BIRMINGHAM Cats Protection Centre volunteer, Patti-Smith-Owens, is hoping her cat-erwauling winning streak will help felines in Birmingham Cats Protection Centre this year.
Prior to Christmas, Patti sung her way to fame as a member of the winning Birmingham group on BBC-1’s Can’t Sing Singers. She’s enjoying sharing her new-found fame with appearances on Watchdog and at the local children’s hospital, but is keen to share her success with the cats in the charity’s care that are desperate for new homes.
Patti, who has several older and disabled cats of her own, has offered to serenade prospective new owners around the Centre in a bid to encourage more rehoming! “I’ve sung to my own cats with a mixed response”, said Patti. “Sixteen-year-old Sally, who’s blind and deaf, feels the vibes and runs off, but Beauty loves it - my voice really seems to move her. I haven’t yet sung to the cats at the Centre as I’ve been so busy, but I’m keen to do so, and am happy to entertain visitors at the same time”, she added.
Rehoming mature cats is Patti’s particular area of interest; she’s thrilled that her participation on Can’t Sing Singers is helping a cause so close to her heart. “I’ve had people come up to me saying that they are going to home a Cats Protection cat after hearing about my voluntary work on the programme, but we still need more homes. If my participation in Can’t Sing Singers helps more Birmingham cats, then I’m happy!”
Birmingham Cats Protection Centre currently has approximately 130 cats in its care, including a fair proportion of mature felines who have found themselves at the Centre after their owners have died. Sadly, older residents often get overlooked in favour of the younger models, despite offering plenty of lap-cat companionship and cuddles, and helping to reduce stress by providing a relaxing end to a hectic day.
Anyone interested in rehoming a cat and having a serenade from Patti can call Birmingham Cats Protection Centre on 01564 822 020.
From budgies to bunnies, Brits go barking made for ‘Max’
MOVE over Rover and Tiddles! Max is the favourite name for pets, according to an analysis of 300,000 records by Britain’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA.
Max means ‘miracle worker’ and tops the PDSA Pet Name Premiership. As the first in a series of Petsie Index facts and figures from PDSA, it mirrors many of the name featured in the annual list of most popular names for newborn boys and girls, published recently.
In the study of pets treated at 46 PetAid hospitals across Britain in 2004 (including dogs, cats, rabbits and budgerigars) below Max come Ben and Charlie in second and third place in the “all species” Top 10. In contrast, Max is only 36th in the list of popular names for boys, while Ben sits at 9th and Charlie at 16th. Jack, the number one choice for boys for the tenth year running, is 10th in the PDSA Pet Name Premiership.
As for girl’s names, Lucy is 7th in the PDSA table and slightly higher at 6th in the latest list for baby girls. Molly sits in PDSA Pet Name Premiership 8th spot, compared to a 20th place ranking in the baby table.
Fictional Felines
Tigger is the most popular name for our feline friends, no doubt inspired by the name of the character from A. A. Milne’s ‘Winnie the Pooh’ series. The more wild-at-heart version, Tiger, takes 7th spot in the table.
Another famous fictional feline that provides inspiration is Felix, the black and white comic strip cat (5th spot). And with cats named Lucky making a frequent appearance at PDSA PetAid hospitals - the name takes third place in the cat’s top ten - it seems the ‘nine lives’ myth may ring true.
Liza Randall, PDSA spokesperson said: “Whether your new arrival is a baby, or a furry or feathered friend, choosing a name can be a tough decision. It’s fascinating that while many animal-specific names feature in our Pet Name Premiership, owners also opt for names that you’d more commonly associate with people.
This reflects the important role that pets have in our lives as a cherished addition to the family”.
National Pet Week 2005 - 30 April-8 May
‘Best Of Friends, Best Of Health’
UNDER the theme of ‘Best of Friends, Best of Health’, hundreds of events will be taking place up and down the country during National Pet Week in the first week of May. Now in its 17th year, the 2005 National Pet Week will run from 30 April to 8 May.
Hundreds of pet centred events will be organised by pet lovers, from sponsored walks to ‘petsercise’ classes, to open days at veterinary practices, pet shops grooming salons, boarding kennels and catteries and school or local authority activities, all with the aim of promoting responsible pet ownership and the positive impact animals can have on people’s lives. In particular, this year NPW is highlighting the importance of keeping people and their animal friends healthy.
And National Pet Week itself is looking for friends! The charity is this year offering supporters an option to ‘Become a Friend’ for only £10, to help NPW continue its work for the benefit of the nation’s pets.
The National Pet Week website www.national petweek.org.uk has more details, or call 020 8370 3688.
National Pet Week chairman Phil Sketchley says: “Assistance animals and pets offer significant health benefits for their owners. National Pet Week is an excellent opportunity to show this, and to promote how healthy pets can help keep people healthy. You can raise funds for your local charity - but don’t forget National Pet Week itself. We are looking forward to seeing some really exciting events this year - don’t forget there is a competition for the best one!”
PET FACTS & FIGURES
• Around 55 million European households own a pet. Of the 24.6 million UK houeholds, just over 50% own a pet.
• In 2003 the number of ouseholds in the UK owning pets was: dogs 5.15 million, cats 6 million.
• Pet owning households often have more than one dog or cat.
• In 2003 the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association estimated that there were 6.5 million dogs in the UK: toy breeds make up 10.9%, small breeds 23.5%, medium breeds 39.4%, large breeds 21.5% and giant breeds 4.6%.
• The total cat population in 2003 was 9.2 million cats, 92% of pet cats are non pedigree moggies.
• Fish and small mammals are still as popular as ever while exotic pets are on the increase. Estimated popularions for these are: goldfish 14.7 million, rabbits 1.1 million, hamsters 0.86 million, guinea pigs 0.73 million and reptiles 0.14 million.
TOP 10 TIPS FOR RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP
1. Think carefully before getting a pet and learn about its special requirements.
2. Ensure your pet is sociable and well trained.
3. Provide a nutritious and well balanced diet.
4. Provide suitable housing and bedding.
5. Clean up after your pet and worm it regularly.
6. Protect against disease. Your vet can provide you with advice.
7. Prevent unwanted litters and neuter your pet when appropriate.
8. Groom your pet regularly.
9. Control your pet and ensure it is properly identified.
10. Take out pet insurance for dogs, cats and horses to cover against unexpected veterinary fees and third party liability.
Got a query about your pet? Or thinking of getting a pet?
THE Pet Health Council (PHC) - working for healthy pets and people - has launched its revamped website. With a complete new look, the website now offers the public, professionals and the media a valuable source of information about pet and human health.
The website has the latest information about issues that can affect pet owners and advice for those who are considering getting a pet. There is a range of leaflets, which can be viewed on screen or downloaded, that cover all areas of responsible pet ownership. They include up-to-date information on topical issues ranging from how you and your pet can keep fit together to advice on taking your pet abroad.
The ‘Pets and People’ section gives the latest evidence on the physiological and psychological benefits of pet interaction including how pets can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve child immunity and prevent allergic reactions.
In addition there is a comprehensive list of ‘frequently asked questions’ answered by human and healthcare professionals including advice on how to choose a pet and if you have pets, how to keep them healthy.
What’s more, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, the website offers an extensive list of contact details for UK pet-related organisations.
Vet and member of the Pet Health Council, Dr John Foster, says: ‘The Pet Health Council website is an invaluable tool for people who have a vested interest in pets.
With so many people heading to the internet for all kinds of information, it made sense to ensure the Pet Health Council website had all the latest advice available online.
We feel the website is now a lot more valuable, easier to use and appeals to a much wider audience’.
Walk the Great Wall, trek the Inca Trail or whale-watch in South Africa - How far will you go?
PDSA, Britain’s leading veterinary charity, is offering animal lovers with a passion for travel and adventure the opportunity to make a real difference to the livesof thousands of pets by taking part in one of five PDSA challenges of a lifetime in 2005.
China, Peru and South Africa are the spectacular settings for this year’s PDSA overseas challenges. There’s the opportunity to trek the Great Wall of China, taking in the amazing sights from the modern capital to the country, where nothing seems to have changd for centuries. High remote mountain trails form the remarkable Peru Inca Trail trek while the opportunity to see big cats at a wildlife ranch and whale-watching are available in South Africa.
Linda Abel is a regular PDSA challenger, she said: “Taking part in my first PDSA challenge of a lifetime in 2003 to China changed my life. Not only did it help me achieve my goal of losing two-and-a-half stone, but also made me a much stronger person. Completing a PDSA challenge of a lifetime is a truly memorable experience, especially as you know your achievements also help pets in need of vets”.
China - A ten day trek along the Great Wall of China taking place from the 8th to 17th September 2005. Registration deadline is 12th May, with a fee of £200 needed. Sponsorship required £2,135, to be paid by 25th August.
Peru - A ten day trek along the Peru Inca trail taking place from the 12th to 21st September 2005. Registration deadline is 13th May, with a fee of £200 needed. Sponsorship required £2,350 to be paid by 26th August.
South Africa - An eleven day visit to South Africa taking place from 15th to 25th September 2005. Registration deadline is 20th May, with a fee of £200 needed. Sponsorship required £2,799, to be paid by 2nd September.
All PDSA challenges of a lifetime include return scheduled economy class flights, accommodation, meals as detailed on the itinerary and local English speaking guides. PDSA also helps participants by providing full support including an A-Z list of fundraising ideas to help raise the sponsorship money required.
Lynda Marsden, PDSA Area Fundraising Manager, said: “I took part in my first PDSA challenge of a lifetime in 2002, just after I had become a grandmother for the first time. It was an amazing experience and even though some aspects of the treks are pretty hard, the support you receive from fellow participants and the organisers is fantastic.
I’ve now completed three challenges and visited China and Peru, places I never thought I would see in my lifetime. I would recommend a PDSA challenge of a lifetime to anyone looking for the ultimate experience in 2005”.
As well as the China, Peru and South Africa challenges, PDSA is also organising a London-Paris cycle ride from 22nd June to 26th June, as well as a Hadrian’s Wall weekend from 22nd to 24th July.
For information about any of the PDSA 2005 Challenges of a Lifetime, please call freephone number 0800 917 2509 or visit the PDSA website on www.pdsachallenge.org.uk
Is your cat protected?
FOR ALL cats that are not up-to-date with their boosters, animal health company, Intervet UK, has launched its second national Vaccination Amnesty to encourage owners whose pet’s booster vaccinations have lapsed, to visit their vet for a check-up.
Unless your cat is properly vaccinated, says Intervet, it runs the risk of contracting one of several, possibly fatal diseases including feline infectious enteritis (panleucopenia), cat ’flu (feline respiratory disease) and feline leukaemia. Therefore, the need to keep up-to-date with vaccinations is imperative.
“When a cat is vaccinated as a kitten it is provided with immunity to these diseases”, explains Jac Bergman, product manager at Intervet UK. “This immunity is not lifelong and it will gradually wane, leaving your cat at risk. Therefore, a cat’s immunity needs “boosting” at regular intervals”.
The risk of contracting a particular disease does depend on the lifestyle of the cat, hence the booster requirements will vary from animal to animal. If the interval between the primary vaccination course and the first booster - or between two boosters in subsequent years - significantly runs over, then protection against some of the diseases may no longer be adequate. In these cases, a new primary course consisting of two vaccinations is required.
If your cat’s booster vaccinations are overdue, please take heed and ring your local veterinary practice. Simply book an appointment with your vet and discuss your cat’s health requirements in more detail.
Doing more to control cat ’flu
Although the use of vaccines amongst breeders and cattery owners is widespread, vaccination alone cannot provide total protection against the threat of cat ’flu outbreaks. What’s more, the disease can vary in severity, with kittens deemed to be at particular risk.
In order to help breeders overcome this continuing problem, Intervet UK has produced an informative guide which provides some background knowledge to the disease and offers advice on control, vaccination and management.
“The booklet is designed primarily to foster an understanding of the problem and act as a practical guide aiding the prevention of cat ’flu”, says Darren Peart, product manager at Intervet UK. “It also covers vaccination and whilst the vast majority of cat breeders and cattery owners recognise the importance of vaccination and its role in preventative health care, the fact remains that a significant proportion of cats in the UK are unvaccinated!”
Despite the name, the causes of cat ’flu bear no relation to those of human influenza.
Whereas influenza is caused by a single virus, cat ’flu can be caused by several pathogens. There are three primary pathogens capable of causing disease on their own, namely feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus (FHV) and the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica. All of these pathogens can be vaccinated against.
A stringent vaccination policy within your establishment is imperative to reduce the risk of infection and the spread of disease. Where feline calicivirus or feline herpesvirus is present in a breeding environment, young kittens are at high risk and in this situation it is possible to see disease despite a comprehensive vaccination policy.
“Because of the nature of calicivirus, it frequently changes form and it is generally recognised that no vaccine can give complete protection against all calicivirus strains”, continues Darren. “Also, the unique conditions in catteries and breeding colonies may make them ideal situations for the spread of cat ’flu, both within the population and from the outside”.
The role of Bordetella in this phenomenon has only recently been understood and may be of particular importance in multicat environments and where kittens are bred or introduced, it can pose a major threat. “We know that the Bordetella bacterium can persist in cats for at least 19 weeks after infection, but we do not currently know what the upper limie is,” he says. “For example, infected queens have been shown to recover enough from the disease to produce a negative swab test, only to start shedding Bordetella again during the stress of pregnancy and kittening. This is worrying, particularly in relation to the vulnerability and potential severity of the disease in young kittens”.
It is clear that vaccination plays a vital role, as do the practical steps, to reducing cat ’flu. Intervet’s comprehensive guide also looks at the spread of infection, the effect of group size and stocking density, isolation and quarantine, cleaning and disinfection and breeding from infected queens.
Copies of the breeder and cattery owners guide ‘How to control cat ’flu’ is available by calling Intervet’s Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685.
Roundworms have become a sticky issue for the nation's cats
NEW information has come to light on the potential for the spread of parasitic worms carried by cats. According to an independent online survey just released of nearly 1,200 pet owners questioned, only 6% were worming their pet regularly enough.
The news follows hot on the heels of a recent review of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), worming policy statement, that vets should now advise that pets at risk of developing roundworm infections are treated at an interval consistent with the length of the life cycle of the worm. Consequently for dogs and cats that have access to the outdoors, and are thus at risk of Toxocara, this amounts to monthly worming.
Kittens can be infected by roundworm (Toxocara Cati) through the mother’s milk, and adult cats mainly pick up infectious worm eggs from soil that had been contaminated with faeces and through eating rodents carrying the parasite. A recent study has suggested that around 4% of pet cats and 15% of stray cats had Toxocara eggs in their faeces1.
These eggs can be a source of infection to other cats, result in re-infection of previously treated pets, or possibly even direct infection of people who have patted the pet and not washed their hands before eating. Once in the environment, or on the pet’s coat, eggs can take upwards of two weeks to reach a stage where they can be infectious - but once at this stage, they can remain so for up to two years, representing an ongoing hazard.
TV Vet David Grant, of the Harmsworth Veterinary Hospital, is one of the vets helping to make cat owners more aware of the issues.
“Kittens suffering from roundworms may have obvious signs of infection that experienced cat lovers will recognise: sickness, failure to thrive and a pot bellied appearance”, he said. “However, adult pets, in particular, can appear to be perfectly healthy, yet still be carrying worms and pass worm eggs.
“There are lots of easy to administer treatments that are highly effective, and given once a month, provide pet owners with the reassurance that their pet and family are protected. I am urging cat owners to visit their vet and get advice about the most suitable worming regimen for their pet. No one should have their health put at risk because of such an easily preventable condition”.
Roundworm can be spread to humans who accidentally swallow infectious worm eggs and although the number of individuals that become infected is unknown, around two people in every million of population each year develop signs of infection and in some extreme cases eye damage or blindness can result due to eggs hatching out as larvae and migrating around the body2. Children are especially susceptible.
The survey showed that a massive 43% of pet owners had never heard of Toxocara, and did not even realise that their pet could become infected. Around 9% of people questioned admitted that they had never wormed their pet, although 49% were worming every three-to-six months as per previous recommendations.
Breeders and cat enthusiasts are being asked to help spread the message about the benefits of regular worming, especially in young kittens and pregnant queens, to help safeguard the health and reputation of our feline companions and can obtain information and advie on the prevention and control of worms and fleas from their veterinary surgeon or by visiting www.ProtectYourPet.co.uk
