It’s Party Time!
Hats off to the Gwynedd Cat Club! They have organized a super event for this summer. There will be a Disco Dance and Party (including a free buffet and licensed bar) on 26 June 2005 at St John’s Parish hall, Stretford, Manchester.
There will be a Grand Raffle with a £100 1st prize, £50 2nd prize and tons more runners up prizes. Tickets cost just £10… to book your tickets, please contact Peter Kilmartin on 0161 226 2321 or email niterapcats@yahoo.co.uk
Notts & Derby
Judge Liz Corps sends her apologies to Mrs. Povey for inadvertently referring to her female neuter, Pr Vykram Great Expectations as a male, in her report from the Notts & Derby show. This occurred during the transfer of her notes. The critique was correct apart from a printer’s typographical error which meant “angry neckline” should have read “elegant neckline”!
What is the alternative?
Have you decided to seek alternative therapy for your pet’s behaviour problems or illness? Are you thinking of trying acupuncture, reiki, animal communication or crystals? BBC2 are making a major new series celebrating British people’s love of their pets and they would love to hear from you! Please contact abowden@blastfilms.co.uk Or call 02920 550624/ 07901 694135
MRSA panic unnecessary
Following on from the last issue of OUR CATS, on the subject of MRSA, there was a plea at the end of March from the President-Elect of the BVA (British Veterinary Association) Dr Freda Scott-Park to all pet owners, asking them not to panic. “The alarm being generated is completely unnecessary,” she said. “While MRSA has been isolated from a variety of domestic animals it is important for people to realise that the incidence is still very, very low.”
Dr Scott-Park stressed that “any loss of a much-loved pet, whatever the cause, is tragic, but the circumstances surrounding the death of the dog that has triggered the latest concerns were, to say the least, extremely unusual as well as deeply regrettable.
Clearly awareness of the potential dangers of MRSA is vital but detailed information was provided to the veterinary profession at the beginning of the year (via the Journal of Small Animal Practice, the journal of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA)). Practical advice and guidelines to the profession will also continue to be issued as and when relevant information becomes available.”
Dr Scott-Park continued: “Current scientific evidence supports the opinion that the risk of pet-transmitted MRSA is small and that pet owners who undertake hygienic precautions are at minimal risk. MRSA does not normally harm healthy people including pregnant women, babies and children. Furthermore, there are no proven recorded cases of MRSA jumping from animal to human. High-risk individuals (long-term sick, elderly or patients with a poor immune system for example) may need to take extra care while vets need to remain aware of the need for extra precautions when treating similarly potentially vulnerable animals.”
In emphasising that there was already widespread awareness within the veterinary profession of MRSA and the problems that could occur Dr Scott-Park noted that the BVA’s “major concern at present relates to MRSA passing from humans to animals, the more likely path,” which was why she said “we are urging vets to adopt best practice and take precautions - use sterile gloves, masks and scrub suits during operations - to prevent animals getting the organism.”
Best Of Friends/Best Of Health
One of the UK’s leading Health magazines ‘Allergy’ this month reported on the rising increase of allergic animals in a report entitled ‘Is Your Pet Allergic To You’. The magazine reported: “Just as with humans, pets can suffer multiple allergies. House dust mites can trigger problems in 90% of atopic dogs”, with cats also being affected. “Symptoms include itching, sneezing, streaming eyes and a runny nose”.
In line with this worrying trend, HealthGuard’s Total Hygiene DM1, (which removes dust mites from soft furnishings in the home) is receiving much interest as it gives relief to pets across the UK. Public interest and awareness of this issue is continuing to grow. HealthGuard are focusing on this subject as part of National Pet Week (30th April - 8th May) activities.
If you have used this product (featured in previous issues of OUR CATS) and found it beneficial to your cats, please contact Karen Hamilton, 020 8343 9911 or E-Mail: Karen@HealthGuardTM.com see www.HealthGuardTM.com for more details.
A safety tip
I thought I would pass on the following DIY tip to fellow breeders…my litter of Burmese kittens have an oil filled radiator in their nursery, on day and night. Now that the kittens are reaching the ‘chewing’ stage, I was concerned that they might chew through the electrical wire. My solution? I have recycled a discarded (yet hoarded in the garage - ‘just in case’) *shower hose.
I measured the length of the flex against the hose, removed the plug and inserted the flex into the hose’s cavity. When I found that it was a tight fit and had difficulty threading the flex through, I ‘lubricated’ the flex with a little talcum powder! The plug was then reconnected and, hey presto! A ‘chew proof’ flex.
* The hose (from an electric shower kit) is a wide bore tube, which is flexible yet very thick and tough. If you have not got such an item in your garage or shed (!) one can buy these replacement hoses from DIY superstores.
If you have any tips on any aspect of cat care, please send them to OUR CATS. Prizes await your contributions!
Creating happy families
I currently use an audio ‘socialisation’ tape for my kittens. As OUR CATS went to press, I learnt of a brand new product that I am sure will be of benefit to cat and dog breeders as well as pet owners. It is a CD, called ‘Sounds Soothing’, a brand product developed by Sarah Heath and Jon Bowen, both internationally renowned veterinary surgeons who exclusively treat pets with behavioural problems.
I have asked for a copy of this CD and will share my views with you in a forthcoming issue of OUR CATS. I have every confidence that it will be a useful tool. I know Sarah Heath personally and Jon Bowen is well known in the veterinary world as a respected authority on behavioural problems.
Every year 1000s of cats and dogs are abandoned and many of these cases are related to the arrival of a new baby in the home. Also, with the media highlighting stories of children attacked by family pets, veterinary behaviourists, Sarah and Jon, have created a CD and training programme that helps teach people how to socialise their pets with children and prevent unnecessary heartache for pets and owners alike.
The Sounds Soothing CD programme contains essential information to help address many of the issues people will face with the arrival of a new baby, such as helping the pet become accustomed to the sound of a baby crying, teaching dogs not to jump up on the baby and most importantly helping the pet accept the new baby without feeling left out, which ultimately ensures that the baby stays safe and the pet is contented. The pack includes, a CD of noises of babies and children, full instructions on how to use the CD and a booklet of useful training tips.
Sarah Heath and Jon Bowen (MsRCVS) creators of Sounds Soothing said, “with over 400,000 babies being born each year there are lots of families who can potentially benefit from this new product. As leading veterinary behaviourists we have created a product that will save many pets and families a great deal of hardship and hopefully help to prevent accidents in the long term with pets and children.”
Distribution is currently via the web site www.soundsscary.com and should be available from you veterinary surgery, very soon.
