
more information about these can be
found on the internet.
Lilies, in particular, are beautiful
flowers, seen in many flower arrange-
ments but their pollen contains a
deadly toxin called Lycorine which is
a toxic crystalline alkaloid that can be
fatal to cats.
There are no ‘safe’ parts to a lily,
they are all poisonous so unless you
can be certain that your cat will stay
well away from them, it would be
advisable not to have them where
they can come into contact with them.
I personally will not have them in the
house as it is simply too risky and any
bunches of flowers that may contain
them are removed and put in the bin!
Whilst any cat is at risk of lily poi-
30 C AT W O R L D
PLANTS AND FLOWERS
BY SONJA K STEINER
son, it would appear that kittens are
particularly vulnerable due to their cu-
rious nature. Whilst lilies in a vase dis-
played on a window sill or a table may
seem safe enough, there is a risk that
a cat may innocently brush past them
getting some on their coat or some of
the pollen may drop onto the floor and
they stand on it. Subsequently if your
cat then starts grooming themselves
either on their coat or their feet, they
could ingest some of the lily pollen.
Symptoms can be seen in minutes
or hours and survival depends on how
early it has been caught and treatment
started. If an owner has actually seen
their cat chewing on the lily or licking
off some of the pollen that has fallen off
the plant then the best course of action
is to take them to see their vet as soon
as possible.
Signs of lily poisoning symptoms
include vomiting, weakness, and
lack of appetite, becoming lethargic,
increased drinking and these can
happen in any order, followed by renal
failure which can include abdominal
pain, anuria, increased or decreased
Signs of lily poisoning symp-
toms can happen in any order
and include:
vomiting
weakness and lack of appetite,
becoming lethargic
increased drinking
thirst, seizures and weakness. As the
toxin begins to affect the kidneys,
these signs worsen as the kidney dam-
age progresses.
Treatment
If you know that your cat has eaten
lilies it is important to get them to the
vets as a matter of urgency so that the
vet can induce vomiting as soon as
possible. Medetomidine is one of the
normal sedatives and is fairly effec-
tive in inducing vomiting in cats but
obviously the sedative effect of the
drug is an unwelcome one and the
drug is sometimes only effective on a
full stomach. There have been reports
of people who have used caustic soda
(sodium peroxide) with disastrous
results - therefore it is important that
the cat is always taken to the vet for
treatment and owners do not attempt
to treat the cat themselves.
Activated charcoal is then given
orally to help bind up, and try and
reduce gastrointestinal absorption of,
the toxins. If the vet can get the toxins
out/bind them up and prevent absorp-
tion in the gut then the prognosis is
more favourable.
If you are not sure when your cat
has ingested some lily pollen then
the vet is likely to induce vomiting,
especially if they are not certain the
stomach will already be emptied of lily.
It is unlikely that after 24 hours much, if
any lily would be vomited up as it will
mostly have passed into the small in-

testines. However your vet may induce
vomiting up to about 48 hours. Once
the lilies/toxins have passed out of the
stomach then it is pointless to induce
vomiting.
It is also important for the coat and
skin to be washed in case some pollen
is present that the cat may lick off when
cleaning themselves and this is gener-
ally done regardless of how long ago
the toxin was ingested as the lily pollen
can be quite persistent in the coat.
Aggressive fluid therapy is essential
and is generally given at high rates for
a day or two at least and blood test-
ing is done periodically to assess the
kidney function. Symptomatic and sup-
portive care is given as needed, such
as medication to help reduce nausea
and vomiting.
Whilst some cats have survived due
to early treatment and seem to make a
good recovery, sadly there are others
who, despite veterinary treatment, do
not survive. Pre-existing renal prob-
lems/renal failure is a risk factor for a
worse outcome, so older cats would be
more of a concern.
PLANTS AND FLOWERS
There is always the potential that
they might have damaged some
kidney cells if a small amount of the
toxin has been absorbed, therefore it
is possible in theory that they could
get chronic kidney failure at an earlier
stage than if they had not ingested the
lily. In order to ascertain whether cats
suffer long term damage, research
would need to be undertaken.
Thanks to the efforts of leading cat
charity Cats Protection, many super-
markets now put labels on their plants,
warning of the dangers of lilies. Per-
haps going a step further and putting
a cat with a cross through it with a
brief explanation has the potential to
alert more cat owners who may not
be aware of how deadly lilies can be
to their feline friends. Some people I
know with cats were simply not aware
of their dangers until I mentioned it.
Below is the “BSAVA/VPIS Guide to
Common Canine and Feline Poisons”:
Clinical signs can appear from 2-6
hours after ingestion and renal impair-
ment 24-72h after ingestion. If treat-
ment is not initiated within 18-24h of
Although there are several
species of lilies that are known
to be dangerous to cats, the
Lilium and Hemerocallis vari-
ety are the most toxic:
Asian lily (Lilium)
Day lily (Hemerocallis)
Easter lily (Lilium)
Japanese lily (Lilium)
Rubrum lily (Lilium)
Stargazer lily (Lilium)
Tiger lily (Lilium)
ingestion then mortality is high. All
parts of the plant are nephrotoxic. The
cause of the renal toxicity is unknown.
If in doubt…
If you are in any doubt as to whether
your cat has come into contact with
any harmful flowers or plants please
do seek immediate advice from your
veterinary surgeon as any delays in
treatment could be detrimental to your
feline friend.
C AT W O R L D
31
 Dawn wins
Veterinary
award

W
e were thrilled to hear that
one of our regular team,
Dawn Prime, recently won
the Veterinary Practice SQP of the Year
and was Runner-up (Highly Commend-
ed) in the Companion Animal SQP of
the Year category.
The National SQP Awards are a key
date in the Animal Health Industry
calendar, recognising and awarding the
industry’s best talent. The nomination
process initially involves self-nomination
in the category - normally the role you
carry out in your day-to-day practice.
It continues with answering ten ques-
tions (in detail) about being an SQP
(Suitably Qualified Person), for example;
O How we promote the use of medi-
cines
O How we see our role
O How we promote the SQP title.
The judging panel, made up of key
figures from the industry, then decide
Cameo’s lucky escape
on an overall winner and a highly com-

mended, in each category. Dawn said:
“I am very proud to win this award and
look forward in continuing to promote
my role as an SQP.”
‘A Suitably Qualified Person (SQP)
is an animal medicines advisor, who
is entitled to prescribe and/or supply
certain veterinary medicines under the
Veterinary Medicines Regulations.
It is the duty of an SQP to ensure that
the statutory requirements in respect of
the prescription and/or supply of cer-
tain veterinary medicines are respect-
ed, advising on choice of medicine and
their safe and effective
use.’ As of July 2017 there
were around 900 SQPs
working in veterinary
practices plus thou-
sands more across pet
shops and the agricul-
tural industry.
A
s a new owner, Vanessa
found out in the most awful
way just how poisonous
lily pollen is to cats. Her beautiful
Snowshoe, Cameo, almost died as
a result of ingesting some pollen
from a lily she had indoors.
“I nearly lost Cameo. She
jumped up onto my table and
appeared to be trying to eat a lily
which was among other flowers in
the vase. I saw it happen and had
no idea as to how dangerous and
life threating they are for cats.
“I took a picture then googled
the instructions to get the pollen off
her (you can see it on her face): 1)
by me rubbing it off and 2) calling
the vet immediately. During this
time she started licking herself. She
was at the vets within ten minutes of
the incident and they took a blood
test and immediately put her on a
drip. She was on a drip for three
days and two nights.
“After medication for three
weeks and further tests, including
urine samples, she was eventu-
ally given the all clear. She nearly
died and the vet said she was so
lucky that I was at home, noticed
what she was doing and took her
to the vets immediately. Cameo is
a fighter; she has just turned three
years old. I am so lucky to still have
her and she is healthy and happy
again!”
Vanessa hopes that sharing
Cameo’s story to highlight the
danger of these otherwise popular
plants will ensure more people are
aware of what can happen. Please
spread the word that while lilies
may smell wonderful, if you have a
cat, they are definitely not worth the
risk.

32 C AT W O R L D
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C AT W O R L D
33

The sweet, sassy and
sparkling Snowshoe
Beautiful, affectionate and with a bubbly personality, a Snowshoe will soon
have you under their spell, happy to be given your love and affection
T
he stunning Snowshoe origi-
nates from Pennsylvania, USA.
In the 1960s, established breed-
er Dorothy Hinds-Daughtery found
three kittens, each with four white feet,
in a litter of Siamese. The combination
of these feet with the pointed colours
was very appealing so she decided to
develop the breed. Kittens were bred
to a domestic American Shorthair cat
with tuxedo markings and eventu-
ally the desirable white facial ‘V’ was
developed.
However, following a lot of initial
34 C AT W O R L D
MEET THE BREED
interest in the new breed, the white
patterning was fairly inconsistent and
many breeders were discouraged.
Slowly, interest in these beautiful cats
was rekindled and the breeding pro-
gramme in the UK was started in 1986.
Much has been done to produce new
bloodlines, eliminate health issues and
faults caused by too much inbreeding
and introduce more colours.
Temperament
With the spiritedness of the Sia-
mese and the ‘normality’ of a domestic
cat, a Snowshoe is playful, affection-
ate and eager to please - but be in no
doubt that it will be you owned by the
Snowshoe and not vice versa.
No two Snowshoes are ever alike;
some can be a little bossy, others
can be quite shy and some positively
love greeting everyone and sitting on
laps. While they are usually comfort-
able with other cats, some prefer to
have your complete attention all to
themselves. Most are quite happy
to be around children and they will
usually get on well with dogs in the
 MEET THE BREED

home. Snowshoe breeder and owner

Kate Gee describes the Snowshoe
as “…like the Siamese but with the
edge taken off. They chat but don’t
shout, they play but not on top of the
curtain rail and they want to be with
you but don’t mourn you if you have to
go out to the shops.”
The Snowshoe has a soft, melodic
voice that will talk back to you. Al-
though they like to be near you, they
prefer to be the leader rather than fol-
low like a dog. This breed often knows
what you are going to do before you
do it! In fact they will adopt you, rather
than the other way around and to be
‘owned’ by a Snowshoe is something
you can only appreciate by experi-
ence.
They are an inquisitive and active
cat and will entertain you for hours,
quickly becoming an affectionate
companion. Happy to be the star of a
cat show, the Snowshoe loves atten-
tion and human company. They love to
play and will soon learn how to fetch
toys, even turn on light switches. If you
want to keep your Snowshoe happily
entertained, climbing frames (the taller

C AT W O R L D
35
 MEET THE BREED

“Most are quite happy to be around

children and they will usually get on
well with dogs in the home.”
the better), tunnels and fishing rod toys
are all great favourites.

Appearance
The Snowshoe’s combination of blue
eyes, pointed pattern and white trim
makes it unique amongst shorthaired
cats.
The shorthair coat is smooth to the
touch with only a single layer. This
makes it easy to groom and most
Snowshoes will groom themselves un-
less they are stressed or unwell but a
light brushing with a soft bristle brush
is usually all that is required and is an
opportunity to check for any problems.
Kittens are completely white when
born and it takes a few weeks before
you can be sure of the point colouring.
As the kittens age, legs, tail, head and
ears begin to darken and the body is a
light cream colour which also darkens
with age. The most common colours
are seal point and blue point. Special-
ised breeding is required to produce
the lighter colours such as lilac or

36 C AT W O R L D

chocolate and they do not have such
a good contrast between the point
colour and the feet. Eye colours range
from sparkling blue through to a pale
blue/grey and paw pads can be either
pink, point colour or a combination of
both.
The Snowshoe cat is firm and
muscular without being too large, well
balanced and is deceptively powerful
and agile. The body is not excessively
long and is basically rectangular with
medium-long legs. The preferred
Snowshoe pattern is a symmetrical
inverted V of white on the face, from
the bridge of the nose extending to
cover the whisker pads and chin but
not extending beyond the outer eye.
Chin and nose leather are white. The
ears are medium large and continue
the triangular appearance of the head.
Paws are also medium in size and oval,
tapering to the toes.
The tail is fairly thick at the base,
tapering towards the tip and must be
in proportion to the length of the body,
MEET THE BREED
reaching to the shoulders.
Male cats weigh approximately 9-12
pounds but can feel heavier when
lifted.
A female is much smaller, approxi-
mately 7-10 pounds, though some can
match the weight of a male but without
the heftiness.
Breed standard
Head: medium in size and in pro-
portion to the body, forming a broad
wedge with slightly rounded contours.
Cheekbones are set high with rounded
contours. The nose is to be straight
of medium length, in proportion with
the rest of the head, with a slight slope
to the forehead creating two distinct
planes when seen in profile and with-
out a sharp break or stop. The muzzle
should be of good length, neither ex-
tremely broad nor pointed nor square.
Ears: Medium to large, broad at the
base, with slightly rounded tips and
sparse inner furnishings. Neither too
wide apart nor close set so as to con-
tinue the line of the modified wedge.
Eyes: Walnut shaped with slightly
greater length than width; medium
size and slanted to the base of the ears.
They should be set one width apart
and not protrude nor be bold or deep
set. The outer edge should be level
with the base of the ears. A definite
blue, the deeper the blue the better,
bright, sparkling and expressive.
Body & neck: Body long but not
C AT W O R L D
37

extreme, feeling firm and heavier than
the appearance indicates. Medium in
size, with medium foreign bone and
musculature, powerful but not bulky.
Females are slightly smaller than the
males. Neck should be of medium
length in proportion with the head and
body. Well balanced.
Legs and paws: Slender and of
good length in proportion to the body
and of medium bone. Paws are short-
oval in shape and of medium size.
Tail: Medium at base, tapering
slightly towards the tip, medium to
long.
Coat: Medium-short with no notice-
able undercoat, smooth, glossy and
close lying. Texture is moderately
dense and resilient.
Mitted: Pointed (Siamese/Colour-
point) pattern overlaid with white mit-
tens on the front paws and boots on the
hind legs. Chin, throat, chest and belly
may also be white.
Preferred pattern: As above but
with a perfect white ‘V’ on the face
which runs from the muzzle and nose
up between the eyes.
Bi-Colour: Varying degrees of white
patterning; as much as a third of the
coat may be white. The white on the
front feet may extend to include the
whole leg while on the hind legs, the
white may extend above the hocks and
right up to the hips. The face should
still have the inverted white ‘V’.
Colours
Self-coloured points Those with Self
(single colour) points are possible in
eight different varieties:
Seal - Beige/cream body with dark
38 C AT W O R L D
MEET THE BREED
seal brown points.
Blue - Bluish-white body with blue-
grey points
Chocolate - Ivory body with milk
chocolate points
Lilac - Magnolia body with frosty
pinkish-grey points
Red - Creamy-white body with
warm orange points
Cream - Creamy-white body with
pastel-cream points
Cinnamon - Ivory body with warm
cinnamon-brown points
Caramel - Magnolia body with
brownish-grey points
Fawn - Magnolia-white body with
buff-beige points
Apricot - Creamy-white body with
apricot points
Seal points and Blue points are
among the most popular and are
regularly seen at shows. Dilute colours,
such as lilac, will take longer to de-
velop a maturity.
Tabby points The addition of tabby
markings makes tabby versions of the
self-coloured points:
Seal Tabby - Points have cream
ground with clear seal brown or near-
black tabby markings
Blue Tabby - Points have pale beige
or mushroom ground with clear light
blue tabby markings
Chocolate Tabby - Points have pale
beige ground with clear milk choco-
late tabby markings, almost copper in
tone
Lilac Tabby - Points have magnolia
ground with clear pinkish-grey tabby
markings
 MEET THE BREED
Red Tabby - Points have pale red
ground with clear bright reddish-gold
tabby markings
Cream Tabby - Points have pale
cream ground with clear cool cream-
toned tabby markings
Cinnamon Tabby - Points have very
pale cinnamon ground with warm cin-
namon brown tabby markings
Fawn Tabby - Points have very pale
mushroom ground with clear pale
rosy- mushroom tabby markings
Apricot Tabby - Points have pale
cream ground with clear hot apricot
tabby markings
Seal Tabby Points and Blue Tabby
Points are very popular.

Tortie points The base colour of the

points is patched and/or mingled at
random with varying shades of red or
cream.
Seal-tortie - Beige/fawn (pale red)
body with seal brown/red toned min-
gled points.
Blue tortie - Glacial bluish-white
body with light blue and pale cream
mingled points.
Chocolate tortie - Ivory body with
milk chocolate and red mingled points.
Lilac points - Off-white body with
pale cream and/or pinkish-grey min-
gled points.
Cinnamon tortie - Ivory body
with warm cinnamon brown and red
patched or mingled points
Fawn tortie - Off-white body with
mushroom and pale cream mingled
points.
Tortie points are almost always
females since they are genetically sex-
linked colours and can produce a wide
range of all colours. Scale of points
Head 20
Tortie tabby points Tortoishell and Ears 05
tabby combinations make further Tor- Eyes 15
tie Tabby varieties; although rare: Seal Neck & bone structure 15
Tortie Tabby, Blue Tortie Tabby, Choco- Legs & paws 05
late Tortie Tabby, Lilac Tortie Tabby, Tail 05
Cinnamon Tortie Tabby, Caramel Tortie Coat length, texture &
Tabby and Fawn Tortie Tabby. condition 10
Colour & markings 15
With thanks to Kate Gee and the Temperament 10
Snowshoe Cat Society Total 100
See page 74 for details of the next
Snowshoe Cat Society breed show.

C AT W O R L D
39

Don’t be blue - great
ideas for inddoor fun
When the weather outside is frightful there are plenty of
things you can find to do inside that will benefit you, your
kitty and maybe others too
d
ecember will soon be drawing
to a close and once the celebra-
tions and chaos are finished for
another year it can be a dull and
sometimes lonely time for many peo-
ple. But with a little bit of imagination
and forward planning, January can be
fun. Yes we will all no doubt be making
- and not keeping - New Year resolu-
tions but maybe there are some more
practical ideas that are worth sticking
with… Here are some suggestions for
making January fun with your feline
friend.
Playtime: The days are short and very
cold so Fred/Tibbles/Rosie will prob-
ably be spending a good deal of time
indoors. Make the most of spending
time with him/her by playing with new
toys and having regular grooming
sessions. If kitty isn’t too keen on being
groomed, just encourage him or her
to enjoy spending more time in your
company.
Get creative: When the weather is too
bad for venturing far outside your front
door, decide to make something for
yourself, a friend..even for a cat. Res-
cue centres and charities will always
be very grateful for the donation of a
knitted blanket or a few soft, catnip-
filled mice for the kitties in their care. It
doesn’t have to be a masterpiece; just
soft and cosy for a cat to snuggle up
on. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home runs
regular ‘knitting kittens’ sessions at
their London centre but if you can’t get
along to join in, all details and patterns
40 C AT W O R L D
BEAT THE BLUES
BY BARBARA MASON
are available on their website. www.
battersea.org.uk/support-us/events/
knitting-kittens-club
Recycle: If you have been inundated
with beautiful gifts and need to clear
out some older items to make room,
fill a bag and take them to your near-
est animal charity shop next time you
venture out. They are always grateful
for donations of clean clothes in good
repair, books, ornaments, homewares
and jewellery. You might find a few new
books to add to your own mini library
while you’re there - and there’s noth-
ing better on a cold winter’s evening
than to curl up with a furry friend and a
good book.
Treat yourselves: While you are hope-
fully spending more time indoors with
your cat, why not try training her to
do something. Articles about ‘clicker
training’ have been featured in Cat
World several times and with a few
treats (not necessarily edible ones) as
a reward, you could have kitty playing
fetch, coming to you when you call or
something more entertaining.
Talking of edible treats, why not
make some homemade ones to give
your favourite feline an extra special
something next time they are being
good? The recipe below is just one of a
selection of ideas from Hills Pet Nutri-
tion. Find more at www.hillspet.com/
cat-care/nutrition-feeding/healthy-
homemade-cat-treats
If you’re a social media fan, there
are bound to be plenty of new festive
feline videos to be sought out and
enjoyed. You’ll be amazed how much
time you can spend watching them…
so make sure you have no appoint-
ments or visitors scheduled, sit down
and get ready to be entertained.
Whatever the winter brings, a little
thought and imagination can provide
hours of entertainment for you and
your kitty. The suggestions here may
just get you thinking. Other ideas to try
include taking a few photos and mak-
ing a scrap book of your cat that you
can add to through the year or make a
cosy corner near a window where the
two of you can sit and watch the world
(or the birds!) go by together.

Make a tasty treat or crafty cat-nip toy
Soft, colourful and perfect to pounce
on, cats that love catnip will be head
over heels with excitement if you
make this ladybug toy for them.
You will need:
n Red felt, 6x4in (15x10cm)
n Black felt, 4x2in (10x5cm
n Scrap of white felt or wool
n Red and black sewing thread
n Loose catnip (available from
garden centres or pet shops)
Cut two ladybug body pieces
from the red felt.
Cut one head shape from the
black felt and sew on to one piece of
red body (Top)
Using the dotted lines as a guide,
mark and cut away a wedge shape
from the same body piece to make
the wings.
BEAT THE BLUES
Cut a rectangle 2x1in (5x2.5cm)
from black felt. Shape one end to
fit the body end opposite the head.
Sew in place to the wrong side of
Home made treats
Hill’s Pet Nutrition recommends
using their Science Diet ® or Ideal
Balance® cat foods for this recipe.
Makes 24 treats approx.
Snack ‘Triangles’ from canned
cat food:
1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C/
Gas 4
2. Spread 1/2 can of cat food onto
a sheet of waxed paper.
3. Cut the flattened cat food into
triangles, each 1/2 inch thick.
4. Place the triangles on an un-
greased cookie sheet and bake in
the oven for 15 minutes.
5. Flip the triangles and bake for
another 15 minutes.
6. Let cat treats cool completely
before serving to your cat.
Remember not to freeze home-
made cat treats. All homemade
cat treats that have been baked
should be stored in the refrig-
erator no longer than 5-7 days
to maintain their freshness and
prevent spoilage.
the body top, along the edges of the
wings.
From the remaining black felt, cut
six small circles, approximately 1/2in
(1cm) diameter and sew on to the
wings (see picture).
Place the body top onto the other
red body piece and carefully stitch
around the edges, leaving a gap of
around 1in (2.5cm) for filling.
Place catnip inside the lady-
bug, pressing in with a chopstick
or wooden spoon handle until it is
firmly stuffed. Sew the gap closed.
Using the scrap of white felt, cut
out two small eyes and sew to the
front of the head. Alternatively, sew
two small eyes using white wool.
Give the ladybug toy to your cat
as as special treat or save for a day
when the weather is really bad and
they don’t want to be outside.
C AT W O R L D
41

The party’s over - now
When the last guests have left or gone to bed, if you
have a cat it would be wise to clean up the mess
as quickly as possible. Here’s why…
BY MANDY WILLETT
N
ew Year’s Eve is celebrat-
ed in many households
with, at the very least, a
few drinks and nibbles. Staying up
late to see in the New Year is fun
but tiring and if you’re like me, you
can’t wait to get to bed yourself.
However, try to tidy up any lefto-
vers first, no matter how tired or
slightly squiffy you are as many of
them can be harmful to a cat.
If you have had a houseful of
visitors, chances are your cat has
been confined to one room in the
house and in theory should be
quite safe there while the party is
happening. The temptation will be
to let kitty out as soon as the house
has gone quiet so they can have
the freedom of their home once
more.
Perhaps your celebrations have
been a bit more low-key and kitty
has just kept out of the way for the
evening, waiting to venture to the
rest of the house when it feels safe
to do so.
In either case there could still be
leftovers in glasses and bowls that
could get knocked over and spilt.
Not all will be harmful but the main
culprits to be aware of are:
Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks and foods that
contain alcohol (trifle, tiramisu,
etc.), if ingested by a cat, can
42 C AT W O R L D
HAPPY NEW YEAR
cause vomiting, diarrhoea, disori-
entation, breathing difficulties and
can have severe consequences.
Seek veterinary help immediately.
Milk and dairy products
Milky drinks, alcoholic or not,
and creamy toppings on puddings
will not be good for your cat’s di-
gestive system and may cause an
upset stomach.
Chocolate and caffeine
A nice cup of coffee or hot
chocolate to round off the even-
ing and sober up before walking
home is lovely for us humans but
chocolate contains substances
called methylxanthines which if
ingested by a feline can cause a
variety of unpleasant symptoms.
These include vomiting, diar-
rhoea, high temperature, abnormal
heart rhythm, increased thirst and
seizures. Other caffeinated drinks
such as coffee and cola also con-
tain methylxanthines and should
not be left where a cat may find
them. Seek immediate veterinary
help if you are worried.
Grapes
The reason why grapes and
raisins are so dangerous to cats
isn’t clear yet but they can bring
on rapid kidney failure if your cat
should eat even a small amount.
 HAPPY NEW YEAR
w it’s time to clear up
The clean up
Try to clear away every-
thing that could be harm-
ful to your cat either just
before your guests leave or
once they have gone. If the
debris is confined to one
room only and you can shut
the door, confident that your
cat will be unable to get in
until you let it, then this is
definitely a good idea.
However, parties usu-
ally spread into at least two
rooms, maybe a conserva-
tory too, so take a good
look in each room and clear
everything into the kitchen.
Paper plates and plastic
cups are easy to clear away
as they can be put straight
into a rubbish sack but they
aren’t the nicest of things to
use. If you have used glass
and crockery, be thorough
in your clean up:
Scrape all leftover food
from bowls and plates into
the bin and pour leftover
drink down the sink.
Go around each room as
you clear it and wipe up any
spillages and crumbs.
Store any leftover uneaten
food carefully in the fridge
or put it in storage contain-
ers in a cupboard.
Pick up all the paper
streamers and ribbons from
party poppers
If you have this clean up
in mind before the party
starts, it hopefully won’t
seem like too much of a
chore at the end of the
evening and you can quick-
ly get everything put away
before sinking into bed
and closing those weary
eyelids.
C AT W O R L D
43
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J U N E 2 0 1 6 n C AT W O R L D
47

When it comes to Christmas, keeping to your cat’s normal
routine as much as possible and putting her needs first is
the best recipe for peace and joy
M
ost of us love the hustle and
bustle of Christmas with
parties to go to, friends to
visit and family coming to stay. How-
ever, Christmas can be a very disrup-
tive and stressful time for some cats.
The house fills with lots of people or
else the owners are busy partying
and away for long periods of time.
Whilst some cats enjoy the busy
socialisation and lots of attention, oth-
ers can become extremely stressed
and find it difficult to cope. These
stressed cats may resort to running
off and hiding, spraying or even to
aggression if they feel cornered and
cannot get away, so it is important that
owners consider their cats’ needs
during the Christmas period.
In advance
Boxes are brought down from the
loft and the house gets filled with
decorations, balloons, holly and tinsel.
A Christmas tree suddenly gets
placed in the corner of the room and,
if a real tree, will be covered with all
sorts of external scents. More often
than not, furniture is moved around to
accommodate the Christmas tree.
In addition, the family are coming
and going with lots of bags and boxes
as presents are bought and wrapped.
Cats can be tempted by shiny baubles
44 C AT W O R L D
CATS ON
THECOUCH
WITH LEADING BEHAVIOURIST INGA MACKELLAR
Equally, the family are often busy do-
ing extra food shopping and lots of
cooking in preparation for the festivi-
ties. Cats are particularly sensitive to
changes in their home environment
and, with all these new and strange
smells and changes, they may start
to spray to make themselves feel
secure.
Feline pheromone diffusers and
sprays reproduce natural phero-
mones which may reassure your cat
during the disruptive period. The
diffuser lasts for four weeks and
would need to be plugged in early in
December, in the room that your cat
uses the most or next to their bed.
Sense of normality
As household routines tend to
get disrupted, try to stick to normal
feeding and play routines with your
cat. Avoid giving your cat over-rich
Christmas food such as cream and
custard as it may upset his digestion.
If your cat is used to having a cuddle
with you mid-morning, then try to still
do so over the Christmas period. The
more cat routines that can remain as
‘normal’, the more relaxed your cat
will be.
The spare bedroom, where the cat
may normally go and hide when it
is frightened, is often being used by
visitors - so it has nowhere to go to
feel safe. Don’t expect your cat to like
parties and lots of disruption. Provid-
ing a cat with a safe, quiet place it can
retreat to can prevent many problems.
This is particularly important if
the cat is not used to children. If your
house is suddenly filled with children
the cat may not be able to cope. Tod-
dlers and young children can pester
animals and if adults don’t notice what
is going on, this can lead to the cat
scratching at the child in desperation.
If in doubt, keep them apart.
Party time
If you are having a party and your
cat is not used to lots of people,
place it in a quiet room which can be
locked so that no visitors can acci-
dentally let it out. Settle your cat down
with a comfy bed and its favourite
food and toys well in time, before all
the visitors arrive.
To make your cat feel more secure,
place the bed in a cosy corner, per-
haps under a table by the radiator.
If you have time, try to give your cat
some extra special attention earlier
in the evening as it will be alone once
the party starts.
If you are having party poppers,
Christmas crackers or indoor fire-
works, ensure that your cat is out of
the room and out of ear-shot if it is
sound-sensitive. Equally, be aware of
any neighbourhood parties. Fire-
works are becoming more frequent
so ensure that your cat is safely
indoors during any firework displays.
If it is not possible to place your cat
in a separate, safe room, think about
putting it in a cattery overnight.
The tree
Do not leave your cat unattended
around the Christmas tree or other
areas where there are lots of interest-
ing objects. Cats can be tempted by
shiny baubles hanging on the tree
and many a cat has been known to
leap up and inadvertently pull the
tree over.
Accidents arising from cats ingest-
ing foreign bodies such as decora-
tions, tinsel and small plastic toys
are very high over the Christmas
period so take care to watch your cat
around any ‘tempting’ items. Cats that If you are having friends to stay
are stressed may also spray up the who may not be used to cats, have a
Christmas tree, so a precautionary chat with them before they arrive to
measure is to spray some synthetic tell them the best way to interact with
pheromone on the tree before letting your cat. Never ‘rush’ a cat and allow
your cat have access to it.
Visitors
Whilst Christmas is meant to
be a time of cheer and goodwill,
many families get stressed with
preparations and, if combined with
too much Christmas ‘spirit’, this
can lead to arguments which can
cause anxiety in cats. Equally,
guests who may have had a
bit too much to drink can
behave in an erratic man-
ner which may
frighten you cat.
C AT W O R L D
45
 the cat to approach guests at its own
pace. They should avoid direct eye
contact by staring as this can be
intimidating. Giving your guests a
bowl of tasty titbits to feed the cat
can help to cement friendly relation-
ships.
If your visitors are bringing a dog
or their own cats, think about how
your cat will react. If it has met the
dog or cats before and has got on
well, then there should not be any
problems. However, if your cat does
not like dogs or other cats in its core
territory, then it is best to ask your
friends to leave their pets at home.
Alternatively, you can place your
cat in a cattery over the Christ-
mas period. However, the cat may
become upset when it returns home
to find the whole house smelling of
dog or a ‘strange’ cat, so a rigorous
clean will need to be done and your
cat’s own scents reintroduced.
Home or away
If you are going away and leav-
46 C AT W O R L D
ing your cat at home, ensure that
you have made adequate provision
for someone to look after it - ideally,
someone to live in or to call in at
least two or three times a day. It will
need fresh water and food daily and
also ensure that it has plenty of litter
trays as otherwise it may lead to a
house-soiling problem. Cats en-
joy company so extra cuddles and
games are very important.
If you are taking your cat away
with you for Christmas and are mak-
ing a long journey, be prepared for
all eventualities. It is safest to trans-
port your cat in a crate where you
can provide water and litter facilities.
If travelling at night, drape the crate
with a blanket so that the cat does
not become frightened by the flash-
ing lights going past.
Also consider whether your cat
is actually happy to travel and go
visiting - some find this very stress-
ful so it may be kinder to leave it
in its home territory or place it in a
cattery. Check that your breakdown
cover will also transport cats.
Most of the time, cats will enjoy
Christmas with many receiving
special food, treats and exciting
new toys, although most tend to
get the greatest pleasure through
diving into all the discarded wrap-
ping paper! But by planning ahead
and thinking of your cat’s needs, you
can make sure that it is a purr-rect
Christmas for everyone.
Tip of the month:
Give your cat its own Christ-
mas treat with a homemade
Christmas cracker. The inside
of an empty toilet roll can be
stuffed with tissue paper and
tasty dried treats and loosely
wrapped in tissue paper. Your
cat will enjoy smelling out the
food and hunting for it inside
the ‘cracker’. However, take
care that it does not acciden-
tally swallow any of the paper.

Sickness
could be
a warning
I
f your cat seems unwell, suf-
fering with vomiting, tiredness
and erratic behaviour, it could
be worth checking your appli-
ances. These are all symptoms
that could be a result of carbon
monoxide poisoning and animals
will tend to be affected before
humans.
A recent study conducted by
a major energy company found
that one in three pet owners felt
they had been alerted to danger
of some sort by their cat or dog.
Cats have been known to alert
their owners to a medical issue
too, such as the onset of a heart
attack, stroke, even cancer.
Matthew Cole, spokesman
for npower, said: “You can’t see,
smell or taste a carbon monoxide
leak so it’s important to be aware
of this potentially fatal danger in
the home. Common household
appliances like boilers, gas fires,
log burners and cookers can all
cause accidental exposure so it’s
important that people understand
the symptoms of CO poisoning. If
you notice any symptoms in com-
bination, go outside immediately
and seek help.”
The moral of this is to know
your cat’s usual behaviour, rec-
ognise any unusual behaviour
and to not take that for granted.
Yes, of course call your vet if you
are worried about your pet’s
health but do think to have a
quick check of your home too. If
you can give your vet a possible
reason for your pet’s illness, the
quicker the diagnosis and appro-
priate treatment can be given.
48 C AT W O R L D
HEALTH CHECK
Feline stroke - the
symptoms and outlook
Spotting the signs of a potential stroke and seeking urgent
veterinary assessment can be vital in getting the right
diagnosis and treatment for your feline friend
BY DR LINDA SIMON, MVB, MRCVS
W
hile strokes are spoken about
a lot when it comes to hu-
mans, they are often given a
back seat in veterinary medi-
cine and, interestingly, do not tend
to occur as commonly in our feline
companions. In fact, not long ago it
was thought that cats could not suffer
from a stroke. This has now proven to
be false, though there is still a lack of
scientific literature available.
Most owners will describe the
symptoms their cats experience as
‘waking up and not being able to walk’
or ‘suddenly falling all over the place’.
Cats may roll around, act confused,
vomit and have unusual eye move-
ments (nystagmus). Symptoms can
range from being mild and very subtle
to extremely obvious and frightening.
Once any odd behaviour is noticed,
an urgent trip to the vet is advised.
A stroke can be defined as ‘a de-
struction of brain tissue secondary to
the rupture of an artery or the lack of
oxygen caused by blockage’. In cats, it
is mostly the geriatric population that
suffer these events and many of these
cats will have underlying health issues.
High blood pressure is a known
risk factor for stroke and a signifi-
cant proportion of cats with chronic
kidney disease and hyperthyroidism
will have elevated blood pressure. In
our furry friends, it is impossible to
know if their blood pressure is high
without having it checked at the vets,
which is why routine blood pressure
checks are now common practice and
should be carried out at every yearly
booster when a cat is in their teenage
years. As hypertension can be well-
controlled with medication, it is worth
finding out if your cat is at risk.
Blood clots can also lead to strokes
and cats who suffer from chronic heart
disease are those most at risk. As the
blood flow is abnormal in cats with
certain cardiac conditions such as
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, clots
can form and then ‘break loose’ at
any time. Hyperthyroidism and lung
cancer can predispose a cat to the for-
mation of clots as well.
As strokes are so often linked with
underlying disease, after a cat has had
a stroke, vets will perform a full body
exam, a neurological assessment,
check blood pressure and run com-
plete blood and urine tests. If indi-
cated, they may wish to perform some
imaging, particularly if they want to
assess the heart. Less frequently, more
thorough testing will be required, such
as a CT or MRI scan. By diagnosing
any underlying illness, treatment can
be commenced and any future events
safeguarded against.
During the vet exam, it is vitally
important to rule out an event that
might look like a stroke but is some-
thing else entirely. For example, cats
may lose their balance and appear
out of sorts if suffering from an inner
ear infection.
Typically, with a stroke, symptoms
 HEALTH CHECK

“By diagnosing any underlying illness, treatment can be commenced

and any future events safeguarded against.”
will appear almost immediately, while
with other conditions that can mimic
strokes, such as ear infections or brain
tumours, the symptoms tend to come
on slowly and get worse with time.
After a cat has experienced a stroke
and been assessed by the vet, they
may be sent home or might need to
be kept in the veterinary hospital for a
few days. As strokes occur with vary-
ing severity, some cats are only mildly
affected while others will need inten-
sive care and monitoring. If required,
intravenous fluids are given along with
anti-inflammatory medication for sev-
eral days. Oxygen therapy can help to
support the cat during its recovery.
Some cats will develop life-long
side effects after their stroke, such as a
head tilt or a wobbly walk. Long-term
physiotherapy will be advised if there
are any neurological defects. Lifestyle
changes may be required to make the
cat more comfortable, such as keep-
ing them indoors and making their
bed and litter trays more accessible.
Regular health checks can allow for
early diagnosis and treatment of cer-
tain health conditions, helping to lower
the risk of a stroke dramatically.

C AT W O R L D
49

t
he more love, attention and ad-
equate care you give your pets,
the happier and healthier they’ll
be. So in a nutshell, what do you
need to know to take proper care of
your new little feline?
Bringing kitty home
When you first bring kitty home,
keep children and any other pets
away from her until she has had time
to explore her new area, one room
at a time, without interference. Then
confine her to her own room until she
becomes accustomed to it. Place her
bed in the room, as well as her food
and water bowls. Keep her litter box
there too. Other extras include groom-
ing tools, a collar with elastic (and a
name tag if you prefer), a scratching
post, stimulating cat toys and a cat
carrier.
Introduce the kitten to other mem-
bers of the household individually.
With other animals, give affection to
both; do not neglect the old pet for the
new. The animals will eventually work
out their territories and relationships,
so it is not advisable to rush them. At
first the kitten will miss her mother and
littermates and must be compensated
by a great deal of tender loving care
and play sessions.
Sleeping arrangements
A bed makes a safe refuge from
which the small animal can explore,
retreating every time she feels nerv-
50 C AT W O R L D
NEW OWNER
Getting ready for a new
feline playmate
We are getting ready to welcome a new kitten into our
home and preparation beforehand is key to a successful
introduction and a happy, healthy feline friend
BY YOLANDA WESSELS
ous or threatened. Many kittens feel
safer when sleeping and cuddling with
their new owner than sleeping in a
specially prepared place. So if you are
not bothered by this and welcome the
cat into your bedroom for the remain-
der of her life, it is a good option and
everyone will get some well-deserved
rest.
Feeding
Young animals develop at an
amazing rate, so she will need a lot of
calories and fat, protein and vitamins
to fuel her growth.
After weaning (4-6 weeks), kittens
need about twice the energy of an
adult cat. This need gradually de-
creases until they reach adulthood.
Feed her a high quality kitten food. (If
the breeder gave her a specific diet,
gradually switch over to a new diet to
avoid gastric upsets.) Food must be
fed at room temperature and in shal-
low, clean dishes.
Fresh drinking water must be avail-
able at all times.
Litter tray
A shallow toilet tray must be pro-
vided for the new kitten and can have
proprietary cat litter, wood shavings
or chippings inside. The kitten will
look for her toilet tray soon after her
first meal in the new home and should
be gently placed on the litter. The
tray should be kept in the room, at the
same spot. The litter must be changed
frequently and the tray washed when
necessary with a mild solution of
household bleach or other safe disin-
fectant or boiling water.
Grooming
Initially she may be frightened of
the brush, so start by simply showing
the brush, letting her sniff it, giving
her praise and a treat. Next you can
run the flat side of the brush along her
body, letting her adjust to the rhythm
and motion of brushing. Make groom-
ing fun, with lots of petting and praise.
Playing
There is a huge variety of toys avail-
able, especially designed for kittens.
Simple toys are perfectly acceptable
and even a small ball of crumpled
paper provides hours of fun. A winner
is a small mouse, stitched from thick
material, stuffed with dried catnip and
a piece of string attached as a tail. A
spider, made of four pipe cleaners
and laid across each other and bound
firmly and tightly around the middle,
forming eight legs, is another favourite
toy.
Table tennis balls, cotton reels and
hen feathers all make perfect toys and
encourage play, which helps to build
up muscle and sharpen the reflexes.
(Avoid toys with long pieces of cord
or elastic attached, or with stitched
or wired glass eyes, tiny bells or any
other object that can be chewed off
and swallowed by a kitten.)
 NEW OWNER

Visits to the vet
a) Vaccinations
Make an appointment to see your
veterinarian as soon as possible after
welcoming the kitten. Your veterinar-
ian will perform a physical exam and
make sure your kitten is in excellent
health before vaccinating her. She
should have a course of two vaccina-
tions, starting from the age of nine
weeks and the second being given at
twelve weeks.
b) De-worming
De-worming will be necessary
at eight, 12 and 16 weeks and then
monthly up to six months of age
and from then onwards, every three
months.
c) Sterilisation
It is highly recommended that both
male and female kittens be neutered
and spayed at approximately five
months. This prevents unwanted preg-
nancies but has several health benefits
to your pets.
Having kittens is such an exciting
time. Take good care of them - the way
you care and interact with them at a
young age shapes them to be healthy
adults.

Get your house cat-safe

O Ensure a safe environment for your kitten to live, play,
and explore in. Remember they are curious creatures!
O Keep toxic and dangerous materials, such as cleaning
solutions, antifreeze and medications in a locked cabinet.
O Small holes or gaps in floorboards, walls and furniture
must be closed as it poses a danger where she can get
stuck.
O Shut cupboard doors, lock doors to high balconies and
close open windows.
O Try to remove everything that is small enough to be
chewed or swallowed.
O Cover electric cords with rugs or plastic cord guards.
O Keep poisonous plants out of your kitten’s reach, they
can be harmful or even fatal to animals.

C AT W O R L D
51
 FELINE FUN
Criss Cross Spot the difference
Can you work out the answers to the questions to Can you find 10 things in the picture that are missing?
complete this month’sUntitled
criss-cross puzzle?

2 3

4 5

Across London.
Down
cats are frightened they2. When
adopt catsorare
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1. In the popular at the the name of the man who takes
Answers from last month
ened they adopt the ‘fight stroke oftomidnight
his cat London. on 31st Word Search: WONDERLAND
need to be up to date if or
your_cat
_ _is _going
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3. Wishes given at the stroke of midnight on 31st
Spot December right.
the difference,
ing your cat’s weight is6. Thesetoneed
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4. Calicivirus is better
known as what?
date if your cat is going to known
5. Theasname
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of the Saint celebrated by many countries at
a cattery Christmas
5. The name of the Saint
7. Watching your cat’s celebrated by many coun-
weight is important to tries at Christmas
prevent this

Down
DID YOU KNOW?
EXPERTS IN THE US BELIEVE THAT OWNING A CAT
1. In the popular panto- CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF STROKE AND HEART
mime, the name of the ATTACK BY AS MUCH AS A THIRD. STROKING
man who takes his cat to A CAT HELPS US TO FEEL CALM.

52 C AT W O R L D

CHARITY’S TOP TIPS FOR GETTING A KITTEN
In response to the sad story in a recent BBC television programme, Cats Protection
has issued their top tips for anyone thinking of buying a new kitten
F
ollowing the feature on BBC’s
Watchdog programme on 7th
November 2018 which investi-
gated a cat breeder who sold kittens
that later died, the UK’s largest feline
welfare charity is offering advice on
the best way to acquire a kitten.
O Research before you buy - different
breeds have different requirements
and temperaments so ensure the cat
you are interested in is suitable for
your lifestyle and environment.
O Don’t buy a kitten that is too young
- kittens should stay with their mother
until they are at least eight to nine
weeks old before they are rehomed.
O Check that the kitten appears alert,
sociable and with no visible health
problems.
O Make sure you see where the kitten
lives and check it is well cared for.
O Ensure the kittens in the litter have
been checked over by a vet and get
the details.
O Check whether the kitten has been
KITTEN CONCERNS
wormed or vaccinated - there should
be documentation of this.
O Make sure you see the kitten with its
mother and ask to see the mother if
she’s not present. Check whether she
is healthy and whether there are any
hereditary illnesses or diseases as it’s
important to know the kitten’s history
before you buy.
O Check where the kittens have been
kept - if litters of kittens are mixed
there is a risk that diseases may have
spread between litters.
O Check if the kittens have been kept
in a busy environment (such as a
house) as this will allow them to be so-
cialised and feel safer around people
once they are adult pet cats.
To offer cats the same welfare
protection as dogs, Cats Protection is
urging the Government to consider
regulating cat breeding so that poten-
tial buyers are able to go to a licensed
cat breeder.
“Our branches across the UK still
regularly tell us harrowing stories of
kittens bred and sold that are very
sick,” said Madison Rogers, Cats Pro-
tection’s Advocacy and Government
Relations Officer. “It’s vital that the
breeding, as well as the sale of kittens,
is regulated to avoid such tragedies.”
One such kitten is CJ who was only
six weeks old when he came into Cats
Protection’s Bridgend Adoption Cen-
tre. He had been passed from owner
to owner via Facebook and was very
poorly when he was admitted but, af-
ter weeks of care, he was well enough
to be rehomed.
All cats and kittens adopted from
Cats Protection are health-checked,
wormed, vaccinated against cat flu
and enteritis, neutered where appro-
priate and come with a free period of
pet insurance.
O Visit the charity’s website to see cats
currently in need of homes, like Perky
and Pebbles.
C AT W O R L D
53

The science of saving
endangered species
The debate: should science intervene and interact with nature
to ensure endangered species survive with the use of assisted
reproduction techniques and what are the ethical implications?
t
oday IVF is a common proce-
dure. Millions of human babies
are conceived through IVF and
veterinarians have been using this
process for animals too. In fact, it is
commonly used in the cattle industry
to breed robust herds.
In recent years assisted reproduc-
tion techniques, including IVF and
artificial insemination, have been used
more and more on wild animals in the
hope that they can save endangered
species from extinction. In August
this year, the world’s first ‘test tube’
lion cubs were born in South Africa,
marking the first successful pregnancy
through artificial insemination. The
hope is that this controversial proce-
dure can help save endangered cats in
the future, like the tiger, snow leopard
and Iberian Lynx.
A controversial breakthrough
The breakthrough came after 18
months of trials at the University of
Pretoria, when researchers success-
fully harvested the sperm of a male
lion and placed it inside a lioness to
impregnate her. Just three and a half
months later, the lioness gave birth to
the two healthy cubs, named Viktor
and Isabel, at Ukutula Game Reserve
& Conservation Centre.
PhD student Isabel Callealta Rod-
ríguez, who is the lead researcher for
the study, says: “This study is part of a
research project I am currently work-
ing on for my PhD. The whole project
54 C AT W O R L D
CONSERVATION
BY CARLA GREENWOOD
focuses on the implementation of as-
sisted reproduction techniques (ART)
into the conservation of large feline
species. Throughout this project we in-
tend to acquire a deeper knowledge of
the reproductive physiology of African
lions and, with the new information we
gather, try to develop a protocol of arti-
ficial insemination (AI) for this species.
The two little lion cubs born on the 25th
of August are the result of one of the AI
trials we are performing as part of this
project. They are both doing really well,
growing big and healthy.”
However, it appears the research
has not been well received by every-
one. Nineteen welfare organisations
across the globe co-signed a letter to
the University, stating: “Based on our
cumulative knowledge and experi-
ence, we do not support the captive
breeding of lions, whether assisted or
not, because it does not contribute to
biodiversity conservation or address
the main threats to wild lion conser-
vation. Furthermore, the captive lion
breeding industry in South Africa is
associated with the exploitation of
lions through interaction activities,
canned trophy hunting of lions and the
lion skeleton trade.”
Mark Jones, Head of Policy, at the
Born Free Foundation, who were one
of the 19 welfare organisations that
have expressed concern, says: “Our
issue is not with the principle of devel-
oping artificial breeding techniques
that may benefit conservation efforts
for endangered felids per se, but
rather with the fact that the research
has been carried out at a facility that is
part of an exploitative industry which
provides no conservation benefit,
and that this industry will utilise the
research in its attempts to legitimise
its existence and wider commercial
activities.”
The Lion crisis in South Africa has
been well documented in recent
years. Over 8000 lions are now held
in captivity in 260 facilities across the
country. Concern has been raised
over the welfare of these animals
that are often used for commercial
activities, as well as the safety of the
people who come into close contact
with these animals. There have been
at least 37 incidents affecting around
40 victims, including 12 deaths, since
1996 and the situation shows no signs
of slowing down. The letter concludes:
“Whilst the study may likely prove
useful for the broader reproductive
data pool, the message and context
thereof have been incorrectly pack-
aged and provide accreditation to the
captive breeding of lions that cannot
be supported.”
In response, the research team at
the University of Pretoria stated: “We
want to state upfront that our research
proposal, including the ethical clear-
ance we received from the University
of Pretoria (UP), clearly sets out that
the research is not done to support the
multiplying of lions for the industry but
 CONSERVATION

for having established possibilities for
endangered felids.”
The way forward
Knowledge about reproduction is
critical for predicting the sustainability
of wildlife populations in nature and for
managing breeding programmes in
captivity. If used appropriately, artifi-
cial reproduction techniques such as
artificial insemination, embryo transfer
and IVF, could play a part in conser-
vation. For example, artificial insemi-
nation may allow genetic exchange
without the need for moving or trans-
porting animals.
However, despite recent advances in
these technologies, ART cannot solely
be relied on to save endangered spe-
cies as Isabel Callealta explains: “Ex-
situ (captive) breeding programmes
have already saved a number of
species from extinction and, in some
cases, ART (specially AI) has played a
decisive role to enhance genetic diver-
sity, such as in the black footed ferret
and the giant pandas in China. How-
ever, ART is not the only solution to the
general problems of felid conservation
(which include not only reproductive
issues and genetic diversity loss but
also habitat destruction, prey deple-
tion, poaching, etc.). If we want to
be successful, conservation must be
multifaceted. We, as researchers and
veterinarians, see the knowledge on
reproductive physiology and captive
breeding, and the implementation of
ART as another valuable tool we need
to learn how to use now, while there is
still time. Trying to apply ART in spe-
cies with such very low numbers is just
too late, so we need to start thinking
about all these possibilities now, while
there is still a chance!”

A case study; Black footed ferrets

Black footed ferrets were once considered to be extinct; oestrus once a year and
their populations devastated by the loss of Prairie dogs are very choosy about who
(their main prey) as well as habitat loss, the construction they mate with. There was
of cities, and the plague. In 1981, a small group of 24 also the worry of maintain-
were discovered and captured by scientists in Meeteet- ing genetic diversity in such
se, Wyoming, sparking new hope that the species could a small founder popula-
be saved. tion. Yet with the help of
Unfortunately, six of the ferrets eventually died from ei- artificial insemination and sperm frozen from the original
ther Canine Distemper or the plague so the remaining 18 founding males, the Black footed ferret population has
individuals were used in a captive breeding programme now reached around 300 individuals across North Amer-
that came with its own challenges. Black footed ferrets ica. Whilst they are still very much endangered, the use
are a solitary species so housing them in a group is not of assisted reproduction techniques is helping bring this
possible and it was discovered that females only go into species back from the brink of extinction.

C AT W O R L D
55

THE
HOUSE DIARY
This is dedicated to Willow Conlon, one of Notting Hill Cat Company’s finest kitty
customers, a beautiful one year old Maine Coon who sadly passed away in November
i
arrive at Willow’s
home, eager to see
her. As I pull up on my
bike she comes hur-
tling towards the window,
hopping onto the ledge
and staring at me with her
thickly lined eyes. Not a
hair on her silvery mane is
out of place and although
she is not yet fully grown
she is already bigger than
most cats.
Turning around and
around on the narrow
56 C AT W O R L D n J U N E 2 0 1 6
BOARDING
BY DOMINIQUE URQUHART
ledge, Willow is excited, Willow dives in and, once for a moment she is still…
playful and eager for com- finished, she wanders over then she pounces, catch-
pany. I open the door and to my trainers and, begin- ing the helpless butterfly
she comes running, her ning a forensic examina- toy in the air first time.
huge tail arched grace- tion, starts to sniff them. To The next fifteen min-
fully over her back as she distract her, I find her fa- utes are a frenzy of plastic
bounces straight past me vourite toy, a little butterfly wings and fur as Willow
and buries her furry paws on a stick, and spin it in the chases, dives and catches
into the waiting door- air over her head. Willow the butterfly in her mouth.
mat. Once she’s finished immediately ducks and Willow never tires of this
scratching, she saunters runs for cover. Crouched game and eventually I hide
over to me and noncha- beside the sofa, her front the butterfly and distract
lantly leans in, lightly paws flat to the ground her with treats.
brushing my leg. and her bottom wiggling Our half an hour is
Breakfast is served; in the air, she focuses and quickly over and although
I want to stay longer, I have
an overnight guest arriv-
ing, a six month old British
Short Hair named Gigi. I
scoop Willow up for a hug,
she wiggles free instantly
and hops up on the win-
dow ledge, her eyes fol-
lowing me down the path
as I leave.
Just as I sit down with
a cup of tea the doorbell
rings. Gigi arrives with
his nose pressed against
the mesh of his basket;
his eyes are wide and the
distinctive crooked black
heart nestled into the
white fur on his chest is
visible, even in the dark-
ness of his carrier.
Tripping out of his
basket, Gigi walks a few
 ‘
paces and stops, taking
the room in before head-
ing straight for the large
window that leads to the
balcony. He stares up at
me, the badly drawn heart
stretching over his chest
It’s not fair
that a cat is
prettier than
‘
and disappearing in a a human.
squiggly line between his
front legs.
Once the window is
opened, Gigi disappears
into the mini jungle on
the enclosed balcony and
apart from a few visits to
stock up on food, he is
there for the rest of the
evening. That night he
sleeps with me, stretched
out by my side.
When I wake he is al-
ready up and playing and
cat toys are scattered all
over the living room. After
a fun-filled day involving she settles quickly. Before Over the next couple as Willow rests a paw on
lots of cuddles, balcony long she is letting me of days we have a suc- the side and knocks her
action and toy chasing, carry her to the window cession of visitors - Wil- purse, phone and bag of
Gigi is collected by his and curling up on my lap, low fans. It starts with my sweets onto the floor one
owner that evening. He is things she was reluctant to young cousin who is so by one. “It’s not fair that a
quite the character and I do when I was visiting for transfixed by Willow’s eyes cat is prettier than a hu-
am already looking for- just half an hour. that she barely notices man”, she squeals, as she
ward to the next visit. collects her stuff off of the
I arrive at Willows place floor, only for Willow to
on foot, she is of course knock it off again.
waiting at the window and Willow is quite happy
as usual, she runs past me to have an audience and
as I enter and scratches by the time she leaves a
the doormat with glee. few days later, she has
But this time I collect her collected more fans; the
kitty rucksack, gather neighbours turn up unan-
some food and a couple nounced and workmen
of her favourite toys and linger while she charms us
pop her in the specially all with her athleticism and
designed bag. Willow is gentle but cheeky nature.
coming home with me
until her owner returns in
a few days. She is a well
THE CAT FACTS:
travelled kitty and is com- The Notting Hill Cat Company
pletely silent as we make Pampering Your Pets While You Are Away
the short walk to my home. email: nottinghillcatcompany@gmail.com
web: www.nottinghillcatcompany.com
It’s not the first time Wil-
call: 0781 354 7461
low has stayed here and

J U LY 2 0 1 6 n C AT W O R L D
57

Feed their instincts
with hunting feeder
T
o be happy and healthy,
cats need to hunt, catch
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day and night. Doc & Phoebe
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It’s time to get rid of the cat
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Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunt-
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O To find out more about this
revolutionary system, please visit
www.pettradeinnovations.com
58 C AT W O R L D
LIFESTYLE
Help for pet owners
wanting to rent property
The new Purrfect Landlords campaign urges landlords to be
much more lenient when it comes to allowing cat owners
and their pets to rent their accommodation
t
he UK’s largest cat charity, Cats
Protection, is now offering land-
lords and letting agents free guid-
ance for renting to cat owners. The
aim is to help more people living in
rented housing to own a cat, reducing
the numbers of cats taken to rescue
centres each year.
It is currently very difficult for young
people to be able to afford the deposit
required to purchase a flat or house
and many more people are renting
property for several years. However,
a survey carried out on behalf of Cats
Protection earlier this year showed
that less that half (42%) of private
rented housing allows cats.
Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s Head
of Advocacy & Government Relations,
said: “More and more people are rent-
ing their homes either by choice or
necessity, yet very few rented proper-
ties accept cats. This means tenants
are missing out on being able to own a
cat, while landlords may be losing out
on attracting responsible and settled
tenants.”
It is well documented
that owning a pet helps
our mental wellbe-
ing, relieves stress and
encourages responsibil-
ity. With guidance from
the Purrfect Landlords
campaign, it is hoped that
tenancy agreements will
soon improve to reflect
modern day living.
BY JILL MUNDY
The new section on the Cats Pro-
tection website is full of advice and
reassurance for landlords and letting
agents and includes free download-
able legal wording that can be added
to tenancy agreements. This includes
such things as conditions that cats
in rented accommodation should
be neutered, vaccinated and micro-
chipped to ensure the cats are in the
best of health and unlikely to cause
any issues.
There is also advice for tenants who
wish to speak to their landlord about
the possibility of owning a cat.
Forced to give up their cat
The Purrfect Landlords campaign
and new website has been welcomed
by many people already affected by
the current trend to not allow cats into
rented accomodation.
Dilys Barnes, of Gorleston, Norfolk,
and her partner Steve are backing the
campaign after they were forced to
give up their own much-loved pet cat
Buster. The couple had
to hand Buster over to
Cats Protection in June
2018 when their land-
lord decided to sell
their property, leaving
them unable to find
new rented housing
which accepted cats.
Dilys said: “Every
single advert we saw
said ‘no pets’ and
 MEDICAL MYSTERY

‘ More and more people are

‘
renting their homes either
by choice or necessity, yet
very few rented properties
accept cats.

whenever we enquired, the answer
was always no. We were devastated
and the whole thing was very trau-
matic. We loved him dearly, yet had to
give him away, very much against our
wishes. It seems so unfair, as he was
our pet and no bother at all. We really
miss him.”
Other people shared Dilys’ anguish,
with several trying desperately for
around 18 months before finding suit-
able accommodation that would allow
them to have a cat, often in an area less
convenient for family and work com-
mitments.
Cats Protection volunteer Zoe Mc-
Millan and her boyfriend had to move
to a different town because it was the
only place they could find a home that
would accept their pet cat Rhaegar.
She said: “We looked at every op-
tion – house shares, flats, houses – but
couldn’t find anything at all in Brighton.
Eventually we found a property in a
different town, 10 miles away. It wasn’t
where we wanted to be, as it was away
from our circle of friends, but it was the
only property that had come up in 18
months that would accept pets, so we
took it.”
Zoe and her boyfriend were forced
to move back with their parents while
they searched for a suitable property,
which was not ideal and not everyone
has that option.
The other side
Mandy Boycott is a private landlord
from Yarm, North Yorkshire who does
welcome cats into her rental proper-
ties. In fact she is far more concerned
about other risks. “Cats
have never caused me any
concern and I’ve never had
any problem allowing ten-
ants to own them. I’m much
more concerned with the
damage to a property that
can be caused by smok-
ing than by anything a cat
could do. In my experi-
ence, people who own
cats are always lovely
people and that’s the sort
of tenant I’d like. I don’t feel the need
to ask for larger deposits or cleaning
fees, because I’ve never had any ex-
perience of cats causing any problems
whatsoever.”
At the moment, some landlords ask
for a deposit that is double the usual
amount if the owner wants to keep a
cat at their property and as this figure
can be around £4000 or more, it pre-
vents a lot of people from taking up
that property.
Hopefully the Purrfect Landlords
campaign will show landlords and
letting agents that allowing
owners with cats to rent
their properties is not
something they should
be refusing. In turn, this
will prevent some of the
hundreds of cats each
year being handed in to
cat rescue centres as a
result of the owners being
unable to find suitable liv-
ing accommodation where
they can keep them.

C AT W O R L D
59
 HEALTH

Infection discovered by
veterinary detective
Sometimes the root of a problem can be disguised as
something else; often, says Alison Logan, many things
need to be eliminated before the true cause is discovered

BY JILL MUNDY

C
ats have four paws because they
are quadripedal, as opposed to
humans who are bipedal and
therefore have two hands and
two feet. An understanding of Latin
reveals all: ‘bi-‘ and ‘quadri-‘ mean two
and four respectively; ‘-pedal’ derives
from the Latin word pes, pedis for foot.
This kitten, however, was decidedly
bipedal, sitting up on his haunches
and steadfastly refusing to bear weight
on his forelimbs. What was going on?
Scamp had moved in with his own-
ers only four days previously. Initially,
he had been in very good health,
doing everything one expects and
anticipates of a ten-week-old kitten.
All had changed this morning, when
it was quickly apparent that Scamp
was not right. He had refused his
breakfast and limped away from his
bowl to hide under a chair. It was self-
evident that there was a major prob-
lem. Scamp simply lay in his basket,
taking no interest in the strange sur-
roundings of my consulting room.
Looking for clues
I lifted him out and he flopped
onto the table top. He simply would
not, or could not, bear weight on his
forelimbs. I was unable to feel any
deformities or abnormal movements
when I manipulated and palpated
both his front legs but I had to be very
gentle because he really resented me
handling those legs.
The only other abnormal finding
from my detailed clinical examination
was a rectal temperature of 40.6 de-
grees Centigrade. Kittens tend to run
a little warmer than their adult coun-
terparts and, coupled with the anxiety
associated with a trip to the veterinary
practice, may yield a thermometer
reading up to a degree higher than the
normal of approximately 38 degrees
Centigrade. I often remark that you
know when a cat is feverish from the
lack of reaction to the positioning of a
thermometer up his or her backside!
Probable explanation
Of all the possible explanations
running through my head, which actu-
ally numbered only three or four, the
most likely was a severe viral infec-
tion which had homed in on the joints
of the forelimbs. The likely candidate cally considered as part of the group
would be our old friend calicivirus. of feline upper respiratory tract infec-
Although feline calicivirus is classi- tions, also known as cat ‘flu, it will also
Common features of calicivirus infection:
a) initially - depression
- watery eyes - fever
- conjunctivitis - reduced appetite or anorexia
- sneezing b) later stages – secondary
- watery nasal discharge bacterial infection
- ulceration within the mouth, espe- - purulent or snotty discharge from
cially the tongue, often leading to nose
excessive salivation - purulent ocular discharge
- unkempt coat from lack of groom- c) persistence
ing (due to oral ulceration and gen- - chronic inflammation within the
eral ill- health) oral cavity: stomatitis, gingivitis

60 C AT W O R L D

manifest as joint pain. The classical
picture is one of shifting lameness, the
affected cat being lame on different
limbs at different times. Anyone who
has had a dose of influenza will sym-
pathise with Scamp. The aching joints
are so uncomfortable, coupled with all
the other symptoms.
Taking to one’s bed is the only
course open to one – indeed, it is hard
to simply leave the bed. A commonly
quoted adage is that if you can leave
your bed to bring in the post, then you
have a common viral cold, not true
influenza!
Appropriate treatment
As any GP will tell a patient with ‘flu,
MEDICAL MYSTERY
there is no direct treatment for a viral
infection: one can only treat the symp-
toms. Antibiotics are only prescribed if
a secondary bacterial infection devel-
ops, which is a common complication
because the body’s immune defences
are themselves compromised by the
virus. The same is true for our feline
patients. Fortunately, there are now
painkillers suitable to give cats which
will help restore the body temperature
to the normal range and also alleviate
painful joints.
In Scamp’s case, my biggest prob-
lem was to convince his owners that it
was a viral illness from which he was
suffering, and not a physical injury.
To help me confirm my diagnosis, I
Symptomatic treatment
for cat ‘flu
O clean away discharges from
the eyes, nose and mouth
O encourage the loosening of
discharges by encouraging the
feline patient to be in the bath-
room when a hot bath has been
run
O hand-feed favourite and/or
smelly food
O syringe-feed favourite food
liquidised, or specific liquid diet
O ensure adequate fluid intake
O human decongestant rem-
edies adapted to suit the feline
patient – contents of inhalant
capsules or rub preparation
smeared onto bedding or even
a hair scrunchie placed around
neck like a collar (ensure will
not be snagged)
O discourage the cat from going
outside in order to avoid provid-
ing any temptation of hiding up
- provision of litter tray in acces-
sible place within the home
admitted him to assess his response
to treatment, working on the basis that
a physical injury would not improve
dramatically on treatment more suited
to a kitten with a viral infection.
Scamp was given intra-peritoneal
fluids and a carefully calculated dose
of analgesic (painkiller). He was bed-
ded down in a quiet corner with a
bowl of food to hand. An hour later,
there was a sight to behold: one kitten
standing on all four paws, crying to go
home. Diagnosis confirmed!
Scamp went on to make a smooth
and uneventful recovery over the
course of the next few days. It soon
became all too apparent when he
was feeling better, with a reversion to
all those games which kittens love so
much. Just like children, kittens rapidly
become lethargic but soon bounce
back with a vengeance. Scamp’s own-
ers were certainly glad he did not have
a fracture of some kind, as they had
been fearing.
C AT W O R L D
61
 theCAT WE SHOWCASE THE PURRFECT PRODUCTS FOR YOU & YOUR
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The design is printed on 100% cotton fabric; just fix in
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Price: £17.50; Gifts For a Girl www.giftsforagirl.co.uk

62 C AT W O R L D
TAL ST
R LOVED ONE
My First Chess Set
Join King Lion and Queen Tiger and their army of cats in their quest to con-
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The set includes 32 wooden animal pieces, all ready to battle it out on the
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Made of ceramic, the bowl is clawsome qual-kitty
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bowl…or a cat owner. Price: £7.99; MenKind.co.uk

C AT W O R L D
63

T
oby, my youngest cat, is a rescue
cat who I adopted more than five
years ago in the summer of 2013.
Very little was known about his
background other than he had been
found roaming the streets in an area
of Bury near to the town centre and
although somebody initially took him
in, they were unable to keep him as
they lived in rented accommodation
where the landlord did not allow pets.
Therefore, Toby ended up at the local
rescue shelter which at the time was
pretty full. So a friend of mine who
had just adopted a cat from them
suggested that they telephone me
to see if I would take him. Although I
was not looking for another cat (I had
previously owned three cats and as I
also have a weakness for Tabbies), it
did not take much persuasion for me
to agree to adopt him.
Indeed, one of the volunteers from
the shelter actually brought Toby to
my house and the moment I saw him,
I knew that I had to adopt him. He has
beautiful markings and an adorable
little face and I fell for him instantly.
Toby settled in well and although
he was initially rather hostile to Tib-
bles, my older tabby, eventually he
settled down and Tibbles and Toby
were soon comfortable compan-
ions. The arrival of Tilly, a beautiful
tortoiseshell, later that year, after
my oldest cat Molly passed away at
eighteen years of age, really helped
64 C AT W O R L D
FELINE FICTION
A tale about Toby and
making memories last
I have owned many cats over the years, all of them
making wonderful memories and they hold a special
place in my heart, none more so than Toby
BY LORRAINE SCHOFIELD
Toby to feel settled. As they were
both young cats and great playmates,
this seemed to help quell Toby’s
anxiety as he has always been a very
nervous and timid cat. I used to love
watching them chase after each other
down the lane behind my house and
they were definitely firm friends.
Sadly, in 2014, Tilly was killed on
the road outside my house which
brought a sudden and unexpected
end to Toby and Tilly’s friendship.
Subsequently, I adopted Mia, another
rescue cat, in 2014 but like Toby, she
is also nervous and anxious so that
even to this day they are wary of
each other and are not at all at ease
in each other’s company.
Ideas and ambition
Nevertheless, Toby’s background
as a former stray wandering the
streets intrigued me and I often won-
dered exactly where he had come
from; how he had come to be living
on the streets and also for how long?
Had he been cruelly abandoned? Or
had he perhaps run away from an un-
happy home? Of course, I will never
know the answer to these questions
but as I thought about him and his
past life it gave me an idea for a cat
fiction book which I had been hoping
to write for a while - and so I decided
to write a fictional story entitled
“Toby’s Tale”.
Initially, I planned only the begin-
ning of the story which starts with
Toby’s beloved owner, an elderly
Mrs Jones, having to enter a nurs-
ing home on account of ill health
so that when Toby learns that he is
to be re-homed with her daughter,
who keeps dogs, he decides that the
best option is to run away. I set the
story in Bury, my home town, with
the street name of Brick Street being
where my grandparents once lived.
Mrs Jones is a reference to my late
mother who always encouraged me
with my writing ambitions. In fact, I
decided that throughout the book I
would use some names which were
meaningful to me, so I also included
a tortoiseshell cat named Tilly as a
tribute to my tragic Tilly; also, Toby’s
best friend is a cat called Tiger which
is also a tribute to a beautiful Tabby
that I owned over twenty years ago
who unfortunately also died young in
tragic circumstances.
A neighbour’s cat, Archie, is also
given a mention and is described as
a handsome ginger Tabby although
sadly he too died only a year ago
on the roads. Even though this may
sound somewhat depressing, my
aim has been to pay a little tribute to
these special cats who I have had the
good fortune to know and love.
Learning the ropes
I have never written fiction before
and although I had a rough outline of
 FELINE FICTION

the story I was not quite sure of how it

would actually progress and ultimate-
ly conclude. Therefore, I decided to
write in small chunks and see where
the story took me. Although I write
my non-fiction articles directly onto
the lap top, I decided to write Toby’s
Tale in an A4 notebook. This worked
well because it meant I could take it
with me and write whenever I had a
few spare minutes.
I work as a private tutor and so I
am always busy, whether it is teach-
ing or preparing lessons so it made
sense that I should write little and
often whenever I had a few spare
moments. This gave me a lot of sat-
isfaction and although the process of
writing the story was slow, I felt like
I was achieving something as slowly
but surely I built up my story, devel-
oped new ideas and introduced new
characters. I wrote a lot about Toby’s
hopes and fears, describing how his
world had been turned upside down
by both the loss of his owner and also
his comfortable home.
I hope that readers will be able to
empathise with Toby’s dilemma and
see it from a cat’s perspective. Indeed,
one of the things that I love about
animals is that they value the simple
things in life and instinctively know
what is important which is namely a
loving owner and a comfortable place
to live. Throughout the story Toby
faces many tough times and challeng- publisher I approached did in fact hours my e-book was available online
es but also has some positive experi- offer to publish it for me but at a cost to download. It was a wonderful feel-
ences as a stray, especially in the way to myself of nearly two thousand ing to log onto Amazon and see my
that he makes new bonds with kind pounds. These types of publishers, I Toby’s handsome face gracing the
hearted people who only have his have discovered, are known as ‘vanity front cover of my book and I am im-
best interests at heart. Furthermore, publishers’ who will publish books at mensely proud of him.
because of his zest for life and fight- a considerable cost to the author, fol- Only time will tell whether my
ing spirit, Toby manages to overcome lowing which I am told that they often book is a commercial success but
the obstacles that he faces and carve do very little in terms of advertising whatever the outcome, I have felt a
out a new future for himself. and marketing the book. Therefore, I great sense of personal satisfaction in
decided that best way of getting into seeing my book online. Moreover, it
Fine tuning print was to self publish Toby’s Tale will always serve as a lasting tribute
Once I had written the story I as an e-book and make it available to my Toby, who really is a brave,
then began the rather long process on Amazon’s Kindle Store. Fortunately, adorable and very special little cat.
of editing it and typing it up into a although I am by no means a master
word document so that I could send of technology, I found the process O Toby’s Tale is available as an e-book
it to potential publishers. The first very straightforward and within 24 now, from Amazon

C AT W O R L D
65
 CONFESSIONS
of a CAT LOVER
AS HIS CATS DON’T MIND THE VET’S WAITING ROOM, TIM RELF CAN BECOME DISTRACTED BEING
CHARMED BY THE OTHER ANIMALS AND DREAMING OF OWNING EVEN MORE PETS
P
arsley has one less
tooth. The opera-
tion to remove the
fang in question passed
without hitch. The most dif-
ficult aspect for her of the
whole episode was not be-
ing able to eat for 12 hours
beforehand. For a cat such
as Parsley who adores her
food, this was serious.
She had to forego
breakfast on the day of the
op, plus dinner the night
before. Such fasting made
her indignant, angry and
confused. She obviously
wondered if we’d decided
to take radical measures to
trim a little weight off her
and tried various tactics
to extract a meal from us.
She sat by her bowl. She
paced in front of the food
cupboard. She followed
me around the house. She
66 C AT W O R L D
ignored me. She yowled
in a way clearly intended
to suggest maltreatment to
the neighbours or passers-
by.
Parsley miaowed pretty
much non-stop from 6pm
until 9pm then gave up
and went and sat on a
windowsill upstairs and
sulked. Her demands for
food began again early the
next morning with par-
ticular vehemence. In fact,
the wailing started about
4am and continued almost
uninterrupted until she was
bundled unceremoniously
into her carrying box and
transported to the vets.
Thankfully, the journey
to the surgery was straight-
forward. She doesn’t mind
the car. If anything, the
noise of the engine and
the gentle rocking motion
calm her down. She either
sleeps or occasionally
peers forward through the
windscreen like a feline
co-driver.
She even doesn’t object
to the vet’s waiting room.
I find them incredibly
friendly places, too. Gen-
erally observed rules of
social etiquette go out the
window. Normally reserved
people cast off their inhibi-
tions. I live on the edge of
London, I often travel on
the underground, I’m used
to people standing and sit-
ting a few inches away and
staring straight through me
as if I don’t exist. No one
ever talks to strangers in
this part of the world. But
in vets’ waiting rooms, we
break into spontaneous
conversation. It’s like the
blitz spirit. ‘Hello, how are
you?’ we’ll ask. ‘Who have
you got in there then?’.
‘What’s he/she in for?’
We’ll trade compliments
about each other’s charges.
I’m not a dog person but
I even find myself looking
fondly at the assortment of
pooches I encounter. One
or two of them, it has to
be said, eye Nutmeg and
Parsley with a gaze that
more says ‘dinner’ than
‘fondness’ but I can forgive
them that. It’s instinct. Plus,
my cats do the same when
they see a hamster or a
guinea pig. ‘They want to
be friends,’ one lady said to
me, when she noticed Nut-
meg staring particularly
wide-eyed at her hamster.
Bless her. Forming a last-
ing friendship was the last
thing on Nutmeg’s mind.
She was planning an early
supper.
The problem with visit-
ing the vets, other than the
acute pains I get in my wal-
let, is that it makes me want
to get more pets. More cats
(a ginger one is definitely
high on our shopping list)
and even a dog. Isabel
and I have talked about
the possibility of introduc-
ing a mutt into our house
but there are two principal
problems. One is that we
both work and we’d have to
reorganise our days to ac-
commodate the pooch. The
second is how Nutmeg and
Parsley would take it. Peo-
ple tell me if you get a dog
when it’s young, cats cope
just fine. They say it would
be small and subservient
and the cats could be what
they need to be - domi-
nant. But I’m not so sure.
It’s not that I think they’d be
bullied or scared. They’d
just have their noses put
out of joint. I wouldn’t be
surprised if they moved
out in a fit of pique. There
are lots of cat lovers on our
road. I fear they’d have a
new home before you can
say ‘custody battle’.
Parsley’s operation,
incidentally, passed without
problems. She was in and
out in less than 12 hours.
I was expecting her to be
slightly groggy when she
returned home and to have
that post-anaesthetic wob-
bly walk but she was fine.
A little more needy than
normal but fine. She went
straight to the kitchen and
demanded food, clearly
trying to make up for lost
time.
We were resolute and
didn’t give her any extra.
No way. I’d read about a cat
in America called Bud-
dha, which had reached
31lbs. Dubbed Nashville’s
‘morbidly obese cat’, he
was put on rations and an
exercise regime which
included wading on a part-
submerged water treadmill
(apparently he doesn’t
mind the water and it sup-
ported his bulk and helped
protect his joints). Appar-
ently the goal was to slim
him down to 20lbs, at which
point he’d be re-homed.
As regards the list of
possible additional pets
we’re considering, a dog A mid-size pet like a rab- man in the house, for start- We’ve never let them
seems the best alternative. bit would confuse Nutmeg ers, and she likes new men. before because completely
Fish are boring and the and Parsley. I’m not sure She flirts round him all day, unsupervised, they’d be
cats would inevitably even- they’d know how to react clambering over assorted even more likely to dam-
tually catch them. We’ve to it - whether to treat it as bathroom fixtures and fit- age the furniture but I’ve
got two in a small pond in friend of foe. tings like they’re an ad- resigned myself to having
the garden and the cats will They don’t share their venture playground. It also lost that particular battle.
sit for hours staring into the space with animals very means, because much of Stopping cats do what they
water. I’d be bound to leave well but they adore human the house has resembled want to do is like trying to
the lid of the tank open if visitors. We’ve been having a builder’s storage yard, turn back the tide. I figure
we had fish indoors and the bathroom replaced that they’ve got to sleep in they might as well scratch
come back one night to this month and it’s been the lounge at night, which it in the night as in the day.
find fins and scales every- the most exciting time for they’ve been angling for At least we won’t have to
where. Nutmeg. She’s had a new ever since they arrived. watch them doing it.

C AT W O R L D
67

APPCC marks
25 years
A major announcement in the pet funerals
industry reveals private pet crematoriums
are to face compulsory inspections
C
ompulsory,
independent
inspections
are to be in-
troduced for Asso-
ciation of Private Pet
Cemeteries and Cre-
matoria members
in what has been
described as the biggest
ever development in the pet
funeral world.
The announcement was
made by the APPCC at its
25th anniversary celebra-
tions. The £14,000 cost of
the inspections will be met
by the organisation which,
since 1993, has been setting
international standards for
the respectful handling of
pets after they die.
Pet crematorium and
cemetery owners will have
their operating and market-
ing procedures minutely
examined to ensure they
meet the strict APPCC code
of practice and are comply-
ing with consumer protec-
tion regulations. Overseas
members will be required
to provide video and pho-
tographic evidence of how
they collect, handle, store
and cremate animals.
Stephen Mayles, vice-
chair of the association, said:
68 C AT W O R L D
FUNERAL CARE
BY JILL MUNDY
“This is the biggest
development in
the pet cremation
sector to date. The
cost of introduc-
ing the mandatory
inspection system is
money well spent. It
is there to help you
to ensure your business is
running properly, legally
and working to the same
level.”
Chairman Nick Ricketts
believes the association’s
work has never been so crit-
ical, given the ‘corporisa-
tion’ of the veterinary world
over the past five years.
“This shift has seen small
private veterinary clinics
bought up by national com-
panies which often keep the
old name of the surgery and
don’t tell the clients about
the takeover. The public
doesn’t realise that some of
these large vet groups are
doing high volume, low-cost
deals with crematoria chains
to offer a very basic level of
service at an inflated price.
“Pet owners could
therefore be inadvertently
missing out on the services
of their local APPCC opera-
tor who is bound by a strict
code of practice governing
transportation, handling
and the meticulous care of
ashes.”
Mr Ricketts believes
many people would be
shocked to learn that the pet
funeral industry is still only
regulated from the per-
spective of waste disposal
legislation.
“The grim truth is re-
mains of much loved pets
may legally end up on a
landfill site. Even if it has
been left at the vets after
it has been euthanised, it
doesn’t automatically fol-
low that the animal will be
handled with the respect the
owner might expect. It could
be taken on its final journey
with lots of other animals, all
piled in plastic bags on top
of each other in the back of
a van. The end destination
is often a giant crematorium
operating on an industrial
scale, many miles away.
“That’s fine if people
know this is what could hap-
pen, but often they don’t.”
The APPCC code of
practice sets it apart in the
industry. Transparency is
fundamental and the cre-
mation process must be
described in detail.
“Many pet owners are not
made aware of the options.
Now more than ever they
need to ask lots of questions
about the way their animals
will be treated.”
Among those present at
the celebrations were five
founder members of the AP-
PCC. Their inaugural meet-
ing was held on February
21, 1993 at a hotel in Walsall.
Recalling the meeting, Mr
Ricketts said: “At the time
of the first meeting we were
encountering a lot of red
tape because local au-
thorities were dealing with
a relatively new phenom-
enon in pet cremations. That
led to the formation of the
association. We drew up a
code of conduct to deal with
officialdom and to provide a
united front amid competi-
tion from big operatives. It
was a modest start but 25
years later we are interna-
tionally respected.”
Looking to the future, Mr
Spurgeon added: “We need
to re-build relationships
with vets by holding open
days and stressing to them
the ethics of the APPCC, its
code of practice and our
independent inspections.”
To find your local APPCC
member visit appcc.org.uk

A BIT OF YIN AND YANG
Sometimes we need to see both sides of a situation to appreciate the good but
trying to get a couple of felines to understand this is no easy task
T
oday I took my two cats
Sapphire and Sheba to the
vets for their annual booster
vaccinations. Going to the vets is a
journey that we all hate – but it has
to be done. Sapphire is a big black
cat with a beautiful shiny coat, and
Sheba is small, stunning and pure
grey (Like the cat in the advert).
They both have a little white un-
der their chins and are half sisters,
aged nine. Sheba was on the front
seat next to me on my mother’s lap
and Sapphire was in her basket on
the back seat. They both miaowed
a duet at the tops of their voices
in protest all the way there. All the
car windows were open as the sun
scorched in. The cats were hot and
cross and I’m sure everyone around
could hear their loud unrelenting
miaows.
“Just be thankful you’re not on
the bus with them” my mother said
helpfully.
“The cats must think I’m horri-
ble”, I said. “It’s ok, darlings. We’re
nearly there. I feel so awful that I
can’t explain to them what is hap-
FELINE LIFE
BY CATHERINE POOL
pening. Poor Sapphire was resting
under the tree in the sunshine and
Sheba was curled up in her bed
when I disturbed them both and put
them reluctantly in their baskets.”
“They’ve got to have a little rain in
their lives, - to prepare them for the
storms” my mother replied. “A bit of
Yin & Yang – a bit of balance.”
I found my mother’s words quite
touching and comforting and while
I reflected upon her wise words, we
were all relieved to arrive outside
the vets.
In the cool waiting room the mi-
aowing stopped and Sapphire and
Sheba were very subdued. Sheba
had been panting earlier – but the
vet later told me that panting in cats
is a form of a little panic attack.
We were called in to see the vet
quite quickly. After the struggle at
home to get them into the baskets,
now neither cat wanted to come out!
Once on the table, both my cats be-
haved beautifully and I was proud of
them. They both passed their health
check, were weighed and given
their important Boosters for cat flu,
feline enteritis and leukaemia, given
worming tablets and had their nails
clipped. (And I bought their flea
treatment on the way out - when
the cats weren’t looking! Sapphire
and Sheba don’t like ‘Flea Treatment
Day’ either - but it is so important to
administer it a week after the worm-
ing tablet).
My two ‘Little Dears’ were very
quiet on the way home and it was
a big relief all round. Once home,
Sapphire and Sheba flopped down
on the living room floor, cooling and
calming down before their tea.
“Well done, Girls,” I said. “That
wasn’t so bad, was it and it’s a good
job done for another year. You can
both go out in the sunshine again
now if you want to - but remember,
you need a little rain in your lives
sometimes, don’t you darlings?”
Sadly, since writing this article,
Catherine had to make the very
difficult decision to have Sheba put
to sleep as she had severe kidney
failure. The article is published in her
memory.
C AT W O R L D
69
 NATURAL
TUR L
HEALTH
EA TH
As this is the season of overindulging, Richard Allport gets to
the bottom of how eating too much, being inactive and eating
the wrong diet can affect our pets’ health
I
f you don’t mind, we’ll
concentrate this month on
bottoms and see where
this subject takes us. Cats’ rear
ends in fact and, to be precise,
cats’ anal glands.
I was always taught as a vet-
erinary student that dogs get anal
gland blockages very easily but
cats don’t. I have had two cats
referred to me in recent years for
‘chronic eczema at the base of
the tail’ that were simply cats with
blocked anal glands trying to chew
their nether regions. Apart from
these two, I see many cats - often
referred for other problems entirely
- that have very full anal glands and
in need of a good, hearty squeeze
of their derrieres.
The question is - why do cats ap-
pear to be more prone to anal gland
problems these days? Let’s start
with the function of the glands. Just
why do cats have anal glands and
what are they for?
The anal glands, or anal sacs
to be quite precise, are two small
cavities, one on either side of the
anus, which are connected to the
exterior at two small openings
which (if you really want to look at
your cat’s bottom up close) you can
see quite clearly. The two glands
produce a secretion which is
(to our noses) quite smelly
and offensive. The secretion is
produced more or less continu-
ously, so that if the glands do
not empty regularly, the secretion
will build up inside the glands and
(not unnaturally) will cause pain and
discomfort.
Dogs that have blocked anal
glands are frequently seen to rub
their bottoms on the ground, often
known as ‘scooting’. Cats rarely
seem to do this; more often they will
try to lick or nibble at or near the of-
fending area - and around the flanks
or base of the tail. Maybe that’s as
near as they can get, especially if
they are of a somewhat portly per-
suasion.
Assuming the glands do empty
successfully - why does this happen
and what’s the point anyway? Logi-
cally, to empty the glands, some sort
of pressure is required and this is
usually provided by the act of evac-
uating the bowels. Although defeca-
tion is the ‘normal’ way of emptying
the glands, a sudden shock or fright
will also cause them to empty, invol-
untarily. The sudden contraction of
muscles in the area in response to
the ‘fright or flight’ reflex will cause
a rapid emptying. This is why dogs
and cats often produce an unpleas-
ant smell after a sudden shock - the
smell coming from the anal gland
secretion.
And the function of this strange,
smelly secretion? It appears no-one
knows for certain but it’s assumed to
be a form of scenting signal. Pre-
sumably each cat has his or her own
personal anal scent, so other cats
in the area will have a good idea of
who else is in the neighbourhood.
But let’s get back to the central
question: why do glands block up
and stop functioning normally?
Despite the fact that anal glands are
such a common cause of problems
in both cats and dogs, I’ve never
seen much, if any, research into the
factors that might trigger their prob-
lems. My own views about the likely
causes indicate four main items:
Diet
Obesity
Exercise
Bowel dysfunction
Diet
In the wild, cats will eat mice,
birds and various other members
of the smaller British fauna. This
includes fur, feathers, bones, in-
nards; all are grist to the mill. Such a
diet will tend to produce firm, fairly
bulky faeces, which will be likely to
provide the appropriate pressure
to empty the glands. Modern cat
diets, mainly tinned and dried, very
processed and virtually pre-digest-
ed foods, don’t contain the bits of
bones, gristle and fur that bulk out
the faeces in the same way. Which
is, of course, another argument in
favour of feeding cats on real meat,
vegetables and raw bones – much
more like the natural diet and
healthier too.
Apart from the pressure needed
to empty the glands, another fac-
tor in ‘easy emptying’ is the type
of secretion produced. Anal gland
secretions can vary in colour and
consistency; from pale yellow to
dark brown, from thin and watery
to thick and tarry. Obviously a thick,
viscous secretion is more difficult to
empty from the glands. Again, I have
seen no research at all into what
controls the type of discharge but
my guess would be that the more
‘natural’ the diet, the more ‘normal
and emptyable’ the secretion.
anal gland problems so easily. It is a
little more than that, though.
As exercising tones muscles, a
well-exercised cat will be more
likely to have the muscle strength
and tone in the anal area to enable
the glands to be emptied. Now, I do
appreciate, you can’t take your cat
to the local gym and expect him to
do the rounds of the treadmill, the
weights and a quick 15 lengths of
the swimming pool. But you can
encourage plenty of chasing games,
hide food and toys for search and
recovery; anything which stimulates
activity and agility should be posi-
tively followed.
Bowel dysfunction
The anal glands empty with the
“Anything which stimulates activity and agility
should be positively followed.”
pressure of normal defecation. So,
not surprisingly, cats that have per-
sistent or recurrent diarrhoea are
more liable to anal gland problems,
because there is not enough pres-
sure from the soft or watery faeces
to empty the glands properly.
Conversely, a constipated cat will
not be producing faeces regularly
enough to empty the glands. So
regular bowel movements are very
important for healthy anal glands.
This means that, yet again, the cor-
rect diet is vital to produce good,
normal, regular bowel movements. It
also means that if your cat does
suffer a lot from either diarrhoea or
constipation, your vet may need to
check the anal glands from time to
time to ensure they are not blocked.

Obesity
Simply, the fatter cats are, the
more prone they are to a whole
range of health problems, including
constipation and anal gland block-
age. In a sense, of course, this is
related to the previous factor, since
the wrong diet, or too much of the
right diet, will make cats fat.
Without wishing to belabour the
point, modern diets are often far too
high in calories, too rich in fats, and
are far too digestible to do anything
other than promote obesity. So your
vet then has to sell you an expensive
weight-controlling food to try and
undo the harm the original diet has
done. All you really had to do was
provide a good, healthy diet in the
first place.

Exercise
Well, it’s all part of the same thing,
really! If cats exercise more, they
won’t get so fat and won’t tend to get
 GORDY ME
ELAINE MEAD SHARES HER EXPERINCES OF LIVING WITH A CHALLENGING SPECIAL NEEDS CAT
When the kittens came to stay…a forgotten promise led to a few weeks of
reorganisation and readjustment for everyone in our busy household
A
pparently I had agreed...but
I had obviously forgotten…to
welcome into our house Tiny,
the terrier dog who belongs
to my son’s girlfriend, and to feed
their three little kittens, Maggie (after
Maggie Thatcher!) a tabby cat with
beautiful markings who is seven
months old and Reggie and Ronnie
(yes you guessed it, after the Kray
twins), two jet black siblings of four
months old. My son and his girl-
friend were away for the weekend
and I was supposed to be just pop-
ping in to feed these three adorable
bundles of mischief but after driving
the five miles to where they live a
few days before to ‘meet everyone’,
I was at once completely and totally
head over heels and gooey eyed
and decided that there was no way
I would be comfortable visiting for
at best an hour a day, leaving them
to their own devices for the other 23
hours. I would worry they had got
into trouble with wires and closed
doors. As they were yet to go outside
they were quite happy to be inside
at my house, where I could keep a
watchful eye on them 24/7.
My son moved out earlier this
year and I set about turning his room
into my ‘indoor studio’, so it seemed
a good idea that the kittens would
have this space as their ‘base’. I had
every intention of letting them out
to mingle with the rest of the gang
at some point over the three days
they were with us. That never hap-
pened.....
My two Golden Retrievers, Izabel
and Defi, just accepted that Tiny
72 C AT W O R L D n J U N E 2 0 1 6
&
wasn’t going home as my son drove
away after dropping them off. Both
dogs have been through visitors and
new ‘inmates’ to the house many
times before so another ‘guest’ was
not a problem. Although Iz did roll
her eyes at the kittens as they were
carried through the house and to the
upstairs room. We decided it would
be a good idea to introduce the kit-
tens to Miss ‘Mudge who had been
asleep on our bed until the noise
of the new arrivals. One look at the
kittens and her eyes widened to the
size of saucers and she flew off the
bed, down the stairs and out the cat
flap faster than you could say ‘Hi
‘Mudge’.
After settling the kittens into my
studio we pottered about like the
middle aged married couple we are
for the rest of the Friday afternoon,
letting the dogs get used to the idea
that they were going to be together
for a bit. Tiny was a little anxious as
this was the first time she had been
left with us on her own but she soon
settled and rather enjoyed the atten-
tion.
The first meal time was interest-
ing. Gordy, as normal wandered
into the kitchen and Miss ‘Mudge
came in from outside with the look
of thunder on her face at her home
being ‘not as it should be’ - but she
is ruled by food, so in she came and
sat in her place in the hall. Gordy
didn’t notice Tiny, despite Tiny danc-
ing around as terrier dogs do, eager
to ensure she was getting a dinner.
Freddy Bear didn’t come back for
tea but this is not unusual when the
weather is nice; he still likes to let
me know he is an independent crea-
ture and hears ‘the call of the wild’
from his days as a stray.
Miss ‘Mudge ate her dinner with
one eye glaring through the glass
kitchen door at Tiny. As soon as she
had eaten she was back out that cat
flap with enough noise to wake the
dead... just so I knew she was still
displeased. I popped upstairs to
check on the kittens who had settled
in beautifully; all three were on the
window sill watching the horses in
the field. They were mesmerised.
They live on a small housing estate
so seeing horses and hearing cows
must have been very interesting.
As soon as they heard the door
they started purring, all three of
them. It was a symphony of purrs. I
re-filled their food dish – they had
dried kitten food – and gave them
yet more water and emptied their
litter box. Little did I realise that this
was the order of the days to come. I
have never had kittens. Miss ‘Mudge
and her still much missed brother
Simmy Cat were the youngest cats
we have ever had, at seven months
old - so about the same age as
Maggie. But ‘Mudge and Simmy Cat
were a bit more worldly wise as they
had been let out by their previous
owner. Gordy is a forever kitten but
not being a ‘real cat’ he doesn’t have
the boundless energy these three
had. Reggie and Ronnie seemed so
tiny and fragile to me, although over
the course of their stay the crashing
and breaking of some things in my
studio room ,as they knocked them
off the side to see if they would fly,
soon proved they were pretty robust
terrors clothed in soft snuggly fur to
fool the human in charge.
Freddy Bear came in around 9pm
and after jumping over Tiny, who was
asleep on the sofa with my husband,
he settled on the top of the fish tank
for a snooze, only then waking up
and realising that Tiny was even in
the house. Miss ‘Mudge came in and
was just furious. She spent the entire
weekend glaring at all of us. She was
not amused. Gordy just carried on as
if nothing was out of the ordinary.
The kittens were getting wise:
they heard you coming up the stairs
and ambushed you at the door. They
perfected the art of standing one on
top of each other so when the door
opened, the top two could shoot out
between your legs and go off and
explore. They were quick but they
responded well to the shaking of
the food box! My studio room was
beginning to smell with the litter box
in there and the door shut but I told
myself it was only for a couple of
days. I seriously under-estimated the
stink three little bums could create.
Back downstairs Tiny had wan-
dered over to Gordy and was nudg-
ing him to move up in his radiator
bed. Gordy just looked at Tiny and
curled up and went back to sleep.
The weekend progressed this way
with Miss ‘Mudge thawing just
enough to be in the same room in the
evening with all of us, including Fred-
dy Bear on the fish tank, although
her body language still gave off the
‘leave me alone I am not amused’
vibe. Tiny never once went near Miss
‘Mudge but then if I was visiting, I
don’t think I would have either.
Freddy Bear interested me the
most over this weekend. Having
been a big bruiser stray who still
retained his penchant for killing eve-
rything that he could, I have often re-
marked that Freddy Bear has learnt
to be ‘an indoor cat’ from Gordy. He
is the fastest cat we have ever known
to accept living with dogs with no
problems, in fact the dogs have
more of a problem as Freddy Bear
has watched Gordy just walk all over
them and assumed that this is what
you do, so he does the same.
The funniest thing I have ever
seen between a cat and a dog hap-
pened on Sunday afternoon. By
now Tiny was already up to speed
with the routine and was completely
relaxed in our home. We had a
lovely walk in the morning and were
just ‘chilling’ out to the background
noise of the kittens upstairs. Tiny had
tried to coerce Gordy into a game of
chase but Gordy had just given a lit-
tle hiss and sat down to glare at Tiny.
It was at this point that Freddy Bear
came in to the kitchen. Tiny was
stood in the middle of the room, hav-
ing been put in her place by Gordy,
and Freddy Bear came up and just
starting rubbing up and down all
over her. She stood stock still, rooted
to the spot and looked at me for
help. Freddy Bear was purring and
weaving, stopping poor Tiny from
moving away; each time she tried
to side step him, he got louder with
the purring and rubbed some more.
Tiny didn’t know what to do. Cats
are supposed to run away and glare
at you.. just like Miss ‘Mudge.. but
Freddy Bear has learnt from Gordy
and Gordy doesn’t run from dogs
in his house: in his house you treat
them like a doormat and just walk all
over them!
J U N E 2 0 1 6 n C AT W O R L D
73
 SHOW DATES CLUB EVENTS FOR YOU DIARY
GCCF
DECEMBER
DECEMBER 08
National Cat Club
Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot
Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE
Tonkinese Breed Club
Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot
Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE
Rex Cat Association
Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot
Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE
Sphynx Cat Club
Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot
Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE
DECEMBER 15
Maidstone & Medway Cat Club
Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot
Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE
JANUARY 2019
JANUARY 05
Eastern Longhair & Semi Longhair
Cat Club
Wodsdon Park Leisure Centre,
Wadesmill Road, Ware,
Hertfordshire SG12 0UQ
Capital Long Hair Cat Association
Wodsdon Park Leisure Centre,
Wadesmill Road, Ware,
Hertfordshire SG12 0UQ
Exotic Cat Society
Tydd St Giles Community Centre,
Broad Drove East, Wisbech,
Cambridgeshire PE13 5LN
74 C AT W O R L D
Russian and Abyssinian
Cat Club of Scotland
Rutherglen United Reformed Church,
Johnstone Dr., Rutherglen,
Glasgow G73 2QA
Scottish Cat Club
Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility,
1 O’Donnel Way, Motherwell,
ML1 2TZ
JANUARY 13
Cameo Pewter & Smoke Society
Gnosall Village Hall, Lowfield Lane,
Gnosall, Stafford ST20 0ET
JANUARY 19
Colourpoint Cat Club
Grange Hall, Coventry Road,
Southam CV47 1QA
Colourpointed British
Shorthair Cat Club
Sports Connexion Leisure Club
& Venue, Leamington Road,
Coventry CV8 3FL
Egyptian Mau Society
Sports Connexion Leisure Club
& Venue, Leamington Road,
Coventry CV8 3FL
La Perm Cat Club
Sports Connexion Leisure Club
& Venue, Leamington Road,
Coventry CV8 3FL
Short Haired Cat Society
Sports Connexion Leisure Club
& Venue, Leamington Road,
Coventry CV8 3FL
Snowshoe Cat Society
Sports Connexion Leisure Club
& Venue, Leamington Road,
Coventry CV8 3FL
Midshires Siamese Cat Association
Sports Connexion Leisure Club
& Venue, Leamington Road,
Coventry CV8 3FL
TICA UK
JANUARY 05-06 2019
LondonCats, Leatherhead, Surrey

Christmas is coming
and we shall have fun!
From the first card to fall through the letter box, to the
tantalisingly tempting tree decorations, the festive season
means fun and games for the boys
t
here’s an air of excitement in the
house as Christmas draws near
and the Siamese boys are enjoy-
ing every minute of it! The Sia-
mese duo enjoy being sociable and
they are never happier than when the
doorbell rings and friends and family
call in. Tanni relishes his job as meet
and greeter while Pasha keeps an eye
on the proceedings and when Tanni
gets too excited he is ready to move in
and give Tanni a big brotherly nip. Just
to put him in his place.
As cards are posted through the
letter box Pasha and Tanni race one
another to get there first. But it’s when
parcels arrive that the Siamese contin-
gent get most excited. Naturally they
think all these parcels are for them.
Very often they are right!
Mostly they are more interested in
the packaging than in the contents and
can spend hours playing with an emp-
ty cardboard box. Meanwhile we Cat
Mums spend ages looking in the shops
and searching on-line for exciting new
toys for our much loved darlings.
Then there is the eagerly awaited
arrival of the Christmas tree. Well two
in fact as one is placed outside in the
porch, easily visible from the cat tree
positioned in the hall. But it’s the indoor
tree which is the most fun! Again I can
almost hear them thinking ‘why has
she brought a tree from the garden
indoors? Humans can be very strange!’
I have learnt to place a few cat toys
and tempting ribbons and things for
PASHA & TANNI
BY INGRID HOOPER
cats on the lower branches of the
tree. This prevents them from climb-
ing higher up to pat the baubles and
other decorations. At least that’s the
theory. Though judging by how quickly
Pasha climbed up the new wood and
panelled door in the living room a
few weeks back I could, of course, be
proved wrong. Outside in the garden
Pasha clambers up trees and takes a
flying leap and sails through the air
like a squirrel. Perhaps it is just a mat-
ter of time before he does the same
with the Christmas tree!
Tanni is much more cautious, prefer-
ring to amuse himself by stretching
up and patting anything shiny which
catches his eye.
The build up to Christmas is so
much fun that sometimes, come the Big
Day, Pasha and Tanni can be complete-
ly pooped out. Just like we humans!
Though they don’t have the excuse of
writing cards, shopping for presents
and then the big supermarket shop.
That’s without having to get up early to
start preparing the Christmas dinner.
As we head for New Years Eve I try
to get the Siamese boys excited about
the prospect of a new year. But invari-
ably, just before Big Ben strikes, they
will have fallen asleep and will resent
being woken up. Or they will have
positioned themselves like book ends,
staring up at us reprovingly for keep-
ing them up so late. Much as I try to
interest them in the striking of Big Ben
and then the fireworks, they don’t even
try to hide their boredom. You can
almost hear them thinking ‘you’ll pay
for this partying tomorrow, you silly
humans!’.
As we glide into the new year I en-
courage the Siamese duo to join us in
listening to the New Year Concert from
Vienna. For a short time they will hu-
mour us. Tanni will listen to most music
out of politeness if nothing else. Pasha
has a disliking for opera. As soon as he
hears a soprano he heads for the door
and disappears.
Pasha and Tanni wish all their read-
ers a very happy and healthy New
Year!
Follow Pasha & Tanni’s kitten
adventures on their blog at
www.CatsHaveStaff.co.uk
Cats Have Staff – The Saffi & Misa
Diaries by Ingrid Hooper is available
from the above website or from
Amazon. Out now in paperback and
Kindle.
C AT W O R L D
75
 ASK
the
EXPERTS
LET THE CATWORLD TEAM OF EXPERTS HELP WITH YOUR PROBLEMS
Prone to an upset tum A: Vaccines can cause mild stom-
Q: I have a four-month-old kitten ach upsets in kittens and occasion-
who I acquired about a month ago. ally in older cats too. Kittens are
Shortly after I got Stella she suffered normally given two, sometimes
an upset stomach. The vet pre- three, sets of vaccinations so it would
scribed antibiotics and probiotics be interesting to know if the first
for gastro-enteritis and Stella was occurrence closely followed a vac-
soon fine. cination too. The timing sounds right
However, she has just suffered - first inoculations are usually given
another bout and I was concerned at around 12 weeks then the second
to see her passing loose, sometimes about a month later. If you agree
slightly bloody stools once again. with the timings and you feel the
Now I’m wondering if this is some- vaccinations could be responsible
thing Stella will always be prone to on both occasions Stella has had an
or if it’s normal for kittens to have upset stomach, then it would be ad-
sensitive stomachs. I’m also wonder- visable to watch her carefully when
ing if it is connected to her booster she has her third and future boosters
vaccine which the vet gave her a few and take precautions.
days ago. Giving the homeopathic remedy
76 C AT W O R L D n J U N E 2 0 1 6
Thuja just before and after vacci-
nations seems to help reduce the
risk of side effects. Richard Allport
suggests Thuja (6c potency) three
times a day for two days before and
three days after vaccination - but do
discuss your intentions with your vet
before doing so.
Slippery Elm is a herbal treatment
that soothes and relieves the inflam-
mation in the digestive tract so this
could be ideal too. It can be found
in various forms - tablets, powders,
etc - and you should be able to find
formulations for pets with appro-
priate directions. Probiotics, the
‘good’ bacteria you mention, may be
worthwhile giving to your kitten long
term until she becomes an adult.
While the vaccination theory
seems to be the most likely cause,
if the problem continues to recur,
speak to your vet as investigations
may be needed to check for any
underlying infections or allergies for
instance.
Anyone with a cat who has expe-
rienced a similar upset stomach in
reaction to a vaccine should always
be vigilant at booster time. The mini-
mum number of vaccines should be
given - that is, only those which are
absolutely necessary to maintain
protection against diseases the cat is
likely to be in contact with.
Does she have an allergy?
Q: My seven-year-old cat has sud-
denly started pulling out her fur
and actually has bald patches on
her legs…could this be caused by
something she’s regularly in contact
with?
A: It sounds very much as if your
cat is reacting to the presence of
fleas by overgrooming. Usually
this is directed at the insides of the
thighs and the tummy and leads to
fur thinning and ultimately baldness.
However, the incessant clean-
ing makes it almost impossible to
find any signs of fleas and identify-
ing fleas as the underlying cause
is often by exclusion, i.e. strict flea
control on all household pets plus
the environment may well result in
fur re-growth.
Do ensure that you eliminate
every possible source of fleas. By
this I mean that you must leave no
corner untreated. It is not just the
areas of the home where your cat
spends time which need treatment -
we carry fleas around in our clothes,
the eggs under our shoes and of
course we mustn’t forget that fleas
can jump!
It is also foolish to assume that
fleas are only a problem in the sum-
mer months - all year round protec-
tion is required to keep a cat clear of
fleas and their eggs.
Should strict flea control not
improve the situation, it would be
advisable to take your cat to be ex-
amined by your veterinary surgeon.
Diet food doesn’t fill him up
Q: Our lovely rescue cat Benjamin
is getting on a bit now and has put
on a little weight in recent years. We
have been feeding him a ‘light’ ver-
sion of a branded cat food and our
vet recently advised us to feed him
less of it. However he just doesn’t
seem to be full and is always crying
for more. We are trying very hard to
ignore him but it’s difficult. Is there
something else we can try?
A: There certainly is. Although the
‘light’ versions have fewer calories
than the normal cat foods, it may not
be restricted enough in calories to
encourage weight loss, especially
if Benjamin is not very active. If you
haven’t done so already, speak to
your vet about a prescription weight
loss food for Benjamin.
They are low in calories but high
in fibre, so will leave Benjamin feel-
ing fuller and will encourage weight
loss.
As he will not be feeling
quite so hungry, it should be
easier for you to stick to the
recommended quantities with-
out him pestering for more.
Prescription diets can be in
dried or canned formats so
you can keep to whichever
Benjamin is used to.
Design some games
that will get Benjamin
moving around at home
and try some activity
feeders that he has to
bat around to get small
pieces of dried food
out.
If you are out of the
house a lot, try setting
up automated feeding
stations in a variety of
rooms so that he has to
move around the house
to find his next meal.
You might find it
useful to take a photo of
Benjamin as he is now,
print it off and stick it to a cup-
board so you can see his progress.
Keep an eye on him and promise ing his scent markings around the
him treats - such as a new toy or house.
blanket - when he achieves a target It is very important that you don’t
weight. Your vet may have other sug- tell him off for doing this. Clean the
gestions and I’m sure you will notice areas with a solution of ten parts
a change in Benjamin when the warm water to one part biological
weight starts to come off. Good luck! washing up liquid and leave to dry.
Then spray with surgical spirit. This
Stop him spraying! should help to remove the smell.
Q: Reggie recently came to live Be sure that your cat doesn’t see
with me after I fell in love with him you doing this as he might then be
at our local rescue centre. I thought tempted to spray the areas all over
he was settling in well but I have again.
discovered that he is spraying his You can also wipe the now clean
new territory, including in my house. areas with a synthetic pheromone.
What can I do to discourage this These are a synthetic reproduction
behaviour as it’s really unpleasant? of a cat’s facial markings and are
generally very successful in pre-
A: Spraying indoors is the most venting cats from spraying where
common behaviour problem that they can smell them. Spray around
occurs with cats. As Reggie is new to the house at Reggie’s head height
your home, he is probably trying to and also on table legs and door-
make himself feel secure by plac- ways.
J U N E 2 0 1 6 n C AT W O R L D
77

There are certain times of the year when we really don’t want to be
woken up early - here’s how to avoid an alarm clock cat
A
n ‘alarm clock cat’ is one which
makes a habit of waking up its
owner, but having a cat like this
isn’t a way to save on batter-
ies because they inflict their ‘rise and
shine’ routine on people who still want
to be asleep!
It can be frustrating living with a
cat like this because while you are
deeply in the land of nod you may be
rudely awakened by a piercing meow,
scratching, a nip on the nose or patting
on the eyelids from a sharp-clawed
paw. If you have a furry companion
with ‘alarming’ inclinations then some
78 C AT W O R L D
BEHAVIOUR
7 tips to get a good
night’s sleep
BY JILL MUNDY
of these tips might be helpful.
1. Cats are naturally crepuscular,
which means they are most active at
dawn and dusk. Some cats start to get
busy once the rising sun starts to peep
through the curtains. Some owners
will find that their cats are happy to
sleep longer during the darker winter
months but are up bright and early
during the longer days of summer.
2. Food is a major motivation for
cats who wake their owners, so stick to
a feeding schedule. This ensures that
your cat knows when to expect food
and should cut down on opportunistic
attempts to get extra morning snacks.
Break the association with food and
early mornings by not feeding your
cat when you get up. Instead, make the
main meal the one you give last thing
at night to help your cats sleep and
leave down some dry food so that they
can help themselves if they get hungry
without having to ask you.
3. Be firm and never reward your
cat or reinforce its behaviour by re-
sponding to its demands. If they learn
that waking you up brings rewards in
the form of food or interaction then
they will keep doing it. If they learn

that sometimes you don’t respond but
sometimes you do if they really per-
sist then they will double their efforts.
If you do this you only have yourself
to blame for training them to expect
something in return for waking you
but if you stick to your guns, once they
realise that you won’t give in they will
begin to lose interest in trying to ‘train’
you.
4. If you can’t make it work there is
one simple solution: don’t let your cats
in the bedroom at night. You may have
to admit that your dream of slumber-
ing with a purring cat tucked against
your chest has turned into a nightmare
and is preventing you from having any
real dreams at all. You will get better
sleep if you shut the cats out of the
room although you will have to be
consistent and expect to go through
an adjustment period. Your cats may
well object and you may have to put up
with scratching at the door and yowl-
ing. Buy some earplugs, don’t give in
and bear with it. The first night you
might find that the protestations go on
for a long time. The second night will
be less and so on, until the cat gets
bored of trying to no avail and the
message is received. If the noise is too
much you could consider shutting the
cat in a room further away from your
bedroom. If you are worried about
your cat scratching at the carpet in
front of your bedroom door, make sure
his nails are trimmed and put down a
BEHAVIOUR
thick mat, such as a bathroom mat, or a
clear plastic carpet protector, secur-
ing it under the door so that it can’t be
pulled away.
5. Cats love toys and what could be
more fun for a bored cat whiling away
the small hours than a giant man-sized
squeaky toy. The cat bats the toy and
out comes a squeak, a yelp or a shout.
Perhaps something is thrown across
the room causing the cat to leap about
in excitement. If you are that giant
squeaky toy shouting at the cat and
throwing a cushion then the things you
are doing in an attempt to get your cats
to leave you alone and let you sleep
might in fact entertain and amuse them
and keep them coming back for more.
6. Cats are intelligent animals that
do their best to train their owners. If
you reinforce your cat’s natural tenden-
cy to be active at dawn by giving food
or attention you could end up with a
cat with ‘early morning syndrome’: if
you feed the cat at 7 a.m. he will start
jumping on your bed at 6.45 a.m. and
if you respond at 6.45 a.m. then he will
start waking you at 6.30 a.m. Before
you know it you could end up with a
cat with Night Fever!
7. Elderly cats can sometimes get
disoriented and call out for comfort in
the night. Ensuring that these delicate
souls have a safe, snug bed all to them-
selves where they can retreat from the
rigours of the world will help them to
sleep happily for longer.
Keep them in the dark
If you want your cat to sleep in
the room with you then fit black-
out blinds or get your curtains
lined so that the area stays dark
and the sun doesn’t trigger your
cat’s early morning antics.
Wear them out
Keep your cats occupied dur-
ing the day with plenty of toys
and games to keep them active.
This helps get them into the same
rhythm as you: active during the
day and asleep at night.
Single cats who see their own-
ers as the sole source of enter-
tainment could benefit from a
playmate to keep them busy and
help redirect some of their en-
ergy. Of course this will depend
on the temperament of the cat in
question.
Crepuscular cats
You’ve probably noticed that
cats spend a lot of time snoozing.
In fact, a cat spends approximate-
ly two thirds of its life in dream-
land. How much an individual cat
sleeps depends on age, hunger,
the temperature and the weather.
If the cat is producing extra
thyroid hormone his metabolism
goes up and he sleeps less.
Most cats, particularly house
cats, do a lot of their sleeping
at night. Cats are crepuscular,
which means they are most ac-
tive at dawn and dusk. They do
their hunting at these times as
their prey is also most active.
If you have a cat that wakes
up early every morning, they
are simply reacting to their
crepuscular nature. When the
sun comes up, the cat wakes up.
At certain times of year, dawn is
undoubtedly going to happen
before your alarm clock goes
off, so it helps to have very thick
curtains in your bedroom to keep
the light from waking you or your
cat.
C AT W O R L D
79

Got something to share about your favourite feline? email jill.mundy@ashdown.co.uk
Patience was key
Dear Paw Post
Many years ago I adopt-
ed a feral cat who had been
found in a shop doorway.
She was hungry, thin and
wet through due to a heavy
storm. The shopkeeper
took pity on her, enticed
her in and gave her some
milk. By chance I was told
about her at a time when I
was thinking about buying
a pretty, fluffy, blue-eyed
feline.
I love animals and would
not turn my back if I can
help one in distress. After
consulting my family, who
were equally as enthusi-
astic about getting a pet, I
said I would give this story
a home without even set-
ting eyes upon it. Off we all
went to collect this feline
and there she was, ready
and caged for the journey
home. My children were
too young to understand
what I had in my mind
when I saw this very be-
draggled creature and she
was put into the car and
taken home.
Like most cats in unfa-
80 C AT W O R L D n J U N E 2 0 1 6
PAW POST
miliar surroundings, she
shot out of the cage like a
rocket then hid under the
sideboard and would not
emerge. When I eventually
tried to pick her up, she
turned over on her back
and her claws flicked out
like miniature blades. The
high-pitched hissing was
accompanied by spitting
aggressively at me and I
think I got the message!
This unfriendly reception
continued for days and I
seriously thought about tak-
ing her to a sanctuary.
To cut a long story short,
I let her settle down her
own way, in her own time
and kept my distance. Food
and water were left on the
floor and a box with soft
materials in it was her tem-
porary bed.
With patience, calming
words and no pressure,
she became a really lovely
companion, even allowing
me to comb her messy
coat to a glossy sandy
shade. She lived with us
for about 23 years until one
sunny day she fell asleep in
the middle of the driveway
and never woke up again.
Patricia
Feline friendly
Dear Paw Post
I subscribe to Cat World
and would love a cat-loving
penfriend, male or female.
My interests include
showing my cats, going to
The right move
Dear Paw Post
When my health took a turn for the worse I de-
cided it was time to move to the seaside. However
this involved a move of several hundred miles and I
had to decide whether to take my cat Ellie with me or
not. She had been my companion for several years so
parting with her was not going to be easy. Thinking it
might be in Ellie’s best interests not to leave her famil-
iar neighbourhood, I made enquiries but as she was
a mostly black cat, there sadly wasn’t much interest.
So we embarked on a new adventure together and
it was the best thing we ever did! Ellie settled in really
well. Far more used to seeing green fields, crows and
field mice, she was equally fascinated by the large
seagulls that swooped over our little terrace and the
sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline.
Barbara
the cinema and the theatre UK address on the inside
and visiting castles. I would front cover.
really like to write to some-
one who loves cats as much
as I do.
Thank you
Janet Andrews
Ed: If anyone would like to
write to Janet, please send
your name and address to
jill@ashdown.co.uk or to the
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C AT W O R L D
81

TAIL END
Christmas was invented for cats or so Fiona Bowron’s cat seems to
think as he takes full advantage of his new adventure playground
U
nlike some cats,
Mowgli just
loves Christ-
mas. His fun starts with
the first few Christmas
cards to drop through
the letter box. We ar-
range them artistically
along the window ledge
- but the window ledge
is Mowgli’s province
and he doesn’t take
kindly to sharing it; so
he knocks each one to
the floor at the earliest
opportunity.
Then comes the
glorious day when we
put up our Christmas
decorations. Mowgli is
in seventh heaven. He
hasn’t forgotten the true
meaning of Christmas
- it’s all to do with the
tree of course. His view
is that whoever it was
who started the tradi-
tion, they must surely
have been cat lovers.
Why else would they
bring a cat’s favourite
plaything indoors when
the weather is too cold
to go outside?
Mowgli shows his ap-
preciation by climbing
to the top of the tree as
soon as he can get near
“He knocks each one to the floor at the earliest opportunity.”
82 C AT W O R L D
CATTY CHATTER
enough. It wobbles rath- of glittery tinsel or the
er disturbingly because flashing multicoloured
he doesn’t wait until we fairy lights. We have a
are foolish enough to cat instead! He adorns
hope that he has grown the tree quite beauti-
out of this sort of behav- fully. He is absolutely
iour by now. The tree irresistible with his little
comes crashing to the furry head peeping
floor and Mowgli leaps out from between the
to safety. Then he looks branches. “That’s what
up at the tree in obvious Christmas is all about,”
puzzlement. The one in he seems to be saying
the garden doesn’t fall to us; “Families having
over like this! fun together.”
An hour or so later, When not actually
the tree is riddled with climbing the tree he
various lengths of string, sits on a conveniently
tying it securely to the positioned chair and
door on one side and reaches out to pat at the
the wall on the other. plastic baubles.
Mowgli can now climb in For Mowgli, Christ-
relative safety, which he mas just gets better
does, studiously, ignor- and better. As if the tree
ing our cries of “Come wasn’t enough, on the
down from there!” big day itself he gets a
We don’t have any of stocking full of presents
those shiny expensive just for him, with cat
tree decorations; much treats of all kinds, fluffy
too breakable. Not for toys he can pretend are
us the luxurious strands his favourite birds and
- best of all - a catnip
mouse! After a few min-
utes of frenzied disem-
bowelling of the toy, the
catnip appears to make
him a little drowsy. This
is the best time of the
year to get a cuddle. Af-
ter twelve solid months
of hiding under the
coffee table every time
I come into the room or
running away when I try
to stroke him, now that
he’s had a catnip mouse,
he is affection itself. It
doesn’t last long but it is
wonderful while it does.
Dinner is something
of a disappointment for
Mowgli. We’re vegetar-
ians in our house so
there’s no turkey for him
to steal. That doesn’t
stop him trying…but
he’s not very keen on
nut roast. So while we
tuck in, he returns quiet-
ly to the packet of treats
we opened earlier. Then
we all collapse in front
of the telly, regretting
how much we’ve eaten
and vowing never to do
it again.
It’s the same every
year - and I wouldn’t
change a thing!
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