“Fly on the wall” view of your cat?
Pete Cross of Hamilton, New Zealand has devised a 16-Bit Wearable Computer For Pets. The device, called PetInspect, is a sophisticated data-logger and wireless communications device that lets you discover what environment your pet experiences and how they behave while you’re not around. If you want to know more, please see http://www.petinspect.com/read_more.htm
A team of one!
The photograph (right) of a lovely Norwegian Forest Cat in the recent Preston & Blackpool feature (OUR CATS, 22 April) was of Wilma Coleman’s Ch Kyrrekatt Angelika and not of the show team, as captioned. Glad to set the record straight!
Free Offer to Readers!
Does your cat weigh over 4kg? If so, Vet-medic Pharmacy is offering a FREE Drontal Cat XL wormer for owners of the more portly cat. Drontal Cat is a wormer that covers the main roundworms and tapeworms that cats can suffer from. All in one convenient dose and there is no need to give it on an empty stomach. Used as a single dose every three months it stops worms dead. One tablet effectively treats a cat of up to 6kg. Contact Vet-Medic Pharmacy on 0800 387348 to obtain your FREE dose. Please note that the offer is subject to Drontal being suitable for your pet and that the offer is available whilst stock lasts or until 30/06/05 due to the short date on available stock.
Seal Point Cat Club
Mr John Hansson sent the following apology concerning his Seal Point Cat Club show report, printed in the last edition of Our Cats. This concerns Red Point BOB Kitten JOHPAS PUTTINONTHESTYLE. Mr Hansson attributed the owner to be MUIR-TAYLOR - this should have been PRUSS’S. There was also a missing word in the same report - Red Point Female Kitten, 2nd MULLEN’S JOHPAS HOLLYBERRY, litter sister to the winning boy and quite elegant young lady who is potentially the better of the two girls.
Does your pet keep you in touch with your inner kitten or puppy?
Does your pet bring out your inner kitten or puppy side? Do you enjoy sharing fun and laughter with your furry friend? Does your dog or cat keep you young? Leading UK cat and dog charities, Cats Protection and Dogs Trust, have joined forces to conduct some joint research amongst cat and dog owners aged 55 or over concerning our pets’ ability to keep us feeling young, happy and healthy!
Taking part in the research project is quick, easy and fun! For cat owners: to register your interest or for further information (31 May, latest), please e-mail emma.osborne@cats.org.uk or kate.bunting@cats.org.uk. Alternatively, a postal copy of the survey can be requested by calling 08707 708 634 or 08707 708 612. For dog owners: to register your interest or for further information please email innerpuppy@dogstrust. org.uk or contact Jennifer Blaber on 020 7833 7650.
The information you provide will remain anonymous and, unless you indicate otherwise, there will be no further contact from either charity after we have received your completed questionnaire. The only criteria are that you are a cat or dog owner aged 55 or over, and live in the UK. There are no specific criteria required regarding your pets - male and female cats and dogs of any age, colour or breed are all acceptable! You can, however, only complete a questionnaire as a dog owner or a cat owner – not both. The findings will be used by both organisations to promote the benefits of pet ownership amongst those aged 55 or over.
Christmas already?
Surely not! However, you can book now for OUR CATS ANNUAL 2006! This will be a full Colour Publication and we can offer reduced Prices Till 31 May (47.5% Reduction), which includes 200 Free Reprints On All Full Page Adverts. Prices are: Full Page - £175.00, Half Page - £140.00, Quarter Page £79.00, Eighth Page - £39.00. Please see https://vault2.secured-url.com/ourdogs/cats-annual
booking.htm or E-mail webteam@ourcats.co.uk or call Adam Williams on 0870 731 6700 NOW!
Lynx sighting confirmed
A reader pointed out a recent article in the Surrey Advertiser, which featured a story that proves that there really is a large cat on the loose in Surrey. Last month a couple of dogs chased the cat up a tree on Whitmoor Common at Worplesdon. The dogs’ owner called the commons’ ranger, Mark Havler, of the Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Countryside Services and he identified the cat, alerting the fire brigade and RSPCA. However the cat jumped down and ran off, evading capture in the best ‘big cat on the loose’ tradition! If you spot the Lynx please call 01483 795440
Fabulous First!
Manchester & District Cat Club’s First Championship Show on 7 May was a huge success. Entries reached full capacity and some would-be exhibitors had to be declined once the hall was full. Everyone pulled out all the stops to make the show a great day out. Every exhibitor was given a souvenir gift of a pretty cat mug to commemorate the event. The committee were still beaming at the end of the day.
OUR CATS will carry a full feature in the next issue. If you were a winner, please contact anne@ourcats.co.uk or telephone 0870 731 6506 to place your Winners Congratulations announcement.
Another lily fatality
Many readers will have been dismayed to read about another poor cat that was unwittingly poisoned by lily pollen. Owner John Hartnett was devastated by his cat’s (a Siamese, called Catalina) death. Calls are being made to have warning labels applied to these flowers, frequently available from florists’ and supermarkets’ bouquets. Please pass this information onto everyone you know, particularly new kitten owners. See www.fabcats.org.uk for information on poisonous and other toxic substances.
BIS Lists and Marked Catalogues
To all show Managers: After a show, please can you send OUR CATS a show catalogue as soon as possible? At present, we are only being sent catalogues from about 50% of the year’s shows. This makes checking of errors impossible at times - no catalogue - no way of checking! A blank catalogue is better than none at all and if we can have a list of Best in Show winners that would be greatly appreciated.
Toilet trained?
Did you see the recent news item about the new invention for toilet training cats to use our loos? Jo Lapidge devised her Litter-Kwitter system after being inspired by Mr Jinks, the toilet-trained cat from Meet the Parents. She said: “It was such a funny scene. But then I thought what a great idea! What if I really could train my cat? How would I do it? The system takes a three-stage approach to make it easy for cats of any age - and their owners - to make the transition from litter tray to toilet. The training process takes about two months. First a red ‘disc’ filled with litter is fitted over the toilet bowl. As the cat’s balance improves an amber disc with a small hole is used, eventually the cat can balance on a green disc with a clear drop into the toilet bowl. The discs allow your cat to progress at his own pace to build his confidence and ability,” explained Mrs Lapidfe.
Do OUR CATS readers have clever cats that perform this ‘trick’? I have heard of cats that are self-taught. One of our Burmese cats loves to pee in the sink (bathroom, cloakroom or kitchen) - but its not quite good enough for my tastes (the loo would be preferable) and my other half hates our cat’s efforts at using the bathroom - just because he does not turn on the tap afterwards to ‘flush’! But that’s blokes for you - fussy, eh? A prize awaits the first photo to arrive here of a cat caught in the act!
Helping novices
There has been a lively discussion on the OUR CATS website regarding how first time exhibitors and novices (we don’t become experts overnight) in general, are helped (or not) at shows. Does your club have ‘welcomers’ at your show, on hand to show new exhibitors where to go and what to do? Why don’t you offer to be a ‘welcomer’? Perhaps clubs identify their ‘welcomers’ by giving them larges badges to wear that say ‘Need help? Ask me!” Please write in and share your thoughts.
BE POSITIVE please! Move away from the grumbles and gripes and say what YOU can do to encourage people to exhibit more than once!
