Here for The Cats

Before COVID-19 we took many things for granted, being able to visit family and friends, hug a loved one, come and go from our homes as and when we wanted to and so much more.  In our case this included helping to rehome unwanted cats and kittens, it was something which we did day in, day out, year after year thanks to the support and generosity of our donors and supporters and the hard work and commitment of our staff and volunteers.   We set out at the beginning of 2020 determined to help more cats than we ever did before and the year started well with 299 cats rehomed from the 1st January to 18th March.  As the COVID-19 crisis developed, we soon realised that our plans for the year would be changing drastically to keep our people and cats safe whilst continuing to #HereForTheCats in the best way we can. 

Following guidelines from the government and Cats Protection Operation team the centre closed for all homing and cat admissions.  This was an extremely difficult adjustment for all of the team to make as this was the fundamental part of the work at the centre, especially as the realisation hit that the cats in our care could be with us for weeks/potentially months.  Despite the fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, we were determined that the welfare of the cats in the centre would not be compromised so we adjusted our rotas and processes to ensure that we were able to social distance effectively and ensure that all the cat’s needs are met on a daily basis.  We put into place a daily socialisation programme to ensure the cats in our care have as much attention and variety during the day as possible. Food is split into 4 smaller meals and fed using puzzle feeders, and morning and afternoon sessions used for grooming, play time and general socialisation.  The puzzle feeders and toys were changed regularly to keep cats interested and our cat carers got busy making cat toys and forts out of cardboard boxes for extra enrichment.  

Cat Carer Sophie socialising one of the cats in our care

To take the pressure off the team caring for the cats, all our calls were diverted to the main Cats Protection contact centre, who dealt with the calls and referred any emergency cat intake requests to us.  Initially we didn’t have any requests for help in our area but on the 30th April, we had our first emergency referral.  A couple had been caring for a stray cat believed to be abandoned for three months and she had given birth to 4 kittens.  The mum cat, who we called Nightingale was very lethargic and crying in pain, she also showed little interest in her kittens.  We knew we had to act quickly but safely in line with the new cat admission and transportation guidelines.  I contacted the couple who were caring for Nightingale to complete the admission questions, explain the collection process, get the acceptance form digitally signed and to arrange the collection. 

Nightingale spent 6 days being treated at our vets.

Our Cat care assistant Sophie was briefed beforehand on the situation and given time to read through and familiarise herself with the new transportation guidelines.  We put checklists in place as this was a completely new procedure with a lot to remember and sent her armed with all the PPE, she needed to collect Nightingale.  Nightingale was in a pitiful state and was clearly in a great deal of pain so Sophie’s first port of call after collecting her was our vet.   After examination the vet decided she needed admitting and she remained there for 6 days before being well enough to move into our maternity wing and we are happy to say they are all thriving.  We chose the name Nightingale as a tribute to the NHS and decided to ask our Facebook supporters to help us choose names for the kittens to reflect this.  We had many suggestions, after reading through them all, we chose the names put forward by Denise Jones a Healthcare Assistant for Cwm Taf University Health Board as they had received the most likes.  Denise chose the names Diana after the Princess of Wales Hospital on Coity Road in Bridgend, Charles for Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Nye for Aneurin Bevan who founded the NHS and Florence to complement Nightingale after the founder of modern nursing.   

Nightingale and her kittens thriving after 3 weeks of TLC

 We have admitted 29 further cats and kittens since Nightingale came into our care and this number is increasing daily.  All the cats have their own sad story and upsetting circumstances.  Bugsy was admitted after his owner passed away from COVID-19, this was very difficult emotionally to deal with but our team is resilient and working with a family member, Bugsy was collected by one of our cat carers and has settled well in our care.  

Bugsy was admitted after his owner sadly passed away

Newly admitted cats are routinely scanned for microchips, and a chip was found in Bugsy, it had actually migrated to one of his front forelegs!   A quick check revealed that Bugsy was registered to a different address, a phone call established that Bugsy has been missing for 2 years from the Cardiff area, 40 miles away.  Unfortunately the family’s circumstances had changed and they weren’t in a position to have Bugsy back, he has now been signed into our care, Bugsy is a lovely cat and it Is not surprising that he is reserved and will soon be on his way to his forever home. 

Snowy was straying for a while, a concerned member of the public contacted us as he had a tail injury and appeared to be uncomfortable, he was also dirty and dishevelled.  We had him vet checked soon after we admitted into our care, he has lost part of his tail and the remaining part needs to be amputated, he is comfortable and is due to have surgery next week.   

Snowy was admitted with a tail injury

On the 4th May we started the contactless pilot homing scheme, although we had trepidations about this at first, we all agreed that homing the cats in our centre was the best welfare for them.  We put aside our concerns and wholeheartedly embraced the process, imagine our delight at the huge response we had from the public!  We were initially overwhelmed with the number of enquiries but soon found our stride and had an efficient system in place for handling the requests with Cat care assistants and receptionists carrying out respective parts of the process.  By the end of the day we had 7 cats reserved, and by the 6th May, 17 reserved and 5 homed!  We have now homed over 50 cats with several more reserved, this is a tremendous achievement and a great reflection on our great teamwork and willingness to change and adapt to do what is best for cats. 

Floss was the first cat to leave the centre, Floss was admitted into our care on the 7th February 2020 because the landlord didn’t allow pets.  She was 2 years old and heavily pregnant at the time, she gave birth to three beautiful kittens whom she did a great job of rearing.  Thankfully, our vet was happy to continue neutering cats for us in line with the current guidelines and this was done once her kittens were weaned.  To avoid the public non-essential travel, we are currently delivering cats, the morning of the 5th May one of our cat carer’s wearing PPE took Floss to her forever home.  Her adopter Stephanie was delighted to welcome Floss into her home and it wasn’t long before Floss settled in very quickly.  Stephanie said “Floss, now renamed Freya seems to have settled in well and is very playful but also likes to keep me company when I am working.  Thank you for letting us have her! She is much loved.” 

Floss is very playful in her forever home

Fox and Badger were the second pair of cats to be adopted from the centre, these two lovely boys came into our care as they were found huddled together in a someone’s shed.  They are a lovely pair of cats who loved each other but despite our best efforts we couldn’t find an owner.  These two pulled on all of our heart strings but much as we loved them, we were very happy to see them leave our care to their forever home.   It was heart-warming to receive this lovely update from Emily on them “Fox and Badger, now renamed Harry and Marv seem to be settling in well and are enjoying having lots of space to run around in together.  They’re both lovely cats who enjoys a lot of fuss and cuddles.  Thank you so much for looking after them and for bringing them to us last week.” 

Fox and Badger enjoying the comfort of their forever home

We are now into our fourth week of admitting and homing cats, and the new way of working has quickly become the new normal.  We the same as everyone else are looking forward to the easing of the lockdown, but for now we are grateful to be #HereForTheCats.   

You can help us continue to carry on our work now and into the future by donating here

Thank you for supporting us

Bye for now!

Parasites and Cats

 

Ticks, Fleas and Worm

What are ticks?

Ticks are a type of arachnid they are more closely related to the spider than other insects. They are typically 3-5mm in size and have four pairs of legs. They do not have antennae. Ticks are a type of external parasite which means they survive by feeding off of the blood of other animals. There ae over 800 species of ticks around the world.

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How to safely remove a tick

Ticks can pick up and pass disease causing bacteria’s and have been known to carry lymes disease. For this reason, it is important to remove any ticks you do find on your pet.

Do not try to pull the tick off your pet!
The safest way to remove a tick is by using a tick twister. Tick twisters can be bought at your vets, at most pet stores of online.

The video below shows how to use a tick twister:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ow_yWLZoM

 

What are fleas?

Fleas are small flightless insects that survive as external parasites on mammals and birds. They live off of the blood and hematophagy of their hosts. They are red brown in colour with compressed bodies, fleas are around 1 to 3 mm in length with females being the bigger of the two sexes. There are 2,500 different types of fleas.

Though fleas are flightless they have incredible jumping abilities which allow them to jump up to eight inches into the air making it easy for them to hop from the ground onto a cat! Fleas will consume around fifteen times their body weight in blood each day and excrete partially digested blood which the larvae will then feed on. Flea dirt is a good indicator that your pet has fleas.

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How to treat fleas
We recommend a licenced product. This will come from your veterinary surgery in a spot on, injection or tablet form. Flea collars and unlicensed products should be avoided. Do not use a product intended for dogs on your cat as it can be toxic.

To control a flea infestation the adult fleas must be killed and the environment treated. The most common product used to treat households is in a spray form. This spray should be applied to carpets and furnishings. This spray should never be used on the cat itself. Regular vacuuming will also help.

To prevent re-infestation monthly treatment of your cat is recommended. It can be hard to get an infestation under control, sometimes taking weeks or months. This is why it is important to take the necessary steps to prevent fleas before an infestation can occur.

 

What are worms?

Parasitic worms are large macro parasites. They can often be seen by the naked eye and are usually transmitted via the soil and infect the gastrointestinal tract. They survive by living and feeding on nutrients inside hosts such as cats.

They can’t reproduce totally inside the host so some of their life cycle includes stages that take place outside of the hosts body. Some worms are able to survive inside their hosts for years because of their ability to manipulate the host’s immune response by secreting products that prevent rejection of the worms by the body.

 

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How to treat worms

We recommend using a licenced product from your veterinary surgery.  Avoid any product that is not licenced as these may not work. Do not use a product intended for dogs on your cat as it can be toxic.

This will come in a spot on or tablet form. Different treatments will treat different types of worms so always check with your vet which treatments will be the most effective for your pet.

To prevent re-infestation your pet should be treated regularly.

 

Roundworm

Tapeworm

 

Elderly Cats

This blog is written by our wonderful receptionist Rhian who has a senior cat, she has written up some tips and tricks on how to help adjust your home to give the best to your elderly companion:

When I started working for Cats Protection I was shocked to learn that my cat of 15 years is classed as an elderly cat.  What!? But he’s still my little baby??  Once I recovered from my shock and did some research on this I soon came to realise that this is nothing to be sad or worried about, it just means there are some positive changes I can make to help improve my cat’s quality of life and further enhance our very special relationship.  Here are some of the handy hints I’ve learnt.

 

 Arthritis can affect many older cats.  It may get worse in the cold so I have provided additional warm and dry places for him to sleep on soft, padded bedding, some near radiators.  All areas are easily accessible but if this proves to be an issue in future with his mobility then ramps and stools can be an option.  Older cats can find it difficult to make calculations when jumping so this is a great excuse for me to go online and order some extra cushions to strategically place around the house.

Extra grooming is recommended in-case our OAP’s are struggling to get to all areas, this is great news as my cat will enjoy this and it’s a great stress reliver for me.  Regular play times will provide a nice routine for my cat, will help in moderating his weight which can help with arthritis, provide him with some mental stimulation, get me off the couch and release those happy hormones for both of us.



I have added an extra water bowl downstairs as I hadn’t considered the extra effort it was taking him to have to go upstairs just for a drink of water.  I hadn’t considered his ageing teeth and I wonder if this is why he likes his pate so much? Warming his food to enhance the smell and mushing this up may be something else I can consider; he already prefers having his treats and cooked chicken handed to him which is a good strategy to encourage eating.  A trip to the vet will be a big help to us in assessing his teeth and how best to help him with these.

My cat does not have a litter tray!  I’ll buy him a new tray as soon as possible, ensuring the sides are low enough for him to climb into, there’s plenty of space for him to move around and try a variety of litters that are soft enough for his elderly paws.  He might still prefer to toilet outdoors but he may feel intimidated by other cats in his old age so I could make a toileting area in the bedding close to the house which would make him feel safe or accompany him on his ablutions.

I have learnt that the vet need not always be a scary experience for me and my cat but that the vet can help me to find ways to improve my cat’s quality of life.  The vet can weigh my cat to help us with weight management, give me the option of a blood test to check kidney function and give me practical advice about how to manage his claws now that his wandering days are behind him.

For more information on Cats Protection Cats please check out our guide here:

https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/health/elderly-cats

Cats and Human Pregnancy

Some parents mistakenly believe they should give up their cat when expecting a baby. In a survey carried out by Cats Protection in April 2018, 54% of expectant parents have concerns about having a child when they owned a cat.  But owning a cat when you are pregnant can have a positive impact your mental health, your cat can be a calming companion during your pregnancy but cats need help adjusting to the change of routine when a baby arrives.

Please see some tips to help you through your pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Anyone worried about owning a cat can call the charity’s national helpline on; 0300 12 12 12 for advice.

 

 From three months pregnant:

 

 

·      Get someone else in the home to change the litter tray, if this isn’t possible wear disposable gloves and apron when changing the litter tray. Cat litter and cat poo can contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, studies have shown that cat owners are statistically no more likely to get toxoplasmosis than non- cat owners. The chance of catching the disease from your cat is very slim in fact you are more likely to get it from handling raw meat and good hand washing should be practised for more information please visit (www.cat.org.uk/toxo).

 

·      Start playing baby sounds.

·      The room that you will make the nursery keep off limits to the cat,   (if you need to, move resources out of the room do this slowly not straight away).

 

·      Take your cat to the vets for an up to date vet check to make sure your cat is healthy and there are no underlying health problems that need treating, get flea  and worm treatments up to date and if needed get your cat neutered and microchipped.

 

At six months pregnant

 

·      Introduce your cat to the new baby equipment (eg the pram and nursery furniture). Do not let your cat climb on it and keep the equipment off limits.

·      Reduce the amount of lap time you have with your cat by doing this your cat will start getting used to having less time with you.

·      Encourage your cat to use interactive toys and feeders so they can learn to entertain themselves.

 

Just before baby arrives

·      Plug in a pheromone diffuser (eg Feliway www.feliway.com) this will help to manage your cat’s stress levels and reduce the risk of unwanted behaviours.

·      Brush up upon your knowledge of your cats body language so you can recognise signs of stress when baby arrives. For more information please visit www.cats.org.uk/behaviour.

 

 

After the baby arrives

 

 

 

·      Make sure the cat has lots of hiding places to escape if they feel stressed.

·      Introduce your cat to your baby gradually. Don’t force interaction or leave your baby and cat alone together.

·      Finally make time to give your cat daily attention, this will help them relax and relax you.

Useful links

www.cats.org.uk/ncac/adopt-a-cat/cats-and-pregnancy

www.cat.org.uk/toxo

www.cats.org.uk/behaviour

www.feliway.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skin Cancer in Light Coloured Cats

With the sun starting to shine it is very important that light coloured cats are monitored closely as they can get skin cancer on their sensitive parts such as ears and nose.

Here is a post all about skin cancer in light-coloured cats, what the look out for and the best ways to prevent it:

Some skin cancers in cats are caused by exposure to the sun. White cats and cats with lighter coloured fur are more susceptible to sunburn than dark coloured cats and thirteen times more likely to develop skin cancer. This is because their skin is more vulnerable to UV-light due to the lack of melanin in the skin. The most common skin cancer caused by sun damage is called Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), it is a very aggressive cancer that can be fatal but can also be treated effectively if diagnosed quickly.

 

Symptoms and diagnosis

SCC is most commonly found on the tips of the ears, the nose and the eyelids, this is due to the lack of fur protecting the areas. Initially the cancer looks like small black scabs on the skin, it can easily be overlooked by owners for a small scratch. Other indications to look for are red sore ulcerated areas that continue to bleed with no signs of healing. A vet will need to take a biopsy in order to diagnose SCC.

 

SCC on Nose (img via)



SCC on eyelid (img via)



SCC on ears (img via)

Treatment

Depending on the location of the cancer and how advanced it is, the cancer can be removed surgically. For example, a pinnectomy (removal of the ears) is a very effective way to treat SCC on the effected ear tips. Other options such as cryosurgery (freezing cancer cells), radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy can also be affective.

Prevention

The best way to prevent SCC is by avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the summer months. However, this can be difficult as cats love to bathe in the sun and owners can’t always be around to keep an eye on them. There are special feline sunblock’s that can be purchased from a vet that the owner can apply directly to the susceptible areas. It is recommended to get a high SPF (30+) and apply frequently as cats are prone to groom themselves regularly, washing away the protection.

Fruity’s Story

Fruity came into Cats Protection when his owner became too ill to care for him. Because of this, Fruity spent most of his time outdoors where he enjoyed bathing in the raise of the sun. Unfortunately, his white tipped ears became victim to the damaging affects of the UV-light and therefore had to undergo surgery to remove the majority of his ears, preventing the possible spread of the cancer.

 

 

Fruity at the centre after ear removal

 

After his recovery Fruity went up for adoption and it wasn’t long before he found his forever home with his loving new family where he spent his retirement.

 

 

Fruity (changed the Lenny) at home

 

 

If you are concerned at all regarding any new marks of lumps on your cat then please call your local vet immediately.

Cats and Allotment - tips and tricks.

Our wonderful receptionist and resident green thumb Donna has written this blog full of tips and tricks for allotment owners and keen gardeners on how to deal with cat visitors:

Spring is in the air, allotment holders are weeding, digging and preparing seed beds – it takes a long time!

Digging over area in winter, adding manure, forking over in spring then rake, rake and rake again.  You may have prepared the perfect conditions for growing – for a cat you have actually created the best litter tray a cat could ask for! A nice clear safe area (so potential predators can be spotted), light substrate easy to cover and far away from a potential water or food source.

I love cats – I work for Cats Protection as a receptionist, one of the great joys of my job is seeing a cat leave for their forever home. I greet every neighbourhood cat with a cheery ‘good morning’ as it strolls through my little patch (I know they deter pesky rats, mice, rabbits, birds and voles from eating my newly emerged veg).

Creating gigantic litter trays not a joy! So I got my thinking cap on and over the last few years have managed to deter cats off my seed beds, without causing cats stress.
Cats prefer a nice large area – I put little stakes in across the seed bed and wind a temporary criss-cross pattern over the bed.

 

On small areas I place shallow dishes of water. When shoots emerge there may still be room for a cat to do what cats do, so I place rubber snakes on edges of beds- snakes represent a possible predator and so cats will avoid if possible.

 

 

I also place a metal cat on no go areas, it looks real enough at a quick glance to deter cats (cats are very territorial will avoid other cats if possible).



I am also lucky that there is an area on my allotment that won’t grow a thing so it’s been raked and cleared and I just get the rubber gloves on and clean up!

So basically thinking like a cat can actually help deter them from areas that are no-go. It does take a little extra work and planning to keep your allotment from becoming the best cat rest room in the locality. The methods I use can also be easily adapted to use in gardens, however green fingers crossed - soon there will be no room for a cat to cause any bother!

I try and be a mindful gardener when it comes to all wildlife, and cats, how far you take it is a personal preference. In particular, rat poison and slug pellets can be a potential hazard to all domestic animals and wildlife so I don’t use them.

I will finish by saying please at the end of your gardening day, before you shut the door for the night check your cosy shed with its hiding places and high shelves, at this time of year it might provide a safe haven for pregnant queens about to give birth, or curious young cats out on their first adventure.

Happy gardening folks!

Fearful Cats: How to Minimise Stress.

For many cats that come into Cats Protection’s care it can be quite an unnerving experience. The majority of cats relinquished come from previous homes, for a wide variety of reasons, but we also take in stray cats, cats that have had minimum human interactions, pregnant cats and new mothers and their kittens. All of which find being in a centre environment stressful in different ways.

Cats are inherently solitary animals (unlike other domesticated pets). Being in an unfamiliar setting; with the scent, sound and sight of other cats and contact with unfamiliar faces can be highly stressful and frightening to some. Add to this that they cannot roam freely outside and ‘escape’ from their surroundings. Unlike humans, cats live in the moment and have no concept of the future. Whereas we know it will only be a matter of time before they leave us to go to their forever homes, for them being in a pen environment is indefinite. 

It is important to take into consideration that some cats will likely feel scared and unsettled in a new home once adopted, for the first few weeks. It is important for us to understand the common signs a cat will exhibit that is experiencing fear and anxiety.

·         Hissing/ Growling

·         Excessive grooming

·         Dilated pupils

·         Staring fixed gaze, reduced blinking, avoidance of eye contact all together

·         Ears turned out to the side, or ears flat

·         Hiding

·         Tail flicking

·         Tense body with an arched back. Fur raised.

·         Walking with a hunched posture, tail and head down

Before

 

It is very important that when a cat is exhibiting any of these behaviours, not to ‘flood’ the cat. Flooding means to expose an animal to a fear eliciting stimuli without the opportunity to escape. Cats like humans can have a flight, fight and freeze reaction when scared.

Ways we can make a fearful cat feel more relaxed and secure:-

1.      All cats need a hiding place. In CP we use a feline fort. At home this could be a box, or an igloo bed.

2.      Cats need the opportunity to get off the ground and get up high. In CP we use a feline fort. You could try cat trees or shelving for your cat.

3.      It is important a cat builds up its own scent, so using two blankets so one can be washed when needed.  A pheromone spray called Feliway. (You can purchase this from CP centres, or online).

4.      Most importantly only approach a fearful cat when necessary to begin with. Think less is more, and aim to limit noise as much as possible. Cats often slow blink as a sign of being relaxed, so you can try to mimic this behaviour.

One of our cat carers recently engaged in what we refer to as ‘Desensitisation’ with two fearful cats at the centre; Teddy and Mickey. Both cats came from separate homes, but lived similar lives prior to arriving. Both cats had been kept indoors and were only pets. Initially, both cats would hide and give warnings upon entering the pen such as growling and hissing. It is important to first let them see you and smell you without you attempting to touch them.

During

 

She did this numerous times, and often placed new toys and food in to associate my presence with a positive experience. Slowly, they both gained confidence and came out to greet her and let her stroke them. They both made huge improvements and now enjoy interaction with us.

 

After