BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING CAT MAGAZINE

K J FELINE FESTIVE! K J
WE MEET PEOPLE WHO MAKE CATS TRULY PART OF CHRISTMAS!

R45


DECEMBER 2022 £4.99

THE CAT
GOOD WELL-BEING REAL
  

CAUSES
HELP SETTING
STUDY
DOES YOUR
CAT ENJOY
LIFE
“I WON’T LET SIMBA’S
UP A RESCUE INTERACTIONS? DEATH BE IN VAIN”
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 PIC OF THE MONTH
Image: courtesy of Alamy Stock Photos.
You’ve all heard of cat cafés but
how about a cat bookshop?
At the end of September, the
Xinhua Bookstore’s pet-themed
bookstore opened in Beijing. As
you can see in the photo, readers
can enjoy a good book in the
company of cats!
With high perches, steps, beds,
hiding spots, toys and more, the
store has resources for its resident
cats. While book lovers can
purchase their favourite reads, as
well as lots of pet-themed gifts.
Could this be the next cat
phenomenon? When it comes to
3
www.yourcat.co.uk
cat cafés and introducing felines
to the general public, the welfare
of the cats must always be the
top priority. In the cat cafés in the
UK, many have put measures in
place to safeguard feline welfare,
such as having a safe space
cats can escape to if they want
to have some time away from
people, high perches which have
access back to their safe area,
and even having staff on the
floor to monitor the cats. It will be
interesting to see if, like the cat
café which started in Asia, this
concept moves west.
DECEMBER 2022

Wel co me
I
think Christmas is the best time of the year. The
spirit of the season is about what is important in
life: family, forgiveness, hope, togetherness, and
new beginnings. It’s great to think about all the
positive things that life could bring us all.
In the lead feature this month, we hear incredible
stories of people who make their cats a part of their
festivities. It’s a lovely reminder of how much cats are
a part of our families.
Elsewhere in the issue, we approach some of the
tough topics too. Christmas can be a time that brings
added pressure or a focus on people’s troubles.
That’s why I think it is so important to embrace the
Christmas spirit of all trying to help each other.
Not often has Your Cat delved into the process
Many organisations can offer support to help you
keep your cat, and if you’re forced to face that
heart breaking decision to give up a pet, how
to do it the best way for the cat. With the current
climate, it’s important to keep having these tough
discussions.
On an uplifting note, helping is what we are
doing with Your Cat Good Causes. We’ve an
update on the projects that your subscriptions are
helping to fund.
Whatever your plans this Christmas, I hope you
have a brilliant holiday full of love — including your
cats, of course!
Happy reading

Mike
of how someone gives up their cat. However, I want
anyone out there struggling and thinking they have
to give up their cat to know there is help out there.

CONTENTS
REGULARS COLUMNS
6 What’s new pussycat?
Feline news and your views. 18 James Bowen column
The final part on James
and Bob’s trip to Tokyo.

14 Your Cat Good Causes

An update on how you’re helping cat projects.
26 Confessions of a cat-sitter
Chris’ cat Bodmin terrorises

33 Your Cat competitions

Your chance to win a host of prizes.
a Christmas guest.

52 Rescue community
We tell the stories of
43 Peter Neville
We’re back in Peter’s
casebook for another
independent rescues. curious kitty case.

54 Home for Christmas

A cat helps bring the
true spirit of Christmas in
50 GCCF Diary
A reflection on the
Supreme Cat Show.
this short story.

56 Pawtraits
A fabulous gallery of
61 Diary of a cat-mad
vet nurse
Lucy gives an honest
your pet pictures. insight into the veterinary
industry.

58 Your Cat Puzzles

We’ve got a new section
of puzzles for you!

4
Your Cat December 2022
 GET IN TOUCH!
Write to us: Your Cat Magazine,
Warners Group Publications,
The Maltings, West Street,
Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH.
Email us:
editorial@yourcat.co.uk
Subscription queries:
01778 395176
Share with us:
Search for @YourCatMagazine
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CAT CARE
Editorial queries:
28 Cat well-being study
We delve into how cats enjoy human interactions.
01778 395070
Advertising queries:
01778 395064

36 Cat care
Our expert advice will help you care for your cat.
ads@yourcat.co.uk
THE TEAM

40 Cat health problems Editor: Michael Hallam

Vet Penny explains all about liver disease in cats. Design & production
Designer: Chris Smith

46 Giving up a cat Production manager: Nigel Fish

What happens when people put their cat up for Production assistant: Natalie Reynolds
rehoming. Colour repro: Graham Warren
Digital/websites
Web editor: Laura Wright
Marketing
Marketing executive: Ellis O’Connell
Advertising
Commercial manager: Andrea Walters
Account manager: Kay Cotterill
Publisher
Warners Group Publications Plc
Publisher: James Buzzel
& BROCHURE
NE PR
ZI

This publication is printed

IN
GA

TE
MA

by Warners Midlands PLC

WARNERS 
 

Telephone: 01778 391000

CATS IN CULTURE
10 Feline festive Images: *pictures courtesy of Alamy Stock
We hear stories from those who truly make cats Photo. More details at www.alamy.com
part of Christmas.

DON’T FORGET!
20 Real life
How one owner is using her cat’s death to try to help
change the law.
You can pick up your favourite mag
from most grocery stores, including Tesco
and Sainsbury’s, WHSmith, independent
newsagents, or from our online shop:

22 Your Cat Top 10s

Ten things you should always provide for your cat.
www.yourcat.co.uk/store
January issue, out 8th December.

Recycle your mag! If you subscribe, the bag

62 Your Cat Tourist Guide

We’re visiting an important cat statue.
you received your mag in is made from potato starch
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and responsibly sourced.

We cannot be held responsible for the return of photos

so please keep copies. Nothing in this magazine
may be reproduced in whole or part without written
permission of the publisher. Your Cat is a registered
trademark. Terms & conditions, plus competition rules,
can be found on our website.

Speak to your newsagent to reserve

your copy of Your Cat every month.
What ’s new
PUSSYCAT?

>RXU(DW New s!
News from the feline world, plus your stories and views!

WELFARE BVA urges Government to extend energy bill

support to avoid animal welfare crisis
).)
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has essential to the UK economy, to our food supply
made an urgent plea to the Government calling chains, and to the health and well-being of our

>4: on it to extend the GB Energy Bill Relief and animals, that they are able to continue their work

034<$
consider more support for already under pressure
veterinary practices to avoid implications for UK
You can find help food safety and a serious animal welfare crisis.
on looking after BVA president Malcolm Morley, in a letter to the
your cat during Chancellor, called for the Government to extend
the cost of living the GB Energy Bill Relief for essential businesses
crisis by visiting such as veterinary practices beyond March 2023,
www.cats.org.uk/ as well as to consider further support measures
help-and-advice/ for vet practices, such as additional relief on
getting-a-cat/ business rates and a VAT reduction.
taking-care-of- Some pet owners are already starting to feel
your-cat-during- the impact of the cost-of-living crisis with vets
the-cost-of-living- reporting increasing cases of animals with issues
crisis that could have been avoided as a result of
owners making difficult decisions to delay seeking
treatment due to financial pressures. There are
fears this will only get worse should veterinary
practices have to close or increase the cost of
their essential services.
Malcolm says: “Vets play an essential role in
monitoring and enhancing animal health and
welfare, and food safety in UK agriculture, from
the farm gate through to trade certification
and border checks, as well as providing vital
veterinary care for the nation’s pets. It is therefore
through the challenges we are currently facing.
“While we welcome that the GB Energy Bill
Relief Scheme will be in place for six months
for non-domestic customers, we are extremely
concerned that the subsequent increase in costs
after this period will result in more practices
being forced to close, further exacerbating
the workforce shortages facing the profession,
increasing the cost of veterinary services, and
having a devastating impact on the economy.
“With this in mind, we are urging the
Government to extend the GB Energy Bill Relief
for essential businesses, like veterinary practices,
beyond March 2023. In addition, we are seeking
the Chancellor’s urgent consideration of further
support measures which may be provided to
assist veterinary practices, such as additional
relief on business rates and a reduction in VAT.”

6
Your Cat December 2022
 WELFARE Charity’s concern as trend for
buying cats online increases
A report by cat welfare charity are in poor health. most important thing, so we need

945 Cats Protection has revealed a “However, there is some positive to find ways to meet this need

9.5
“worrying uplift” in the number of
cats being purchased online.
Never buy a cat The proportion of cats
from someone purchased instead of adopted
you don’t trust. has increased by 12% in the past
five years, according to Cats
Protection’s Cats and Their Stats
Report 2022.
The third report published by
Cats Protection — the largest cat
survey of its kind — also found
the internet is becoming an
increasingly popular place to buy
cats, with 76% of those surveyed
saying they’d bought their cats
online in the past 12 months.
The report found that Facebook
has become significantly more
popular as a source for buying
a cat, with over 200,000 cats
bought via the platform in the
past year. Peter Shergold, head
of field operations at Cats
Protection, says: “The CATS Report
2022 has shown a worrying
uplift in the purchase of cats
online. Of course, there are many
responsible sellers out there, but
there are also unscrupulous ones
who hide behind the anonymity
of the internet to sell kittens that
are far too young to have been
taken from their mothers, or that
news. Following Cats Protection’s
Big Kitten Con campaign,
Facebook responded saying that
it has taken down a number of
ads, and now has a full-screen
alert when someone searches on
the platform for a kitten to buy,
informing the user of Facebook’s
rules.”
Convenience and a desire for a
specific cat or breed have been
shown to be significant factors
behind the increase in online cat
buying, with 29 per cent of those
surveyed admitting they chose to
buy rather than adopt because it
was the easiest or quickest way to
get the cat they want.
Peter continues: “There is a clear
necessity for rehoming charities to
adapt their adoption process to
encourage consumers to adopt
instead of shopping for cats
online.
“The welfare of the cat is the
for convenience while protecting
the cat. One way to do this could
be direct homing where cats
would be homed straight from
the person giving up the cat to
the adopter, with Cats Protection
facilitating the process.”
Peter adds: “The UK is still very
much a society of cat lovers,
with more people estimated now
than ever before to be enjoying
the benefits of cat ownership.
Cats Protection will continue to
find ways in which the charity
can help support cat ownership
and ensure that as many cats as
possible experience good welfare.
“For instance, we encourage
anyone thinking of buying a kitten
online to use the Kitten Checklist,
which is available at www.cats.
org.uk/buying-a-kitten and details
everything you need to check to
make sure you’re buying a happy,
healthy pet.”

“There is a clear
necessity for
rehoming charities
to adapt their
adoption process.”

MORE INFO...
For more information on the Big Kitten Con, visit www.cats.org.uk/kitten-con

7
www.yourcat.co.uk
What ’s new
PUSSYCAT?
RESCUE Battersea champions black cats on National Black Cat Day
An animal rescue charity
celebrated National Black Cat
Day, which took place on 27
October, by encouraging
would-be cat owners to look
beyond appearances and give a
black cat a home.
Battersea has urged the public
to look beyond black cat myths
as it revealed more than 40 per
cent of its feline admissions had
black coats.
Traditionally, black cats are
believed to bring bad luck and
are viewed less favourably than
their colourful counterparts.
Black cats are also commonly
MORE INFO...
For more information about adopting a black cat from Battersea, visit battersea.org.uk
WELFARE Online giants team up with vets
The BVA has teamed up with
online retailers Amazon and eBay
to crack down on products for
sale on their sites by third-party
sellers that are advertised for use
during illegal procedures that
compromise the welfare of dogs
and cats.
The retailers worked with BVA to
remove products being advertised
for puppy tail docking and kitten
dew claw removal. BVA contacted
both retailers after being made
aware of products intended for
lamb castration, a procedure that
is legal in the UK, being marketed
for tail docking of puppies by
several sellers across both websites.
Research also uncovered at least
one DIY kit being marketed on
eBay UK for the removal of dew
claws in kittens.
Tail docking of dogs and
dew claw removal in kittens are
considered to be mutilations in
England and Wales under the
Animal Welfare Act (2006) and
the equivalent Acts in Scotland
and Northern Ireland. Barring
some exemptions in both cases,
such as removal of the tail or the
Your Cat December 2022
associated with the supernatural,
and, in some cultures, a black cat
crossing your path is deemed to
bring bad luck.
On any given day, Battersea
cares for approximately 200
cats across its three sites and
on foster. On average, it will take
27 days for each of these cats
to find a new home, but the wait
for some can be much longer,
particularly black cats who are
patiently waiting for their second
chance at life.
Paige Havlin, cattery team
leader at Battersea, says: “Black
cats are commonly associated
dew claw of a cat by a vet for
medical reasons or for certain
breeds of working dogs, there are
no circumstances in which it is
legal for non-vets to undertake this
procedure.
Both Amazon and eBay have
taken swift action to remove the
flagged listings and put additional
preventative measures in place to
weed out similar ads in the future.
Their action follows steps taken
by both retailers at the start of this
year to similarly remove DIY ear
cropping kits from sale, following
an urgent letter from BVA.
BVA President Malcolm Morley
said: “We’re pleased to see swift
and positive action by the two
major retailers and will continue
to work collaboratively with them
to strengthen checks on products,
or their marketing, that can harm
animal welfare.
“I’d encourage vets and
members of the public to raise
concerns with retailers if they
come across similar listings
online in the future. Where such
functionality exists, they may also
8
with a number of misconceptions
such as that they aren’t
photogenic or that they bring
bad luck, but at Battersea, we
know this couldn’t be further from
the truth. There is so much more
to these beautiful, loving cats
which make them a great pet for
many people.
“There are many black cats
at Battersea who are looking
for a loving home and we hope
that through events like National
Black Cat Day, we can raise
awareness of just how wonderful
these sweet felines are and give
them a second chance at life.”
use the websites’ online reporting
mechanism to log a complaint.”
An Amazon spokesperson said:
“We require all products in our
store to comply with applicable
laws and regulations and have
developed industry-leading tools
to prevent non-compliant products
from being listed. We will continue
to work with the BVA to promote
animal welfare and will take swift
action against any bad actors who
try to circumvent our policies.”
Murray Lambell, eBay UK
General Manager, said: “We
are pleased that our proactive
work is preventing the sale of
these harmful items. We have put
automatic block filters in place,
which aim to prevent these
products making it on to the site
in the first place, and our security
teams perform regular checks
to ensure nothing slips through
the net. We will also continue to
work closely with the BVA to make
sure that we stop the sale of
any product that may harm any
animal.”
 Q

>RXU
,*9.3
94:(-
While we don’t
have our Cat
Chat pages, we
New s & views!
are still sharing Social media chat Your letters...
your stories in our We celebrated World Mental Health Day on our Letter from Debra Hayes: “Just got my November
news pages! social channels. Cats are so good for our mental issue and wow, love the new look! My favourite part,
health and we asked our fans to post their pictures as a senior with older eyes, is the layout and font are
of them chilling with their cats… so much easier to read. I love the fresh, crisp look
1 of the new format. I was finding the print on some
articles with a coloured background with smaller font,
especially if it was white, was hard to read so I would
skip those articles.
“I love that you aren’t raising the subscription fee. As
a Canadian, it’s a wee bit of an expense (double the
pounds and you get the Canadian dollar price) but
it is my treat to myself and the best cat magazine in
1 Xena Och Ymer. the world, and now I can feel I’m helping cats at the
2 Mac Kirkwood:
“When the weather is same time.
like this, she loves to “I’m very happy my favourite sections are still there.
be with me.” Confessions of a Cat Sitter, James Bowen, the short
3 Patricia Forsythe:
“Holding hands.” stories, and the picture gallery, which a few of my cats
4 Joanne Iredale: 5 have appeared in over the years, are still there. I love
“Dexter stretching out the real life stories too. The letter section was my very
across me to keep
warm.” favourite part.
2
5 Erin Muir: “Nala “One thing I’d wrote years ago to a different editor
and me. She’s eight 3 was maybe once a year a contest for foreign readers.
and she’s only been
sitting on my lap a She had said it was a good suggestion — we can
couple of months so always hope.
I think she’s still a bit “In closing, I send my congratulations to everyone
unsure — I love lap
cats!” who makes this a great magazine and the new
6 Paul Luby: “Neville, 6 amazing look and the new endeavours to help cats
our six-month-old 4 everywhere enjoy a happy and healthy and safe life.”
7
Siberian Forest Cat
watching TV with me, Letter from Jenny Grainge: “I was thrilled and
well I say watching!” delighted to see that you have launched Your Cat
7 Rachael Clare: “My Good Causes. On behalf of felines everywhere, I thank
foster kitten Smudge
sat with my boyfriend you from the bottom of my heart. And I think the new
on his first night here.” design is excellent.”

247*
.3+4
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9
www.yourcat.co.uk
CATS AT CHRISTMAS
Feline
festive!
We hear stories from those who truly make cats part of Christmas
C
hristmas is a special
time, with friends
and families getting
together to celebrate.
Most people like to include
their cats in what they’re doing
over the holidays, but for some
people their cats are right at the
centre of Christmas…
Above: Christmas
is a time for family,
including our cats!
Your Cat December 2022
A PLACE AT THE TABLE
There’s nothing like Christmas
dinner, where all the family get
around the table, pull crackers,
and then tuck into turkey and all
the trimmings.
And for one family there’s a very
pet-icular guest who likes nothing
better than sitting at his own place:
Ozzy the cat.
As well as getting his own
delicious dinner at the table, the
handsome British Shorthair is
given his own presents to unwrap
10
and has a special cat-friendly
Christmas cracker!
“He’s a very spoiled cat all
year round,” said owner Rachel
Smith, from Preston.“So why would
Christmas be any different?
Whenever we had a roast dinner,
he would be pestering us for some,
so for Christmas we decided to
include him properly. He loves the
meat but isn’t too fussed about the
sprouts — like a lot of us!”
The Smiths open their presents
on Christmas morning and under
 “He’s a great fan
of Christmas.”
the tree there will always be
something for Ozzy — a packet of
his favourite treats.
Rachel, a journalist, said: “We
wrap the Dreamies up and as soon
as we give them to him, he runs
away and gets to work busting
through the paper. We have to take
them off him then, before he eats
the lot!”
The six-year-old will then sit at
his beautifully set place alongside
his “human brothers” — Will, 20,
and Jim, 16, — and Rachel’s mum,
Maureen.
“He’s always really interested
in his cracker; they are specially
made for cats. They don’t bang
and they usually have a couple of
toys like a ball and a catnip mouse
inside — and he will give the toys
a good inspection while we are
serving up dinner.”
This year, the family will be
dishing up roast chicken on
Christmas Day and Ozzy will
be having his portion. Then the
furry feline sits quietly at his seat,
lapping up his meal and then later
Top left: Rachel joins the family in front of the TV for
and Ozzy. a good Christmas nap.
Top right: Ozzy has “Ozzy is part of our family and
a place at the table. we love making a fuss of him,”
said Rachel, 45.“He’s a very sweet
Bottom: Olivia has
saved cats on natured boy and a great fan of
Christmas day! Christmas — especially the dinner!”
www.yourcat.co.uk
SAVING PRECIOUS LIVES treatment or monitoring that can’t
Spare a thought on Christmas Day be done at home. We’d much
for those who work with animals. rather return them to their families
While everyone else is enjoying the for Christmas if we can!”
festivities, they are at work giving Olivia’s colleagues take it in turns
their all, as they do every other day to work the 25th December so that
of the year. no-one is covering it every year,
“Cats don’t know it is Christmas and they make things festive with
so they get the same emergencies a Secret Santa for staff, Christmas
as they normally would,” explained tunes, and decorating the
PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan. non-clinical parts of the building,
“I’ve treated everything from cat including putting up a tree.
bite abscesses and injuries caused A typical Christmas shift for Olivia
by falling, to severe stomach would involve getting up early,
infections, heart disease, and leaving her wife to have a lie-in,
kidney failure, all on Christmas Day.” and starting work at 9am before
The 31-year-old said that the 25th seeing pets throughout the day
December was as unpredictable until 6pm. She said the hospital
as any other day of the year at the sees cats during the festive
charity’s pet hospital on Shamrock period turning up with seasonal
Street, in Glasgow. The vets tend to
defer things that aren’t potentially
life-threatening emergencies until
after the holiday so they can
prioritise pets who really need their
care. Olivia said: “We have staff
who care for and treat pets staying
at the hospital on Christmas Day,
the same as we would on any
bank holiday or at the weekend.
Our out-of-hours service means
pets who need emergency care
can be treated whenever they
need it, 24/7, 365 days a year.
“Of course, we only keep in
pets who need to be with us for
11
CATS AT CHRISTMAS
“Cats don’t
know it is
Christmas...”
problems: “We’ve had to remove
tinsel that was blocking a cat’s
gastrointestinal tract, and I have
treated cats who have torn into
a massive roast dinner, complete
with all the trimmings, and suffered
from allium poisoning, because
onions, garlic, and leeks are all
toxic to them.”
Another issue over the holidays
is the change in routine, perhaps
with guests coming and going,
which can lead to some cats
developing feline cystitis through
stress.“This causes pain while
peeing and, particularly for male
cats, can be life-threatening if they
progress to being unable to pee at
all,” said Olivia.“It’s not uncommon
to see a few cases of this difficult
condition over the Christmas
period. Often cats with blocked
bladders will have to stay at the
hospital for a few days.”
Sadly for Olivia, bad news
doesn’t stop at Christmas and
Top: Olivia at work. she has had to break upsetting
news to owners.“It’s never easy,
Bottom: Rachel
and Lee help so especially at Christmas. For many
many cats. people, losing a pet or getting a
Your Cat December 2022
terminal diagnosis for their
four-legged friend at Christmas
may be particularly heart-breaking.
“Whatever the time of year, I
always have resources on hand,
such as Blue Cross’ bereavement
line, to signpost owners to, so that
they have someone to talk to in
times of need.”
IN FROM THE COLD
Since 2018 Rachel and her partner,
Lee Miles, have fostered about 30
cats and kittens for the Worcester
and Mid Worcestershire Branch
of the RSPCA. Coming up to
Christmas this year, she is looking
after six abandoned kittens, as well
as her own cats.
The accounts manager, from
Bishampton in Worcestershire, said:
“It’s nice to know that the rescue
cats are in a home for Christmas
and they are warm, well-fed,
and loved, and that they are not
out in the cold, trying to fend for
themselves.”
There won’t be any sitting
around the table for Christmas
Day dinner though, as the couple
have turned their dining room into
a special cat sanctuary for their
foster cats. It’s packed full of comfy
cat beds, toys of all shapes and
sizes, and a couple of cat trees
with a view outside. The table itself
12
is covered with a blanket to make
a quiet den for when pregnant
cats come to stay and are looking
for somewhere to give birth.
“We will be having our Christmas
lunch on trays as usual, and we
will make sure that the cats don’t
miss out on a special dinner,” said
Rachel, 51.“In fact, every Sunday
I get something nice for our cats
— they might have a couple of
little bits from our joint or some fish
— and the foster cats love that too.
Usually for Christmas it’s chicken as
a treat, and the cats and kittens all
lick their lips afterwards!”
The couple’s latest foster guests
are very young kittens. Aged
only five weeks, they were being
given away locally on Facebook
when they were rescued by
one of Rachel’s colleagues
before coming to her. They were
quite poorly, all of them very
underweight and suffering from the
painful eye condition conjunctivitis
and riddled with ear mites.
“It looked like there were two
litters of kittens that someone didn’t
want,” said Rachel.“After they had
been treated by the vet, they came
to live with us and we have been
feeding them up with special milk
replacement and then getting
them on to solids as well. In the
run-up to Christmas, it’s been a joy
 Q
“Fostering is
rewarding...”
having them in the house, running
around exploring everything, and
I have even caught Lee asleep on
the sofa with all of them having a
snooze on top of him!”
Now fit and healthy, the cuddly
kittens — named Bea, Suki, Sammy,
Mopsy, Molly, and Bumble — will
be going to new homes when
they’re old enough.
Last year, Rachel and Lee
fostered an abandoned cat
called Poppy over Christmas.
“It was lovely that she was with
us over the festive season and
we could show her some love.
She had had a tough start in life,
probably having numerous litters
of kittens and she was very wary
of people,” said Rachel.“So very
945 gradually we gained her trust. I
9.5 always sleep in the cat room at
least once a week, so the cats can
If you’re get used to being around people,
interested in and I think this is one of the things
becoming an that helped her. She will spend this
RSPCA cat Christmas in a lovely new home
fosterer have and although she’s never going to
a look on their be a lap cat, her new owner loves
website at www. her and Poppy is really happy.”
rspca.org.uk/ Sadly, cats and kittens like
findapet/foster Poppy are abandoned every day,
including Christmas Day, and the
Top left: Poppy RSPCA is bracing for a huge rise
under the tree. over this winter.
Top right: Abi “Fostering cats is such a joy,
and Poppy. all year round, but I think it really
www.yourcat.co.uk
makes a difference at Christmas
over the winter,” said Rachel.“Many
rescue centres are full and I think
having cats and kittens in a home
environment helps them to settle
and to feel loved, which really is
what the spirit of Christmas is all
about.” Rachel added: “Fostering
is rewarding as you get to see cats
thrive and then see them through
to their next life. Seeing their photos
with their new owners makes all
the hard work worthwhile.”
A TOUGH CHRISTMAS
Cats are brilliant at helping their
owners through hard times
— and that includes a Christmas
disrupted by Covid.
After a long year overshadowed
by the pandemic, Abi and Andrew
Giles were really looking forward to
spending Christmas Day with their
family in St Albans, Herts.
Their cats, Poppy and Oliver,
had helped see them through
lockdowns and working from
home — and then through a
Covid Christmas!
“The cats have been brilliant
during the pandemic,” said
teacher Abi.“Like a lot of people,
I was really anxious about
spreading the virus so we kept
ourselves to ourselves, and Poppy
and Oliver were little furry beacons
of light in a difficult time.”
As the year went by and Covid
restrictions eased, with friends and
family getting vaccinated, the
couple were really looking forward
to sharing Christmas with both
13
their sets of parents. But then in
December Abi was struck down
with a mild dose of the illness.
The 41-year-old said: “To try to
stop each other getting Covid
before Christmas we were in
separate bedrooms, using the
kitchen and bathroom at different
times, and then eating with a two
metre distance between us — and
we split the cats up so that we
both had one each to stroke. I had
Poppy and Andrew had Oliver.”
But Andrew, a driving instructor,
then got the virus and was testing
positive on Christmas Eve so their
festive plans were scuppered.
“I think the cats actually really
enjoyed our Covid Christmas,”
said Abi.“They were happy to
have us both at home, plus there
was no rushing around or people
and dogs coming and going. We
were nice and cosy, and we both
relaxed with them.”
Poppy, a rescue cat from Cats
Protection Luton, is not generally
a cuddly cat, but she has helped
Abi get on top of her Covid anxiety,
even sitting in with Abi on online
counselling sessions: “She sat on
my lap, which is really unusual
for her, and after my first session,
she gave me a little headbutt of
encouragement.”
Now Abi and Andrew are
planning a big family Christmas
for this year — and special treats
for Poppy and Oliver. Abi added:
“Father Catmas will definitely visit
them this year and bring them
something nice — they deserve it.”
 Bringing hope to the
cats of Shetland
Your Cat Good Causes has donated to help a new charity be
legally able to rehome cats on Shetland

Your Cat Good Causes has provided vital support to a brand-new independent cat rescue
in Shetland, by donating funds for their rehoming license.

S
hetland is the most
northerly part of the UK,
situated 133 miles north
of John o’ Groats. There
are several inhabited islands
and plenty of uninhabited ones,
Floyd and Toby are with many unowned or feral
two kittens Shetland
Cat Rescue have cats who breed and struggle to
already helped. survive in the harsh conditions.
When Carol Riche, chairman of
Left: Tabby cat Floyd
has a new home the new Shetland Cat Rescue, left
to go to very soon. her role at a previous organisation,
Despite being an her friends encouraged her to set
ex-feral, he is a bit of
a poser. He is a very up her own charity, as she already
clever, affectionate, showed so much desire to help
and rather naughty those felines in need. After a lot of
kitten.
thought and research, she knew it
Right: Black and was the right thing to do.
white cat Toby, is Carol said: “I realised that there
also an ex-feral. He
is becoming tamer was nobody at all in Shetland
every day and will helping cats. There’s a big, big
come up and have a need for it up here.”
sniff or be stroked. He
is a playful and very She got three other cat lovers
sweet kitten. on board — Pauline, Claudia, and
Fiona — and sat down together to
chat about logistics, and the rest
was history. Carol said: “The four of
us got together and basically said
‘right, let’s do it’!”
Carol and the team are already
doing as much as they possibly
can to help the cats of Shetland,
by catching, treating, and caring
for them, using their own funds.
“We’ve been doing what we can
at the moment anyway. I’ve helped
get quite a few kittens rescued,
and got the mum cats neutered.
A lot of it was my own money
that I used, but I just can’t say no
when anyone comes to me, it’s
impossible!” said Carol.
Most of the kittens Carol has had
in her care have been feral and
due to the lack of cat rescues in
the area, nothing is actively being
done to help solve the breeding
problem. People are not quite
sure what to do with a feral cat, so
they’re simply left out in the wild.
Carol explained that some
charities have a cut-off age for
taking stray or feral kittens in,
whereas Shetland Cat Rescue
won’t have any age policies in
place. They have proven that you
can take a three- or four-month-old
kitten from the wild and tame it.
Pauline Dean, trustee of Shetland
Cat Rescue, who lives in North Roe
said: “I’ve currently got two ex-feral
kittens in my care and they have
come on beautifully. They were on
one of the islands where there’s a
huge problem with feral cats. One

“There’s a
big, big need
for it up here...”

14
Your Cat December 2022
 “It’s such a
worry...”
in particular is one of the softest
cats I’ve ever known.”
Both Carol and Pauline, and
the other team members, are
extremely passionate about the
welfare of the cats of Shetland,
and it becomes even more of a
worry to them throughout the cold,
winter months, as the weather in
Shetland can become so extreme.
Carol said: “It’s such a worry,
especially in the winter with it
being so harsh here. You always
get kittens around this time of year
and I just hate thinking about
them out in the cold, as they won’t
survive. Hopefully we’ll be able to
save a few of them.”
“It’s such a shame for the ferals,
as if they’re not spayed, they just
breed, and not all of the kittens will
survive. So, they’re just breeding
and breeding, and it’s horrible for
them. That’s why one of our aims
is to help neuter the feral cats and
stop the cycle.” Pauline continued.
“We’ll never get all of them
because I couldn’t even imagine
how many there are in Shetland,
hundreds, if not thousands.”
It is often not known that by the
time a kitten reaches four months
MORE INFO
You can find out more about Shetland Cat Rescue on their brand-new website
Above inset: Tommy www.shetlandcatrescue.co.uk and find them on Facebook @ShetlandCatRescue. They also have a
in his Shetland Cat Just Giving page to help them raise much-needed funds.
Rescue bandana.
www.yourcat.co.uk
old they are able to become
pregnant, which is why neutering
is now offered from such an early
age. Shetland Cat Rescue plan
to share educational information
across their website and Facebook
to raise awareness of the benefits
of neutering.
They have also gained the
support of their cat rescue mascot,
Tommy, the most famous cat
in Shetland. Well-known for his
colourful bandana collection
and visiting all of the local shops or more animals as pets in any
and watering holes, Tommy has 12-month period must be licensed.
been spotted wearing his new So, Your Cat Good Causes gave the
Shetland Cat Rescue bandana, rescue the money to pay for their
and is helping spread awareness licence so they can start rehoming
of the new cat rescue throughout as soon as possible.
the town. (www.facebook.com/ Alongside paying for Shetland
people/The-Adventures-of- Cat Rescue’s rehoming license,
Tommy/100064330616340/) Your Cat Good Causes have also
It is law for any person or provided them with a brand-new
organisation that supplies animals MDC cat trap and carrier to help
as pets to persons in Scotland get their TNR programme started,
that have been sourced for that plus a bundle of Vetbed bedding to
purpose from either within or keep the cats warm in the winter.
outside Scotland must, subject Shetland Cat Rescue are
to a few exceptions, be licenced. currently waiting for confirmation of
Any such person or organisation their charity status and are now in
engaging in animal rehoming the progress of searching for new
activities and supplying five volunteers and fosterers in the area.
15
 up d ates Q

We’re helping
dementia patients
Here at Your Cat Good Causes, we want to use the power of
feline companionship to help those living with dementia, which
can be a difficult and lonely disease to cope with.

247* We know how therapeutic a cat’s purr can be and

.3+4
how the simple act of just stroking a cat can make
many individuals feel instantly calmer, less anxious,
If you would like and more positive. But what does this mean for those
to nominate a who can’t physically have a pet in their home?
care home that Thankfully, there is an alternative for people who
specialises in would benefit from the companionship of a furry
dementia care to friend.
receive one of the JOY FOR ALL Companion Pet cats — sold by
companion pet American company Ageless Innovation — which
cats, please email look, feel, and sound like real cats are an innovative
yourcatgoodcauses electronic alternative. They respond to being stroked,
@warnersgroup hugged, and motion, but they don’t require any Companion Pet cat brings real joy, comfort, and
.co.uk special care or feeding. friendship — all positive steps towards achieving
For those who can’t have a real cat, the better mental health for those living with dementia.

RESCUE CATS ENJOYING

THEIR NEW BEDDING!
O Donna Kyriacou who runs Wellcat
said: “We would like to say a special
thank you to Your Cat for donating
these amazing, fluffy blankets for the
rescue cats. When we first gave them
to the cats, they were an instant hit
and most of the cats even paddy-
pawed them! They are certainly going
to come in good use this winter to
keep the cats warm. Donations, no
matter how big or small, are always
Above top: Some of gratefully accepted and make a huge SPREADING THE WORD ON
the cats at Wellcat difference towards the cats in our YOUR CAT GOOD CAUSES
Animal Rescue
enjoying their new care. We can’t do what we do without Your Cat Good Causes attended the 44th Supreme Cat Show, held
bedding. the generous public, so thank you!” on Saturday, 22nd October 2022 at the NAEC, Stoneleigh. Our aim
was to spread the word about our new direction and make the
Above bottom: A
couple of comfy O Rebekah Stevens from Coundon cat-loving community aware of our future plans. By the end of the
Coundon Cat Cat Rescue said: “Thank you so much day, the hall was full of cute, pink Your Cat shopping bags! Plus, one
Rescue kittens. for the bedding, we are going through lucky winner won a 12-month subscription to Your Cat and we will
Right: Your Cat bags so many blankets at the moment so be donating £250 to an independent cat rescue of their choice.
filled the hall! these will be a massive help!” Congratulations!

16
Your Cat December 2022
 YOUR CAT OFFER £5
A MONTH
Subscribe to Your Cat
and help support Good Causes
At least 30% g
goes directly to the m
many
y good causes we support.
IF Y
YOU LOVE CATS, YOU’LL KNOW
CATS BRING SO MUCH JOY
CA
TO OUR LIVES, AND YOUR CAT
MAGAZINE IS A CELEBRATION OF
MA
ALL THINGS CAT, EVERY MONTH!  
AL
O Build your knowledge of all aspects of
cat care with help from our expert writers
including behaviourists, vets, groomers,
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O Find the answers to your feline
problems to improve life at home with
your cat.
O Indulge in real life stories about cats
that are inspiring, heart-warming, and
uplifting — you won’t find these tales
anywhere else!
O Explore news ways to enjoy your
hobby of cats, from training and showing
your pet, to discovering cat collectable
and visiting feline tourist spots .
EM
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DE
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O Be part of a community that truly


understands why sharing your life with
cats is so special!

Join Your Cat –

www.yourcat.co.uk/subscribe
JAMES BOWEN

Columnist
James Bowen
In the final part on James and Bob’s trip to Tokyo, we hear
how James fell in love with the city and is forever grateful
to the cat who made it possible.

T
he flight. The hotel. The 50th floor. Corner Wright, the famous director of films such as ‘Shaun
suites. Sony. Interviews with the press. The film of the Dead’ and ‘Hot Fuzz,’ as well as the film he
premiere. Adoring fans. Stunning views. Kobi was promoting at the time,‘Baby Driver,’ and we
beef. The fish market. Sashimi. The sweltering chatted. Strange these things. Who could ever
heat. The love of Tokyo. And the love of Bob. think of a cat bringing you into the stratosphere of
Our last few days were going to be hard the magic and glamour of the stars that light up
because I knew we were going home. Yes, I was Hollywood?
looking forward to it, but at the same time, I’d fallen
in love with this city.
It had been a hell of a ride. Who could ever say
that their cat had taken them halfway across the
world? To one of the most exotic, beautiful, and
futuristic cities, where the love of cats was part of
their everyday culture, from Hello Kitty to cat cafes
and the Tokyo TV mascot, whom I met during one
press interview at the Sony offices.
Sony and Comstock were the promoters of the
first film in Japan. They had kindly invited Bob and
I and offered to pay for a first-class flight with Bob
in tow to Japan, a place I’d only ever dreamt of
visiting.
Bob took it all in his stride so effortlessly despite
the sweltering heat. I was worried about Bob in
this suffocating humidity but he looked so relaxed,
especially when he was in the air conditioned
hotel room watching the birds flying around the
park.
It was during those last few days that while I
was sitting in the bar at the Ritz Carlton, on the
48th floor drinking Sakee, that I spotted Edgar

Right: James and

Bob with actor
“It had been a
Luke Treadaway who
played James
in the film that the
hell of a ride...”
pair went to Tokyo
to promote.*

18
Your Cat December 2022
 During the two days remaining, I was out with
my fans who had been instrumental in Bob and
myself being in the land of the rising sun by
tirelessly petitioning to get me to Japan in the first
place. They took me around all the major tourist
attractions:Akihabara, Shinjuku, Roppongi,and
Shibuya junction.We’d eaten so many bits of Kobe
beef, so many bits of sashimi. Drank so much
rice wine and Suntory whiskey. Meanwhile Bob
lounged in his hotel room being fussed upon by
the chamber maids as they made the bed,refilled
the minibar, and emptied his Royal Meowness litter
tray, which I expect was a first for the Ritz Carlton. I
remember coming back to find two lovely, friendly
members of staff cleaning our room while taking
selfies with Bob on the windowsill. I took a picture
of Bob on said windowsill, which I think is one of the
most beautiful pictures ever in the world, even if I
did take it myself.
As the final night came to a close, I ruffled Bob
on the head. I told him how much I loved him and
how proud I was of him for making all this possible
and for teaching so many people around the world
the meaning of a second chance.
I had to wake up at 4am to put him back in
his flight crate so that he could be transported
to the airport, where he could safely go through
procedures to be on the same flight that I was due
to board in 12 hours. The air hostesses assured me
again on the way home that he was fine below,
warm and comfy with not a care in the world.
When we landed at Heathrow, I had to wait six
hours before he cleared quarantine and he was
given back to me. I could’ve just gone home and
they would’ve brought him to me, but I didn’t want
to leave him at the airport, even though he was

).) probably at a different terminal all together. I wasn’t

going to leave my boy, so I waited and then as it
>4: came around to 8pm, the van pulled up.

034<$ “Are you James?” The guy said. I tiredly sighed

in reply: “Yes.” I hobbled over with my crutches,
Bob played climbing into the van. I looked at my little man in
himself in many the back, a smile on my face as the glimmer in his
of the scenes in eyes said ‘Hello Dad!’ and off we went, driven back
the films. to Chateau le Bob.

TO FIND OUT MORE...

James and Street Cat Bob have featured in
books and movies that have sold millions
of copies internationally. To learn more
about their story, visit streetcatbob.com or
the Facebook page www.facebook.com/
Right: highlights OfficialJamesBowenandStreetcatBob
from Tokyo!

19
www.yourcat.co.uk
REAL LIFE

“I won’t let
Simba’s death be in vain”
Having to say a final goodbye to your beloved cat is always
heartbreaking, but when Jen Berezai was robbed of even the
chance to have a final moment with her cat, it was the beginning
of a campaign to stop this ever happening to cat owners again.

T
he subject of giving cats
and dogs equal rights in
terms of their health and
safety has been under
debate for a long time now — with
some progress made, and much
more still to come.
Following a Government
consultation in 2021, it was
confirmed that it will become law
for cat owners to ensure their pet
is microchipped before they reach
the age of 20 weeks and their
contact details logged in a pet
microchipping database
— a law that has existed for dogs
since 2016. But one law that has
not yet changed, despite years
of campaigning by groups and
charities including Cats Matter, is
regarding hitting a cat with a car.
As of October 2022, if you hit a
dog or other animal mentioned in
the Road Traffic Act 1988 — dogs,
Top: Simba the poser. horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep,
donkeys, and mules — you are
Bottom:Simba
snuggled up with legally required to inform the police.
Jen’s husband Chris. But this does not currently include
cats, so many pet felines tragically
killed on the roads in the UK may
not be reunited with their owners
and will often simply be disposed of
by local councils.
A NEW HOME
Simba came to Jen Berezai, founder
of non-profit organisation AdvoCATS,
in 2020 after his owner, Julie, had
to move out of her rented home in
a hurry. AdvoCATS has featured in
Your Cat Magazine before — the
organisation helps renters to work
with landlords to allow them to have
cats in their homes. The charity
is also lobbying Government to
change the law to make it easier to
have a cat in a rented property.
“He just slotted into our family
that easily, I’ve never known such a
confident, happy go lucky cat in all
my life,” Jen said.
Ironically, Jen took on Simba as
Julie now lived on a busy main
road, and they were concerned for
his safety.Jen said: “Simba had a
penchant for wandering. His owner
had wanted to rehome him as he
was crossing several main roads on
his escapades.”
Simba made himself at home
with Jen and showed off his new
talent of, in Jen’s words: “meowing
his head off at the front door to be
let in rather than hop over the gate
to the cat flap. We loved him and
all his cheeky ways.”
Jen has since found out that
Simba in the four months she had
him had also made several human
friends in the area, breaking into
their neighbour Phoebe’s house
and curling up on her bed, as well
as playing with local children.
“These are the memories we
cherish, we are so fortunate there
were so many from such a short
space of time, but there is an ever
present sadness he’s no longer with
us to make more,” Jen said.
A TRAGIC END
On that fateful night, Simba didn’t
come home for his supper one
evening, which was not unusual,

20
Your Cat December 2022
 Q

“He was loved and he

was microchipped”
but when he didn’t appear for his
meals the following day, alarm bells
started to ring for Jen.
After searching local Facebook
pages, she sadly found one which
reported a ginger and white cat
had been run over by a car just a
couple of streets away.
“We had posted on Facebook
that he was missing, and produced
flyers and posters, and over the
next couple of days, slowly pieced
together enough information to
suggest that the cat who had
been killed was likely to have been
Simba,” she said.
Unfortunately, the worst was yet to
come for Jen, as she then received
a phone call explaining that a
chucked in a bin like a piece of
trash, with no thought for his dignity,
his owners’ feelings, or indeed any
semblance of basic decency.
“There is nothing we could have
done to prevent Simba being killed,
except keep him inside, which
would have made him miserable.
But he was loved and he was
microchipped.”
CHANGES TO BE MADE
Jen said that if Simba had been
taken to a vet, or if it was law to
report any such accidents, she
would have been able to lay him to
rest, but they were denied this: “That
hurts almost as much as losing him
in the first place.”
love them more than cat owners
love their cats? Of course not!
“A cat is an animal that deserves
to be helped if injured, or shown
dignity and respect in death, and
it should not be a big ask that
their humans, who love them very
much and consider them family
members, are respectfully notified
should the worst happen.
“In this so-called animal loving
country in 2022, it cannot be right
that cats can be hit by a car and
left in the road, or disposed of like
rubbish by those who find them.”
Mandy Hobbis of CatsMatter
added: “One such very loved cat
was Jen’s cat Simba. The AdvoCATS
team work tirelessly with rescues,

MORE woman living near the accident

site had asked her neighbour
INFO:
You can find more
to “do something” with Simba’s
remains, which he duly disposed of
information about in a public waste bin.
CatsMatter and Jen said that she spoke to
their work at Erewash Borough Council, who
www.catsmatter. explained that the bin had already
org/home been collected and passed on to
Veolia Waste, who also said that it
World Animal was too late, as the contents of the
Road Accident bins had already been sent to the
Awareness Day, incinerator.
the collaboration “At this point, we still didn’t know
between AdvoCATS for sure if it was our boy,” Jen said.
and CatsMatter. “I begged the woman to let me
go and see her neighbour to ask
some questions and show some
pictures, but she ignored my calls
and messages.”
Sadly, Jen then visited the site
of the collision and found Simba’s
distinctive collar bell, which
confirmed her worst fears: “Our boy
Top: Simba post nap. was dead, and, worse, had been
And so, Jen and AdvoCATS
joined forces with fellow
landlords, and tenants to ensure
as many pets as possible can
campaigners at CatsMatter to
publicise this year’s World Animal
stay with their families in rented
properties. With all the dedication
Road Accident Awareness Day, with and hard work Jen puts in to help
the aim to commemorate, promote, people and their pets, it is even
and further mobilise action to help more sad that such help was not
stop animals being hit on the road given to Simba, Jen, and her family
and left by drivers, and is held each when they needed it.”
year on October 10. World Animal Road Accident
Jen explained: “Unlike animals Awareness Day aims to be a period
such as dogs, cats do not have the to observe the pressing issues of
same protections should they be concern and raise awareness, as
hit by a car. Why? Do dogs matter well as remembering the fallen and
more than cats? Do their owners pay tribute to lost, beloved pets.
ABOUT ADVOCATS
AdvoCATS, which champions pets in rented accommodation, and
CatsMatter, who challenge the lack of laws that protect cats on the
road in the UK, are already well known to each other. CatsMatter
were one of the first organisations to sign up for AdvoCATS’“Heads
for Tails!” campaign to make renting with pets easier, which was
largely responsible for the inclusion of the issue on the Government’s
renters reform white paper, published in June this year.

21
www.yourcat.co.uk
TOP 10s
WKLQJV
\RXVKRXOGDOZD\V
SURYLGHIRU\RXUFDW
A look at the essentials your cat needs — and what you may not
have considered when providing them.
L
ove is certainly important,
but it isn’t all you need if
your cat is to be a happy,
healthy individual — other
essentials are equally vital to his
well-being. Neglect to provide
these basics and he’ll be at risk
of becoming unsettled, unhappy,
and liable to develop behavioural
and possibly health issues. Some
of them may seem obvious, but
might need a little tweaking to
Above: Your cat will
appreciate high tailor them perfectly to the feline
vantage points. in your life. In no particular order:
Your Cat December 2022
1 SAFE PLACES
Most cats prefer to adopt an
avoid and evade strategy, rather
than a confrontational one, when
faced with anything perceived as
threatening or unfamiliar.
Whether it’s strange odours,
loud or worrying noises, unfamiliar
objects, the presence of visitors, or
other unknown or disliked animals,
safe places give your cat a space
to retreat to at any time of stress,
enabling him to feel secure and
protected, and that he still has
22
some control over his environment.
And for a cat, control is the most
important thing in their life.
A safe place can be as simple
as a cardboard box turned on its
side for easy access, or a carrier
with the door left open, but many
like to have high places they can
retire to when they feel the need
to escape, or want a bit of privacy,
so provide perches or shelves
too, which you can either buy or
fabricate yourself if you have good
DIY skills.
 “Always have
fresh, clean water
available.”
DID 2 ID
YOU Some form of identification
is essential in case your cat strays
KNOW?
Providing feeding,
(or is mistaken for one) to ensure
you are reunited. The safest and
drinking, toileting, most effective way of doing this
claw scratching,
and resting
places in multiple
is with a microchip which won’t
come off or put your cat at risk of
injury as a collar might do.
3 WATER
Always have fresh, clean water available. He may enjoy cow’s
milk or cream, but it’s likely to upset his tummy. Although specialist cat
locations helps About the size of a grain of and kitten milk is available with a reduced lactose content, view it as
avoid stress and rice, the microchip is implanted an occasional food treat, not a replacement for water.
potential conflict under the skin between the You may need to experiment to find your cat’s preferences. If he’s not
if you have more shoulder blades; each one keen on chemically treated tap water, try bottled water or rain water
than one cat — but has a unique code stored on a collected from containers in your garden. Cats may also be put off by
is still important if national database. A scan of the lingering taste or odours from detergents used to clean bowls, so rinse
you only have a microchip by an animal warden, very thoroughly after washing.
single feline as it vet, or rescue centre reveals your How you present the water is as important as the quality! Most cats
gives choice. contact details, hastening the prefer shallow glass or ceramic bowls filled to the brim so they don’t
safe return of your kitty. Because need to put their heads right in. Not all cats will be satisfied with a

DID
it’s a permanent, tamper-proof simple bowl though; some love to drink from moving water. A water
form of ID which lasts a lifetime, fountain with an adjustable flow and replaceable filter to help remove

YOU it can also resolve ownership any nasty tastes and smells may be just what he wants. Alternatively,

KNOW?
disputes — and that’s not all: leave a tap running, but remember to remove the plug first!
hi-tech cat flaps and feeders
Food and water can even be programmed
bowls should be
wide — cats hate
their whiskers
to recognise an individual
microchip.
Your vet or any qualified
4 HEALTH CARE
Make sure your cat is registered with a local vet’s. Ensuring you
provide veterinary care if your cat becomes unwell is a no-brainer, but it
touching the sides. microchip implanter can carry can be easy to quickly run through savings you may have put aside for
out the procedure. Some vet such an eventuality, so having a good pet insurance policy to fall back
practices and charities may on is vital. Be prepared to do your research to find the right cover, at a
have special offers or even free price you can afford from a company who will be there for you should
microchipping events on certain the worst happen.
days, ask if such schemes are Don’t forget preventative healthcare as well, including vaccinations,
available. Don’t forget to notify the worming, and flea and tick treatments. Discuss these with your vet to
microchip database company decide on the best options for your cat. Some veterinary practices offer
Top: Moving water
can encourage if you change address or phone discounted annual healthcare packages which you can either pay for
cats to drink. numbers. in a lump sum or spread out payments over the year.

23
www.yourcat.co.uk
 TOP 10s

ʼn.IWKHUHLVRQHWKLQJ
FDWVH[FHODWLWŇV
VQRR]LQJŊ

945
9.5
If your cat isn’t
interested in using
his scratching
5 SCRATCHING POST
Cats need to scratch to stretch their muscles, keep claws
in good condition, and mark their scent on their territory. If
7 BED If there’s one thing cats excel
at, it’s snoozing, but when it comes to
post, sprinkle some you don’t provide an acceptable scratching place, he’ll find beds, you may need to trial different
dried catnip over his own, using your furniture, carpets, and wallpaper instead. ones to find out what your cat’s
the base, or use a Free-standing or designed to fix to a wall, make your own or preferences are about shape, size,
dangly fishing rod buy ready-made, but do ensure that it is rigid, solid, and sturdy and fabric. Some like hammock-style
toy to play with enough that it won’t fall over when being used, and is tall affairs hanging on warm radiators,
him to encourage enough for your cat to scratch while at full stretch. Some cats others a more open bed, while a
a connection like to scratch horizontally as well as vertically, so offer some nervous cat may appreciate an igloo
between his claws angled as well as upright surfaces. type which increases his sense of
and the scratching Cats often like to stretch and scratch when they first wake up, security. It’s not just about getting the
surface. so place one of his special scratching areas near his bed. bed right either. Provide more than
one, as cats like to vary the places

945 where they nap, having up to five

9.5
Sudden changes
6 FOOD Your cat needs a diet that’s properly balanced,
containing all the nutrients he requires in the correct
favoured sleeping places around the
house.

in eating or quantities. Feeding a good quality commercial food is the

drinking habits
can be a sign of
ill health. Take him
easiest and most convenient way to do this. Whether you feed
wet or dry food, or a mixture of the two, is down to the personal
preference of your cat.
8 LITTER TRAY
There’s a lot of choice in litter and
litter trays, but ultimately it is, as always,
to the vet’s for a There’s plenty of choice, not just in flavours but formulations your cat’s preferences which will be the
check-up if he for different ages, lifestyle, and any health issues. You’ll deciding factor in which you purchase.
suddenly starts find details on the packaging as to how much to feed, Some like an open tray, others the
eating or drinking but remember these are just guidelines. Bear in mind that privacy of a covered one which also
more or less. providing the right amount is as important as feeding the means odour and visibility is kept to a
right grub — it’s estimated that 39 — 52 per cent of cats in minimum for you. However, don’t assume
Top: Try different the UK are overweight or obese, so keep an eye on your cat’s anything, especially if you have more
types of bed. waistline! than one cat. A covered tray may instead

24
Your Cat December 2022
 Q

9 QUALITY TIME WITH YOU

Spend time with your cat. Playing with a toy can be fun and
fulfilling for both of you, and a wonderful bonding activity. But quality
time engaging with your cat doesn’t need to be a full-on activity.
It can also be simply sitting quietly together enjoying each other’s
company, petting him if it’s something he likes, perhaps doing some
Tellington TTouches or massage, or maybe doing something practical
such as grooming. These moments are when you see your cat’s
personality emerging and get to know each other properly; they are
memories in the making, special times to treasure.

).)
cause feelings of vulnerability
about being confined in a small 10 ENRICHMENT
We are all far more aware these days of the importance

>4: space with only one exit. Trays need of mental health, and it applies just as much to pets as to humans.

04<$
to be large enough, ideally one Providing puzzle feeders and toys which he can safely interact with
and a half times the length of your by himself will help, including a variety with different textures and
As well as getting cat from nose tip to the base of ways of moving, or which have different smells such as catnip and
the environment his tail. valerian, will help keep him entertained and fulfilled. There are also
right, providing Then there are self-cleaning trays, motion activated toys and even toys controlled by an app on your
predictability, but they are often more popular phone, and videos for cats available on the internet. But not all
familiarity and with cat guardians than cats, who enrichment needs to be hi-tech or expensive — don’t underestimate
routine help may be anxious about using them the power of a scrunched up ball of paper or providing an empty
make your cat due to random movements or cardboard box to investigate. Watching the world through a window
feel comfortable, noises they make. Tray liners may can be as absorbing as any video game if you provide a perch or
reducing stress also be more helpful to us than shelf in front of it so they can see out. Growing a pot of cat grass to
and increasing his desirable to felines who can find nibble at may also be enjoyed.
coping abilities. them off-putting. That fabulous If you have a garden, consider making it a more enriching space
sense of smell which cats possess for your cat, with places to climb, hide, stalk, and rest, intriguing

945 may also come into play if you scents to sniff at, and maybe a safe water feature. You’ll find plenty

9.5 use litter deodorants; a lovely fresh

fragrance to us perhaps, but an
of suggestions online and it can be a great way of encouraging a
wanderer to spend more time staying close to home.
Cats are fastidious overpowering pong to your kitty!
creatures, locate After sourcing the ideal tray, there
litter trays well is the matter of filling it. Many cats
away from food. like clumping type litters, and this
will at least be something you can
both agree upon, as it also makes
removal of soiled areas easier.
Make sure you provide enough,
to a depth of approximately 3cm.
If you need to experiment with
different types of litter, change
slowly over a week to a fortnight,
as cats may stop using the tray if
there’s a sudden change.
Cats hate using a soiled tray, so
remove soiled litter daily, and clean
the tray completely at least once a
YOUR CAT TOP TENS...
Top: Spend quality week. Use hot water and detergent
We hope you are enjoying our Top 10s series! We’re covering
time with your cat. or a cat-friendly disinfectant, rinsing
different topics, from the practical to the fun. We will keep
and drying thoroughly to ensure dropping our listicles in different issues, so keep an eye out for
Bottom: Enrichment
is a vital part of your cat isn’t put off using the tray them. The next one will be the 10 best cat fiction books!
well-being. by any lingering scents.

25
www.yourcat.co.uk
 Column
CAT-SITTER DIARY

Confessions
of a cat-sitter
When Julie comes back to Chris’ house for an
early Christmas, Bodmin is back to terrorising their guest!

L
ast month, I wrote here about the over-warm,
mainly unwanted feline welcome my wife’s
friend Julie received when she came to stay
at ours for a few days. Well, surprisingly, the
rest of that weekend didn’t go too badly. The cats
mainly behaved, with the exception of one rather
unsavoury furball incident, and Julie decided
to come back for another weekend break soon
Chris Pascoe afterwards, this time for an ‘early Christmas.’
is a cat-sitter and The plan was that we’d do the whole Christmas
author. He has thing in advance; presents, crackers, the works,
written five books,
including ‘A cat mainly because Julie was returning to the safety
called Birmingham’ of her native Australia a week before Christmas. Of
and ‘You can take course, Australia wouldn’t normally be described as
the cat out of
Slough’, which are safe in any wildlife comparisons, what with being
available to buy home to most of the world’s deadliest creatures
from Amazon. — crocs, great white sharks, poisonous snakes, and
even a seashell that can kill you — but I think Julie
would still have preferred all those to our pack of
cats.
Having ripped Julie’s shirt to shreds on her last
visit, our gnarled battle-cat Bodmin was soon up
to his old tricks. It’s not that he dislikes Julie, but
rather that he seems to like her too much. Thus,
yet again, he just couldn’t leave her alone, twice
forcing his way into her bedroom late at night and
on one occasion, gifting her a live mouse. What a
thoughtful Christmas present.
But worse was to come. One afternoon, as Julie
sat with a mince pie and mulled wine, three cats
staring attentively at her, she asked Lorraine if it
would be possible to have a ‘nice relaxing shower.’
Not owning a shower and reluctant to get the
hosepipe out, we suggested a bath, so off she went.
Fifteen minutes later, as Lorraine and I sipped
more mulled wine, Jojo the tortie on my lap and
Lorraine trying to stop Spooky licking her ears (bad
habit, that), we were alarmed to hear screams from
the bathroom. Lorraine rushed to the door, shouting:
“Are you OK, Julie? What’s the matter?” The reply
made her heart sink.
“WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOUR FLIPPING CAT?!”
Bodmin, it appears, had crept into the bathroom
and hidden behind the toilet while she was running
her bath, and now...
“Arghhh, he’s clawing my toes!” came Julie’s
shout. Toe-fishing. Bodmin does love a spot of
toe-fishing.
Julie’s screams for help became louder and, in
sheer panic, Lorraine flung open the bathroom
door, suddenly remembered bath times are private
things, so performed a dramatic u-turn and
re-slammed the door, but not before accidentally
losing grip of her mulled wine. To all intents and
purposes, it looked as though she’d opened the
door a crack, lobbed a mulled wine hand grenade
into the room, and then slammed the door to
deflect the blast. A very fragrant festive blast it
would’ve been too.
Suddenly the door burst open and a towel
draped Julie rushed into her bedroom. On the bath
sat Bodmin, casually washing and clearly very
pleased with his fishing trip. We stared long and
hard at him. Eventually, he looked at us in a casual
‘What?’ kind of way, performed the feline equivalent
of a raised-eyebrow smirk and trotted out to find
a new mouse for the love of his life. So, it’s back to
safer waters for Julie and a Christmas barbeque on
the beach. Merry Christmas everyone!
“We were
alarmed to hear
screams from
the bathroom...”

26
Your Cat December 2022
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SPONSORED BY

INTERACTIONS

The cat
well-being study
How much does your cat enjoy interactions with humans?

In a new series, we are helping you assess the well-being of your cats. Each issue will focus on a
different aspect of cat care and feature a practical way for you to analyse your own cat’s situation.
The second part of the series looks at how cats enjoy interactions with humans.

Interactions advice

W
e humans are a Like their owners, dogs are a SO, WHILE YOU MIGHT FEEL
sociable species sociable species and, in most COMPELLED TO CUDDLE YOUR
Clare Hemington and for us being cases, thrive on an endless FURRY BABY AS MUCH AS
DipCAPBT is an
touched and supply of hugs, pats, and tummy POSSIBLE, YOUR CAT IS MORE
accredited feline
behaviourist. She touching others is not only tickles. However, the same cannot LIKELY TO TRUST YOU AND ENJOY
has a cat behaviour enjoyable, but it is vital for our always be said of our feline YOUR COMPANY IF YOU FOLLOW
referrals practice
emotional and physical health. companions. Cats don’t have a THESE GENERAL RULES:
and runs her
Honeysuckle Cat And it’s not surprising therefore very sophisticated sense of social O Allow your cat to initiate all
Toys business with that our instinctive need to touch relationships and probably find physical interactions. This means
the help of her
and be touched extends to the our social interactions, and the only touching your cat when
Siamese, Billy.
You can find pets in our home. Research has intentions behind them, a bit he touches you first. In these
out more from shown that stroking our pets can perplexing. instances, a brief tickle around
her website:
help reduce stress and improve There are some that clearly the cheeks, chin, and the base
www.honeysuckle
cattoys.co.uk our mood, but is it as good for enjoy physical contact with us, of his ears is appropriate. If he
them as it is for us? others that can take it or leave it, rubs you with his cheeks, then
and others who run a mile from you can return the favour by
Bottom: treats can an owner intent on lavishing them focussing your touch on his
be a lovely way to
interact that isn’t with cuddles. In other words, every cheeks.
reliant on contact. cat is an individual with different O Only stroke your cat where you
preferences and it’s important know he feels comfortable being
for us to get to know what our touched. This means keeping
own cats like and dislike — and clear of those areas where he
respect this. might be particularly sensitive,
such as on his stomach and on
the base of his tail. Many cats
also prefer not to be stroked on
their backs, their legs, and paws,

“Every cat is an so unless you are sure your cat

enjoys being touched in these

individual with places, they should generally be

avoided.

different preferences” O When stroking your cat keep

the contact brief, just a few

28
Your Cat December 2022
 ).)
seconds at a time. In this way
you’re not only giving your cat
>4: a break from the interaction but
034<$
you’re allowing him to decide if
he wants more. He’ll tell you if he
If you does!
provide cats with O Even cats that enjoy physical
contact they like, contact can become frustrated,
they are more so it’s important that you keep
likely to seek an eye on your cat’s body
interactions out. language throughout the
interaction. If he’s happy, his
eyes might appear half-closed,
his body will be relaxed, and he
might even stretch out. However,
if his eyes open, his tail starts
twitching, and his body tenses,
these could be signs that he
is starting to get irritated, at
which point you should stop the
contact and remain hands-off.
O Always be calm and gentle.
A rough and tumble type of
approach might be acceptable
for dogs but isn’t generally well
tolerated by cats.
O Cats don’t usually like to be
picked up. The reason for this
is that it’s important for cats
to maintain control over the
situations they find themselves
in. But when we lift them off the
ground, we’re removing their
control by containing them in
our arms and restricting not only
their movement but their ability
to escape. They’ll generally show
their displeasure by tensing up,
growling, or struggling. So, try
to avoid this form of interaction
unless your cat obviously enjoys
being in your arms, and in this
case, he’ll probably show his
satisfaction by relaxing into you
and purring.
O For the same reasons, hugging
your cat is not very likely to be
Top: stroke your cat
where they like to be high on his list of preferred types
touched. of contact.
www.yourcat.co.uk
“Keep an eye on your
cat’s body language”
It goes without saying that
you should make no attempt to
go near a cat that has made it
clear he wants nothing to do with
you, even if you do by chance
happen to find yourself in the
same room at the same time. If
you do, it’s likely that you’ll see
him performing body language
that includes turning his head
away, licking his lips, yawning, or
rotating and flattening his ears.
Or more likely, he’ll choose the
not-so-subtle approach of simply
running away. And it’s important
that you give him the opportunity
to do this by always making sure
he has an escape route.
Likewise, trying to initiate any
type of interaction with a cat
that you don’t know can be a
gamble for you and a frightening
experience for the cat, so it’s
best to give him a wide berth.
If, however, the cat willingly
approaches you with his tail
raised, you could try crouching
down and proffering an
outstretched hand. When stroking
any cat, always make sure you
get down to his level so as not to
appear threatening.
The one thing that all these
29
rules have in common is that they
give cats choice. And following
them is the least we can do given
the fact that cats have no choice
over the homes and people they
end up living in and with. When
cats have choice, it gives them
greater control over a situation,
and this is incredibly important
for their emotional health. But
handing over control to our cats
doesn’t only apply to the quantity
and quality of our physical and
verbal interactions with them.
Quite often, knowing when
to not interact with our cats at
all is just as important. This is
particularly relevant for cats that
are anxious. For example, if you
have a cat that has just joined
your family, it’s likely that he’s
going to feel unsettled until he
gets used to his environment and
the people and other pets in it. Or
it might be that your cat hasn’t
received appropriate socialisation
to people and is therefore
naturally anxious around them. In
these cases, it’s really important
to understand that your cat
probably doesn’t want to be the
focus of your attention. So, giving
him the freedom to move around
SPONSORED BY
INTERACTIONS
“Respect their
decision...”
your home ‘unseen’ is what is
going to make him feel more
comfortable. This doesn’t mean
moving around on your tippy-toes
or shushing family members when
they speak too loudly. It means
behaving completely normally,
but as if your cat wasn’t there. It
can be incredibly hard to resist
the temptation to look at an
anxious cat or talk to him to tell
him everything’s going to be OK,
but in doing so you’ll be making
yourself less of a threat and, in
time, more approachable.
Whether or not your cat is
anxious, it’s a good idea not to
disturb him when he feels the
need to retreat to his hiding
place. Hiding is a positive coping
strategy and he should be
allowed to benefit from the sense
of peace and safety it affords him.
If your cat is not a lap cat,
respect their decision. Giving
treats is a great way to bond and
interact with your kitty, whether
they like to sit on your lap or
not. You can enjoy interactions
that way or use treats to build
Bottom left: Tasty
treats can help build
relationships and
positive associations
with people.
Bottom right:
Make sure your cat
has a favourite place
they can escape to
to hide in.
Your Cat December 2022
a relationship in which your cat Interactions survey
might decide they want more
physical contact.
Take our test to see how much
you know about interacting with
Over recent years, there has
been more focus on human
cat-interactions with some
felines:
1 What body language will
countries even having their a friendly cat display when it
own national ‘hug a cat’ day. approaches you?
Fortunately, there is now lots of Q A Tail between his legs
information available aimed Q B Upright tail
at providing owners with an Q C Swishing tail
understanding about the cat as Q D Fluffed-up tail
a species and what it is that cats
want from us. We love our cats 2 What is the first thing you
and want so much for them to should do when you interact with
love us in return, but it’s important a cat?
to remember that love is a very Q A Offer your hand
human trait. And while some cats Q B Pick him up
are clearly capable of showing Q C Get down to his level
great physical affection, for those Q D Turn away
that do, this doesn’t mean they
always want it back. This is why 3 When interacting with a cat,
we need to try to put ourselves which of the following shows he
in their paws and allow them might be irritated:
to dictate what and how much Q A Twitching tail
contact they have, on their terms. Q B Yawning
By putting our cats in the Q C Crouching
driving seat and giving them Q D Turning his head
freedom over their interactions
with us, we’ll be helping to 4 Which two areas of a cat’s
strengthen our bond and body are most sensitive to
nurture a healthy human-feline touch?
relationship, which after all, Q A Cheeks
should be about the benefit and Q B Tummy
pleasure for our cats, as well as Q C Legs
for us. Q D Base of tail
30
 Q

+.3) 5 How long should

you stroke a cat for?
8 Are cats a ‘sociable’ species?
Q A They can be, but not in the “Always
4:9 Q A Until he loses interest same way as humans
be calm
247* Q B At least five minutes
Q C As long as I like
Q B Definitely
Q C Not at all
Find the full range
of Catit products
Q D Seconds only Q D I don’t know and
at catit.co.uk 6 What type of interaction
do cats generally like
9 What is the best thing
to do when your cat hides?
gentle...”
the least? Q A Ask him to come out
Q A Being picked up Q B Peep around the door to
Q B Being cuddled make sure he’s OK
Q C Being kissed Q C Leave him undisturbed
Q D Being stroked Q D Find him and stroke him

7 What should you look out for 10 What is it important

when stroking a cat? to give cats when
Q A My cat looking at me interacting with them?
Q B Unexpected noises Q A Food treats
Q C Changes in his body Q B Control
language Q C Toys
Q D I don’t look at my cat Q D A lovely long stroke

Is the Cat Anxious

Is the Cat Friendly? Is the Cat Passive?
or Afraid

Approaching, relaxed
posture, closed mouth, Turned away, tense body,
ears normal to forward Sitting near but not in crouched, ears flattened
position tail upright, tip physical contact and rotated, yawning, lip
of tail curved, silent or licking
purring

Get down to cat’s level

Avoid contact Do Not Touch!
Offer hand

If cat approaches, relaxed

Cat INITIATES
Cat DOESN’T posture, closed mouth, If cat gains
contact If anxiety
initiate ears normal to forward trust in
(eg cheek persists
contact position tail upright, tip owner
rubbing)
of tail curved, silent or
purring
Stroke Seek advice
Avoid around ears, from a
touching cheeks, Cat is enjoying Behaviour
under chin, interaction Continue Specialist
for SECONDS eg soft eyes, interactions
relaxed body, as dictated
ears, and tail, by cat
Cat requests cheek rubbing
further Observe body
contact language Cat stops Discontinue
enjoying interactions
interaction eg
Repeat eyes open,
interactions body tenses,
as above tail twitches

NEXT MONTH...
Look out for next month’s article on feline territory.
Top: cats
show affection in
their own way. Answers: 1 b, 2 c, 3 a, 4 b & d, 5 d, 6 a, 7 c, 8 a, 9 c, 10 b.

31
www.yourcat.co.uk
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Your Cat December 2022
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competition The Enabot EBO AIR Pet Robot and home IP camera The purrfect present for your feline friend this
reminders, plus is the perfect companion for your pets and family Christmas!
plenty of cat members when you are out. Using the app, EBO’s Santa Paws is coming to town and he’s bringing
features and eyes, movements, and sounds mimic real-life play, with him a gift jar full of Catit Creamy!
advice! Sign up constantly keeping your cats engaged, recognising This handy, refillable storage jar comes complete
for FREE here: the faces of people, cats, dogs, following them to with 80 tubes of these tasty treats. There are 20 of each
www.yourcat. interact while also being able to take pictures or flavour (Chicken, Chicken & Lamb, Salmon & Prawns
co.uk/enewsletter video. and Tuna) included and as it starts to empty, you can
It can adapt and change its voice and behaviour top it up again with their favorite flavour.
and also has a built-in laser teaser for added Catit Creamy is a healthy and hydrating snack,
enjoyment for your furry pals. EBO can detect all made from fresh ingredients with no artificial flavours
sorts of obstacles ahead and it comes to stop, or preservatives…only the best for our feline friends.
avoiding accidents. These lickable cat treats are loved by cats around
We have one Enabot EBO AIR to give away. the world and there is nothing that they wouldn’t love
O For more information more to find in their stocking or under the tree!
visit https://uk.enabot.com We have five Catit Creamy Gift Jars to give away to
O Online entries live 2nd – 16th December five lucky felines.
O For more information,
visit www.catit.co.uk
O Online entries live
25th November
– 9th December

33
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 FREEBIES
CAT FOOD BUNDLES, FROM ACANA
We’ve teamed up with ACANA Pet Foods to give
away a 1.8kg bag of ACANA Cat Homestead Harvest
to five lucky winners!
ACANA Cat Homestead Harvest is one of four
irresistible recipes designed specifically for different
lifestages and lifestyles.
Each ACANA Cat recipe contains 65 — 70% small
prey ingredients from four to five different animals,
nourishing your cat naturally while offering a taste
they crave, and keeping them healthy, happy, and
strong. The combination of small prey ingredients
and infusions of liver provide a burst of flavour, which
is ideal for fussy cats.
Availa
Available in four recipes
formulat
formulated to support
healthy immune systems,
hearts, e
eyes, skin, and coats;
First Fea
Feast, Homestead
Harvest, Bountiful Catch and
Indoor EEntrée.
O For mo
more information
about A ACANA, visit
www.ac
www.acanapetfoods.co.uk
O Online entries live
11th – 225th November
BUNDLE OF GOODIES, FROM FELIGHT
Felight, one of the UK’s leading cat litter brands, is
giving 10 lucky cat owners each a bundle of Felight
Goodies, including Felight Eco Litter and Litter Fresh
Spray — the perfect stocking filler!
Felight Eco is the newest addition to the Felight
range. It is a first-of-its-kind 100% recycled cat litter,
combining a complementary mix of FSC certified
sawdust, re-purposed minerals of recycled concrete
and recycled gypsum. Felight Eco is Felight’s most
sustainable cat litter yet and doesn’t compromise
on Felight’s ultimate odour control and absorbent
performance, helping you to save the planet one
litter tray at a time!
Join the cat-loving community for tips and tricks
on how to keep your feline fresh as well as more
chances to win Felight goodies.
O Follow on Facebook and Instagram @FelightUK.
O Online entries live
18th November
– 2nd December

O
ONLINE MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE
ENTRIES These giveaways are exclusive to magazine

LIVE FOR readers only — online codes needed.

ALL CAT PRINT DRAWSTRING BAG, BY FELINE FINE ETCHED GLASS CAT TEALIGHT,

MAGAZINE This cute and fun drawstring bag is durable and

lightweight but also very versatile! Whether being
FROM FOUR HANDS
This beautiful etched glass tealight candle holder
EXCLUSIVES used for school, to carry gym gear, or shopping, this was designed and hand etched by Jo and Adam
10th November is sure to be admired by everyone. of Four Hands Etched Glass.
– 7th December We have four drawstring bags to give away. Light the candle and relax your evening
O Online Code: Drawstring away with the cat design flickering in the light.
Packaged in a smart black cardboard box, the
tealight incorporates three cats, has a lovely
weighted bubble base, and will make a fantastic
gift or beautiful addition to your home.
Other cat designed items are available from
their website (www.fourhands.co.uk) and can
also be personalised.
Be sure to check for more from Four Hands by
following on social media platforms Instagram
@fourhandsglass and Facebook @fourhandsglass
We have one etched glass cat tealight to give
away.
O Online Code: Flame

34
Your Cat December 2022

DELUXE NANO CAT TOY BUNDLE, FROM HEXBUG
Introducing the playfully energetic HEXBUG Deluxe
Nano Cat Toy Pack, which includes two HEXBUG
Nano Robotic Cat Toys, one HEXBUG Mouse Robotic
Cat Toy, one HEXBUG Remote Control Mouse Cat Toy,
and a pack of HEXBUG batteries — worth over £35!
Sit back and watch your cat playfully pounce on
the HEXBUG Nano Robotic Cat Toy/HEXBUG Mouse
Robotic Cat Toy or use the remote control to drive the
HEXBUG Remote Control Mouse Cat Toy!
We have one bundle to give away.
O Online Code: Energetic
Q
CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD PLAY
HOUSE FOR CATS, BY PUCKATOR
This Cat Den indoor playhouse comes in a festive
gingerbread house design and will provide loads of
fun for your cat. It comes flat packed and is easy to
assemble before use. The playhouse is made from
corrugated cardboard and Kraft paper, and is the
ideal novelty gift for cat lovers.
We have one Gingerbread Play House to give away.
O Online Code: Ginger

HOW TO ENTER
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Q Cat print drawstring bag, from Feline Fine

35
www.yourcat.co.uk
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Got a question?
The Your Cat experts are here to help with all your feline dilemmas!
Send your question to our experts by email (catcare@yourcat.co.uk).

Create your own puzzle feeder

W ith the cost of living crisis
forcing many of us to
tighten our belts, this DIY puzzle
feeder is a great way to make
your cat’s mealtimes more
exciting, without costing you
anything.
Making him work for his food
is great for physical and mental
stimulation, and makes him use
his natural instincts which he’ll
find satisfying.

YOU WILL NEED:

O A sturdy cardboard box

945 O Various-sized cardboard rolls

9.5
(we used toilet rolls, kitchen rolls,
and poster tubes)
If you haven’t got O Non-toxic PVA glue or sticky
time to make a tape
puzzle feeder, you O Scissors
can hide treats
METHOD
in an egg box or
put a treat in a
1 Firstly, measure the 2 Next, stick the tubes upright to
the base of the box with either
daily dry food to make mealtimes
more interesting?
toilet roll holder
and squish down
the ends — then
height of the tubes against
the box. With a ruler, mark a line
around the box to cut along (no
non-toxic PVA glue or sticky tape.
If using the glue option, it’s best to
leave the rolls overnight to allow
4 Sit back and watch your kitty
have fun trying to fish the
treats out! A note of caution, you
watch him work more than 10cm tall), then trim to the glue to dry. should always keep an eye on
to get the tasty
morsel!
size and ensure all jagged edges
are neatened off. Cut any of the
larger tubes down to fit the size of
3 When you are happy with the
finished product, sprinkle treats
or kibble in each of the holes. Why
the condition of toys to ensure
they’re not getting worn with
loose bits which your cat could
Above: The DIY puzzle
feeder. the box. not hide a portion of your cat’s choke on.

Cat insurance call 03300 243 997

36
Your Cat December 2022
CHRISTMAS ADVICE
He’s obsessed by
the Christmas tree!
H ow many of you have
stepped back to admire
all your hard work after putting
up your Christmas tree, only to
find your cat takes an instant
interest in it? Some cats treat the
Christmas tree as a delightful
new climbing frame and it won’t
be long before they bring it
tumbling down, making a whole
Top: Cats can pop
up in our trees! lot of mess.
“Avoid tinsel at
all costs”
theinsuranceemporium.co.uk/YC99
www.yourcat.co.uk
The one sure fire way of keeping
your kitty at paw’s length from
your tree is to locate it in a room
that your cat will not have access
to. Some people choose to close
off the room that contains the
Christmas tree to ensure that no
harm comes to the tree, but, more
importantly, no harm comes to
kitty.
On the other hand, many
people want their cats to be part
of their family Christmas and this
means allowing them into the
same room as the tree. However,
it can be very difficult to keep a
cat away from the tree, especially
those determined, avid climbers!
37
THE BEST WAY TO TACKLE
THIS TRICKY SITUATION IS
TO MAKE THE TREE LESS
APPEALING TO KITTY:
O Use a heavy-duty tree stand
that will keep the tree upright,
even if your cat attempts to
scale it!
O Locating the tree in a corner
is a safer choice, but make sure
that it’s not too close to any
furniture that your cat might
decide to use as a launch pad
to dive on to the tree.
O Before decorating the tree,
spray a bitter anti-chew product
on the branches (buy a product
designed for cats) — this should
deter your cat from nibbling.
O When placing lights on the
tree, wrap them tightly around
the branches to limit dangling
wires, as these could entice your
cat.
O Avoid twinkling tree lights
because these might tempt your
cat to play with them — opt for
steady lights instead.
O Choose non-breakable
ornaments just in case your kitty
decides to swat a bauble
— there will be less risk of injury.
O Do not use edible decorations
— the aromas will attract your
cat to the tree.
O Decorate the tree with items
that may be perceived as less
interesting to your cat, such as
paper ornaments, wooden tree
decorations, and so on. Avoid
tinsel at all costs.
O Ensure your cat’s own
environment is appealing. Rotate
his toys to ensure the things
he is meant to be playing with
are new and exciting too. You
could try regular play sessions
or creating some hunting games
with his daily food ration. If he’s
excited about cat-friendly things,
he might just leave your tree
untouched!
 Q Is a real or artificial Christmas
tree better for my cat?
A As much as we all love to
have a real tree around
at Christmas, they come with
potential problems. Certain species
of Christmas trees, especially
pines, are toxic to cats. The toxicity
is relatively mild, but the exposure
can cause nausea, vomiting, and
skin irritation.
It is very important to prevent the
cat from licking sap, drinking tree
water (from the container that we
place to supply the water to the
tree), or ingesting pine needles.
Cats are also sensitive to pine oil
(worth keeping in mind if you like
using any essential oils in your
house!).
As well as being less risky, using
an artificial tree would be less
appealing to a cat, especially
if you opt for a non-shiny one.
However, that doesn’t mean we
shouldn’t be care with artificial
trees too, as they come with their
own potential hazards which have
to be considered.Cats will still try
to climb the tree and play with
the decorations. Electric cables
can be chewed and your cat can
become entangled in them.
Many cats are fine with trees, but
it is worth considering the risks and
supervising when he is near to the
festive feature.

Q What happens if
my cat eats tinsel?
A The answer very much depends on the amount
of the tinsel ingested as well as the length of the
ingested strands. If a cat eats a tiny amount of tinsel,
end is lodged and the rest of the tinsel can be
stretched and moved inside the intestines creating a
cheese-wire like damage. When multiple areas of the
it is very likely that this piece will pass safely. However, intestines are damaged, the surgery becomes much
we must remember that tinsel will not be digested more difficult and, in some cases, the patient can die
and if it wraps itself into a ball, it may create an due to complications.
obstruction within the intestines. If your cat ingests tinsel, depending on
If the bowel becomes obstructed by tinsel, most circumstances, your vet may elect to try to make him
commonly it has to be corrected through surgery sick to retrieve the tinsel, monitor it (as many pieces
by removing the blockage from the intestines. If the can pass on their own), or suggest surgery if there
tinsel becomes lodged in the stomach, occasionally are any signs that indicate an internal problem.
vets are able to remove it without surgery using
an endoscope, but not every veterinary clinic has
suitable equipment.
Long pieces of tinsel can become partially
lodged under the tongue or in the
stomach. Unfortunately, only one

Top: Real Christmas

trees can be
dangerous for cats.

Bottom: Tinsel can

become ingested.

Cat insurance call 03300 243 997

38
Your Cat December 2022
 Q

KEEP CHRISTMAS
STRESS FREE
W hile for humans Christmas is a time of joy and celebration,
from a cat’s perspective, it can be a chaotic time of noise
and routine disruption, with often no place to escape the bedlam.
Cats are creatures of habit, thrive on structure and routine, and are
extremely sensitive to change.

HERE ARE TOP TIPS TO MAKE IT AS STRESS

FREE AS POSSIBLE FOR YOUR KITTY:
O Consider how your cat’s
routine and environment could
change over the festive period
and institute the necessary
changes well in advance so your
cat can get used to this change
of routine.
O Unless your cat is the resident
party animal, you will need to
create a safe haven that he
can retreat to whenever he feels
anxious. A room in a quieter
part of the house should be
reserved for this purpose. Place
familiar items in the room, such
as his bed, food, water, litter
tray, scratching post, and toys.
Plug in a Feliway diffuser to aid
relaxation and increase his
sense of security.
O Maintain your cat’s normal
feeding schedule and stay
consistent with food types and
amounts.
O It’s easy to overlook your
cat’s needs when you’re
busy shopping, cooking, and
entertaining. Set aside some
quality time every day to give
your cat some extra TLC and a
stimulating play session.
O A house filled with unfamiliar
people can be very stressful to
your cat. Move him into his safe
haven prior to the arrival of your
guests. Close the door and put a
sign outside politely requesting
that guests keep the door closed
during their visit.
O Many of our favourite festive
foods can be toxic to cats,
including chocolate, onions, nuts,
and raisins, so keep them out
of reach and indulge your pet
with feline treats of their own. This
includes where you store them
— leaving a box of chocolates
out will be tempting to your kitty!
O Be mindful of the winter
weather — keep your kitty warm
and if we are lucky enough to
have a white Christmas, be sure
to check his paws for clumps of
frost or snow accumulating in
them. If you’re using antifreeze,
be sure to keep this completely
locked away from your cat. While
its smell is really appealing to
our feline friends, even just a little
bit ingested can kill your cat.

GET IN TOUCH...
Remember, there is a huge range of advice on health, behaviour, general
care, and more on the Your Cat website. Visit www.yourcat.co.uk

theinsuranceemporium.co.uk/YC99
39
www.yourcat.co.uk
CAT HEALTH PROBLEMS

Liver disease in cats

The liver is an organ that does so many jobs that when it stops
working properly it can cause serious problems. Vet Penny
Clarke explains how to manage feline liver disease.

Penny Clarke,
BVetMed MRCVS,
graduated in 2003
from the Royal
Veterinary College.
She is a cat-loving
clinician at a busy,
small animal hospital
in Warwickshire. Penny
writes about all things
veterinary and also
human neurodiversity,
particularly autism.

I
n our ‘Cat Health Problems’
series, we’re explaining
feline conditions so you
have the understanding and
knowledge to make the most
informed decisions for your pet.
This issue, we explore another
vital organ and how it can be
affected by disease…
WHY IS THE LIVER
IMPORTANT?
The liver is a powerhouse of an
organ that carries out many
vital functions within the body. It
sits within your cat’s abdomen
Above: Seriously
ill cats may just behind the diaphragm (thin
need a drip. muscle layer separating the
chest from the abdomen). Some
of the liver’s important tasks
include:
O breaking down and using
protein.
O producing and storing bile
(to help digest fat).
O making hormones.
O filtering waste products from
the blood.
O producing immune factors
(to fight disease).
O removing bacteria from the
gut.
O making and storing glucose
(sugar).
O storing vitamins and iron.
As if all this isn’t clever
enough, the liver can also
regenerate and repair itself
after damage. But despite this
brilliance, there are a few toxins
that break through the liver’s
defences and cause irreparable
damage. One reason this
happens is due to the anatomy
of the liver. Major blood vessels
connect the liver directly to
the intestines making it the first
organ to come into contact with
any toxins eaten by your cat.
Cats also lack some of the
enzymes (chemicals) needed
to deactivate certain toxins (for
example many lilies are toxic to
cats but not to other species).

40
Your Cat December 2022
 “The liver is a
powerhouse
of an organ”
Liver language
- a quick guide
Hepatic = anything liver-related
Gallbladder = just like in
humans, this tiny balloon-like
structure stores bile and sits
within the lobes (sections) of a
cat’s liver.
Bile = a fat-digesting fluid made
in the liver and stored in the
gallbladder.
Bile duct = a tube carrying bile
from the gallbladder and liver to
the small intestine.
Hepatitis = inflammation of the
liver.
Cholangitis = inflammation of
the bile duct.
Cholangio-hepatitis =
inflammation of the bile duct
that spreads to the liver.
).) WHAT CAUSES LIVER
DISEASE IN CATS?
>4:
FATTY LIVER (HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS)
034<$ We usually see this condition in
cats when they suddenly lose their
You can find out appetite. Fat accumulates within
more about what liver cells causing them to swell
cats find toxic and stop working. Overweight
by visiting www. cats are the most likely to develop
yourcat.co.uk/ hepatic lipidosis, although it can
cat-advice/ affect all cats.
which-foods- BACTERIAL INFECTION
are-toxic-and- (NEUTROPHILIC CHOLANGITIS)
dangerous-to- Bacteria can move through
cats/ the bile duct from the small
intestine into the liver. Infected
liver cells become inflamed and
liver function reduces. Cats with
neutrophilic cholangitis quickly
show signs of being unwell.
NON-INFECTIOUS INFLAMMATION
(LYMPHOCYTIC CHOLANGITIS)
Although not certain, vets believe
Above: Liver diagram. lymphocytic cholangitis is when
www.yourcat.co.uk
the liver becomes inflamed due
to an abnormality within the cat’s
immune (disease fighting) system.
Recognising this condition isn’t
straightforward as cats may have
vague symptoms that come and
go for months or even years.
TOXINS
Most cat owners are aware of the
dangers of lilies but there are other
potential liver-damaging plants
to look out for. Your local garden
centre can advise and may even
have a cat-friendly selection
of plants. Common household
and garden chemicals can be
dangerous, as can medications
prescribed for other species (most
human and dog medicines aren’t
suitable for cats).
TUMOURS
Cancer of the liver may be primary
(the tumour just affects the liver)
or secondary (tumours have
spread to the liver from elsewhere
in the body). Treatment (including
surgery to remove a mass or part
of an affected liver) very much
depends on the type of tumour
your cat has.
PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT (PSS)
A PSS is a plumbing issue affecting
blood vessels that connect the
liver and small intestine. Blood
bypasses the liver and enters
the cat’s circulation without
41
undergoing the liver’s usual
filtering and cleaning. Toxins
build up in the blood preventing
nutrients from being absorbed. This
nutrient deficiency limits growth
causing cats with a PSS to be
smaller than normal.
Cats are usually born with this
condition (congenital), although
very occasionally it develops
alongside another liver disease.
ENDOCRINE (HORMONAL)
CONDITIONS
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
changes how the liver metabolises
fat making it more likely that cats
develop hepatic lipidosis. Cats with
hyperthyroidism (an overactive
thyroid gland) often have higher
levels of liver enzymes (chemicals)
in their blood although liver
function is unaffected.
GALLBLADDER AND BILE
DUCT DISEASES
Gallbladder inflammation
(cholecystitis) is usually due to a
bacterial infection. This infection
can also spread to the bile duct
and within the liver. If the bile duct
gets very inflamed, it can block
completely leading to severe
disease (a bile duct tumour can
also block this tiny tube). Although
rare, cats can develop stones
within the gallbladder just like
humans.
CAT HEALTH PROBLEMS
“Some cats recover
completely...”
).) WHAT ARE THE SIGNS?
There are a few common signs
>4: of liver disease, although your
034<$ cat’s exact symptoms will depend
on the underlying cause of their
Certain breeds condition.
can be more Most cats with liver disease
prone to lose weight, stop eating, and
developing liver become lethargic. More specific
problems. symptoms include:
O Pyrexia (a high temperature).
O Drinking more.
O Vomiting.
O Dehydration.
O Ascites (a swollen abdomen
due to fluid accumulation).
O Jaundice (a yellow tinge to
gums, skin, and inner eyelids).
O Abnormal behaviour or seizures
if toxins build up and reach the
brain.
O Blood clotting problems (the
liver makes proteins to help blood
cells clot).
DIAGNOSING LIVER
DISEASE
If your vet suspects your cat has
liver disease, they’ll carry out tests
to confirm this and rule out other
causes of your cat’s symptoms:
BLOOD TESTS
Damaged liver cells release
enzymes (chemicals made
within the cell) into the
bloodstream. High enzyme
Top: A cat with
a damaged liver levels indicate significant liver
having jaundice skin. damage. Blood tests measure:
Your Cat December 2022
O ALT (alanine aminotransferase)
O ALKP (alkaline phosphatase)
O AST (aspartame
aminotransferase)
O GGT (gammaglutamyl
transferase)
The liver makes bile acids to help
digest fat. High levels of bile acids
within the blood indicate reduced
liver function (whereas elevated
enzymes indicate liver damage).
Cats with liver disease often
have low protein levels in their
blood because: 1. Damaged liver
cells are unable to make protein
and 2. Being unwell often reduces
a cat’s dietary intake (they eat less
protein).
A full haematology screen
checks your cat’s blood cells for
signs of infection, inflammation,
and anaemia (low levels of
healthy blood cells).
IMAGING THE LIVER
If blood tests show that liver
disease is present, your vet may
advise X-rays and an ultrasound
scan to show the extent of
damage. By scanning your
cat’s liver, vets can measure its
size, asses the texture (disease
processes change how liver
tissue looks), and check for other
abnormalities.
LIVER BIOPSY
A biopsy involves taking a small
piece of liver tissue to send to a
pathologist (specialist vet who
studies how cells react to disease).
Your cat will usually be under a
general anaesthetic throughout.
Before taking liver tissue, your vet
will check that your cat’s blood
can clot normally. Bleeding
problems occur if the liver can’t
make enough clotting factors. The
pathologist provides information to
help plan your cat’s treatment (for
example what antibiotics to use if
infection is present).
42
Q
TREATING LIVER DISEASE
INPATIENT TREATMENT
Cats who are very poorly can
quickly become dehydrated and
stop eating. To prevent further
complications, they may need
a stay in hospital. Supportive
treatment includes intravenous
fluids (a drip), assisted feeding (via
a tube into the oesophagus) and
injectable medications.
AT HOME
Cats with mild disease can be
looked after at home. Your vet will
guide you on how to give any
prescribed medicines. They may
also advise liver supplements
to help the liver recover and to
replace missing vitamins and
antioxidants. Some cats need
anti-sickness medication and
stimulants to help them regain
their appetite.
A prescription diet can also
help with recovery, your vet can
advise which may best suit your
cat. Generally, liver diets are highly
palatable with the right amount
of good quality protein and
energy. They often contain high
levels of antioxidants and are very
digestible to reduce the liver’s
workload.
Living with
liver disease
Some cats recover completely
from liver disease whereas
others need ongoing treatment
— it depends on the underlying
cause. It’s likely your cat will
need regular vet checks and
blood tests to identify and treat
any further liver changes as
soon as they arise.
It’s always hard finding out
your cat has any health issues
so speak to your veterinary
team if you’re struggling and
need more support.
Advances in veterinary
medicine mean more and
more cats with liver disease
can receive supportive
treatment and lead good,
happy lives.
Peter Neville column

Dennis the
DESPOT!
He ruled the streets with an iron paw, terrorising all the cats
in the neighbourhood. So, how did Peter help a community
Peter Neville
has spent over
manage a dictator cat?
30 years as a
professional pet

D
behaviourist, writer, ennis was one of those cats that all other the same way that owners are accountable for their
and educator. In
1993, he co-founded cats and their owners in a neighbourhood dogs’ behaviour in public. And so, Dennis’ reign of
COAPE International come to despise, everyone except his own terror had already persisted for a couple of years by
(coape.org), now loving owners of course. the time the neighbours finally managed to get his
a leading online
provider of He spent his life trying to ensure that no other cats owners to try to improve their bully cat’s behaviour
education courses could ever exist in his home range. He was a tough and call me in as a specialist.
in pet behaviour. and vicious despot who attacked every cat he saw
Peter is the author of
16 books, including and governed his suburban lands with an iron paw WHY BE A BULLY?
the international of intolerance. Other cats ran terrified straight home It was an interesting consultation, with both Dennis’
best-seller, ‘Do Cats or for the nearest cover at the first sight of him. Some owners, who were actually very embarrassed about
Need Shrinks?’ He
now lives in Helsinki, ran indoors and never came out again, so afraid were their cat’s behaviour, and a couple of the owners
Finland, with his they of even the remotest possibility of meeting Dennis of his victims present. Dennis was also there and
partner Stella, out there in his badlands. with people, he was quite the most charming and
and two cats,
Asla and Trista. Several of Dennis’ assaults had sent other cats to delightful pet cat who purred almost constantly with
the vet’s to be treated for some pretty nasty bite and anyone who would stroke him. My first job I realised
scratch wounds and the resulting infections and was to explain to everyone what was happening and
abscesses. Several of their owners had tracked down why, how he could be such a sweetie with people
Dennis’ owners and complained and demanded and a terror for cats, and then discuss why it is that
recompense for the veterinary bills, but Dennis’ owners, there are actually so few pet cats like Dennis.
while sympathetic, knew they were not legally liable for Progress through life depends on discovering food
Above: Competition the results of his violence. The law doesn’t recognise and avoiding injury and death in order to survive to
is part of feline life. cats as being under owner control or responsibility in reproduce our genes — the Prime Directive. Yet we

43
www.yourcat.co.uk
Peter Neville column
all must learn how to face challenges when trying
to survive and compete for those opportunities of
personal survival and genetic perpetuation. Learning
how to cope with the anxiety invoked by exposure to
threats, and learning to compete with others of our
own kind, shapes our behaviour according to our
species.
Cats are designed to be solitary, territorial hunters
which means that aside from when meeting briefly to
mate and when queens are nursing kittens, all other
cats that enter their territory are competitors. Toms are
especially competitive against other males, as territory
includes not only the resources of prey and shelter,
but also expands during the breeding season to
encompass females and so afford the opportunity for
the genes to pass on.
Direct physical competition against other males in
any species is risky and provokes anxiety for any male
because of the fear of injury and decreased survival
and mating chances. Hence various safer competitive
strategies are usually employed, such as distance
signalling via urine spraying, with marks intended to
inform the receiver of the occupancy of the territory
and thus the risk of being attacked. The sprayer
intends for the intruder to elect to retreat, rather than
fight, and look for unoccupied areas elsewhere.
However, when females in oestrous are calling, toms
are driven far more to risk encountering each other in
pursuit of fulfilling the Prime Directive.
COMPETITIVE FUEL
Testosterone is there for a purpose. It fuels the
secondary physical and sexual maturation in young
male cats, such as the development and function
of the sexual organs, muscling of the body, and the
growth of the outward signs of sexual status, such as
the fattening of the face and neck, and changes in
Above: Some the tone of calls. Testosterone also gives emotional
cats will defend
their territory. protection against anxiety, giving the young
male confidence to explore his environment and
Above inset: Scent experiment with competing with other males.
marking is a way of
warding off other Ordinarily as a juvenile, a young male’s natural
cats. response will have been to avoid potentially
44
Your Cat December 2022
“Testosterone
is also often
misunderstood.”
hazardous situations, be they in the physical
environment or in his social milieu. Then testosterone
starts to be produced to protect him against the
fear of confronting and increases the motivation to
compete for access to life’s resources and risk going
into battle. Clearly males who are successful at
competition as adults will tend to be the ones who
pass on their genes.
Testosterone is actually a very sensitive hormone
and levels in the blood rise and fall in response
quickly to a male mammal’s success. It is something
of a cliché that competitive sportsmen have higher
testosterone levels than a pastoral vicar’s. A successful
animal’s levels rise and stay high after successful
competitive encounters, and add to their sex drives
and attractiveness to females, while the loser’s levels
fall, sometimes dramatically just 20 minutes after an
encounter. This is sensible. If you lose a competition,
there is no point in continuing to compete with the
same tactics. You must go away and develop new
strategies, or in the case of young males, develop
body strength, practise in less challenging scenarios,
and come back to the big arena with new tactics to
compete again later.
Testosterone is also often misunderstood in terms of
exactly how it influences male behaviour and many
a dog has been castrated by well-intentioned vets
to remove the source of production of this hormone
in the mistaken belief that testosterone causes
aggression and therefore taking it out of the system
will remove the aggression. A similar assumption is
made in castrating pretty well all non-breeding cats
well before they reach about six months of age,
based on the notion that if they aren’t castrated,
they will inevitably become competitive fighters, noisy
roamers, and spray urine indoors. But so few pet cats
reach six months of age these days without being
castrated that it is difficult to know whether these
assumptions are so inevitable and just how many
cats might actually become pleasant, confident,
well-behaved, and home-loving pets who don’t spray
indoors if they hadn’t been castrated. Maybe only
a few, but plenty of entire feral tom cats are much

).)
more benign that the alley cat reputation that often
surrounds them.
>4: Male cats and other animals develop in the same
034<$
way as teenage boys, in that they can be tough one
day and rather nervous and vulnerable the next while
Cat bite they learn to manage their emotions, behaviour, and
abscesses are a learn how and when to compete. Clearly, to castrate
common result a young male cat may not produce any cure for even
of fighting. Visit competitive aggression problems as he may not be
www.yourcat. as aggressive as he appears on any particular day.
co.uk/cat- More importantly, if his aggression is based on the
advice/what-is-a- emotion of fear, castration may remove what little
cat-bite-abscess developing confidence he may have and make him
to find out more more fearful and therefore more aggressive, as well as
about them. more likely, in some cases, to spray urine in response
to very minor challenges and changes in the house.
One simply can’t tell from the behaviour of one cat on
one day but of course, in terms of overall population
control of cats and dogs in a world with more animals
than there are loving homes for them, it is vital that
all males not intended for breeding are sterilised,
irrespective of the deleterious impacts on emotional
development for a few.
In older cats, say of 2.5 — 3 years old, competitive
strategies may be more easily defined, and a
successful male of over three years will have no fear
about seeking out and confronting other males and
on the lookout for females on heat. If he has learned
the strategies and knows how to apply them, it is
the successful outcome of his aggression (feelings
of reward and success, acquisition of territory)
that maintains his competitive behaviour, not the
testosterone. Testosterone levels are not affected by
the simple process of reward — a surprise lottery win
does not raise testosterone levels. Hence castration
may make little or no difference to the competitive
Above: It is possible behaviour of a successful, mature, territorial male,
to organise a time
share, where cats although it will likely mean that he doesn’t always
share a territory. respond fully to females on heat.
45
www.yourcat.co.uk
Q
What to do
about Denni s
So, to Dennis. He was castrated at the usual age
of five months and hadn’t started competing,
fighting, or spraying at the time, to the owner’s
knowledge. But he was already monopolising the
use of his outdoor territory and starting to chase
other cats.
Now two and half years later, he was a Genghis
Khan of the neighbourhood with every cat in fear
of him.
The chances of changing his attitudes were
almost zero. After all, he could hardly be castrated
twice, even if testosterone were having any effect
on him. There were only two solutions: a) keep
Dennis completely indoors at all times so that all
other cats living in his patch could slowly learn
that it was safe to move around freely or b) to
have all the cat owners organise a ‘time share’
of the neighbourhood where Dennis would be
allowed out at certain times and all other cats
kept indoors, and then Dennis being kept indoors
while all the other cats could go out safely.
Dennis’ owners felt that it wouldn’t be fair on
him to make him an indoor cat but very willingly
agreed to organise a daily outdoor rota with
the other owners for all the cats involved. They
set up a Whatsapp group and quickly agreed
about the rough timetabling for the week ahead,
and Dennis’ owners especially agreed to notify
everyone when Dennis was safely indoors and
the other cats could be safely let out. They also
agreed to put the sign of a big blue card in their
upstairs bedroom window so everyone could see
when Dennis was safely indoors.
It meant a bit less time outdoors for Dennis, and
the times would vary according to everyone’s
work timetable and commitments, and need
organising week by week, but the importance of
good and prompt communication was agreed by
all. In fact, with the tension and hostility removed
from the discussion, everyone got to know each
other far better and the neighbourhood became
far friendlier for the cat owners in it at least! After
all, they all had a love of cats in common, and
even the owners of Dennis’ victims had discovered
that he actually was a very nice people cat and
so sympathised with his owners once they all got
together.
And so, the problem was managed rather than
cured. There haven’t been any mistakes and so
hopefully everyone will live happily and injury-free
ever after, even with a feline despot in their midst!
CAT CARE

Giving up a cat
It’s the most heartbreaking thing imaginable, but sometimes there is no other
option but to give a cat up for adoption. Here we see what it involves.

EDITOR’S NOTE:
How to give up a cat for adoption is not a topic Your Cat has covered too much. While for
many readers the idea is unthinkable, the more people that understand the process the better.
Understanding the help on offer will mean more people will be able to get support that will help them
keep their pet and for any cat that is rehomed, it is done safely, in the best possible way. So, sharing
the knowledge and stories here, might just help someone or a cat who really needs it.

H
Jill Eckersley aving to find a
is a freelance
journalist based in new home for your
London, with much-loved cat is a
a passion for cats, heartbreaking decision
especially her
Mayhew rescue, Mo. to have to make. There are often
very good reasons why a cat
might have to be rehomed and
sometimes it is truly the only
option — so how can you do it in
the kindest possible way for both
the cat and your family?
Speaking to animal welfare
charities, two keys messages were
thinking carefully and thinking
ahead. “Thinking carefully” means
Below: Handing considering whether there’s any
over a cat to other option before giving your
a rescue is so cat up. “Thinking ahead” means
much better than
abandoning considering in plenty of time
an animal. whether a house move or a new
baby in the family will really mean
that you can’t keep your cat.
Sarah Elliott, Central Veterinary
Officer at Cats Protection, told
us: “We understand how hard it
is to part with your beloved furry
family member, so we aim to help
everyone to keep their cat where
possible. We urge owners to come
and chat to us, because there
are ways that Cats Protection and
other animal charities are able to
help, support, and keep you and
your cat together.”
WHY PEOPLE
GIVE UP CATS
So why might you be thinking
about rehoming your cat? Cats
Protection say that house moves,
unwanted litters, and what they
describe as ‘owner issues’ are the
most common reasons.
YOU MIGHT, FOR INSTANCE:
O Move to a rented house where
pets aren’t allowed
O Live on a busy road or a flat with
no outside space.
O Have a family member who
develops an allergy.
O Have adopted a cat who
doesn’t fit in with your family — it
doesn’t get on with your other cat
or just doesn’t settle.
O Find that financial constraints
mean you can’t afford a pet.
O Be worried because your
cat has developed problem
behaviours like toileting indoors.

“We aim to help

everyone to keep
their cat...”

46
Your Cat December 2022

“Some owners are facing
an impossible choice”
DID
Sometimes, finding a new home
is the best solution in these
YOU circumstances, but it doesn’t have
KNOW?
to be. It’s sometimes possible to
persuade a reluctant landlord to
In the UK, 24 let you have a well-behaved cat if
per cent of cats you agree that you will pay for any
were acquired damage, to a small rent increase,
from shelters or to pay for thorough cleaning
according to when you move out.
Cats Protection. If you’re worried about a
busy road, would it be possible
to construct a ‘cat run’ in the
garden?
If the idea of vet bills worries you,
could you arrange a payment
plan with your vet or get help from
the PDSA or Blue Cross?
Problem behaviour, whether that
means inappropriate toilet habits
or suddenly lashing out at a family
member, is often the result of pain
or stress and need to be checked
by a vet. A qualified behaviourist
will be able to guide you through
behaviour issues too.
If allergies are the issue, first
make sure it’s the cat that’s the
problem and then get in touch
with your pharmacist or GP to see
if medication can help.
Kayleigh Kilcommons, head of
cattery at Mayhew in West London,
Top: Explore all says: “A common reason Mayhew
professional help
before deciding to is hearing for why cat owners are
give up a cat. relinquishing their pets is that they
www.yourcat.co.uk
don’t feel they have enough time
to care for them. Taking care of a
cat is a significant and long-term
commitment. Cats need to be fed,
let out in the garden, have their
litter tray changed, taken to the
vet’s, trained and socialised, and
this all takes time. Many pets are
unfortunately still being bought on
impulse, especially online, without
owners fully considering all the
responsibilities of pet care.
“Because of the cost-of-living
crisis, some owners are facing
an impossible choice between
providing for themselves and
buying food for their beloved
animals, so have to hand them
over to us. We’re also seeing an
increase in the use of food banks
by vulnerable pet owners. We
provide Individual Care Packages
at two food banks here in London.
We also provide free Veterinary
Interventions for low-income pet
owners in five London boroughs. ”
It’s only realistic to understand
that there may be circumstances
when you really need to find a
new home for your cat. It should
go without saying that no cat
— or any animal — should ever
be abandoned or left to its own
devices, though as all rescue
charities will tell you, it often
happens. Every charity has awful
stories of cats being dumped on
the street — stories which make
any animal lover’s blood run cold.
The Celia Hammond Animal
Trust, which rehomes cats in
47
South and East London, and
also runs a sanctuary for feral
cats in Sussex, says: “Cats being
abandoned in baskets and
boxes are an increasing problem.
Many are abandoned on our
centres’ doorsteps but others
are discovered in parks, by bins,
outside shops, or just left in the
street. We get requests to take
in unwanted cats all the time,
sometimes including threats to
harm the cats if they aren’t taken
in immediately!”
GIVING UP A CAT
If you have spoken to charities
and explored all the options, and
you need to find a new home for
your cat, start making enquiries
at rescue centres local to you
(consider larger organisations and
independent ones) as soon as
you have made the decision, and
bear in mind that you may have to
wait until there is space available.
This is why it’s important to contact
as many rescues as possible.
Rumours abound online that
rescue centres may put unwanted
cats to sleep. You can ask about
this but all reputable charities will
not put a pet to sleep. The RSPCA
say that “we will not euthanise a
healthy, rehomeable animal.”
The PDSA say “animals are only
put to sleep when it’s the only way
to ease their pain and suffering”
and Battersea Dogs and Cats
Home say cats are only put to
sleep in cases of “untreatable
medical problems.”
One solution which may seem
ideal is to hand your cat over to a
close friend, colleague, or relative
and of course, this can work very
well. You’ll know the new owner is
a cat lover and you will be able
to make sure that everyone in the
household is eager to welcome
the new family member — just as
the staff at a charity would.
It’s important to know that all
animal charities work very hard
to make sure the cats in their
care are not just placed in good
CAT CARE
homes, but in homes that are right
for that particular cat. Will your cat
be happy in a busy household
with children and possibly other
pets, or will it settle best with an
older person who wants a lap cat?
Providing as much information as
you can will help the cat find the
right home.
USEFUL The Cinnamon Trust is a charity
CONTACTS that specialises in helping both
CATS older people and older cats if, for
PROTECTION
example, an elderly person dies
www.cats.org.uk
and there’s no family member to
take their cat. They also match
CELIA HAMMOND
TRUST up bereaved older owners with
celiahammond.org suitable older cats.
Cats Protection — and other
MAYHEW charities — also warn about the
themayhew.org dangers of advertising a cat online
as ‘free to a good home’. Horrific
THE CINNAMON as the thought might be, some
TRUST unscrupulous criminals are looking
cinnamon.org.uk
for animals as bait for illegal dog
fights. Don’t risk this happening
to your pet. Far better to sign it
over to an approved charity who
will check the credentials of any
potential adopters. I had been a
Mayhew volunteer for years when I
Top: Rescue staff will adopted Mo but I still had to have
search for the right
home for a cat. my home checked to make sure
it was suitable and that I was a
Bottom: Sometimes responsible owner. Even in the most
giving a pet up for
adoption is the best heartbreaking circumstances, you
possible solution. can do the best by your pet.
ʼn>RXFDQGR
WKHEHVWE\
\RXUSHWŊ
Your Cat December 2022
Case studies
WE SPOKE TO SOME CAT OWNERS WHO HAD TO
MAKE THIS DIFFICULT DECISION…
FINDING A FRIEND
“We thought we had prepared
Simba as well as we could
for having a new baby in the
house,” says Tina.“We let him
sniff the cot and pram and
the rest of the baby stuff and
made sure that all his own
things like food dishes and
litter tray were where they had
always been.
“When I brought Lily home,
he was fine. He sniffed around
her a bit but didn’t seem too
put out, especially as we still
made a fuss of him! It was only
when she started to crawl and
then walk that we realised
Simba wasn’t happy. He kept
hiding away and wasn’t as
careful with the litter tray as he I sent her some money for their
had been.
“We didn’t know what to do,
but then a friend came round
and when I told her about the
problem she said she’d love
to take Simba. We knew she
loved cats — and loved him
— so after a lot of thought we
decided that would be best. He
settled in well in his new home
48
Q
and the best part is that we
can still see him!”
INHERITED CATS
“I live in London and my friend
in the country, so I didn’t know
what to do about her cats
when she died very suddenly,”
said Alice.“A neighbour fed
them for a time until I managed
to contact a local branch of
Cats Protection. I must say
they were very good and very
sympathetic but they said they
had no room for three cats in
their shelter. They passed me on
to a neighbouring branch and
one of their volunteers, who
lived on a farm, took them.
“She was such a nice person,
keep and she phoned to tell
me they had settled in well and
she was sure they would soon
be adopted. It was a stressful
time; I knew how much my
friend had loved her cats, and it
really helped to know they were
being well cared for.”
FELINE FALLOUTS
“I already had four cats when
Mitzi appeared in my garden,”
said Kathy.“I asked around but
no-one claimed her and she
was so pretty I couldn’t resist
keeping her. It just didn’t work
— Sammy, one of my other cats,
took a dislike to the newcomer
and bullied her. I ended up
making a bed for her in my
greenhouse and when winter
came, it was much too cold,
so I started to look for a new
home for her. I had to try several
charities before I found one
who would take her. It was such
a relief when I knew she would
be rehomed with someone who
could offer her the care she
needed.”
 FO
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 diary
Back with a bang!
After a three-year absence, the Supreme was back at a new venue.
Rosemary reflects on a brilliant comeback for showing’s biggest stage.

Rosemary Fisher
entered the cat
fancy in 1974 when
she purchased her
first pedigree cat —
a Chinchilla called
Brylou Moonstone.
She breeds Persians
and Exotics, and
judges in several
sections. She is
currently a GCCF
Board member and
also serves on the
genetics committee.
I
t’s Sunday morning, the day after the GCCF
Supreme Show and it’s been three years since
the last one, time to take stock.
There were a lot of differences this year,
including a new venue. In recent years, the venue
was the NEC in Birmingham, in many ways an ideal
location, but this year our preferred hall wasn’t
available, and the one offered would have meant a
long walk from the car park, something exhibitors,
laden down with cats and all the paraphernalia
that goes with the Supreme, including pen drapes
and decorations, would not have appreciated. We
had used the NAEC at Stoneleigh for our 150 years
of Cat Shows Celebration Show in August 2021, and
it had a lot of merits as a venue for the Supreme,
including the cost. In the event, the show fitted in
perfectly — car parking was closer, on the same
level and, better still, free!
I was judging this year so this meant an early
start, leaving home at 6am to collect my steward
en route and arrive by 8.30am, as judging was
Best of Variety (BOV) judging. This consists of every
Best of Breed winner in each of the six sections
being considered for Best Adult, Kitten and Neuter,
and it is these winners that will ultimately go to the
big stage for the Overall Best in Show judging, the
finale of the show.
I had the privilege of judging Section 4 Adults
this year — this section is made up of 17 Foreign
Shorthair breeds from Abyssinians to Toygers. It has
to be said that the quality of the cats I judged this
year was outstanding, making choices difficult.
My Best of Variety winner was a stunning Brown
Spotted Bengal, Lord Nelson of Shankara, who had
travelled all the way from Spain to compete at
the Supreme, and the Reserve was a handsome
Chocolate Ocicat, Ch Ocicat Land Regulus.
Once all of the BOV judging was complete, it
was on to the Overall Best in Show judging. This
takes place on a main stage, giving exhibitors
and visitors a good view of the proceedings. The
excitement builds up as each section is judged,

247* due to start at 9.30am. The hall layout was very first the adults, then the kittens, and finally the

.3+4
different. Instead of the large open rings, judges neuters, until there are just the three winners left to
were located in ‘pods’, with baffle screens around compete for the Overall title of Supreme Cat. This
After a long the pens and judging table. This made for a better year it was a popular choice of Ellen Camilleri’s
absence, the environment for the cats that were brought up to lovely RagaMuffin female neuter, UK OG IGrPr
Supreme was the judge’s table by their owners and placed in Cheham Chantilly Lace, bred by Chris Powell and
back with a bang pens ready to be judged. Exhibitors and visitors Allen Wells — the first RagaMuffin to achieve this
and next year will could be close to the judging and watch and hear prestigious award.
be even bigger how the judges assessed the cats and placed
and better, so them.
make a note in Every year, the Supreme has a theme. This year
your diaries for it was a celebration of the reign of HM Queen
Saturday 21st Elizabeth II and her Platinum Jubilee, and the
October 2023 exhibitors didn’t hold back on the decorations.
at the NAEC, There were plenty of pens decorated as palaces,
Stoneleigh. with crowns, images of the late Queen, and corgis
a plenty. The ingenuity and imagination of cat
exhibitors never fails to amaze and makes for a
very colourful and exciting show. The theme for next
year’s show follows on with ‘The Crown Jewels’, so
expect plenty of sparkle!
Right: The After the main title and breed class judging,
Supreme Cat! there was just time to grab a sandwich and sit
Image: Shirlaine Forrest. down for half an hour or so, then it was on to the

50
Your Cat December 2022
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 Challenging times
Two rescues tell how this is the toughest time they have ever faced.

Greater Manchester eight kittens from panleukopenia which was simply

OUTPOURING OF HONESTY
Janette Barton and Samantha Cartwright set up Cats
Guidance Rescue, a not-for-profit registered charity
based in Wigan. When I interviewed them earlier in
the year, they were both upbeat, full of ideas, and
incredibly positive about the future of the charity, yet
Sonja K Steiner six months later the mood has dramatically changed
wrote for Cat World
magazine for into that of worry and guilt.
over eight years. They currently have 67 cats in their care, including
She’s worked in 28 kittens, and are supported by 15 foster carers.
veterinary practice
and previously Usually, they are always rehomed in pairs but due
volunteered at to the cost-of-living crisis many people are unable
her local rescue. to afford to take two kittens on, so providing there is
Her cats Willow
and Fifi are the another friendly cat living in the household, they will
Brand Ambassadors rehome a single kitten, unless of course those kittens
for Natures Menu have very strong bonds.
and Natures Variety
cat food. Janette said: “Every year you think it cannot get
any worse and unfortunately it does, and on various
different levels. It is bad enough that we are seeing
more kittens giving birth to kittens because they have
not been neutered. In the last few weeks, we have lost
soul destroying as we fought so hard to save them
and all because they were unvaccinated.”
This year has been especially hard on the rescue as
their vet bills continue to rise. They use two veterinary
practices and £6,000 a month has become the norm,
which for a small rescue is astronomical. Janette is
extremely concerned about the future of the rescue
and how long they will be able to keep going,
especially since they were informed of an increase to
the veterinary fees, which may mean going forward
they can help fewer cats.
The rescue is known for helping any cat or kitten
regardless of their circumstances, but this all comes
at a cost. Janette said: “When we set up the rescue,
we committed to pay whatever it took and while
the majority is down to money, the rest is down to
dedicating the time and willingness to help, but the
fundraising is relentless. As a charity, we must have a
certain amount of reserves in our bank account, but
our once decent reserves have been eroded by the
vet bills.”
At the beginning of September, Janette poured her

).)
heart out during a live feed on social media about
the difficulties the rescue faces and how much longer

>4: they can continue to survive, as they have no money

034<$
to go through to next year to keep over 60 — 70 cats
in the rescue. Both are exhausted and the emotional
You can watch pressures of knowing there are cats out there who
Janette’s video on desperately need their help, and there is simply no
the Cats Guidance space at the rescue, is taking its toll. Janette said: “We
Facebook don’t feel as if we are making a difference anymore.
page, visit www.
facebook.com/
catsguidance/
“Janette poured
videos/ 7941487
28376086 her heart out
during a live
feed...”
Right: Janette
as she was doing
the video.

52
Your Cat December 2022
 Q
“We don't feel as if we
are making a difference”
We don’t have the finances nor the room to take on
any sick or unwanted cats. Our waiting list is so long
it would take six months to go through it to try to help
the cats.”
Sam said: “This is the reality of today. I love Janette
through and through, without Janette Cat’s Guidance
wouldn’t exist — it’s horrible watching your best mate
like this.”
Their mission at the start was about making a
difference to a cat’s life. From April 2021 to August
2022, they have rehomed 280 cats which is a huge
achievement. How many of these cats would still be
on the streets without their help?
Having seen some of the sick and injured cats who
have come into the rescue, it is a huge concern how
many more are out there like that and will not be
able to be helped unless more funds are forthcoming
and more rehoming takes place. It really is an awful
thought knowing there are cats out there suffering.
It is quite clear from the reaction to the video that
Above: Teddy.
they are highly thought of with over £1,000 being
Below: Charlie. raised in one day but when you consider the cost of
running a rescue, sadly that money will not last long.
They are immensely grateful to all their wonderful
supporters.
If you only have one or two pounds spare a month,
please consider giving it to a small rescue like this who
go above and beyond to help a cat in need.
Dorset
MAKING IT WORTHWHILE
247* Paula Pelosi, founder of Paula’s Cat Rescue, a not-for-
profit rescue based in Poole, Dorset, has been involved
.3+4 For more
in cat rescue for nearly 30 years and this year has
been the most challenging she has ever faced.
information, visit She receives daily calls from people desperate for
their social media her to take in their cats, the most common reason
page (Paula’s is eviction. Paula said: “I have never cried as much
Cat Rescue) or as I have this year. I am hurting for the people
their website finding themselves in such difficult situations and the
www.paulascat realisation that I have to turn so many cats away — I
rescue.co.uk have never known anything like this.
GET IN TOUCH
If you’re involved with rescuing cats then we want to hear from you! Share your stories with us and
we will publish them on these pages. Email editorial@yourcat.co.uk with the subject ‘Cat Rescue.’
53
www.yourcat.co.uk
“Only recently a man was evicted from his home
with his 16-year-old cat. He contacted me sobbing
his heart out as he only had his car to live in. We
managed to find an emergency space for his elderly
cat but with so many tragic stories, it is heart-breaking
not being able to help everyone who asks, but I simply
cannot compromise on the care that is given to all
the cats in the rescue.”
Charlie, aged 14, was a long-term resident of the
rescue and was adopted by Margaret, an elderly
lady in September 2018. They provided comfort and
companionship for each other, and Charlie was at
Margaret’s side when she passed away in December.
He has now been adopted by her neighbour and
good friend Kathryn. In a final act of kindness and
in agreement with the family, a beautiful diamond
and amethyst necklace that was left to Kathryn by
Margaret, was auctioned. It raised £1,500 and will help
other cats like Charlie.
Five-year-old Maine Coon cross Teddy came into
the rescue in April. He had a problem with his right
ear and a lot of debris came out. Several weeks later,
his ear started discharging and this was when the
vet noticed a blockage and his ear had perforated.
Following a referral to Southern Counties Veterinary
Specialists in July, investigations, which included a CT
scan, revealed multiple polyps in his ear canal which
required specialist and complex treatment, in total
the cost would be £6,000. In true determination, Paula
and her dedicated supporters set about fundraising
and his operation went ahead at the beginning of
September and was a success. He has now been
adopted in his forever home.
For all the sadness, Paula knows that she is helping
as many cats as she can. The bond that developed
between Margaret and Charlie and the wonderful
outcome for Teddy makes it all worthwhile.
SHORT STORY
-RPHIRU
Sometimes we just need the help of a cat to get us into the
true meaning of Christmas spirit. A short story by Alexis Wolfe.
P
“ epper! Pepper!” Sally called upstairs, rattling
the box of cat biscuits expectantly. Where
was her lovely black cat? She checked
under the Christmas tree. Sometimes
Pepper liked to lie beneath the tree and swipe at
the dangling baubles with her paw, creating an
avalanche of pine needles. But today, only
gift-wrapped presents lay glowing beneath the
twinkling fairy lights.
Surely Pepper hadn’t managed to slip out again?
Sally groaned. She’d begged her husband, Mark, to
be extra careful and not let Pepper out when he left
for work.
Only yesterday she’d had to walk all the way to
their old house, the one they’d moved out of three
weeks ago, to find Pepper and bring her home
again. It wasn’t the first time either. She’d read that
cats sometimes wandered back to their old territory,
so she’d been keeping Pepper indoors for the first
few weeks to establish that this was now their home.
But clearly Pepper had managed to evade Mark
again and make her escape. A petite little cat,
she could be as quick as a flash. On a dark winter
morning, Mark probably hadn’t even noticed her
slipping past his ankles.
Despite the cold frost, which had left a light
dusting of snow on cars and windowsills, the cat was
off on her travels again. There was no way she would
ignore the rattling which signified a food top-up.
Pepper had definitely gone.
s s
Sally looked at her watch. She worked from home
and had a video meeting scheduled first thing
today. There wasn’t enough time to walk the fifteen
minutes each way across town, and who knew how
long it’d take to find Pepper once she got there. Mark
took their car to work so driving wasn’t an option
either. Collecting Pepper would have to wait until
lunchtime.
Sally didn’t particularly relish the thought of going
back to Birch Terrace again. Yesterday, she’d felt like
a spy on a secret mission as she scoured her former
front garden, calling out for Pepper, who eventually
made her way out from under an evergreen bush.
The cat had given Sally a loud meow, which she
interpreted as ‘what took you so long?’
Still at least Pepper had hopped back into the cat
carrier without any fuss.
As well as the inconvenience of these frequent
trips across town, Sally was also apprehensive about
bumping into her former neighbour Teresa.
As Sally made herself a cup of tea, she reflected
on how keen she’d been to move house. Last
summer’s disagreement with Teresa had been a big
factor. It all seemed so trivial now, but at the time it
had felt very upsetting.
Back in August, very late one evening, Sally had
finally got fed up with the music blaring out from
Teresa’s garden, keeping them both awake. It was
a heatwave and so they were sleeping with the
windows open. Sally had messaged Teresa asking
if she would mind turning it down, as Mark had an
early shift the next morning.
But Teresa, who’d been entertaining visitors all day
and was perhaps rather tipsy, had told Sally not to
be such a kill joy and to close her windows if it was
that much of a problem.
Their request had been polite, but Teresa was
defiant. They suspected she’d even turned up the
volume a little louder. The following morning, Sally
had accused her of selfishness and short sharp
messages had been typed in anger by both women.
The incident had completely soured their friendship.
It had made for awkward times when they both
arrived home together or opened their front doors

at the same moment. Not speaking to someone
who had been a good friend was difficult, and after
a week, for the sake of neighbourly relations, Sally
had sent a message to apologise and asked if they
could forget the whole encounter.
Unfortunately, Teresa appeared reluctant to repair
the friendship. Perhaps she was stubborn. She
ignored Sally’s message and continued to maintain
the silent treatment if they ran into each other.
When Mark had suggested moving to a slightly
bigger property now that they were both earning
better wages, Sally had eagerly agreed. It had been
a relief to put the Teresa episode behind her.
Yesterday, as Sally called Pepper, she was sure
she’d seen Teresa’s blinds twitching. It felt like she was
being observed. Hopefully she’d avoid Teresa today.
The last thing she wanted was another confrontation.
There was further snowfall in the morning and at
lunchtime when Sally left the house, she entwined
herself in a knitted scarf and pulled on a woolly hat.
The air was crisp and she felt the bright white snow
crunching under her Wellington boots.
OOOOO
When she reached Birch Terrace, there was no sign
of Pepper in the garden. But looking closely, Sally
noticed cat footprints leading up and down the
path to her old house. It was as if Pepper had been
pacing up and down, waiting to be let in. There didn’t
appear to be anyone at home.
Sally called out softly for her cat.
“Pepper … Pepper …”
Moments later, the front door of the adjacent
property swung open. Teresa’s house. To Sally’s
surprise, the woman herself leaned out, calling over
to Sally.
“Pepper’s in here.”
“Really?” Sally couldn’t hide her surprise. How
on earth had Pepper snuck inside? Awkward, she
thought. Of course, of all the houses in the street, it
had to be Teresa’s.
Sally moved along the pavement until she was
standing directly in front of Teresa.
“So sorry she’s bothered you,” Sally said.“I’ve been
trying to keep her indoors until she settles into our
new house.”
“Oh, no. It was my idea.” Teresa said.“She looked
so cold waiting out there. When it started snowing, I
took pity on her and invited her in. I thought it might
be a while before you’d collect her.”
“Oh, that’s very kind.” Sally said. She couldn’t quite
believe what she was hearing. For one thing, Teresa
had always been a dog person.
“Come inside for a moment,” Teresa said.
Inside Teresa’s cosy sitting room, the radio was
playing Christmas songs. Pepper was curled up on
the rug in front of the open fire. The logs in Teresa’s
fireplace were crackling and the room had a gentle
55
www.yourcat.co.uk
Q
cinnamon and cherry scent emanating from the
festive candle flickering on the coffee table.
“Oh, Pepper,” said Sally.“You really have made
yourself at home!”
“She’s been keeping me company, to be honest,”
Teresa said.“I lost Bourbon recently.” Bourbon was
her neighbour’s chocolate brown Labrador.
“Oh, Teresa, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Sally said.
“He was a lovely dog.”
“He had a happy, long life,” Teresa smiled sadly.
“But having Pepper here has made me realise, I
definitely do want another pet. She’s been a great
comfort.”
The two women chatted easily for a few moments.
Then Sally scooped Pepper up from the hearth and
placed her into the cat carrier ready to leave.
“Before you go,” Teresa said.“I want to apologise
for how I treated you last summer.”
“Oh, please don’t worry,” Sally said.
“I’ve never been good at apologising,” Teresa
continued.“But I was definitely in the wrong. I was
having a difficult time, trying to adjust to being an
empty nester and all that. But it was awful of me to
take it out on you and Mark.”
“Please forget about it, Teresa.” Sally said.“It’s
been lovely to chat to you today. I really missed our
friendship.”
“Me too,” Teresa said.“And I was so glad to see
you popping back to collect Pepper. It’s given me a
chance to hopefully clear the air?”
“Absolutely.” Sally agreed.“If you fancy catching
up for a coffee and a mince pie before Christmas, I’d
love to show you our new place.”
“That’d be great,” Teresa agreed. She knelt next
to the small Christmas tree covered in blinking fairy
lights and pulled out a gift bag which she pressed
into Sally’s hand.“Homemade candle for you.
Housewarming pressie.”
The two women exchanged a hug.
OOOOO
As Sally made her way the short distance across
town to her new home, she suddenly felt immensely
grateful to her little cat. Pepper’s adventures had
given Teresa the chance to make amends, and
Sally felt sure that now they would both cherish their
friendship even more. As Sally unlocked the door
to her new house, Pepper gave a couple of small
meows.
“Here we are, Pepper,” Sally said.“Home, sweet
home.” She hoped it wouldn’t be too long before
Pepper felt the same about it. Placing the cat carrier
on to the floor, she watched as Pepper stalked out,
taking in her surroundings.
Sally returned to her desk and moments later,
Pepper leapt up to sit with her as she typed. She
felt the warmth of the cat on her lap and soon the
sound of Pepper’s soft purring filled her ears.
PAWTRAITS

s
Your kitties are the stars in our gallery!

5
00STAR PIC00

1: Mouse, from
Chesham,
Buckinghamshire.
2: Nellie, from Lydney,
Gloucestershire.
3: Caesar and
Theo, from Preston,
Lancashire.
4: Hue, from Ripley
Derbyshire.
5: Binx, from
Mountain Ash,
3
Rhondda Cynon Taf.

56
Your Cat December 2022
 6

8 10

Mouse wins an Ancol Premo XL Activity Centre, while the others receive an assortment of cat toys, including a
Jittery Mouse, courtesy of Ancol Pet Products. For more information, call 01922 402428. (UK only)

SEE YOUR CAT HERE!

6: Barney Bear, Email a clear (non-blurry) image of usable size (around 300dpi
from Stoke on Trent, and 1MB) to pawtraits@yourcat.co.uk Please include your full
Staffordshire.
7: Luka, from name, address, and phone number, as well as your cat’s name.
Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire.
8: Honey, from Leigh,
Greater Manchester.
9: Bobo, from
Reading, Berkshire. www.facebook.com/yourcatmagazine
10: Saffy, from @yourcatmagazine
Stockport, Greater pawtraits@yourcat.co.uk
Manchester.

57
www.yourcat.co.uk
PUZZLES

Your Cat
s
      
Association words
In this puzzle, each clue can be solved by finding the word that
can come either before or after both of the words in the clue.
 
ACROSS DOWN
1 Pass the: Rouge (5) 1 Quarter; To the wall (5)
4 Earl of; Dockyard (7) 2 Holy; College (7)
8 Indo; Whispers (7) 3 The First; Coward (4)   

9 Electric; Burn (5) 4 Claudius; Salad (6)


10 Ghost; Ahoy (4) 5 Walking on; Brush (3)
11 Roman; In tastes (8) 6 Witch; Nut (5)   
14 Lunatic; Seekers (6) 7 Minor; Worker (7)

15 Goose; One’s palm (6) 12 Super; and Leander (4)
18 Latin; Pie (8) 13 Mount; Yama (4)    
20 Merry; Tree (4) 14 Enthusiastic; Status (7)
23 No: Stage left (5) 16 Red; Nelson (7) 
25 St John: Council (7) 17 Bill; Bridge (6)
  
26 Virtual; Check (7) 19 Santa; Peron (5)
27 Southern; of the ball (5) 21 Common; Danger (5)
22 Ticket; One’s toe (4)
24 Jet; Jumping (3)  

Spot the difference

Maze ?

Can you spot the five differences between these two pics? Kitty needs to make it through the maze, can you find the way?

58
Your Cat December 2022
 Q

Crossword Clue search

E R O X V Y A R T S A
E O H U Q R M A E E M
V E L E D U T I T T A
A T I M Y N I B V A B
D E R E V E S D A T G
R M O R A P C O P I A
O B L I T E N E S D R
Y U E R O V I B R E H
Z E S T X P A E L M P
E X O U Q K H R K I E
D E V E I R G G A E R
ACROSS DOWN The solution to the 12 clues below are already in the grid,
1 Be good enough; pass 1 ‘The ---- -- --- ----’, adventure either written upwards or backwards. All you have to do is
inspection (3,3,7) novel by Jack London identify them by solving the clue and ringing them as in a
8 Go-between; illicit affair (7) (1903) (4,2,3,4) normal wordsearch.
9 Study times; conditions (5) 2 Barter; business (5) CLUES CLUES
10 Closure of a series or 3 Prisoner; surety (7) (BACK, NOT IN ANY ORDER) (UP, NOT IN ANY ORDER)
sequence; The End (5) 4 Threaten: peril (6) Resentful Ponders
11 Italian dessert of pastry 5 ‘Nights in White -----’, 1967 Awry Freshwater diving bird
tubes filled with a sweet hit for the Moody Blues (5) Amputated Impoverishment
creamy ricotta (7) 6 Based on hypothesis Scandinavian monetary unit Shooting star
12 Aussie slang for food (6) or theory rather than Non-meat eater English river
14 Monstrous; demonic (6) experiment (Latin) (1,6) Position Greek man o’war
17 Purge; atone for (7) 7 Double Oscar-winning
19 Personnel: rod (5) actor (6,7) Sudoku
21 Colourless fluid which 13 Police station; precinct!
flows through the veins of (3,4)
classical gods (5) 15 German secret police (7)
22 Poetic movement around 16 Someone dazzlingly
WWI initiated mainly by Ezra skilled in several fields (6)
Pound (7) 18 Moses’ brother (5)
23 Test (the water); try 20 Awry; wrong (5)
something new (3,4,4,2)

GET IN TOUCH...
We’ve refreshed our puzzle pages! There are new games
for you to enjoy and we’ve decided to not make them all
cat themed. So, the puzzles are now general knowledge
but will be just as much fun! Let us know what you think to
our new section!

59
www.yourcat.co.uk
_%,,""
W CAT CARRIERS Maine Coon
AMORAMIST MAINE COONS,
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Puzzles Your Cat

Answers
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Association words Maze
up with dogs in house and under ?

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Please support S T F S
O R S E L L S L
ever destroyed. co.uk www.amoramist.com Q
the Lord Whisky Please give generously A S Y U M
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For details of our current breeder members
ANIMAL RESCUE please visit the club’s website at
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Permanently looking for loving
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We operate a non destruct policy.
Sudoku Clue search
Open to the public every day 10am-3pm except Tuesdays
www.lastchanceanimalrescue.co.uk
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Ragamuffin
        
UKRMCS Founded 2008, Member
        
"'$"--'
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regarding Authentic RagaMuffins         
from the only RagaMuffin Breed
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Bengal www.ukrmcs.co.uk Q
        
See JACOU Burmese Ragdoll         
        
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7KH         
        
British Shorthairs
)RXQGHG0HPEHURI*&&)
GCCF Registered
kittens from show
winning lines (Bucks)
7KH%ULWLVK5DJGROO&DW&OXE
ZDVWKHÜUVWDQGLVWKHODUJHVW
Crossword
01753 675066 www.pennypurr.co.uk Q 5DJGROO&DW&OXE Across: 1 Cut the mustard, 8 Liaison, 9 Terms, 10 Omega,
LQWKH8.
)RUNLWWHQHQTXLULHVRUIRU 11 Cannoli, 12 Tucker, 14 Ogrish, 17 Expiate, 19 Staff, 21 Ichor,
Burmese
IXUWKHULQIRUPDWLRQRQWKH 22 Imagism, 23 Dip one’s toes in.
5DJGROORUWRMRLQRXUIULHQGO\
JACOU BURMESE KITTENS
FOXESOHDVHFRQWDFW
All kittens sometimes available and Down: 1 Call Of The Wild, 2 Trade, 3 Hostage, 4 Menace, 5
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ZZZWEUFFFRXN 16 Genius, 18 Aaron, 20 Amiss.
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Email:jacoucats@googlemail.com Q :HDUHDOVRRQ)DFHERRN

Spot the difference

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es
 Column
VET NURSE DIARY

)LDU\RID
FDWPDGYHWQXUVH
At a time of reflection, Lucy speaks honestly about
how many veterinary staff feel about their work.

T
he Christmas period is a wondrous time full of
presents, food, and family. It is a time to spend
with your loved ones, enjoying the time off,
and eating more than your stomach can take,

but it is also a time for reflection.
For some, Christmas is a stressful and sad time.
Those working in the veterinary industry are working
long hours to ensure pets can go back to their
owners in time for Christmas.
Lucy Briggs The veterinary industry is under heavy strain at
is a registered
veterinary nurse this moment, from staff leaving the profession due
(RVN) at Belvoir to burnout, the increase of pet ownership over
Vets in Grantham, lockdown, and the increase of living costs — a
Lincolnshire, a gold
standard cat-friendly perfect storm. Many owners complain about the
clinic. increased prices of veterinary fees and blame the
frontline staff for this and believe veterinary staff are
‘only in it for the money.’
Pets can be hugely beneficial for our health, but
we have a responsibility to provide the same care
for them. When considering taking on a pet, consider
the costs of food and ongoing healthcare. Welfare is
not just a consideration for now but for the rest of the
animal’s life.
Owning a pet is ultimately a luxury, so there is
no government provision for their healthcare. Vet
practices are the equivalent of private healthcare
providers for humans, for which insurance is often
essential. This is the same for pets. To pay for
veterinary fees without worries over the financial
impact, it is vital to have insurance. We regularly
hear about owners spending huge amounts to
purchase a pedigree pet but having no plan for
ʼn8RPDQ\YHWVDUH
OHDYLQJWKHLQGXVWU\
GXHWRWKHVWUHVVŊ
paid a lot less than you think. Salaries are far lower
than equivalent roles in other industries, with far
more responsibility and demand for accountability.
A large majority of practices are now owned by
corporations that set the prices and collect the
profits while salaries have stagnated.
So many vets are leaving the industry due to the
stress from corporates and abuse from pet owners.
Veterinary staff are regularly the subject of abuse
from clients, in person, over the telephone, and
online.
If you feel frustrated over the costs at the vets,
please remember that staff also want the best for
your pet. There’s a very high suicide rate in veterinary
professionals, over four times the national average,
and you can understand why. It is hard to avoid
bringing your work home with you on those tough
days, many nights can be sleepless thinking about
our patients. I am very lucky to work with such a
lovely and caring team. We all have each other’s

).)
covering the cost of preventative healthcare or for backs and offer support to one another during
veterinary treatment should any health issues arise. stressful moments. We care for each pet as much as

>4: It is all too common that owners forego or forget their owners and it is very difficult when we cannot

034<$
to take out insurance, leaving animals unable to save them.
access the care they need. If we could, we would Please be kind to your veterinary staff. They are
It is reported that happily provide treatment for free, but that treatment trying their best and want to do everything they can
57% of vets were has costs, as does the extensive training needed to for your animals and you.
intimidated by provide it. Merry Christmas all — I hope you and your feline
clients last year. Contrary to popular belief, veterinary staff get friends have a wonderful time!

61
www.yourcat.co.uk
 HODGE STATUE

We visit the statue of a feline who was the favourite companion to one
of the English language’s most important figures.

T
o be buried in Westminster Abbey, you have to have lived an
extraordinary life, and often done something to benefit the rest
of society. Dr Samuel Johnson is the perfect example of that.
One of the most influential writers of the 18th century, Johnson
was lauded for his works as a poet, essayist, and literary critic. His
most famous achievement though was creating ‘A Dictionary of the
English Language’ which appeared in 1755, after nine years of work,
and had a profound effect on the English language. It was the leading
dictionary until the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years
later.
Dr Johnson was a remarkable about Hodge but the best tribute
man and a huge cat lover, in a is one that you can visit. If you
time when cats were not viewed head to Gough Square in the
with much love or compassion. heart of London, you can visit
Johnson owned several cats but a bronze statue of Hodge. The
his favourite was Hodge, who in a cat is depicted sitting on top of
whimsical passage in a biography Johnson’s dictionary, next to oyster
on Johnson was described as ‘a shells, with the inscription ‘A very
very fine cat indeed.’ The cat was fine cat indeed.’
fed oysters which were cheap and The sculpture is near to Dr
plentiful at that time, and Johnson Johnson’s home which is now a
would go out to buy them himself museum and open to visitors. It
instead of getting his servant to is often described as a hidden
get them, as being sent to get gem in a quiet spot of the capital.
food for a cat could be seen as The statue was unveiled in 1997
degrading for a servant. He didn’t and was made with the cat at
want the servants to resent and shoulder height by the sculptor so
mistreat the cat. When Hodge Hodge is at the right height to put
neared death, Johnson bought an arm round.

“The cat is valerian to ease the cat’s suffering.

Hodge’s life was celebrated

depicted sitting on in Percival Stockdale’s poem

‘An Elegy on The Death of Dr
Johnson’s Favourite Cat’ which
top of Johnson’s revealed Hodge had dark fur,
which was referred to as sable in

dictionary” the line: “Who, by his master when

caressed, warmly his gratitude
expressed, and never failed his
thanks to purr, whene’er he stroked
his sable furr.”
The profound impact cats, and
in particular Hodge. had on one
of the leading scholars of the
time has been much celebrated.
There are books and poems
Top: Hodge made
such an impact he
has his own statue.*
VISIT DR JOHNSON’S HOUSE
Bottom: Hodge To find out more about Dr. Samuel Johnson’s house and when you can visit,
is about at head to the website: www.drjohnsonshouse.org/index.html
shoulder height.*

62
Your Cat December 2022
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63
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