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UK’S FAVOURITE CAT MAGAZINE FOR OVER 37 YEARS £4.99 JANUARY 2020 n ISSUE 502
6 TOP TIPS
TO KEEP
YOUR
KITTY
SAFE
Incredible
tales of
rescue cats
NATURAL
HEALTH
New year, new diet 0 1
How to avoid your loved
one piling on the pounds
9 770952 287132 >
52
th e in s id e tra c k
January2020 ● Issue 502
Toreachus: Call +44 (0)1903 884988.
Or write to: The Editor, Cat World,
PO Box 2258, PULBOROUGH RH20 9BA 4MEWS ROUND 42DANCE PRACTICE
Great Britain
email:[email protected] The latest news and views Tilly’s merry dance
Website:www.catworld.co.uk 6ON THE EDGE 44CATS ABROAD
USoffice:Ashdown Inc., 68132 250th
Avenue, Kasson, MN 55944, USA. Loving the alien Leaving Lebanon
Tel: 507 634 3143 8BOARDING HOUSE DIARY 47FUN PAGE
email: usoffi[email protected]
A new balcony gets approval Puzzle time
Editor: Jill Mundy
email: [email protected] 10WINTER DANGERS 48YEAR OF PROMISES
Advertisementsales: Know the risks, keep them safe Treat your cat all year round
UKoffice: Maria Fitzgerald
Email: [email protected] 12LIFE WITH CATS 51TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
A tale with a twist Fun quiz about famous felines
Design:Steven Parker
14 FELINE ART 52MEET THE BREED
Subscriptions: Margaret Taylor’s pet portraits Beautiful Burmese
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US:usoffi [email protected] 16 FELINE OBESITY 56COLDS & SNEEZES
Published by ashdown.co.uk. ISSN 0961 - 0944 Understanding weight issues Keep winter snuffles at bay
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Appropriate feeding What’s on the menu?
28RESCUE CATS 67PAW POST
CC’s care at BCWR Your words to us
www.catworld.co.uk 30CULINARY QUIRKS 70CATS AND A GOOD BOOK
All fur and no kippers Lorraine’s recommendations
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sessment of the Publisher as to its commercial value. Top tips for flooding
All material submitted to the magazine for publication in
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© copyright ashdown.co.uk
40ACTIVITY FEEDING
Keeping the weight off
2 CAT WORLD
52 10
a fu rry w a rm w e lc o m e
I have to begin this month by
wishing everyone well in the Shef-
field area and any other similar
communities that have been affect-
ed by flooding. It must be frighten-
ing enough to worry about pos-
sessions and family members but
when those include pets, how do
you explain to them what is happening, why you
have to leave your home? I do hope everyone af-
fected has been reunited with their animals.
Events like these are becoming far too com-
mon for my liking so with this in mind, we have
some valuable advice from the RSPCA about
how to prepare in case you do have to leave your
home for an emergency such as this.
As winter takes hold, our cats may tend to
spend more time indoors so we have lots of 22 58
helpful tips to keep them entertained and happy,
including keeping them active which helps avoid
excess weight gain.
There are some great stories from readers
about their own experiences of owning cats, both
at Christmas and any time of year. I hope you
enjoy reading them and most of all, everyone at
Cat World wishes you all a Merry Christmas and
a very happy and healthy New Year.
Till next month
Jill & the team
72NATURAL HEALTH
How to help cat ‘flu
75SHOW DATES 16
Shows in the UK and Ireland
76ASK THE EXPERTS
Help with your queries
78SAPPHIRE & SPARKY
Christmas capers
82TAIL END
Beware the pointy face
Caring for the environment: Here at Cat World we’re as concerned
about the environment as you are. We’re doing everything we can
to ensure the magazine is produced in the most eco friendly way
possible.
Our magazine is printed using vegetable-based inks on an environ-
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3
CAT WORLD
THE MEWS ROUND
OUR ROVING REPORTERS BRING YOU ALL THE CAT NEWS, GOSSIP, HEALTH AND MORE. EMAIL [email protected]
Skiathos Cat Welfare update
Couple saved by
their cats Following our report in the previous being checked for viability by the
issue of Cat World, the stray cats being legal team.
Severely bad weather brought cared for on the Greek island of Skia- A representative from Skiathos Welfare
heavy rain to Italy in late October, thos have all had to be evicted from commented: “We are doing every-
causing landslides and flooding the Welfare, as was feared. Temporary thing possible and cannot thank you
as rivers burst their banks. One space nearby has been made availa- all enough for your continued support,
particularly lucky couple were ble where volunteers can feed the cats kind words and donations. Together,
awoken by their two cats, Simba each day but they have no protection with your help, we are building the
and Mouse, who were meowing against the weather. future.”
very loudly. As this was unu- Looking to the future, three plots are https://fundrazr.com/
sual, they got up to see what was under consideration and are currently SAVESKIATHOSCATS
wrong. It was then that they
noticed cracks appearing in A sharp lesson
s
a
h
A
s
e
s
p
r
n
l
o
the wall and a piece of plaster
that had already fallen. They When owner Natalie Hillier noticed her cat Kedah limp-
rushed out to their car with the ing across the room, she took him straight to Ilford PDSA
cats but were trapped there Hospital where vet Grant Hampson realised a metal
by thick mud and had to be object had gone into Kedah’s foot. Kedah was given pain
rescued by fire fighters. relief and Grant used forceps to remove it.
The couple were unaware ‘It’ turned out to be a sewing needle that very luckily
that a landslide had damaged had just missed Kedah’s tendons. Grant said: “If Natalie
the foundations of their home. had waited to bring him to the vet, an infection could easily have devel-
They were so grateful to their oped and there may have been some long-term damage. Fortunately, because
cats for sensing the danger and of her quick action, we were able to remove the needle quickly, without the need
alerting them just in time, as the for major surgery under general anaesthetic.”
house collapsed soon after they Natalie added: “It was horrible seeing my beloved cat in pain. I’m now very
had escaped. careful to make sure the sewing kit is packed away when Kedah is around and
that all needles are accounted for.”
4 CAT WORLD
10% off quality cat
food
The team at Celtic Connections
know that January is often when
we review the eating habits of
Man sets his dog to kill cat ourselves and our pets, having
perhaps overindulged in Decem-
The man in this picture is cat of eight years, Cleo, her being attacked in ber. To help your cat eat a healthy
being sought by police didn’t come home the this way.” diet, free from gluten and grain,
in the Walsall area after following day. Gary said: RSPCA trainee inspec- yet full of quality, ethically pro-
CCTV footage showed “I noticed my gate was tor Fiona Howell said: duced ingredients, the holistic cat
him deliberately en- left open, which was “This is an extremely food from Celtic Connections is
couraging his dog to suspicious, so I decided disturbing incident and a worthy meal for even the most
attack a cat, shining a to check the CCTV and we’d like to find out discerning cat. See page 13 for
light towards the cat to was completely shocked who this individual is as details of a special discount offer
assist. Sadly the cat did by what I found. I was soon as possible. We for Cat World readers.
not survive this horrific very upset. Cleo will be believe there may also
incident. Homeowner very much missed; she be offences of ‘lamping’ Childhood pets are a
Gary Truefitt discovered was a companion to me. shown here and are also bonus
the footage when his It’s just awful to think of liaising with the police.”
Findings from a survey recently
Bryn sparks call for carried out by NOAH (the Nation-
change al Office of Animal Health) reveal
that over half of us (55%) believe
Ahead of the General Election, that having a pet as a child can
Battersea has set out its own PAWS FOR help us cope better with the
manifesto with twelve animal stresses of being an adult.
welfare priorities for a new THOUGHT The positive impact of pets on
Parliament to consider, in- mental health is strongly sup-
cluding tougher animal cruel- ported with nearly two in five UK
ty sentences. This follows the ‘Youcannot adults (38%) believing that having
arrival at the Home of Bryn, a a pet can help by giving them
tiny kitten found dumped on lookata confidence, which is all the more
a busy toad, tied up in a plastic bag. Just six weeks old, sleepingcat important as nearly half (47%)
he was malnourished with a visibly protruding spine, admit they have suffered from at
andfeeltense.’
suffering from cat flu and was covered in so many fleas least one mental health condition
and lice he had most of his fur shaved off by a vet. A and 52% believe that pets help
member of the public found him and took him to a - Jane Pauley those who may be feeling lonely.
nearby vet who then contacted Battersea. NOAH Chief Executive Dawn
After two weeks of loving care with one of Battersea’s Howard commented: “It’s reas-
foster carers and lots of naps with his favourite toy, a suring to see the importance that
cuddly seal twice his size, Bryn had transformed into a pets play in helping us through
lively, affectionate kitten and was ready to go to a new difficult times. Our new research
home with a family in Kent. Visit the Battersea website shines a light on how companion
for more information of the issues for Parliament. animals can help our wellbeing.”
5
CAT WORLD
O N T H E E D G E
THE ADVENTURES OF TWENTY-SOMETHING CAT LOVER KATY EDGE
Unidentifi ed feline object - this month we are loving the alien;
go on…humour me…
y middle cat, and they’d probably have
Widget, has pulled it off, were it not for
M made an art one crucial thing: no cat
form of being average. is this normal. Cats are
Like Mama Bear of Goldi- weird. Cats do things you
locks fame, he’s neither don’t expect cats to do.
too fat nor too thin, too That’s why there are so
friendly nor too anti-social, many hilarious videos of
too active nor too lazy. Of them on the internet. And
course, he has his quirks: yet here’s Widget, mooch-
he sleeps in ridiculous ing around, being unfunny,
positions and his meow doing cat things, gener-
sounds like he’s being ally raising suspicion. I
tortured. And now, at five even caught him this week
years old, he’s matured pretending to scratch the
– he’s no longer in love carpet (he doesn’t scratch
with the kitchen sponge the carpet, he never has,
(the sponge has taken this place, particularly for a something innocuous like but his programmers
remarkably well). But he’s cat. Even if you can get a robotic cat to do it. have probably realised
more of a typical cat than past the whole ‘living in a Seriously, hear me it’s something he’s sup-
any cat I’ve known has large box made of bricks out. It explains so much! posed to do). Once you’ve
ever been. where food magically ap- The screechy meow? A cottoned on, other tell-tale
He’s got all the clichés pears’ thing, which most glitch. The sudden lack of signs are there. His fur is
down. Compulsively sitting cats seem to, my cats have sponge infatuation? Sys- just a little too fluffy. His
in any box that presents it- to share their home with tem upgrade. The suspi- claws grow just a tiny bit
self, check. Chasing string, other species. Widget is cious amount of typical cat too fast. His tail is practi-
check. And begging for surprisingly cool with the behaviour? The product of cally prehensile.
food, double check, even fact that we keep wolves years of painstaking alien So, aliens, I’m onto you!
if his preferences are downstairs and a tempting research. And as an alien I know your devious plan.
slightly odd (seriously, array of inaccessible food overlord bent on ruling the I could tell the authorities
what cat prefers McDon- items in a large tank in the universe, there’s so much and thwart your entire
ald’s fries to chicken nug- lounge. to be gained from planting research mission. But the
gets?). In fact, sometimes it a simulated cat in a house. joke’s on you – this pre-
What’s most impres- feels a bit TOO average, a Not really OUR house, tend cat of yours is ador-
sive is that, in the face of bit over-rehearsed. Now, I of course. They’ve prob- able and I’m keeping him.
all the influences that have don’t want to say anything ably accumulated a load (Disclaimer: yes, it
caused my other cats too outlandish but if I was of useless data about our was a slow news month
to question their identi- an alien invader wanting to favourite TV programmes, this month and I got a bit
ties, he’s stayed true to gather information about the times we go to bed creative. But these photos
his feline self. Because the human race as part of and the toppings we order of Widget make up for it,
when you think about it, my grand world domina- on our takeaway pizza. I think. Look at his little
my house is a strange tion plan, I’d probably use Still, it’s a flawless plan ginger FACE!)
6 CAT WORLD
Quality without compromise
Suitable for all life stages
Proud to
me made 0800 612 4655 / 01535 280 319 / www.millieswolfheart.co.uk
in Britain
B O A R D I N G
THE
H O U S E D I A R Y
Living in a city apartment doesn’t have to mean access to the outdoors is restricted;
when you have a balcony, cats can indulge their curiosity
BY DOMINIQUE URQUHART
here have been far less visible. We have but having never encoun- in. Once inside, he hap-
some cat-focused added some new cat fur- tered a cat flap before, I pily scoffs his dinner and
improvements at my niture, cat-friendly plants have to hold it open for we settle in for the night.
T home, the Notting and the window that opens him. Once outside, he Still a little unsure of his
Hill Cat Company HQ. onto the balcony has been explores thoroughly, nib- surroundings, Mao naps
The cat-proofed balcony, fitted with reinforced glass bling on cat grass before on a cushion underneath
our safe outdoor space and a cat flap. Our furry settling down on a cat tree my bed. When I wake up
for our kitty clients, has guests can now hop in and for a snooze. in the morning I find him
had an upgrade. The out at their leisure. When he is ready to sitting patiently in front of
unsightly chew-proof net- The first cat to feel the come in, Mao has trouble the window, waiting to be
ting that was painstakingly benefit of the balcony is working out where the cat let out again.
stretched into a protective Mao, a cute, grey male flap - which is made of I try a new tactic, prop-
shelter has been replaced with a crooked tail and a transparent plastic - is. He ping the flap open with a
by a stainless steel struc- lop sided ear. He is keen sits in front of the window pair of chop sticks. He is
ture that is taller, safer and to get out onto the balcony and meows until I let him soon jumping through the
cat flap on to the balcony,
dislodging the chopsticks
on the way out. The cat
flap bangs shut behind
him. Mao is undeterred
and confident. As quickly
as I prop the cat flap open
with chopsticks, Mao hops
through it. Thankfully, by
the evening, Mao has
worked out how to use
the cat flap to get back in
from the balcony but still
can’t work out how to get
outside again.
That night, exhausted
from all his outdoor activ-
ity, Mao climbs into bed
beside me, crawls under
the covers and falls fast
asleep. The next morning
I find Mao sitting in front
of the cat flap waiting to
8 CAT WORLD n JUNE 2016
be let out. It takes another
couple of days and the
help of some strategically
placed treats for Mao to
master exiting as well as
entering through the cat
flap. But once he does,
my evenings are punctu-
ated by the gentle clatter
of the cat flap as he hops,
energetically, in and out
for food, a nap and the oc-
casional cuddle.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a one year
old, recently rescued,
cream Persian. His tiny
nose makes breathing dif-
ficult, his huge eyes need
twice-a-day cleaning and
his coat is in constant need with my trusty chopsticks, parture. With her slender world. But despite my best
of a brush. But Pumpkin as Pumpkin bravely ven- frame and graceful coun- efforts and liberal use of
is as adorable as he is tures back outside to enjoy tenance she has the rare the chopsticks to prop
impractical and his loving the fresh air. and strange beauty of a open the cat flap, Ninja
nature and gentle disposi- supermodel. She climbs refuses to step outside
tion make him a joy to be Ninja onto the sofas and circles onto the purpose-built cat
around. Ninja, a striking two- the apartment before ar- balcony. The fact that win-
Happy to be carried on and-half-year-old blue riving at the large window ter is setting in and Ninja
a personal tour of his new Sphynx, arrives a few and staring, fascinated, is a hairless cat may have
accommodation, Pumpkin hours after Pumpkin’s de- through it to the outside something to do with it.
greets every new object She certainly feels the cold
with wide eyed wonder. more than your average
He settles in straight away cat and spends most of
and spends the day sitting the day burrowed deeply
as close to me as possible beneath my quilt. At night
and the night sleeping on she likes to explore but re-
my pillow. In the morn- turns to bed frequently for
ing, I am awakened early warmth. Her naked paw
by Pumpkin’s tiny tongue extended, Ninja gently
sand-papering my face taps me on the shoulder.
as he mistakenly incorpo- Still half asleep, I hold the
rates me into his personal quilt up for her and she
grooming routine. quietly disappears under
Pumpkin loves the the covers.
balcony but never gets
used to the sound of noisy THE CAT FACTS:
cars whizzing past and he
The Notting Hill Cat Company
never learns how to use Pampering Your Pets While You Are Away
the cat flap either. But I am email: [email protected]
web: www.nottinghillcatcompany.com
more than happy to help,
call: 0781 354 7461
propping the cat flap open
9
JULY 2016 n CAT WORLD
WINTER
W in t e r d a n g e r s a n d h o w
b e s t t o a v o id t h e m
No matter how cold it is, some cats still want to be outside
which can mean they are at risk from potential hazards but
with care, the trouble can be prevented
BY SONJA K STEINER
he clocks have just gone back, is particularly worrying if your cat is many cats who are out on their daily
and this means one thing: darker an indoor cat and is not familiar with travels seek out warmth and they
mornings and nights and a lot less outdoor surroundings or busy roads. may climb under the wheel arches of
T daylight. Then we have the colder You can prepare for this by prepar- vehicles or into the engines. If your
weather to look forward to! ing a quiet room in the house where car is routinely parked out on the
When it’s cold, cats can look for your cat/cats can feel safe and secure driveway, check underneath the car to
shelter in sheds, garages and outbuild- and can seek sanctuary if things get ensure that no cats have taken shel-
ings so keep the doors ei- too noisy. A stressed-out ter. Before you reach for the de-icer
ther shut or wedged open, cat with nowhere to seek either tap on the bonnet or beep the
so that cats do not become solace is more likely to try horn just to make sure the resident cat
trapped. More cats tend to to escape and apart from has not made their way underneath
go missing in the winter the potential dangers of the bonnet. A cat outside in plunging
months as many lose their this, there are also possible temperatures for periods of time can
bearings so it is advisable health implications in the occasionally succumb to frostbite and
to have your cat micro- form of feline lower urinary hyperthermia.
chipped. If you have moved tract disease ‘FLUTD’ which Frostbite can affect anywhere on
to a new address, ensure can vary from cystitis to a the body but in particular where the
the microchip database has your new urethral blockage which would require fur is thin, for example the tips of their
contact details, including an up to date immediate veterinary intervention. ears, tail, nose and footpads, the skin
phone number; if your cat goes miss- looks either pale white or a blue tinge
ing, you can be reunited much quicker. Anti-freezeandvehicles and is the sign of the circulation being
As the weather gets colder and affected. Please do consult your vet
Goingout frost appears, this is when many of us without delay.
In the winter, try to let your cat out- reach for the bottle of anti-freeze. Be-
side when temperatures are warmer ing sweet in taste it is attractive to cats Snowandice
and avoid peak hour traffic levels. Try due to its palatability and even if only a Snow on the driveways and paths,
to keep your cat inside during the small amount is ingested, it can cause along with ice, bring their own dan-
dark hours when there is a greater risk serious kidney damage and be life gers. Salt and chemical melting prod-
of cats being involved in road traffic threatening so please keep antifreeze ucts can be toxic to cats, especially
accidents, theft and physical attacks. out of the reach of your cat. if any gets on their paws. When they
Check your cat flap on a regular basis If you suspect that your cat has clean themselves they could ingest
to ensure it has not frozen over or be- ingested anti-freeze please take him/ some of the products so if your cat
come blocked by snow. her to the vets as a matter of urgency; has been outside, wipe their paws to
The festive season is a busy one for unfortunately, the longer the delay remove as much residue as possible.
a lot of families. Many have visitors, between the ingestion and the start Also, grit and salt can cause the paws
which can mean the door being open of treatment, the less favourable the to be sore and irritated, so it is always
and shut more often which can result outcome. best to check their paws for any sign
in a stressed-out cat sneaking out. This With the temperatures dropping, of injury or discomfort.
10 CAT WORLD
WINTER
Christmas Season
It is worth noting that if you are wanting
to offer a cat or kitten a home in time
for Christmas, the majority of rescues
stop rehoming in the lead up to the
festive period until the New Year. This
is because cats need time to settle in
and get used to their new owners and
surroundings and the hustle and bustle
of this busy period could cause them
unnecessary stress. By the middle of
October, Katie Lloyd from Bradford Cat
Watch Rescue was already getting a
worrying number of enquiries from
people wanting to adopt cats and kit-
tens around, and for, Christmas. Cats
and kittens are upset by leaving the se-
curity of their mothers and the rescue
to go to a strange, very busy & noisy
house at Christmas so they could not
choose a worse time of year to home
a kitten!! Therefore, the decision was
taken not to rehome any felines from 8
December to 1st January.
“Check your cat flap on a regular basis to ensure it has not frozen over
or become blocked by snow”
Insurance some become disorientated as they pounds a month. Depending on your
With a lot of people setting off fire- have run in an unfamiliar direction so budget, do try to get ‘cover for life’ or
works on New Year’s Eve it is advis- become missing. In their quest to run ‘lifetime cover’.
able to try and keep your cat inside, for safety it may sadly lead to them be- Whilst there are so many hazards
in a place where they feel safe and ing involved in a road traffic accident. that can potentially affect a cat, preven-
secure to minimise their stress levels. If If your cat is uninsured, have you tion, as they say, is better than cure
a cat is out on his/her nightly ventures considered taking out a policy? Vet and as long as cat owners are aware of
and they hear or see the fireworks, all bills, especially emergency vet treat- the possible dangers, you can pre-
they want to do is get away and hide. ment, can run into hundreds of pounds vent your feline friend from coming to
This can lead to them panicking and if not more, so they are definitely worth harm, meaning you can all enjoy the
displaying a ‘fight or flight’ reaction; the peace of mind for the sake of a few winter period.
11
CAT WORLD
LIFE WITH CATS
A la s , P o o r J ic k y , s t ill
w it h u s in s p ir it
Having taken time to settle in, Poor Jicky left us
suddenly, along with a legacy that no-one expected
and is still a mystery
BY JILL COHEN
his is a sad tale. Poor Jicky was a be capable of such a feat. recognised as the Ghost of Jicky. He
tuxedo cat with a smart black suit, Soon after this, disaster struck. Jicky never came into the house but haunted
white shirt-front and four white had ventured about three yards into the garden, spookily, lurking in the
T paws. She belonged to my mother- the garden when a young and out of bushes and making cosy bedrooms in
in-law and had lived in London all her control German Shepherd hurdled the sunny spots.
life. When my mother-in-law died we back gate, seized her by the back of The Ghost of Jicky was not with us
inherited Jicky who was then thought her neck and threw her up in the air. for long. Coming out of the woods in
to be aged seventeen, though there Seeing this through the kitchen win- the early morning, he was run over
was some dispute about this. Anyway, dow, I grabbed a broom and ran out by a speeding car; another grave was
Poor Jicky was brought down from yelling but it was too late. Poor Jicky dug and he was laid to rest, close to
London to live with us in the country. was done for. We gave her a proper his forbear. But this surreal episode
This did not start well because she was funeral and buried her under an apple was not quite over. Later that year we
a very poor traveller and suffered from tree. Jicky the bat killer was no more. found that the Ghost’s grave had been
both sickness and diarrhoea through- It was only a short time later when vandalised: there was a gaping hole
out the journey. a new, strange cat appeared on the but no remains. We are still half expect-
When she arrived we found that the scene. He was also a black cat with a ing the Ghost of the Ghost of Jicky to
concept of going in the garden was white chest and paws and was instantly arrive.
alien to her and attempts at persuasion
frightened her so much that she hid
behind the boiler and only ventured
out for meals. The other cats more or
less ignored her. Poor Jicky had been
an only cat in her previous existence
and was not used to family life.
However, we all had to revise our
opinion of her when she scored a
fantastic triumph. One summer even-
ing a bat flew into the drawing room
and was flying circuits like a jet plane.
Enter Poor Jicky who stood transfixed
in the centre of the room, her eyes on
the bat and her head rotating so as to
keep it in view, like someone watch-
ing a circular game of tennis. Then
she made an amazingly athletic leap,
struck a lightning blow, zap - and the
bat fell dead on the carpet. Nobody
would have predicted that she could
12 CAT WORLD
T H I S F O O D I S A L A B O U R O F L O V E .
‘ I ’ve always been passionate about the health of my own pets and that of animals in general - it’s what led me to
become an animal osteopath and physiotherapist. Knowing that dogs and cats are carnivores and need a lot of meat in
their diets, I started handcrafting recipes that included freshly prepared, ethically-farmed poultry or fish as the
principal ingredient. I avoided gluten, grains and fillers since these can cause inflammation, stiff joints and
digestive problems. Instead, I used my knowledge of ancient Celtic remedies and cures and added a mixture of
healthy fruits and vegetables and more herbs than are found in other pet foods to help restore and maintain
natural health and vitality. I also added glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM, to keep joints comfortable and organs
pet
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FELINE ART
M a r g a r e t T a y lo r c a p t u r e s
p e t s p e r f e c t ly in p a in t
What better way to mark your love for a pet than to have his
or her portrait painted; Margaret paints bespoke commissions
onto canvas, china or pastel paper
BY BARBARA MASON
here was never any cat came to me in turn www.themargarettaylorcol-
suggestion that Mar- after touching the image of lection.co.uk : “Seeing is
garet Taylor would be themselves on the canvas one thing, interpreting what
T anything other than an with their nose. We were a you see is unique to your vi-
artist, as she explains: “The gathering of seven people sion. Art, like life, cannot be
choice of my profession was in the room; these beautiful replicated.”
made before I left school. I felines definitely identified It seems particularly apt
went straight to art school at me as the artist.” for felines.
the age of 16.” Who can argue with feline
On leaving art school, intuition? If you would like to
however, she needed to commission a painting from
make a living and spent Margaret, please email her:
some years experimenting inspirational images for my mpt@themargarettaylorcol-
with various occupations work. I enjoy creating new lection.co.uk She will be
that never really took off. and unique compositions.” happy to provide a phone
“So I decided the natural Margaret lives in rural number to talk with you to
choice was to become an Lincolnshire, on England’s discuss your requirements.
artist. Working alone in a east coast. When she isn’t We rather like this quote
rural part of the UK, desig- working on a painting in- from Margaret’s website,
nated as an area of natural spired by the landscape that
beauty, I now photograph surrounds her, she loves to
landscapes and wildlife as paint people’s pets. “I feel
privileged to paint and draw
for others,” she says. “My
customers come to me for
my professional skills, to vis-
ualise, design and draw or
paint ideas for their home,
or to commission portraits
of their loved ones. I love my
job - I get to meet unique
people and animals.
“My most precious
memory and biggest com-
pliment happened many
years ago. I had completed
an oil painting of a girl with
her two Burmese cats. Each
14 CAT WORLD
FESTIVE REMINDER
T ip s f o r d e c o r a t in g t h a t
a r e t o p o f t h e t r e e
Unless you are super-eager to get Christmas underway, you
are probably just thinking about putting up your Christmas
tree now; here are some cat-friendly tips
BY BARBARA MASON
used to have a cat called Barney l Put something noisy in the lower- any further.
I most branches. If your cat does try to spending this special time of year with
Have a happy Christmas and enjoy
who was very well behaved most
climb the tree, it will fall out and startle
of the time but he did love the
Christmas tree and we had many
moments of mayhem each year. Here him, hopefully putting him off going the feline members of your family too.
are a few things I have learnt over the
years that will help to keep you, your
cats and Christmas trees on the best of
terms.
l Try to put the tree close to a plug
socket so that there is the minimum
amount of trailing flex for the tree
lights.
l If you can’t do that, use a cable tidy
to keep the flex bundled together.
Some cats and kittens may be tempted
to chew through it.
l Use a very large tree base to keep it
as stable as possible and less likely to
topple over onto an inquisitive cat.
l If the tree is very tall, you could at-
tach a piece of fishing line to the top of
it and secure to the ceiling.
l If you have a real tree, make or buy
a cover for the reservoir in the stand
as chemicals and tree resin that might
seep into it will be toxic for your cat.
l Sweep up pine needles immediately
they drop as they may stick to your
cats paw and then he might ingest it
trying to groom himself - they are very
sharp and can cause vomiting if swal-
lowed.
l Put a tin foil mat under the tree - cats
don’t like walking on it.
l Keep tiny decorations that can be
easily swallowed to the upper branch-
es.
15
CAT WORLD
HEALTH CONCERNS
O b e s it y – g e t t in g t o g r ip s
w it h a w e ig h t y m a t t e r
There is a need for owners to take responsibility for their cat’s
weight, to know when he or she is overweight and ultimately
prevent obesity which can cause serious health issues
BY YOLANDA WESSELS
ust like humans, some cats and weight, and it is considered obese whose weight is not well-managed.
breeds are more prone to unin- when it exceeds this by 20%. Shock- The average domestic shorthaired cat
tentional weight gain than others. ingly, more than half of cats are over- should weigh between 3.6 – 4.5 kg,
JMany other breeds are very ac- weight and 25% are obese. The risk of depending on breeds and individuals.
tive and playful and naturally slimmer. this disorder is particularly important
Mostly it comes down to the breed in adult cats aged between five and Causesofobesityincats
type but some health factors may im- 11 years. Obesity is usually caused by Cats aged between five and 11
pact weight gain or weight loss. excessive food intake and insufficient years have the highest risk of suffering
Obesity can be defined as an exercise. It also depends to a large from obesity; therefore, preventative
excessive accumulation of body fat. It extend on the cat’s individual charac- measures should begin when the cat is
is considered that a cat is overweight teristics. Obesity is more common in about two years old.
when it exceeds by 10% its ideal body older, less active or spayed females Sex: Male cats are at an increased
risk of obesity; the risk is further in-
creased in cases of sterilisation. Many
experts consider feline sterilisation
to be the main factor associated with
obesity.
Endocrine problems: The use of
chemicals can alter the cat’s hormonal
profile, which decreases insulin sen-
sitivity and predisposes it to body fat
accumulation. Other diseases, such as
hypothyroidism, may affect an obese
cat.
Breed: Common or tabby cats have
double the risk of suffering from obe-
sity than pure-breed cats, except for
Manx breed cats as these possess the
same risk as any common cat.
Environmental factors: A cat that
lives with dogs is generally more
protected against obesity; by contrast
cats who do not live with other animals
and remain in a flat or apartment have
a higher risk of being obese.
Activity: Cats that cannot be physi-
cally active are at an increased risk of
carrying excess body weight.
16 CAT WORLD
HEALTH CONCERNS
Feeding: Some studies link the use The average domestic shorthaired cat should
main factors to treat this condition. ‘ weigh between 3.6 – 4.5 kg, depending on
of high-end food with a higher risk of
obesity. Cat feed will also be one of the
Diseaseslinkedtoobesity breeds and individuals ‘
Obesity can trigger multiple disor-
ders and diseases, such as diabetes
mellitus, increased anaesthetic risk, carbohydrate. In order for cats to lose feeding bowls etc.)
decreased immune function, choles- weight, veterinary diets have been The most effective weight-loss plans
terol, hepatic lipidosis, hypertension designed which are high in protein, involve increasing activity and feeding
and joint stress. It can also cause ag- low in fat and low in carbohydrate. fewer calories.
gravation of osteoarthritis, dystocia, This helps cats to lose fat whilst main- l Feeding a cat the same amount of
non-allergic skin diseases, respiratory taining lean body mass (i.e., muscle). food delivered in smaller meals helps
insufficiency, infectious diseases of It is dangerous for cats to lose weight to burn calories more efficiently.
the urinary tract, decreased immune too quickly because this predisposes l Feeding less of her regular food per
response, decreased stamina and them to the development of hepatic li- day, paired with increased activity.
exercise tolerance. pidosis, a potentially fatal liver disease l Gradually switch her to a low-calo-
whereby fat is deposited within the rie food.
Whatshouldyourcatweigh? liver as a result of a change in metabo- Ideal weight loss treatment
The best way to calculate your lism during fasting. A gradual, steady Initial assessment: The veterinarian
cat’s daily resting energy require- decrease in bodyweight is ideal. must individually assess the degree
ments (RER) is with this formula: In addition to a suitable diet, cats by which the animal is overweight, its
30 x your cat’s body weight in kilos can be encouraged to exercise either health status and risk factors that have
+ 70. through increasing play or by encour- acted on the pet.
l For an average cat weighing 5 kg, aging movement around the house Weight loss phase: The first phase
30 x 5 kg + 70 = 220 is your cat’s RER. (walking up and down stairs either of treatment and it can last for many
l An obese cat who weighs 6.5 kg: 30 by using a pet harness or by moving months.
x 6.5 kg + 70 = 265 is your cat’s RER
l An underweight cat who weighs 3.5
kg: 30 x 3.5 + 70 = 175 is your cat’s
RER
To calculate the daily energy re-
quirements (DER):
l A 5 kg cat who is on a maintenance
diet and doesn’t need to gain or lose
weight: 220 RER x 1.2 = 264 calories
per day
l A 1 kg kitten who is growing. 100
RER x 2.5 = 250 calories per day.
l A 6.5 kg obese cat who needs
to lose weight. 265 RER x .8 = 251 cal-
ories per day. As your cat loses weight,
his RER will drop and you should
adjust this formula. The same goes for
kittens; a kitten’s weight will gradually
increase and therefore you will need
to recalculate his daily energy require-
ments weekly.
Diet
Cats are carnivores and, unlike hu-
mans and dogs, they must have meat
in their diet to survive. A cat’s natural
diet, consisting of small prey mammals,
would be high in protein and low in
17
CAT WORLD
HEALTH CONCERNS
At this stage it is essential to change
the life habits of the cat, establishing a To determine if your cat is overweight:
diet for obese cats and a more active
lifestyle. In some cases the vet may l Place your hand on either side of your cat and firmly stroke his sides;
decide to also prescribe a drug treat- you should be able to feel the ribs. If you can’t feel the ribs, your cat is
ment. overweight.
Consolidation phase: This phase l Stand above your cat and look down at her; your cat’s waistline should be
must be maintained throughout the life detectable as a slight indentation just behind the ribs.
of the cat since its purpose is to keep l A swinging pouch between your cat’s hind legs is a sign that your cat is
the pet at a healthy weight. Gener- overweight.
ally at this stage, diet is changed but l Your cat’s anal area should look clean. Some obese cats have trouble
not the amount of physical activity. To grooming this area.
implement this phase properly, veteri- l A greasy patch, matting of fur or flaking of skin down the midline of a cat’s
nary supervision is essential. lower back can also indicate obesity.
Owner involvement is also neces-
sary but we should always take into If you feel your cat is overweight, consult your veterinarian to determine if
account the indications given by the there are any other medical problems before starting a weight reduction
veterinarian. program.
Maintainingoptimalcondi-
tion it is hard to see weight loss in a cat
Once a cat has reached its target that you are watching every day, it is
weight, it may be preferable to feed a equally difficult to see the early stages
‘light’ or low-calorie food. These diets of weight gain. Regular weight checks
are designed for the less active feline should be continued to ensure that the
and do not contain as many calories as fat doesn’t start to creep back on.
the normal maintenance foods. While
18 CAT WORLD
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26 BUILD YOUR OWN CAT HOME OR RUN CAT WORLD 19
CAT WORLD
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19_CW 502.indd 19 26_CW 501.indd 26 15/11/2019 17:11 17/10/2019 16:26
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26 CAT WORLD
26_CW 476.indd 26 20/09/2017 13:23
M a k e a n e f o r t t o b e a t t h e
f e lin e w in t e r b lu e s
Just as humans can be affected by the educed daylight hours,
so too can our pets so here are some simple ways you can
brighten their days and stop them feeling miserable
BY CORINNE MANSFIELD
ost of us will now be familiar lot of time hiding away. Alternatively reducing the number of ‘safe’ places
with the term Seasonal Affect- they could start seeking attention with the cat has to hide if it feels stressed
ed Disorder (S.A.D.) - some of unwanted behaviour such as scratch- l Furniture may be moved in order to
M you may even suffer from the ing carpets and furniture or miaowing make space for the Christmas tree - a
condition yourself. The term is used to excessively. strange addition to the home, especial-
describe the fact that some people feel ly for a young cat that might not have
very low, even depressed, during the Whythechange? seen one before.
darker days of winter but did you re- As well as fewer daylight hours, l If you are also feeling more stressed
alise that our pets can also suffer from there are a number of other things that than usual with lots of festive visitors
low mood at this time of year? can cause a cat to feel stressed or suf- and preparations, your cat will sense
Many animal behaviourists believe fer the winter blues at this time of year. this and could feel more stressed too.
that cats are particularly affected. The For example: If you notice you cat acting rather
signs are quite similar to those you l Changes to the household - there strangely, try to think of him first and
would see in humans - lack of interest may be more visitors than normal or how he might be feeling. It could be
in food, playing and more inclination family members may go away from difficult with so much going on but if
to lie around dozing or sleeping. They home. you can give him as much attention as
could neglect personal hygiene and l The owner may be busier than possible, he should feel reassured that
grooming and perhaps stop using the normal meaning less time spent giving all is well.
litter tray correctly. attention to their pet
A cat that is usually friendly and l Usual hide away places such a cup- Battlingtheweather
approachable can become aggressive boards, shelves and under beds may You might feel that everything
towards his owner and may spend a suddenly need to be used for storage, already mentioned doesn’t apply to
20 CAT WORLD
WINTER WORRIES
you but it could simply be the wintry will need more stimulation and inter- especially during darkness, leaving
weather that gets your feline friend action with you to keep him alert and a radio or television on for your cat
down. Let’s face it - most humans moan prevent him putting on weight through can help, especially if they are used to
about it too! inactivity. having company all day. It is possible
A cat that is used to being outdoors Treat him to a new toy or roll up a to buy DVDs of birds, fish, etc. or music
all summer will have spaces he likes piece of paper into a ball; shine a laser CDs that have been made with cats
to visit, relax in and roam around. pen on the wall or stairs for him to in mind but you don’t need to make it
Cold, wet weather may restrict where chase; rotate a different toy each day, an extra expense; there are so many
he can go and many of these places especially dangle toys, so he doesn’t wildlife programmes on TV these days
may no longer be so accessible. He easily get bored. and cats can often be found with their
may just not fancy venturing out in the Warmth - gas and electricity noses close to the screen, following the
cold. This can result in a lack of exer- charges rarely come down and can movement with longing…and maybe
cise and activity, leading your cat to be a worry for many of us but cats anticipation.
become bored and especially if he is do like to be warm. If you can’t have
left at home alone for long periods of your heating on all day, try to place Welcomehome
time. Again, this can lead to unwanted your cat’s bed near a sunny window or On your return home from an outing,
behaviours. radiator where he will feel the warmth. make an extra fuss of your puss if he
There is also the possibility that You could also add an extra blanket or will allow it. Some cats might be a bit
his favourite indoor spaces suddenly a heated pad. Older or ill cats will feel ‘prickly’ to begin with, almost wanting
become draughty or used for keeping the cold more as they will generally be to make you feel guilty it would seem,
other things indoors over winter. less active. but they will be glad of the company
Litter trays should also be placed and hearing your voice if nothing else.
Banishtheblues somewhere fairly warm. Too cold and
Once you realise your cat is not they may be inclined to find some- Theunfamiliar
himself and showing signs of being where warmer to do the ‘business’. It pays to know your cat’s normal
depressed, there are several things Light - try to keep curtains and behaviour well so that you can more
you can do to help. blinds open for as long as possible easily tell when he is out of sorts. If you
Play - no matter how busy you are, during daylight hours. If you can put a have tried the suggestions here and
make time every day to play with your chair or set of steps close to a window he still seems depressed or there are
cat. In the natural world a cat would where your cat can sit and watch the behavioural issues and you are wor-
go hunting for food every day at dusk world go by, he will enjoy the birds and ried to any degree, especially if he has
and dawn so cats are inclined to be other wildlife that may appear. stopped eating, do consult your vet
more active at these times. A cat kept Sights and sounds - if you have as there could be a medical reason
indoors more often through the winter to go out and leave your cat alone, behind his change in behaviour.
CAT WORLD 21
GROOMING BASICS
S p e n d a lit t le t im e c a r in g
f o r y o u r c a t ’ s c o a t
Cats tend to spend more time indoors during winter so make
the most of this and take a little time to get up close and per-
sonal with your feline friend and a good brush
BY CORINNE MANSFIELD
ats will normally pay close atten- aspect of social bonding and that Wheretostart
tion to maintaining their coat in is where you, the owner, come in. Eyes, and ears - Moistened cot-
good condition. Their coat can Grooming gives you an excellent op- ton pads are ideal for cleaning mat-
C refl ect how they are feeling too. portunity to discover any cuts, lumps, ter from the corners of the eyes and
A natural feline flexibility allows them bumps or injuries that your cat may cotton buds dipped in a little warm
to reach almost every part of their have. olive oil do a good job at keeping ears
body with their tongue. The head and If a cat is groomed and handled clean. However, these should be used
ears are cleaned with a well-licked regularly from kittenhood, owners very cautiously and on no account be
front paw and a good raking with the are less likely to encounter handling poked down inside the ear. Eye and
inner dew claw. Grooming performs a problems later. The key to success is ear wipes are available from most vet-
number of important functions. Be- to keep the sessions short and pleas- erinary surgeries or grooming salons.
sides removing loose hair, dead skin urable. Grooming immediately after Paws - Most cats that go outside,
cells and parasites, the massaging feed-time works well because the cat or have the use of scratching posts
action stimulates the skin glands, pro- is relaxed and happy and will tend to indoors, do not need their claws
ducing a light film of oil to waterproof enjoy a clean-up at this time naturally. trimmed but there are special scissors
the skin. And, because cats do not You can use this activity to build up and clippers available if you need to
really sweat, the evaporation of saliva and maintain a strong bond between nip the points off.
from the coat helps keep them cool in you and your feline. However, never Mouth - If you can persuade your
hot weather. force your cat to be groomed and stop kitten from an early age to accept
Finally, for cats that share a home, when he or she indicates they have having its teeth gently brushed as part
mutual grooming is an important had enough. of the grooming routine then this is an
excellent, but rare thing. Use a small,
soft toothbrush specifically for cats
and only use proper pet toothpaste,
as human toothpaste is too strong in
flavour and chemicals. Older cats may
not welcome you trying to clean their
teeth but you can try to look inside
their open mouth when offering a
treat, for example, for signs of redness
around the gums or a broken tooth.
Whentogroom
The frequency of cat grooming
depends on your cat’s coat. Heavy
coated cats, such as Maine Coons
and non-pedigree longhaired cats will
grow thick winter coats that are shed
22 CAT WORLD
GROOMING BASICS
as soon as the weather turns warm.
Loose hairs need to be removed to Equipment
reduce hairballs and prevent the coat
from getting knotted up. This need There are some basic pieces of are reluctant to be groomed as the
only take 15 minutes a day during equipment that need not be expen- owner can simply stroke the coat
change of season, with one really sive and you may not need all of with it.
good grooming session a week. these here, depending on the length Cloth - All cats, including the
Shorthaired cats moult but do not of your cat’s coat or his breed. ‘hairless’ Sphynx, will benefit from
have the same problems with a knot- Comb - Long- a polish with a damp chamois or
ted coat. Grooming once a week is haired and semi-long- velvet cloth. It not only feels good
best. haired cats will need but also brings out the gloss and
a wide-toothed wire shine on the coat.
Elderlyandinfirm comb to deal with Cotton buds &
Old cats will often find that they tangles and knots wipes - Moistened
lack the flexibility for effective and help check for cotton pads are ideal
pain-free grooming and will need parasites in the coat. for cleaning matter
more help from their owners. This is Brush - A pure bristle brush from the corners of
another reason why it is good to get is great for lifting the fur without the eyes. Cotton buds
your cat comfortable with grooming breaking hairs, allowing the slicker dipped in a little warm
from an early age. brush to remove any olive oil help keep ears clean. You
Any cat that is unwell may also loose hairs in the coat. can also buy specialist eye and ear
stop grooming itself, for example Mitt - Shorthair and wipes from most veterinary surger-
if it has sore gums or a tongue Rex-coated cats will ies or grooming salons.
ulcer. While these cats may not need a fine toothed wire Powder - Unperfumed talcum
be well enough to endure full comb, a soft bristle brush powder or proprietary coat
grooming, their spirit may be and a rubber brush or powder can help untangle a
lifted by some attention. Stroking mitt, which is gentle on knotted coat in longhaired cats. Just
with a grooming mitt or even just the skin. A rubber mitt sprinkle a little over the knotted area
your hand can do the job. is particularly useful for cats that and gently tease out.
23
CAT WORLD
FOOD & NUTRITION
F e e d y o u r c a t t h e m o s t
a p p r o p r ia t e f o o d f o r lif e
A feline’s nutritional needs are quite specifi c and their health
can soon suff er as a result of any defi ciencies so feed the
best quality you can aff ord, for the good life
BY MANDY WILLETT
s humans, we know the sort of coloured ‘beads’ to make a unique
foods we should eat - five fruit structure.
and veg a day, for instance - and Some amino acids are essential,
A what we should avoid…too meaning that they must be provided
many pizzas, cakes, biscuits and ready in the diet. Non-essential amino acids
meals are not good for us. Cookery can be constructed within the cat’s
books and recipes by top chefs and body from pieces of the essential
nutritionists are everywhere but do we amino acids, rather like creating a
know what the correct nutritional bal- model from leftover Lego blocks.
ance is for our cats? Our feline friends have luxuriant
Simply choosing a few basic ingre- coats with twice as much hair as the
dients does not necessarily make for average dog. This also means they
a successful cat food. Attention to the need much higher quantities of the into glucose and provide energy. This
taste, quality and form in which each amino acids used for skin and hair. process happens almost constantly,
nutrient is provided is crucial. A ‘good-quality’ protein contains whereas we humans only do this oc-
Animal nutritionists are fond of more essential amino acids and is casionally.
telling us that cats are not small dogs. highly digestible or more easily This is why cats need proportion-
Cats are not only more selective broken down, allowing the cat’s body ately high quantities of protein in their
about what they eat but their diet also to absorb and use it. Good quality pro- diet.
requires a degree of refinement. Typi- teins include eggs, white meat and fish
cally, cats don’t compromise and as but the amount of cooking can also Amatteroftaste
obligate carnivores, they require meat- affect the digestibility of the protein, as Feline taste buds are more tuned
based nutrients to live properly. In the anyone who has ever burnt the Sunday in to the bitterness associated with
wild, cats will eat what they can scav- roast can probably appreciate. some amino acids than to other sensa-
enge and catch. Rodents and other Vegetables and cereals are another tions and cats enjoy meaty tastes. The
small creatures contain all the nutrients source of protein in cat foods, espe- aroma of food is another powerful
in just the right amounts to fulfil a cat’s cially dry foods, but these ingredients temptation to eat.
requirements. Manufactured pet foods also contain vegetable fibre. Too much Dry food is at its tastiest on the first
or foods we might cook for our cats at can lower the overall digestibility of opening of the bag, as the sealed-in
home need to replicate this. the food and result in bulky faeces, so meaty odours are released. Canned
purified cereals are sometimes used food served at room temperature or
Buildingblocks to provide the benefits of protein with- slightly warmed, rather than straight
Most cats enjoy meat proteins, such out associated fibres – eg; corn gluten. out of the fridge will also be most at-
as chicken, beef and fish, but protein The way cats use protein is to break tractive.
is also found in cereals. Proteins are it up to provide material for building The time between the first sniff and
made up of strings of amino acids, blocks, creating muscles and body the first bite is an important indicator
rather like beads in a necklace. Differ- tissue. However, cats are unusual in of just how good your cat thinks a food
ent proteins are made up of differently that they convert some of their protein is going to be.
24 CAT WORLD
FOOD & NUTRITION
als. The cat’s body seeks balance in
Luckily the quality of manufactured cat foods
‘ today is probably higher than ever ‘ all things and feeding too much or too
little can disrupt that delicate state.
Manufactured pet foods and good,
tried and tested home recipes should
contain adequate amounts of minerals
Agoodfurcoat dry foods, although small quantities in the right proportion to each other.
Soft to the touch, gleaming coats and may be present in some canned foods, For instance, cats require an equal ratio
smooth skin have long been attributed usually in the form of jelly or gravy. Fi- of calcium to phosphorus, so feeding
to the levels of fats and oils in a cat’s bre eases the passage of food through too much meat can cause problems
diet. There is also increasing interest in the intestine. For indoor or longhaired as this contains very little calcium but
the benefits of feeding omega 6 fatty cats the presence of fibre helps pre- lots of phosphorus with a ratio of 1:20.
acids, such as evening primrose oil vent hairballs by ensuring that hair, The presence of other nutrients, even
and omega 3 fatty acids; fish oils. swallowed during grooming, is swept other minerals, can actually bind up a
Using blends of these oils could naturally through the gut. normally good source of minerals so it
benefit cats with kidney problems. It There are limitations to the amount cannot be used – making it less ‘bio-
has also been suggested that these of carbohydrate that cats can digest. available’ for use in the body.
blends might benefit cats suffering Some are especially sensitive and may Luckily the quality of manufactured
from diseases of the immuno-deficien- benefit more from a canned diet that cat foods today is probably higher than
cy virus (FIV). tends to be low in carbohydrate, rather ever but, as with so many things in life,
A particular fatty acid found in ani- than a dry diet that must contain some what suits one may not suit another.
mal fats is essential to cats and must be starch to aid the cooking process. Anyone who has ever tried to change
fed in the diet; arachidonic acid. Minerals not only form the skeleton but a cat’s food will know that this only too
Fibre and carbohydrate provide are also involved in nearly every body well. Most cats will let you know what
energy and assist the digestive system. process, although only four per cent of they prefer – the proof is definitely in
These nutrients are found mainly in the cat’s weight is made up of miner- the eating.
25
CAT WORLD
FOOD & NUTRITION
In brief:
Habit - cats are crea- be of interest? Water - it is essential that cats
tures of habit and prefer Taste - cats really get enough water - losing just
to always eat in the same don’t like sweet tasting 15% of their body fluid is enough
place and at the same food and much to kill them. Chlorine
time. They prefer a quiet prefer savoury; in tap water can taste
spot, not a busy thor- sour, bitter and too strong to a cat and
oughfare, and a clean salty flavours are may irritate a sensi-
bowl. more appealing to tive nose. Better to
Smell - smell is a a cat’s taste buds. use bottled or filtered
significant factor in a Toxic - never water or invest in a pet
cat finding food appetising. Cat feed even a tiny bit drinking fountain that
food that is drying out and losing of chocolate to a cat - it is contains a filter.
its smell, such as in a tin that has toxic for them.
already been opened, may no Frequency - in the Carenotshare
longer be appealing. wild, a cat would eat Most cats prefer to have their
Temperature - tem- around ten small meals a own food in their own bowl (al-
perature is also impor- day so don’t be sur- though that can’t be said for all
tant for a cat to find food prised if your cat keeps of them). Cats require a lot more
enticing. Well, cats don’t going back to his bowl protein in their diet than dogs so
eat their mice straight for a nibble throughout you should never give dog food to
from the fridge do they, the day, rather than eat- a cat - it doesn’t contain the right
so why would a can of ing everything as soon mix of nutrients to keep them
opened, chilled, cat food as it is in her bowl. healthy.
26 CAT WORLD
Free internet webinars from Feline Friends
Keeping you up to date with the health issues
you need to know about for your cats.
Live webinar:
Feline Vaccination
January 22nd
Available on The Feline Friends Academy website
www.feline-friends-academy.com
Registered Charity No. 1125729
27
CAT WORLD
RESCUE CATS
H e lp in g c a t s t o a d a p t
w it h a lit t le e x t r a T L C
Little CC arrived in a dreadful state and although she will
have to cope with certain disabilities throughout her life, she
is now going full throttle to embrace that challenge
BY SONJA K STEINER
n the last couple of issues of Cat that this made her sick. Occasionally
I a prescribed appetite stimulant was
World, readers will have read the
administered to see if this would help
amazing story of Bouddica who
came into Bradford Cat Watch
Rescue and how she fought against her gain weight but it did not make
any difference. The rescue tried using
the odds with round the clock a variety of different foods
support from Katie Lloyd and and brands including calorie
her team of dedicated volun- rich options and cooked her
teers. Her care, especially her some boiled chicken, but this
feeding regime with a liquid was to no avail.
diet cost the rescue a sub- Due to how successful
stantial amount of money, over Bouddica’s treatment was,
£7,000 to be exact. However a decision was made for
this special diet was going to the vets to fit a nasogastric
become the lifeline of another little feeding tube, this would allow the
bundle of fluff who was admitted to the liquid feed to be administered. The
rescue on 30 July 2019. volunteers made her a custom shirt
CC, as she was named by one of out of a sock aptly named the ‘sock
the volunteers, only weighed 440 frock’ to act as an anchor and support
grams and was the weight of a 5 week for her feeding tube so she could not
old kitten despite allegedly being 8 remove it, she was also doubled up on
weeks old. This poor little kitten has plastic collars affectionately known as
several birth defects, including no ‘lampshades’ to reduce the chance of
eyes, a deformed nasal cavity (which this happening. Whilst she was ini-
is thought to be a build-up of extra tis- tially distressed, she soon settled and
sue), her tongue which is believed to began her successful feeding regime.
be upside down meaning she cannot She had to be carried everywhere as
use it to assist her in eating or drink- she only walked backwards and spun
ing, and poor dental development, she to try and get the collars off.
arrived with no teeth and only has 4 In between these intensive feeds it
teeth at the age of 17 weeks. was important to maintain her enrich-
For the first few weeks the rescue ment and keep her socialised.
treated her like a normal kitten, how- The liquid diet she is on, was given
ever her weight plummeted, and she little and often to limit her chances
began to look lethargic and unwell. of vomiting and diarrhoea and she
In order to give her extra calories, eventually began to develop into a re-
her feed was supplemented with a ally bright and charismatic kitten. For
baby cat formula, but it was noticed the last couple of weeks CC has been
28 CAT WORLD
RESCUE CATS
uid feed, anything to take the financial
pressures off this rescue.
As Cat World readers can see, this
wonderful rescue does not take short
cuts, the cats and kittens get whatever
feed is the best for them, no veteri-
nary treatment is ever denied to them
irrespective of the costs involved. It is
stressful and difficult enough caring
for sick cats and kittens without having
the financial pressures on top.
Thanks to the efforts of Katie and
the volunteers CC is like any other
kitten, bright and playful and displays
successfully taking her feeds well and her rugby tackle ambush every time
has gone from hourly feeds to 4 feeds someone enters her ‘sensory room’.
during the day plus one overnight The only difference is she has no eyes.
feed, so whilst the feeding regime She has intensive and expensive nutri-
is less frequent the volume given is tional needs. However, they would not
more. change anything as she is worth every
CC gets through one and a half penny and every second of every day.
bottles of the liquid diet over a 24 ● If you would like to donate to CC’s
hour period costing the rescue almost care, sponsor her feed for a day or
£20 a day in nutritional support alone, buy some of her feed to send direct
nearly £140 a week which will equate to the rescue, please contact Katie on
to over £7,000 a year, she will be on 07942 822509 or visit their website
this particular diet indefinitely. Due to www.bcwr-kittens.co.uk or visit their
these costs BCWR has appealed for social media pages.
supports to sponsor CC for one day MythankstoKatieLloydforherhelp
or to buy a couple of bottles of her liq- incompilingthearticle.
29
CAT WORLD
CULINARY QUIRKS
F u r c o a t a n d n o k ip p e r s :
o u r f e lin e s ’ f o o d f a d s
Cats are so fussy about their own food so why will they
follow you to the dining table if you happen to have a slice of
fresh turkey or buttered toast?
BY MARIA OWEN
ow fussy and feisty cats can lots of appropriately-flavoured tins and We all stand our ground. Maisie and
be when it comes to food. Our sachets. Theo retreat gloweringly to the next
young rescue cats, Theo and Problems arise when unusual offer- room, where they watch proceedings
H Maisie, are generally good eat- ings are served up, like turkey scraps from a distance. When they think I’m
ers and little gets wasted. They par- at Christmas. From that moment, their not looking, they creep in, one by one,
ticularly love fish, standard fare is spurned and they flatly to give the offending food another
so their grocery refuse to partake of anything out of a try. Hmmm. It’s not actually that bad,
cupboard tin can. How long this stand-off although the real stuff would be better.
contains lasts varies from 15 minutes A small amount is reluctantly nibbled
to a day or more. I try and before both cats stomp off grumpily.
get round the issue by Theo and Maisie are unrelated and
opening a tin of gour- don’t exactly love each other, so this
met turkey dinner, ‘ganging up’ and joint refusal of what’s
garnished with a on the menu is a tad bizarre.
sprinkling of their It’s also curious that cats can happily
favourite biscuits. tuck into a breakfast of freshly opened
They give it a tinned food, then flatly reject a later
sniff and cast me serving from the same can. Our feline
a guilt-inducing friends are adept at conveying disdain
glare. I explain for a proffered meal, triggering one of
that the fresh those intriguing cat-human dialogues:
turkey has all Cat: “And this is…?” Human: “Sweetie,
gone but they it’s the same tin of Ocean Feast that you
think I’m lying. had for breakfast” Cat: “It’s hideous, I
can’t eat that.” Human: “But you loved it
this morning!!” Cat: “Well, I don’t like it
now. Isn’t there anything else?’’ A groan
emanates from my pursed lips and
another stand off ensues.
Some foods, though, are fixed
favourites. Maisie is especially fond of
tinned tuna. The sound of this being
opened for a sandwich always guar-
antees to bring my little black cutie
scurrying from wherever she happens
to be. Sleep, ablutions or cuddles are
all abandoned in a nano-second if she
thinks some fishy titbit is about to drop
30 CAT WORLD
CULINARY QUIRKS
into her food dish. Butter has the same
effect on Theo, who can smell it at 50
yards. Aware that cats should avoid
dairy foods, I’m not keen to encourage
this particular culinary fad but sneak-
ing quietly into the dining room with
buttered toast will inevitably herald the
imminent arrival of our fluffy ginger
tom.
Theo’s idea of sharing breakfast
doesn’t quite tally with mine. To his
mind, I should have the toast while he
has all the butter but I compromise
by offering dabs of it on the end of a
finger. These he slurps messily, some
always landing on his nose, mane,
whiskers and/or chin. Clearly, this
makes the after-breakfast washing
ritual a great joy. Being an inelegant
eater means you enjoy a tasty meal all
over again by wiping a paw over your
face and licking every last trace. I’ve
not tried this myself, I hasten to add,
though it really does work for cats!
Maisie can take or leave butter but
adores mushroom pate – the type you
squeeze from a tube. Why mushroom
pate? No meat, no fish, just ground up
fungi, herbs and yeast extract. A curi-
ous foible, indeed.
I cannot discuss culinary quirks
without mentioning Coco, our previous
cat. He would always greet us by lead-
ing the way to the kitchen, miaowing
noisily and professing acute hunger.
If we had guests with us, he’d ignore
John and I completely and focus his at-
tention on them, gazing wistfully at his
empty dish and imploring someone,
anyone, to feed him. Coco was never
overweight but he was very obviously
not a poor, needy puss.
-As well as being a convincing liar,
he was adept at playing one member
of the household off against another,
a skill that often earned him an extra
meal. sages from shopping bags or scaveng-
Some cat quirks are explained by ing discarded meat bones from bin
watching wildlife programmes - drag- bags are easy to understand. Problems arise when
I’ve never come across an explana-
ging food out of a dish and eating it a tion for food swapping, though. Our ‘
distance away is, we are told, based unusual offerings are
on a ploy used by wild animals when cats are served identical meals but
sharing a kill. The idea is simple: grab occasionally change places, each one served up, like turkey
yourself a succulent chunk and carry tucking avidly into the other’s ration, ‘
it somewhere safe to devour. Illicit op- because..? scraps at Christmas.
portunist activities like stealing sau- Answers on a postcard please.
31
CAT WORLD
VETERINARY ADVICE
Z o o n o t ic d is e a s e s in c a t s
a n d t h e im p a c t f o r h u m a n s
Certain diseases can be passed from a cat to another cat but
also to a human; knowing what they are and how to prevent
them is key to good health for everyone
BY DAWN PRIME - ANA AND AWARDING WINNING RSQP
ue to the close living arrange- these two diseases include coughing, joints. If you do get scratched, then
ments with humans, it can be as- fever, headaches, stomach pains and risk of further infection can be mini-
sumed that cats can share some behavioural changes. mised by cleaning the area thoroughly.
D of their diseases and illnesses
with us - this is known as Zoonotic Bartonellosisorcatscratch Toxoplasmosis
Disease. disease Toxoplasmosis is caused by a pro-
A zoonotic disease is a term used to Bartonellosis is caused by bacteria tozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii.
describe any disease which is trans- carried in the blood of cats which can This zoonotic disease can be passed
ferable from any animal to a human be transmitted to other animals and to humans by the cat eating under-
being. When it comes to cats, zoonotic humans. We contract Bartonellosis cooked and contaminated meat or by
disease can be common, transmit- from a cat scratch or bite; cats get the eating small birds or rodents.
ting through various ways, including bacteria from the bites of ticks, fleas This parasite then transfers into the
scratches, bites, direct contact with a and even rodents. faeces, making the cat Toxoplasma
cat and by contaminated cat faeces. If you are scratched by a cat it can infected. Be warned that a Toxoplas-
Here is a guide to some of the more cause the nearest lymph gland to ma cat will infect any areas where it
common zoonotic diseases we see, swell. A more serious infection can oc- defecates; including the litter tray, the
the symptoms you should be aware of cur many weeks later, which generally soil and other outside environments,
and advisory prevention methods. shows as a non-painful, circular raised resulting in an increased chance of hu-
area on skin. man infection.
Toxocariasis(roundworm) Symptoms in humans can be flu Toxoplasmosis can cause flu like
Toxocariasis is caused by the para- like symptoms, headaches and aching symptoms and is a major concern for
site (the roundworm) being found in
the cat’s intestines and faeces. Young
children are particularly affected with
roundworms, either through their
handling of the cat or by swallowing
contaminated dirt.
Many people do not show any
symptoms of toxocariasis, however
there are two illnesses that can oc-
cur. One is ocular toxocariasis; this is
where the roundworm larvae migrate
to the eye to cause retinal granuloma
or retinal detachment. The other
illness is visual toxocariasis; where
roundworm larvae migrate to other
areas of the body, mainly the liver and
central nervous system. Symptoms for
32 CAT WORLD
VETERINARY ADVICE
How to prevent
disease
These simple steps can be
taken to help prevent disease in
your cat:
l Ensure all cats in the house-
hold have regular flea and worm
treatment. There are many dif-
ferent types available, so it is im-
portant to speak to your SQP or
veterinary surgeon for advice.
l Maintain personal hygiene
standards, especially for young
children.
Most importantly, remember to
wash hands after contact with
cats (and any other animals you
may have in your household).
l Wear gloves when handling
faeces (this includes cat litter
trays). Ideally pregnant women
should avoid handling any cat’s
faeces or litter trays, due to the
risk of Toxoplasmosis.
l Dispose of faeces in an ap-
propriate manner and wash
hands afterwards.
l Use suitable disinfectant solu-
tions for a good level of hygiene.
people who have a weakened immune infection. already covered, these digestive infec-
system but this disease has significant Bear in mind that if you have a multi tions are generally sought through
concerns for pregnant women as the cat household, then the infection can direct contact with the cat and the cat’s
infection can pass to the unborn child spread quickly, through hair and skin faeces and will form as vomiting and
which causes health issues such as follicles. diarrhoea.
diseases of the eyes and the nervous It is spread to us by direct contact, If symptomatic treatment from your
system. with higher risk cases of catching an veterinary surgeon is not working,
infection found in those with broken then they may suggest a pooled fae-
Dermatophytosis(Ringworm) skin or eczema. Symptoms include an cal sample to make sure there are no
Ringworm is one of the most com- itchy, scaly red rash, which is usually infectious causes.
mon zoonotic diseases seen in prac- dry, swollen and appearing anywhere In humans, digestive problems due
tice. Ringworm lesions show as hair- on the body. to Salmonella, Guardia and Campy-
less red ring patches on a cat’s skin, lobacter can cause severe stomach
which look sore and crusty. Sadly, the DigestiveInfections pains and cramps, diarrhoea, sickness
fungus which causes ringworm is There are many digestive zoonotic and fever.
‘hardy’ and can live in an environment diseases which can be passed from If your cat is showing any signs of a
for a long period of time. animal to human; more common (and zoonotic disease or seems unwell, then
Ringworm infection normally ap- well-known) ones include Salmonella, please seek veterinary advice. If your
pears on the front legs, ears or other Giardia and Campylobacter. However, cat has a confirmed zoonotic disease
parts of the head but it can appear digestive issues like these are normal- and you are showing signs of a zoonot-
anywhere on the body, wherever ly found in younger cats. ic disease, then seek medical advice
contact has been made with the fungal As common with the diseases we’ve from a pharmacist or doctor.
33
CAT WORLD
FLOOD WARNING
W e s h a ll h a v e s n o w . . .
a n d r a in . . . a n d g a le s
Extreme winter weather seems to be getting more frequent,
putting human and animal lives at risk, so know what to do
in an emergency with advice from a top rescue charity
BY JILL MUNDY
he first major floods of this win- flood warnings and 113 flood alerts of the public who are concerned for
ter struck early in November. It across England. -As well as the usual the welfare of animals - whether pets,
seems that every year, communi- emergency services being involved livestock or wildlife - due to flooding
T ties somewhere in the UK suffer in dealing with the consequences, to contact our emergency 24-hour
devastating disruption, damage to the RSPCA are called out to rescue hotline on 0300 1234 999.”
their homes and loss of personal items animals trapped as a result of the During incidents such as the Shef-
due to flooding caused by heavy rain- floods. RSPCA inspector Jason Finch field floods, RSPCA officers are ready
fall or melting snow and ice. - the charity’s national water rescue to respond. At the time, Jason said:
On Friday 8 November, the river coordinator - said: “Our control centre “We’re on high alert in areas such as
Don in Sheffield, South Yorkshire broke will inform our water rescue coordina- South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Great-
its banks, meaning many homes and tors in the regions of any flood-related er Manchester and Derbyshire, where
businesses close by had to be evacu- incidents so they can monitor and significant surface water flooding has
ated. At the time the Government’s respond where necessary. been described as ‘probable’. We’ve
Flood Information Service has issued “Our teams are specially trained been advised that there are also flood-
five severe flood warnings for this to respond to animals in need during ing risks in parts of the north, north
immediate area plus a further 111 flooding and we’d urge any members Midlands, Lincolnshire, East Anglia
34 34 CAT WORLD D
T
C
A
R
L
W
O
FLOOD WARNING
tacted; contact us or your local Flood Warden
l Make sure you have suitable car- immediately to arrange rescue.
riers available for small animals and If you are worried about your own
keep a supply of food in case of evacu- situation at any time, you can keep
ation; informed by calling the national Flood-
l Bring small animals inside and, if line on 0845 988 1188 for information
possible, upstairs; move food, bedding and flood warnings 24 hours a day, or
etc somewhere dry; visit www.environment-agency.gov.
l Put important documents in a sealed uk/flood. Wales residents should seek
bag, along with a photo of each pet updates from https://naturalresources.
incase they get lost; wales/.
l If you have to leave your animals For more flood advice from the
behind, leave them inside an upstairs RSPCA, visit the ‘advice and welfare’
room with plenty of food and water. section of their website: www.rspca.
Leave notices on the outside doors org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/
to say there are animals inside and floods
and in Wales.”
That’s quite an area to be respon-
sible for and to cover if called to action.
The RSPCA has an experienced
team of around 60 officers that are
trained to work in fast water and
contaminated water, enabling them to
rescue both people and animals and
to provide assistance to communities
affected by flooding.
Whatcanyoudo?
The RSPCA advises all animal own-
ers to ensure their pets (and livestock)
stay safe in harsh weather conditions,
including periods of wet weather
which can lead to flooding. They sug-
gest having a plan in place so that if
the worst does happen, you are able
to get yourselves and your animals to
safety as soon as possible.
Jason added: “Floodwater can rise
very quickly so if there is a flood warn-
ing in your area then act early and put
your flood plan into action. Don’t put
your own life or another’s life in danger
to attempt an animal rescue and call us
for help in an emergency.”
6toptips
l Plan your escape route and keep
contact details of people who can help
you move your animals in an emer-
gency somewhere handy;
l Ensure you can be contacted in an
emergency - if you have horses or
livestock in fields, attach your contact
details to gates so you can be con-
35
CAT WORLD
WORKING WITH CATS
W h a t d o e s it t a k e t o b e
a c a t b e h a v io u r is t ?
You can begin working with animals at any stage in your life,
as this interview with a top cat behaviourist demonstrates -
you may be inspired to change career yourself
BY CARLA GREENWOOD
f you have you ever wondered what look down at most other humans with
it takes to become a cat behaviour- utter disdain! This can be particularly
ist, read on! Anita Kelsey made a embarrassing when we are out walk-
I name for herself as London’s only ing with them and people go to stroke
accredited feline specific behaviourist them to say hello!
after studying feline psychology and
behaviour with renowned What made you decide
biologist Robert Tabor, to pursue a career in cat
and achieving a first behaviour?
class honours degree I changed career after my
at Middlesex University best friend committed sui-
based on her own work cide. I could no longer face
practice. In 2017, Anita going into the studio and, as
released her first book a singer, the emotional strain
entitled ‘Confessions Of A and depression that followed
Professional Cat Groomer’ took a toll on my voice. I took
and in 2018 she was awarded best cat about two years to recover to the point
behaviourist and groomer by Global whereby I could work again and this is
Health & Pharma. when I decided not to go back to sing-
In this article we interview Anita ing but to work with animals instead. I
about her amazing career and her life- wanted to be a vet when I was little
long love of cats! so working with cat behaviour came
very close. I achieved one of my goals
Have you always been a cat lover? as a singer and achieved close to the
I’ve loved cats since I was a child so second goal in the latter years of my
was always a huge cat lover, over any life. I am glad that some positivity and
other animal. I decided to work with happiness could grow out of such a
cats, first as the founder of Catnips, horrendous situation and my first book,
which was a cat sitting company, then ‘Claws. Confessions Of A Professional
as a cat groomer and finally went on to Cat Groomer’, was dedicated to my
work with their behaviours. I originally friend.
was a singer but decided to change
career for the second part of my life. I How did you come study with Roger
currently have two Norwegian For- Tabor, best known for his BBC TV se-
est cats, Kiki and Zaza, that are lead ries ‘Cats’ filmed around the world?
trained and go many places with us, Before I went to university for three
including climbing in the Lake Dis- years, I studied for two years under
trict. They are super loveable to us but the tutoring of Roger Tabor. This is
36 CAT WORLD
WORKING WITH CATS
because he ran the feline arm of The before my home visit and I’m also sent tory and meeting the cat(s) in ques-
Cambridge Institute Of Dog Behaviour the medical records from their vet, so tion. Once I have diagnosed the situa-
Training and, luckily for me, he was the both of these documents need to be tion, which usually occurs on the home
sole tutor! Sadly, he has now retired studied. visit, I will spend the next 48 hours typ-
and, as far as I am aware, the feline A typical day on the behaviour side ing up their behaviour visitation form
side of this institute remains closed. actually starts a few days before my which includes why the behaviours are
actual visit whereby I spend hours happening and what we are going to
How do you go about assessing a pouring over the documentation and do to start rectifying the situation. We
new feline behaviour case when a what the clients have told me about then all work together via WhatsApp
client contacts you? their cats. When I visit the home, I until the issue has been solved. This
Clients are sent quite an extensive am generally there for several hours; can be over several weeks or run into
feline behaviour assessment form meeting the client, seeing the terri- months but however long it takes to get
a happy cat is however long it takes.
Can you describe the main misun-
derstandings you come across when
it comes to pet cat behaviour?
We have a lot of stressed kitties in
the UK, for many different reasons.
I have so many cases I could chat
about but many are going to be writ-
ten about in my new book, so watch
this space! Common behaviours I am
called to sort out are peeing or def-
ecating outside of the litter tray, multi
cat stresses or feline aggression. Hav-
ing said this, I am still floored by some
behaviours that are new to me, even
now.
What would you suggest are the
most important elements for some-
one who is interested in pursuing a
career in cat behaviour?
For me, to be a behaviourist you
need to have a genuine love for cats
and feel empathy, as well as be com-
fortable around them. There’s no point
being afraid of cats and then having to
deal with a case of cat aggression. Any
animal behaviourist, no matter what
species you work with, should have
university level education as a base
line, connected to working with ani-
mals and hopefully with the species
you wish to work with too. You are
required to join several known associa-
tions for accreditation to work along-
side vets; I am with The Canine and
Feline Behaviour Association. These
associations have strict protocols
before a behaviourist can become a
member, including how many years
academically the person has studied
and proof of their skills by way of case
studies.
37
CAT WORLD
CALENDAR CATS
HELPING CATS IN THE WILD
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38 CAT WORLD
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CAT WORLD
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26_CW 501.indd 26 17/10/2019 16:26
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CAT WORLD 39 27
CAT WORLD
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Visit us online at www.grangepetcentre.co.uk
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Available in black or purple.
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CAT WORLD
26_CW 501.indd 26 17/10/2019 16:26
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26 CAT WORLD
26_CW 476.indd 26 20/09/2017 13:23
FOOD & NUTRITION
Activity feeders make
treat times fun
A food treat for good behaviour is fi ne but giving your cat food treats just because
you love them can lead to excess weight so make him work for his treats
BY MANDY WILLETT
ats living in the wild will spend bird (or part of…yuk!) Most domes- gain and possibly obesity, which itself
a good deal of their day hunting tic cats would still prefer to use these has other health implications.
for food and can cover several instincts and eat several small meals We can also be inclined to give
C miles in the process of their a day. However, our modern lifestyles them treats at will or tidbits from our
search. Rather than the three meals a often mean that this just isn’t possible. own plates, on top of their usual daily
day that we humans are used to, these We are often at work all day or work- meals. Our pets know that we will fill
cats may eat as many as twenty small ing shifts that mean we don’t come their bowls and they may only have to
meals each day. The energy they use home until late at night or leave very walk from their cat bed to the bowl in
searching for food and catching prey early in the morning. order to eat.
means they are unlikely to become How many readers have put down a A good way to help indoor cats,
overweight. bowl of food in the morning, only for it or cats that are spending more time
Cats are designed to hunt for their to be all gone by lunchtime and then than usual indoors during weeks of
prey and many of us will have expe- your cat is mewing loudly for more bad weather, is with activity feeding.
rienced just a little of these natural in- by mid-afternoon? So, we put down Not only does this keep the cat enter-
stincts as our cats more food and yes our pet is perfectly tained while they try to find the treats
try to present us happy to eat it but, of course, all of this but the cat gets exercise at the same
with a mouse or extra food can soon lead to weight time. There are two main ways to activ-
ity feed your cat:
Apuzzlefeeder
These tend to be shop-bought items
designed specifically to make getting
at the treat hidden inside difficult for
your cat - but not so difficult that he
loses interest and gives up. There are
numerous designs, as a visit to any pet
store will show you:
l Some feeders consist of a ‘plate’
of plastic or rubber spikes that hold
either wet or dry food in place, mean-
ing the cat has to work harder to get it
on his paw.
l Others are on several levels with an
‘entrance’ on each one but in a differ-
ent place so the cat has to work out
where to access his treats.
40 CAT WORLD
s make ‘ We can also be inclined
to give them treats at
will or tidbits from our
own plates, on top of ‘
their usual daily meals.
inside a large cardboard box then seal
it closed. Cut several paw-sized holes
in the box at different levels then let
your cat work out how he can find his
treats inside.
l Put a treat or two inside a cardboard
toilet roll or kitchen roll tube then stuff
scrunched up kitchen paper into both
l An activity board can be one puzzle two empty halves with a treat inside ends. Your cat will have fun rolling the
or several on the same board that the that will fall out as the cat moves the tube around and working out how to
cat has to work out in order to get at ball around the floor. More advanced get his treats out.
the treat. It hones the hunting skills that ball feeders can have two chambers l A more advanced version of the
a cat would naturally have to use in the so more activity is required to get at tube puzzle is to tape several tubes
wild when trying to get at a morsel of the treats from both. There are smaller together, with a treat hidden inside just
food. Often they are made up of tun- versions available too that are suitable a couple of them. Once again this will
nels and/or mazes that the cat has to for kittens. test brain power as well as physical
push a ball around or slide a knob until activity.
eventually, the compartment containing Homemade As you can see, an activity feeder
the treat is revealed. Stimulating for the While not as stylish, perhaps, as the of any design can help banish bore-
cat’s physical and mental abilities at items you can buy, your cat can have dom for your cat while he is indoors
the same time. just as much enjoyment and stimulation and keep him fit at the same time. You
from a homemade feeder. For exam- should always make sure that the treats
Ballfeeders ple: form part of your cat’s daily food allow-
Activity balls can be as simple as l Hide a couple of dry food treats ance and are not additional extras.
41
CAT WORLD
Strictly come eat…or
It can be said that animals each have their own eccentricities and Pat Clement’s goat
Tilly seems to have a yearning to be on the dance fl oor - look out cats!
his is a secret so please be problem.
discreet. Tilly is a pigmy Tilly is now twelve years old to my
T goat, black, white, grey knowledge. She could be older but
and very fat. She’s fat because she I’ve had her for that length of time
roams free twenty-four hours a day and she was fully-grown on arrival.
and considers this licence to help Recently she has given the impres-
herself to food from the barn and sion she was feeling her age. Most
anyone else’s dish which is lying of her days are spent lolling around
around. in any sunny corner - oh, yes, we do
Tilly doesn’t believe for one mo- get some sunshine in Wales - eating
ment that she is a goat. In her short- and sleeping. Was she nearing her
horned little head she is a fully- end?
trained, paid-up member of Sadlers The day before my trip, I warned
Wells as a prima ballerina. my friend and told her not to panic. I
Now you have the picture, I will know she worries about her charges
press on with the story. I recently and hates having to tell me if anyone
managed to arrange a couple of is ill or worse. But I said if the worst
days away and my luckless friend happened, she was to simply cover
was persuaded to stand in for me. Tilly and I would deal with every-
You might remember she was the thing on my return.
one who fell down the granary stairs That evening I went down to the
the last time she helped out. Hav- barn to feed everyone and check
ing broken various pertinent parts on last-minute details. My footsteps
she was about to leave for casualty are always a signal for the animals to
when she found herself staring into join in a vocal chorus, pleading for
the face of Pink Pig who had just es- food. Then they appear from every
caped. She refused to leave until PP nook and cranny. It was while I was
was safely back in her pen. A brave setting out the cats’ trays and open-
lady indeed to agree to another ing some tins that I heard a noise
spell of care taking. and turned to see what the com-
We always go into great detail motion was. Tiger Tim, a handsome
before I leave. Copious notes and young tabby, had emerged from his
buckets of prepared dinners - for forty winks under the wheelbarrow
the animals, not her - and water only to be confronted by Tilly, pirou-
containers are lined up but this time etting and performing her entrance
I thought there was another possible from Swan Lake.
42 CAT WORLD
y come eat…or so Tilly thinks
Balanced on two spindly back legs,
her front ones tucked up in front, she
pranced towards the poor cat, drop-
ping down on all fours at the last mo-
ment to poke him unceremoniously
with her horns.
As fast as Tiger Tim fled, so P-C
arrived from her secret hiding place,
only to get exactly the same treatment.
The only thing missing was a pink
tu-tu as Tilly leaped, pranced and per-
formed intricate steps across the yard.
Fluffy Amber, Ffloyd and Patches
all stared in astonishment and then
they shot into the barn and up on the
bales of hay out of the way. There was
no sign of the geriatric goat I thought
I was leaving my friend to care for. In-
stead I had to write yet another note to
explain it might be the cats who would
be in trouble, not the goat.
Next morning, Tilly was asleep on
the straw once more but was that an
evil little smile I detected as the cats
passed by warily on their way to play
in the fields? Or were they calling
a meeting to decide on a suitable
military manoeuvre for re-entry to the
barn that night?
On my return I was regaled with
a description of a small army of cats
slinking round to the back of the barn
and in through the window while Tilly
waited patiently at the front, doubt-
lessly keen to show them her pas de
deux.
43
CAT WORLD
READER’S STORY
F r o m t h e d a n g e r s o f w a r
t o a lo v in g h o m e
Sometimes, cats come into our lives when we aren’t looking
for them and, as Iyad Kayali explains, they can bring comfort
and peace to an otherwise traumatic time in our lives
ike many cat lovers, I had been back for her and despite all the dif- in 2001. At that point, my yearning for
around cats ever since I was a ficulties of war, managed to get her to living with my most treasured com-
child growing up in war-torn Greece. She lived a few more happy panions again was stronger than ever.
L Lebanon. At the age of 10, with years with us in Athens and died at 13 I was not a child of 10 or 15 anymore
the prospect of the 1976 civil war, we years of age from an incurable illness. but a man in his late 30s who still want-
left our dearest cat, Tiptoe, for what My mom and I were devastated, and ed to be around cats – and unashamed
was supposed to be a two week trip - she swore never to get another cat of his feelings whatsoever.
“while things calmed down”, said my again, with the resolve of a hardened For years, Mom tried to dissuade
parents. mother who had too many family is- me with arguments about how tiring,
But the situation got worse and sues and relocations at that point in life. difficult, messy and heartbreaking
the neighbours who were tending to Despite some attempts of introducing it would be. She herself was not the
Tiptoe had to leave the country also. cats to our garden in Greece, we never same vivacious lady that liked pets and
Sadly, she was left to fend for herself on had an indoor cat again. who thought of them once upon a time
the street. To a 10-year old, that was a as an integral part of our household.
cruel fate that I couldn’t stomach very Thehandoffate After my Dad had passed away a
well. When we returned a year after, a Well, that’s not entirely true. Fast few years before, I came back to Leba-
thin ginger cat with a missing paw was forward some 20 years later, after my non to live in my own place. At 70 years
sitting under our car in the garage be- life had taken me to live in Canada for of age, Mom had become more with-
low the apartment building. How Tip- many years and then back to Lebanon drawn, less sociable and very averse
toe knew that this was our car, nobody to anything that resembled the idea of
had quite figured out. But she hung pets. In the beginning I relented to her
around for the whole year, according wishes, but then something happened
to various people in the neighbour- that would be out of any cat-lover’s
hood who were kind enough to feed control.
her occasionally. I was walking through the run-down
Feeling like the universe had given neighbourhood of Al-Basta one sunny
us another chance at making up for afternoon in spring, only to hear the
what happened, my brother and I took desperate meowing of a kitten near the
her to the vet to clean what seemed garbage dumpster. It took me sec-
like a recent wound and Tiptoe was onds to spot the most beautiful black
introduced back into the family despite and white thing with deep blue eyes,
our father’s objections. Luckily, Mom meowing at the top of its lungs over the
was on our side then. din of honking cars. I looked around,
When a serious second bout of war and there was only a sweeper in green
broke out a few years later in 1982, overalls that was aware of my presence
when I was 15, we moved to Greece among the cars and piles of garbage.
and had to leave Tiptoe behind again “I put it beside the garbage three
with relatives. But this time we came BoosyandKittyaskittens times so it wouldn’t get run over by a
44 CAT WORLD
READER’S STORY
‘ Both orphans went home, with a scary warning from the vet that
kittens this age may not fare well without their mums and could
easily get sick. ‘
car,” he told me with exasperation. Ap-
parently, each time it crawled back out,
and was about to be killed when the
street sweeper saved it. “No sign of the
mother?” I asked hopefully. “None,” he
said dejectedly, suspecting someone
had abandoned this little beauty by the
garbage.
At that point, there were no two
ways about it: This kitten was com-
ing home with me, come hell or high
water. It was just the most natural thing
for me to do. There was relief on the
sweeper’s face when I lifted it up and
assured him it would be taken to a safe
place – a knowing glance and nod
were exchanged between two human
beings who loved cats. I commended
him on his efforts and marched along Boosy(previouslyTarzan)andMominperfectharmony
with a dirty four or five-week kitten
held close to my chest. warning from the vet that kittens this when she saw the kitties and threat-
When I went to the vet that after- age may not fare well without their ened to leave - but by some strange
noon with kitten in hand, it turned out mums and could easily get sick. phenomenon both kittens ended up
that far from the common street cats in her lap ten minutes later. It was a
in the Middle East with long, almost Meanttobe shy love at first sight, the kind of love a
slinky features, Kitty was no ordinary I named them Tarzan and Jane. A hardened mum didn’t want to admit to
street cat but a long-haired breed with couple of days later I found out that or face.
a slightly depressed nose, indicating little ginger Tarzan did indeed have When a big business project that
exotic in-breeding. a bug that he soon gave to Jane. Both couldn’t be turned down came my
After a clean-up and check up, Kitty were now sick with runny stomachs, way in another country, Mom reluc-
was ready to go home... but I wasn’t. At their pulse fading, as I called the vet in tantly accepted to keep them at her
the vet’s there were a series of cages a panic. “Go down immediately to the place “only so I wouldn’t lose out on
with the most adorable cats, some pharmacy and get this children’s anti- the project,” which I had threatened to
friendly, others looking quite sad. biotic that I’m about to prescribe,” he forego if none of my immediate family
“They’re lost or abandoned cats that said. I mixed in the right doses, force- would lovingly care for my cats while I
people brought in,” said the reception- fed it to them with a dropper, kept was away. Luckily, I strongly suspected
ist, “and we’re overwhelmed with or- them warm and gave them the most that my Mom would accept and would
phans”. At that point, the sweetest frail- ideal (and most expensive) food for furnish them with more attention than
looking ginger tabby kitten came up to kittens on the Lebanese market. They any cat liked.
me from the other side of a communal were slowly nursed back to health – as A month later, when my cats were
cage and begged to be held. This was I lost mine worrying over them. renamed Kitty and Boosy by Mom
a typical Lebanese street kitten with no When they were at their fluffiest (the latter being a common Arabic
breed but full of heartbreaking charm and most playful selves, at about two version of Pussycat in English), I was
that I couldn’t resist. months, I was ready to introduce them greeted by two pets that could well
In a flash, I decided that lonely Kitty to Mom, who came over ‘for a casual have belonged to some Royal Family,
would have a sibling of the same age. visit’ with a cousin who was in on the prancing about in their newly-adopted
Both orphans went home, with a scary story. Mom almost screamed at first large apartment, with friendly plants,
45
CAT WORLD
READER’S STORY
RelaxingathomeinBeirut
sunny balconies and large windows
that offered a myriad of attractions of a
noisy, pigeon-filled Mediterranean city
(Beirut).
An attempt to resettle them back at
my place failed. While ginger Boosy
just wanted to be cuddled and loved
no matter where he was (taking just
48 hours to readjust), princess-like
Kitty would have none of her old home.
She kept meowing at my door for the cats in a frenzy, we refused to leave the
better part of the month (and after the city, while most people who could - did Arabic).
neighbours accused me of being a cat (abandoning pets in the process). It took a while for Ashta to adjust
torturer) until I was forced to take her too but all three cats were soon hap-
back to Mom’s. Roomforthree pily living it up at my Mom’s home
Boosy went along too, because both Then there was a desperate call and filling the void of her being alone
Mom and I decided there was no way from an acquaintance abroad begging in the house. Each cat with its own
we were separating the ‘siblings’ who us to take his cat in, who was now left habits, preferred time for cuddling and
grew to love each other. (Needless at home, with an unsympathetic aunt favourite spots, as well as lessons and
to say, at six months they were both passing by to leave food every now joys to offer.
promptly neutered/spayed at the best and again. They brought a great deal of hap-
vet in town). As soon as they returned By then our love for cats was firmly piness into the family, diffused ten-
to my mom’s apartment, it was like re-established and I ran up to the ninth sion between family members and
they never left. floor (no electricity for the lifts) with released the best of our emotions. It
When the next Israeli incursion the aunt – who was all too happy to get takes guts, patience, responsibility,
into Lebanon happened and terrify- rid of this burden – in order to save love and a sense of stewardship to
ing bombs were dropped on nearby poor tri-coloured Ashta from her fate. introduce cats into your life - but the
neighbourhoods, which put the (The name Ashta means milk-cream in rewards are well worth it.
46 CAT WORLD
FUN PAGES
F E L I N E F U
F E L I N E F U NN
Spotthedifference Criss-Cross
Can you find 6 things in the picture that are missing? Test your feline knowledge to complete the puzzle but if
you struggle, you should be able to find the answers to all
the questions in this issue of Cat World.
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
Across
2. Along with frostbite, cats can suffer from this in very cold
Answersfromlastmonth conditions
Missing word: FIRESIDE 4. Like humans, cats can suffer low mood in winter due to a
Spot the difference, left.
reduced amount of what?
6. A sticky, unpleasant eye condition
7. One of the diseases linked to and often triggered by obesity
8. This type of feeder encourages paw and brain power
DID YOU KNOW? Down
A CAT’S NORMAL HEART RATE IS MUCH FASTER THAN A HUMAN’S. 1. A welcome addition to a cat bed in cold weather
3. What does RTA stand for?
CAT: 140 - 220 BEATS PER MINUTE HUMAN: 60-100 BEATS PER MINUTE 5. The name of the kitten with a flattened chest is…?
47
CAT WORLD
CAT CARE
Goodbye old habits;
say welcome to a ne
January beckons and starting a new year is the perfect chance to think about how you
care for your cat and make promises to have an even better year this year
BY BARBARA MASON
ew Year’s resolutions are our cats probably have been given a a new toy is bound to please. The
something of a chore if you few food treats too. Take care to give weather is still cold so a fluffy blanket
Nask me…something that the treats as part of your cat’s daily or cushion could be very welcome.
many of us make (often the same food allowance or she could soon be Buy it from an animal rescue charity
ones year after year!) but they invari- piling on extra pounds. shop and you can show the cats in
ably don’t last. We can sometimes More time spent indoors means their care some love too.
be very unrealistic in our aims and your cat will naturally be less active Why not arrange to visit your local
quickly get disheartened when we than during the summer months so rescue centre and spend some time
seem to be failing to reach our goals. make an extra effort to play with new playing with or talking to the cats in
I prefer to make more achievable toys, get them to be energetic and their care.
promises to myself that can perhaps enjoy spending a little more time with
be a challenge or simply just an im- your pet. March
provement to my day to day life. It is Before your cat starts to roam
something I like to do for my cats too. February outside once more, book a trip to
I have listed a few suggestions below Valentine’s Day seems to be far too the vet for a dental check up. While it
for each month of the year and you commercial these days and has gone might not seem like a treat, it will be
can choose to do the same or, hope- way beyond a simple love token or far worse to find out in a few month’s
fully, be inspired to come up with card. Not that we would give a card to time that your cat has gum disease or
your own list. Write them on a calen- our cat of course but we can still treat a loose tooth.
dar or in your phone for the first day them. Cats get bored quickly and As the spring weather returns,
of each month so you don’t forget. place a chair or small ladder close to
And if you think of some good ideas, a window where your cat can watch
email our editor and share them with all the bird activity in the garden.
other readers. [email protected]
April
January Time for a spring clean of your
We’ve all probably overspent home and also of your cat’s posses-
and overindulged by this time. The sions. Discard any toys that have seen
weather is often cold and going better days and replace with new
outside is only done when necessary. ones. Wash beds and bedding and
It is therefore tempting to sit down, hang on the line on a sunny, breezy
perhaps with a book we were given day. Keep back a blanket or cushion
for Christmas or a new DVD - not to that has your cat’s scent on it so that it
mention the boxes of biscuits and doesn’t all seem too unfamiliar when
chocolates we have unwrapped - and she uses it again.
48 CAT WORLD
CAT CARE
e old habits;
elcome to a new year
If you have a holiday planned and a shelf to a wall or fence where she Make some frozen treats to keep
will be going away, make sure your can look down on ‘her’ garden from your cat cool when the temperature
cat’s microchip database details are above. goes up. Put a small amount of food
up to date. If your cat is booked into a Your cat may be shedding her win- in the sections of an ice cube tray and
cattery, you will need to have vac- ter coat now so spend a little more freeze. Thaw slightly before giving to
cination certificates so again, make time stroking and grooming her to your cat. Although they don’t general-
sure everything is up to date and you prevent her ingesting the loose hairs ly like to eat cold food, a little treat on
have the paperwork to hand. and having to deal with fur balls. a hot day will often be very welcome.
June August
Keep on top of flea treatments and If you are thinking about adopting
prevent your pet feeling uncomfort- a new cat, don’t wait until winter. Visit
able as things warm up. If your cat your local rescue centres now - they
spends a lot of time in areas where will often have an abundance of kit-
there is long grass, she could come tens (and older cats) at this time of
into contact with ticks so a tick re- year as we are well into kitten season.
mover could be a good investment. Perhaps you might even consider
Spend time outside with your cat, becoming a foster carer and help to
enjoying some fresh air and exercise give lots of cats and kittens a better
together. Fishing rod style toys are chance in life.
a great way to get you and your pet Give your own cat a summertime
moving! treat with some specially planted cat
grass out in the garden - or indoors
May July if you don’t have a garden. Or plant a
Summer is just around the corner Hopefully the weather will be at few more insect-loving plants to en-
and it’s time to get your garden ready its best now so take advantage of courage them into your garden - cats
for sunny days lounging around - for long sunny days and take photos of love trying to catch the butterflies
your cat too. Position a plant pot by your cat enjoying a lazy summer. and other insects that flit about.
your door that contains a large plant Why not print out a few to keep in a
such as lavender or an ornamental special book or make a collage in a September
grass to give your cat some privacy frame. This will often be more inter- Often a time to tidy up our gar-
as she steps outside; create a comfy esting than one single image and dens, think about creating a place
spot in the garden where she can lay can show the different sides to your where your cat will be warm and
in the shade and snooze; or put up a cat’s personality - at rest, at play, up to snug if he has to stay outside during
post with a platform on top or attach mischief, etc. cold or wet weather. You can buy cat
49
CAT WORLD
CAT CARE
houses or pods or you may know Make sure any winter beds and time for both of you.
someone who could make a simple blankets that have been stored away
one for you. Line with straw as fabric are in good condition. December
can stay cold and wet for along time If you live in an area that is prone
which won’t be good for your cat’s November to severe weather such as flooding
health. Winter arrives. Nights are dark or snow and ice, be sure to have a
If your cat is timid, start to get and long and often filled with the good supply of cat food, litter and
your cat used to sudden loud noises noise of fireworks and partying. any medication your cat needs in
and extra visitors to the house now, Stock up early on products that will case the worst happens and you are
well in advance of firework night help ease any stress if you have a unable to go shopping for more or
and the festive season. nervous cat. Make a ‘safe space’ for have a delivery. This may sound ex-
her in a wardrobe, cupboard or on a treme but every year there seems to
October shelf where she can retreat to easily be more and more ‘extreme weath-
This is feline obesity awareness if she feels scared. A cosy cushion er events’ reported in the news.
month and before the longer nights or blanket will be a welcome addi- Your cat will probably be spend-
draw in and your cat spends less tion - maybe an old jumper that you ing more time indoors again now so
time being active outside, take her no longer wear but that still contains a few new DVDs to watch or toys to
for a health check at the vets to your scent. This will reassure your play with can help if she is missing
make sure her weight is good for cat that you are near. time spent outside.
her size and breed. If she has be- Spend some time each month l Readourguidetofestivedangers
come overweight, you will be able grooming your cat. This is often inissue501andwinterdangersin
to start getting her back on track easier during the winter months thisissueandbepreparedforthe
with advice and encouragement for while your cat is spending more fun,maybefranticandchillymonths
your vet or veterinary nurses. time indoors. It can be a rewarding ahead.
50 CAT WORLD
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