Your Cat - September 2022

64 Pages·2022·52.4 MB·English

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We don’t just protect against little things like fleas and
ticks, we look after the little things people love most
about life with their pets. That’s because we know that
when pets are healthy and happy, owners are happy
too – it’s as true today as it was in 1892. So, for our big
birthday, we’re celebrating 130 years of all the little
things that make pet parents smile.
Because simply, without them, there is no us.
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@bobmartinUK
Pet partners since 1892
Bob Martin is a registered trade mark of Martin & Martin Holdings.
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Contents
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4Picture of the month 40Cat Health Problems
A brilliant feline themed Vet Penny Clarke
image and the story behind it. explains all about
diabetes in cats.
6What’s new pussycat?
News from the feline world. 44Peter Neville column
Peter tells us how
I think one of the many reasons we love our cats is 10Why do they do that? ginger cats have held a
that they keep us on our toes. They have independent Our cats’ funny little special place in his life.
personalities and continue to do things that surprise ways explained!
or even baffle us. This month’s lead feature delves into 48“I’m worried about a
some of those behaviours that appear to make no 14James Bowen column cat... but it isn’t mine”
sense. Why crawl into that tiny box? Or lie all over my It’s been a summer of What to do if you think there’s
keyboard? It’s a brilliant read and will give you a little cats for James. a cat in need.
more insight into these fantastic creatures we share our
lives and homes with. The great thing is, once you’ve 16Real life 51My Guardian Angels
read the feature and understood these behaviours, you “I adopted a cat with Esther Chilton tells of
know there will be hundreds more cats will do to keep CKD” two cats who were there when
confusing you! she needed it the most.
18Cat chat
We also want to hear from you this issue! Well, we Your letters, stories, and 52Rescue community
always want to hear from you with your stories and comments. We have an open
pics, but for something in particular this month — the letter from our rescue
Your Cat Product Awards 2023. We want you to tell us 20Your Cat Top 10s correspondent Sonja K.
what you think are the best cat products on the market. The 10 most famous Steiner.
The long-running awards are a staple of the pet cats ever!
industry and it’s a real badge of honour for a product 54Out of the lion’s mouth
to be endorsed by genuine cat lovers. You can cast 24What is a breed Can a farm cat turn his
your vote online or using the postal form on page 33. standard? owner into a cat lover?
The GCCF explains how A delightful short story.
pedigree breed standards
U(cid:45)ntil nex(cid:73)t(cid:75) m(cid:69)on(cid:3)th, work. 56Pawtraits
A wonderful gallery of
26Community Cat kitties enjoying the outdoors.
Editor Hero Award
Meet the family who will help 58Pickle’s Puzzles
any animal. Give yourself a mental
workout with a range of
28Diary of a cat-sitter puzzles.
On a beach near, near
to home, Chris meets two 61Diary of a cat-mad
‘Stars Wars’ inspired cats. vet nurse
Lucy tells us about feline
29Your Cat Competitions blood donation.
We’ve got a whole host
of prizes up for grabs! 62Your Cat Tourist Guide
The Big Cat Sanctuary
33Your Cat Product is the next stop on our of
Awards 2023 pplaces cat lovers must visit!
Cast your votes in these
prestigious awards.
35GCCF diary
Fancy going
to a cat show?
36Cat Care
Feline dilemmas
answered by our experts.
GET A FREE GIFT WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE!
TURN TO PAGE 47.
www.yourcat.co.uk 3
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This picture of an elderly man feeding feral cats next to a
busy coastal road was taken in Las Palmas, the capital of
Gran Canaria. Taken several years ago, it typifies our love of
cats. Hundreds of millions of pet cats are cared for across
the globe and there are still so many people, like this man,
who will care for the cats who don’t have owners.
There is so much going on in the picture — firstly, just
spotting all of the cats! If you look closely under the bench,
you will see a set of feline ears just popping up. Then there
is the tiny black kitten who looks so young to be fending for
themselves. And finally, the beautiful setting.
To bring down the number of street cats, many
organisations are involved in humane programmes to
neuter these cats and avoid so many more street cats
being born. That will always be the long-term aim to stop
the suffering of feral cats. However, it is heartening to see
that so many people care — it is testament to our love of
felines.
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4 Your Cat September 2022
www.yourcat.co.uk 5
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Feline news New cat products
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HEALTH
CAT’S BRUSH WITH DEATH AFTER
SWALLOWING HAIR BOBBLES
ASiamese cat called Marley
Marley and Helen. shocked his owners and
vets when it was discovered he
had a belly full of hair bobbles.
Marley’s owners hadn’t
even noticed the feline had
been eating the bands until
he fell ill, but X-rays revealed
the three-year-old feline had a
huge mass, over 30, of the hair
accessories in his stomach.
Staff at Acorn Veterinary
Practice in West Kirby decided
the best thing to do was to
operate. But they were shocked
to find a mound of hair ties
taking up “around 80 per cent”
of Marley’s stomach, which
were thought to have built up
over “quite some time.”
Marley’s owner Helen Unitt
says the hair accessories have
since been hidden away and
she and husband Pete are
now keeping a close eye on
Oliver. their bobble-chomping cat.
ey Helen says: “The first time
c
es: Sta wwero nnogt iwciethd Msoamrleeyth winags wwahse n
g
a
m he started vomiting. Initially, we
I
WELFARE
ICATCARE MARKS INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY
iCatCare celebrated International Cat Day (ICD) 2022, which Cat Day.
took place on 8 August. A photo competition was ran to encourage followers
This year’s theme was “Cat Friendly Resources” and the to interact and share knowledge relating to the theme.
campaign focused on providing resources that support the Celebrations taking place on International Cat Day included
key needs of cats throughout their lives, and promote both multiple live Q&A sessions from feline experts, an update from
physical health and mental well-being. the recent International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM)
iCatCare shared expert advice and eye-catching veterinary conference, and a reading of a bedtime story
downloadable content, as part of a collaboration with ‘Minding Mittens’ by author Aisling O’Keeffe, which teaches
world-renowned animal illustrator Lili Chin, to help all those young children how to care for cats. 
caring for cats (both owned and unowned) ensure they are Sarah Ellis, head of cat advocacy at International Cat Care,
meeting their essential needs in a cat friendly way. says: “Every person, whether they care for cats professionally,
The campaign was launched with the introduction of as a volunteer, or as an owner should understand how to
two new ambassador cats Domino and McTatters (created provide the key resources a cat needs in a cat friendly way.”
exclusively for iCatCare by Lili Chin). Domino represents
owned cats, whereas McTatters represents unowned cats. info For more information, visit
link
The new ambassadors featured throughout the educational icatcare.org/international-cat-day
materials shared on social media leading up to International or follow iCatCare on social media.
6 Your Cat October 2022
Bookshop Instagram star interview Legislation
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“
It was a very
unusual case”
weren’t overly concerned until it made their way through his
got really bad and we noticed intestines.
he’d vomited a piece of rubber. “Luckily, Marley has recovered
“We got an emergency very well, but we’d like to warn pet
appointment as we were very owners not to leave items such as
worried and we were really this lying around.”
grateful that Marley was seen very Helen continues: “It came as
quickly. a shock to us. He had been a bit
“X-rays were carried out and interested in them when he was
that’s when they noticed there a kitten as we’d seen him try to
was a big mass in his stomach. play with them if he found them, Kit Sturgess.
But it wasn’t until they opened but we had no idea he’d been
him up that they realised it was a gulping them down so we think it
clump of hair bobbles, along with must’ve been an accumulation CHARITY
elastic bands and string — things over time.
CATS PROTECTION
we didn’t know he was eating.” “The vet told us if they’d gone
Nick Whieldon, who has worked further into his intestines, it
APPOINTS NEW
for Willows Veterinary Group since could’ve been life-threatening, so
2019 and carried out the surgery I was so relieved that we took him
CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
on Marley, adds: “We could feel in when we did.”
that Marley’s stomach
was almost entirely full Aspecialist vet has been appointed as Cat
of material and when Protection’s new chair of trustees.
we opened it up, we Kit Sturgess, a Royal College of Veterinary
found he’d eaten a lot Surgeons specialist in small animal medicine, will
of hair bobbles. lead the charity’s board of volunteer trustees who
“It was a very are responsible for the values, strategy, and overall
unusual case, I’ve performance of the UK’s leading cat welfare
never seen an animal charity, which helps 166,000 cats each year.
consume so many. He takes on the role from fellow trustee Angela
Thankfully, we acted Marley was Swarbrick.
before any of them operated on. Kit will help the charity to continue a new
10-year strategy to help many more felines
through the expansion of its advocacy,
education, rehoming, and neutering work.
Marley.
Dr Sturgess says: “I am very honoured to
become Cats Protection’s new chair of trustees,
especially at a time when the charity is delivering
an ambitious strategy to have a huge impact on
the health, welfare, and well-being of the UK’s cats.
“By harnessing the talent among our volunteers
and staff, we hope to help more cats and the
people that love them.” 
Cats Protection's interim chief executive
Dominic Sullivan says: “I am looking forward to
working with Kit as he takes up his new role. His
extensive knowledge of small animal medicine
combined with his leadership skills and love of
cats make him a real asset to Cats Protection as
we continue to make a positive difference to the
nation’s cats in the years ahead.”
info More information about
link
Cats Protection can be
found at www.cats.org.uk
www.yourcat.co.uk 7
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Feline news New cat products
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Cats Protection is offering people
a welcome well-being break with
the launch of its live kitten stream.
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CATS PROTECTION LAUNCHES
KITTEN CAM FOR SUMMER
Every wednesday lunchtime kitten socialisation period is an
throughout the summer, important time in a cat’s life, Will you watch
kitten cam?
Cats Protection will be and we are offering exclusive
streaming live online footage behind-the-scenes access so
of cute kittens as they learn viewers can watch our kittens
to navigate the world around learn and grow.”
them for the first time. During the social media live
Nicky Trevorrow, behaviour streams, kittens aged between
manager at Cats Protection, two to eight weeks of age
says: “Preparing a kitten to will be gradually exposed to
cope with the human world different noises, smells, and
and its challenges is one of physical human interaction.
the most important ways to Trained Cats Protection kitten
ensure their lifelong welfare. socialisation volunteers will
Without careful consideration be spending time playing,
of their development, they may handling, and grooming the (cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82) Kitten Cam can be joined via Cat
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grow into an adult cat that kittens so they learn to be Protection’s Facebook page, with the live
will struggle to cope within a confident around humans and streaming beginning at approximately 1pm:
normal domestic setting. The relaxed during a vet visit. www.facebook.com/catsprotection
8 Your Cat September 2022
Bookshop Instagram star interview
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HERO CAT INSPIRATIONAL CATS
CORNWALL CAT SAVES
BLUE CROSS MEDAL
OWNER AFTER 70FT FALL
NOMINATIONS OPEN
Aheroic black cat is receiving praise following his actions after
his elderly owner suffered a fall through barbed wire into a Blue Cross is calling for “The Blue Cross Medal
stream near Bodmin in Cornwall. stories about hero pets champions all heroic pets
Moggy Piran’s frantic meowing and pacing alerted a from across the nation as — from amazing assistance
neighbour to his 83-year-old owner’s location. Cornwall Fire nominations open for the or therapy pets to everyday
and Rescue Service were then called and, along with an air 2022 Blue Cross Medal. household pets who make
ambulance team, they hoisted Piran’s owner to safety before Animal lovers across the exceptional companions.
then airlifting her to hospital. UK are being encouraged If you own or know of a pet
In a post on Facebook, Bodmin Police said: “This afternoon to nominate inspirational that has done something
[14 July], officers were tasked to conduct a search for a missing pets who could be the next out of the ordinary to
83-year-old female. The female was located by a member of the winner of the prestigious change someone’s life, we
public who had spotted the female’s cat, meowing in the corner medal which celebrates want to hear from you.”
of a large maize field near to her home address.” pets who are changing or The previous Blue Cross
It continues: “Piran the hero cat alerted emergency services saving lives across the UK Medal winner was Carrots,
to the whereabouts of his injured and elderly owner. The elderly — with one extra special a blind therapy cat who
female had fallen approximately 70ft down a very steep pet being awarded the was recognised for his work
embankment, with incredibly difficult access and uneven terrain.” winning medal.  bringing happiness and
Thanks to his rescue exploits, Piran is among 10 nominees to Chris Burghes, Blue comfort to sick patients and
have reached the final selection stage of the Amplifon Awards for Cross chief executive, says: their families at a hospice.
Brave Britons 2022 in the Charity Champion category.
(cid:79)Four finalists will be selected in each category and the info For more information or to nominate your cat,
link
winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on 11 visit www.bluecross.org.uk/blue-cross-medal
October. — nominations are open until Friday 26 August.
NEW PRODUCTS
(cid:79)SUSTAINABLE CAT LITTER LAUNCHES cat litter can often sit in landfill for (cid:79)A BOOK WITH ‘CATTITUDE’
A new range of sustainable cat litter, years after use — this being extremely A new book “perfect for cat
designed to be environmentally friendly damaging for our fragile planet. When I lovers” has been released.
and paw friendly has launched in the UK. set up Ozzy and Dart, I wanted to create a ‘Cattitude’, by illustrator
Ozzy and Dart — based in Glasgow feline-centric brand that has sustainability and Instagrammer Katie Abey,
and founded in 2021 — specialises in at its very heart. Every aspect of our new is described as “a hilarious,
sustainable cat products, designed by cat cat litter has been thought about when it colourful collection of
lovers for cat lovers. comes to its environmental impact, from straight-talking, no-nonsense
Ozzy and Dart provides cat owners the litter formula itself, which is sustainably advice from some very sassy
with the very best non-harmful clumping sourced, right down to its packaging and cats. As all cat owners know, our
cat litter that is practical for owners delivery. We believe that providing the best four-legged friends just don’t give
and kinder to the planet. The company pet sanitary products for our customers’ a damn — and it’s about time we
packages all of its litter in 100 percent pets shouldn’t have to come at an started doing the same.”
recyclable sacks and sources the product unnecessary cost to our planet.
from sustainably managed forests with “Not only are we committed to doing (cid:79)The hardback
PPEEFFCC cceerrttiiffiiccaattiioonn.. right by our planet and customers, we’re book, with
FFuurrtthheerr cceemmeennttiinngg iittss ccommitment to actually putting our money where our colourful
tthhee UUKK’’ss ppopulation of cats mouth is. We donate a percentage of all illustrations, is
aanndd tthhee wwider planet, the our earnings to environmental and out now and is
ccoommppaanny also donates cat-focussed charities. We hope that more published by
1100 ppeerrcceent of its profits to brands in our space will follow suit and Harper Collins.
cchhaarriittyy — five percent to support in having a more positive impact
ddeeddiiccaatted cat charities on the environment.”
aanndd tthhee remaining The new cat litter comes in 14-litre
ffiivvee ppeerrcent to packs and can be purchased via the
eennvviirroonnmental charities. Ozzy and Dart online store.
GGrraannt McCann,
ffoouunnddeer of Ozzy and (cid:79)For more information, visit  
DDaarrtt,, ssaays: “Traditional www.ozzyanddart.co.uk
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GETTING INTO A BOX THAT’S
FAR TOO SMALL FOR THEM
WHY
Is there a box so small that a cat wouldn’t try to get into it?
I don’t think so. They can’t resist them. Putting a tentative paw
inside, then curling around and around before squeezing
down into the most unfeasibly confined space. Even a small
square on the ground marked out by tape can draw them in
like a magnet — and there’s many an online video to prove
that.
DO THEY One of the reasons for a cat’s desire for a confined space
is safety. The instincts of their wild ancestors are hardwired in,
so even though they may be in a perfectly nice secure home,
they are drawn to behaviours that developed to keep them
safe.
DO THAT? “Part of who they are is a predator, but because they’re
a small animal and often solitary without a lot of defences
and back-up, they’re also prey. Prey animals always like to
have their options open to escape and they like to hide,” says
Linda Ryan (inspiringpets.com), who is a certificated clinical
animal behaviourist and registered veterinary nurse.
Infuriating, entertaining, adorable…
This behaviour also relates to their role as a hunter. “As a
we love our cats’ funny little ways. predator, you’re looking into all the little nooks and crannies
and you’re looking around to try to work out where your
Read on to discover what’s behind
prey has gone and often they’re in small spaces. So, it’s both
some of their more predator and prey behaviour,” she says.
Some cats may also enjoy the attention it gets them if you
baffl ing behaviours.
seem to enjoy and watch them as they cram themselves
into a little shoebox. Take note though if your cat suddenly
starts wanting to hide in confined spaces a lot of the time,
especially if their body language does not look happy. Pay
attention to see if there is something making your cat feel
Yvonne Martin is a anxious.
freelance journalist who
specialises in health and
well-being features. She
is a lifelong cat-lover and
lives with a shorthair tabby
called Rita who has her
own instagram account
@ritascatworld
What is it with boxes?
10 Your Cat September 2022