fffffff fffffff fffffff fffffff CATS TAILS fffffff IN THIS ISSUE…. 2 Co-ordinators Mewsings 3 From the Editor 4/5 Treasurers Report 6 Forthcoming Events 7 We Need Your Help! 8/9 Meet our new Publicity Officer 10/11 Cats for Adoption 12 Homing Report 13 Cat Rescue Awards 14 Book Review 15 For Pet Lovers Everywhere 16 Looking After Cats’ Teeth New faces at 17 We Want Your Stories! West Oxon 18 Dear George Cats Protection! 19/20 Ads and Subscription Form www.westoxfordshire.cats.org.uk West Oxfordshire Cats Protection Newsletter Issue 52 ~ SPRING 2010
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CATS TAILS fffffff
IN THIS ISSUE….
2 Co-ordinators Mewsings
3 From the Editor
4/5 Treasurers Report
6 Forthcoming Events
7 We Need Your Help!
8/9 Meet our new Publicity Officer
10/11 Cats for Adoption
12 Homing Report
13 Cat Rescue Awards
14 Book Review
15 For Pet Lovers Everywhere
16 Looking After Cats’ Teeth New faces at
17 We Want Your Stories! West Oxon
18 Dear George Cats Protection!
19/20 Ads and Subscription Form
www.westoxfordshire.cats.org.uk
West Oxfordshire Cats Protection Newsletter
Issue 52 ~ SPRING 2010
Issue 52
Page 2
CO-ORDINATORS MEWSINGS
The year has started well on the homing front but financially, things are not so
good.
The branch has had to consider ways of reducing outgoings and therefore we
won’t be holding a fete this year but we will be looking closely at ways to
fundraise without too much outlay.
We are also very short of helpers so if anyone could help by sitting on a stall or
shaking a tin, making cakes or crafts for our stall or even organising your own
event to raise money (maybe sell cakes or jams or marmalade in aid of Cats
Protection) we would be extremely grateful.
We are also very short of fosterers and, with the kitten season approaching fast,
if anyone feels they would like to be mum or dad to some kittens till they are
rehomed it would help us enormously.
Hopefully if we tighten our belt during this difficult time we will come through
SMILING!
Lou Tyack
Acknowledgements:- Cats Tails is the quarterly Newsletter of the West Oxfordshire Branch of Cats Protection. The Editor would like to express thanks to all those who have contributed in any way to this publication, with special thanks to Celia Haddon, and also to Kopyrite of Chipping Norton for printing services. Views expressed are the contributors’ own and may not reflect the policy of Cats Protection. Issue 52 published by The Proof Fairy, 9 Cromwell Close, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7BQ. Tel: 01367 888229 Email: [email protected]
Issue 52
Page 3
FROM THE EDITOR…
It’s been all change here at West Oxon Cats Protection and I’m very pleased
to be taking over the reins of Cats Tails for the very first time!
My name is Alison Neale and by day I masquerade as The Proof Fairy, doing
editing, proofreading and copywriting for small businesses. I live in Faringdon
with my two children and our cat Chester.
I’ve always loved cats but was never allowed one when I was a child; instead
we had an ever-changing mix of goldfish, gerbils, hamsters and budgies. I had
my first cat, Gizmo, in April 1995 and she was soon joined by younger sister
Misty. They were great additions to the family I had with my partner and our
children.
When my relationship broke up and I moved out I was given the choice of
the children or the cats – and I opted for the children. However, we missed
our cats immensely so, in September 2001, we adopted Peaches, a pretty
tortoiseshell, who was a much loved member of our family for 8 years until
she had to be put to sleep when she suffered sudden acute kidney failure.
Again we desperately missed having a feline friend around so two months
later we contacted West Oxon Cats
Protection and gave a home to Chester,
who was a little white boy kitten. We’ve
had Chester for 18 months now and he’s
fitted into our slightly nutty household
very well! He’s given us some scares
already – he went missing for 4 nights
when he was very tiny and, just as we’d
given up all hope of seeing him again, he
walked in, filthy dirty but as if nothing had happened!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this issue of Cats Tails and if you would like to
contribute anything to future issues please do get in touch!
Alison Neale
Issue 52
Page 4
TREASURER’S REPORT
Our accounts for the period 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009 are shown
on the next page.
Our expenses for the year were £48,495.99 and our income £37,121.48. We
overspent by £11,374.51 which would have been considerably more had we not
received a generous £10,000 legacy receipt.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported us in 2009 and our special
thanks go to Margaret Rushton of Stow-on-the-Wold who gave us £2,105.00
from her fundraising activities. Well done Margaret!
We are trying to find ways to reduce expenditure this year. We are also
arranging more fundraising events to boost our income. We held a very
successful jumble sale at the beginning of February and raised a total of £618.18.
Please keep up your hard work. We need all the financial support we can get. Ros Haine
ioaioaioaio
FOUR EASY WAYS YOU CAN HELP US
1. Donate any bric-a-brac, unwanted gifts, new toiletries, new make-up, jewellery, books,
gift boxes, healthy plants, toys, clean clothes etc for our jumble sales. We can often
arrange to collect items from you or you can drop them off with us prior to an event.
2. Volunteer to be a tin shaker – even an hour is a great help! Call Gill Broome on 01793
420819.
3. Shop online at www.buy.at/westoxoncats . Any items or services bought online
through our shop will mean a donation to the Branch at no extra cost to you. If you
already shop online through Amazon, Play.com or other online stores, link through our
shop and West Oxfordshire Cats Protection will receive a donation for every purchase
you make.
4. Save your used postage stamps! Please try to keep 2-3 cm of envelope around the
stamps when you remove them from the envelope. Collect a bundle and then either
pass them to one of our representatives at an event or send them to the Branch Co-
ordinator.
THANK YOU!
Issue 52
Page 5
INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR 2009 Cash Book Balance 31.12.08 31689.42 Add Income: Donations – Homing 5125.00 Donations – Other 3892.73 Sponsors 845.00 Subscriptions 302.00 Fetes and Sales 7161.64 Raffles and Competitions 50.00 Black Cats and Tin Shakes 1082.85 Goods Sold 1373.80 Phone & Vet Contributions 0.00 Gift Aid 719.51 Current A/C Interest 7.88 CPL Legacies 10000.00 CPL Other 48.16 CPL Annual Grant 6000.00 Holding Fund Interest 512.91
37121.48 37121.48
Deduct Expenses: Food 1764.47 Litter 4507.31 Consumables 419.56 Maintenance & Repairs 686.15 Electricity 170.00 Vets Neutering 4689.56 Vets MVS 4683.54 Vets Other 20681.89 Advertising 3361.76 Van Expenses 1034.78 Mileage 907.34 Equipment 754.39 Stationery 522.38 Postage 461.46 Phone 1442.17 Hall Hire etc 1013.50 Garage Rent 713.72 Goods for Sale – NCC 191.84 Goods for Sale – Other 490.17
(48495.99) (48495.99)
Cash Book Balance 31.12.09 20314.91
Issue 52
Page 6
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
APRIL
10th Witney Corn Exchange
2pm – 4pm
Jumble Sale
25th Bloxham Recreation Ground
St George’s Fair
Gift & CP Goods Stall
MAY
3rd Carterton, Alvescot Rd Recreation
Ground/Community Hall
May Day Fair
Gift & CP Goods Stall
8th Bloxham, Old Bridge Road
Bloxham May Festival
Gift & CP Goods Stall
8th & 9th Witney Rugby Ground
HJ Agility Show
Gift & CP Goods Stall
15th Chipping Norton
Shopping Centre (Co-op)
Tin Shake
Gift & CP Goods Stall
JUNE
19th Witney, Blake School
Summer Fete 9am-5pm
Gift & CP Goods Stall
19th Woodstock Carnival Gift & CP Goods Stall
26th &
27th
Bloxham
Banbury Steam Rally from 10am
Gift & CP Goods Stall
OCTOBER
23rd Witney Tin Shake
MORE DETAILS ON ALL THESE EVENTS ON THE WEBSITE: www.westoxfordshire.cats.org.uk
Issue 52
Page 7
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
At West Oxfordshire Cats Protection we warmly welcome volunteers from all walks of
life and we are in search of more star helpers.
Volunteering is the most worthwhile thing you can ever do. It gives a real sense of
achievement, allows the development of new skills and the social possibilities are
endless!
Much of our branch work is carried out by volunteers, many of whom have full time
jobs. There are various opportunities available at our branch, from hands on work
with the cats as a fosterer or feline chauffeur, to fundraising.
My love of cats has been with me since a very young age and was probably founded
through my Grandma, who adored our feline friends. I have 3 cats living with me and
the third member of my clan joined us at the beginning of February.
Meg and Molly were rehomed by me from WOCP back in September 2007. They are
mother and daughter respectively, but with only approximately 9 months between
them. Poor Meg had conceived two litters and was very emaciated when she was
taken into the care of WOCP. Her only surviving offspring was Molly, who was a very
timid and nervous kitten and she was actually larger than her Mum! They were in the
care of WOCP for quite a while; probably because they were such a jumpy pair and
they needed to be rehomed together.
Molly Sept 07 Meg Sept 07
Issue 52
Page 9
After tragically losing my elderly cat in a car accident early in September 2007, I
decided I wanted to get another cat immediately, as I couldn’t stand the void of not
having a feline companion. When I met Meg and Molly they were so frightened of
human contact, they ran away and hid in the corner of their pen. After I stayed in their
pen for a while, talking to them, Meg came and rubbed herself against my legs and
Molly let me stroke her. For me that was it, I knew I had found two lost souls, in
desperate need of a quiet home and lots of love and affection. They are now such
loyal and loving cats, each with their own personalities and truly enjoying their lives.
Elsie is my latest addition and she is 10 months old now. Born and fostered at WOCP,
she had a lucky start to life; her mother was caught by one of our volunteers the day
before she gave birth to a litter of 9 cats. Elsie was the only female in the litter and
came to be fostered by Ros Haines, our Treasurer, along with her tabby brothers.
After all her brothers were adopted, Elsie became very vocal, crying for attention, and
Ros did a sterling job caring for her, until a new owner took her on.
I suddenly decided at the beginning of February this year that I needed another feline
in my brood and I wanted to give another unwanted cat a good life. Meg and Molly
are very settled here, plus I have plenty of space and love for a growing feline clan! I
went to see Elsie after the jumble sale on 6 February and was immediately drawn to
her. She let me stroke her and pick her up straight away. I decided then and there that
this little kitty would fit very well with my other two cats.
Within two weeks both Meg and Molly had settled to her presence in their house.
Introducing a new cat or kitten to your existing cat(s) can be quite traumatic, but I’m
pleased to say with patience and gradual contact, all three are tolerating each other. I
wouldn’t say that Meg and Molly are best of friends with Elsie just yet, but they can all
bear being near each other and share affection from me!
Having a kitten in the house once again has brought some entertainment to dull winter
days and even my other two have started to play catch the green fluffy mouse with
Elsie!
If you would like any information or advice about rehoming a cat or kitten, please do
not hesitate to contact our Branch helpline on 01993 831350. Nikki Pollak
Elsie Feb 10 Meg & Molly Dec 09
Issue 52
Page 10
CATS FOR ADOPTION
We have a number of cats who need to find new homes with people who will
care for them and give them lots of love and attention.
As well as the cats shown here, we also have a number of kittens who are ready
to go to new homes.
If you would like more information on any of the cats listed, or would like to
hear about some of our other cats who are looking for new homes, please
contact our Homing Officer on 01993 831350. MINI and TILLY are one year old sisters who have been in our care since they were kittens. Mini (below left) is a long
haired calico tortoiseshell. She is friendly and likes a cuddle
and fuss made of her. Tilly (below right) is also a long
haired tortie, brown in colour; she is quite nervous and
prefers to stay with her sister. The girls must be homed
together. They’ve been vaccinated, neutered and given a
clean bill of health by the vet.
Also available:
ALFIE is a black and white semi-feral cat, about 16 months old. He is very lively and friendly but can scratch and gets
overexcited, so he needs an experienced owner.
SHELLY is a lovely lively brown tortoiseshell, around 1-2 years old. She loves attention!
THINGY is an old lady, about 16 years old. She’s a very friendly quiet black cat and would make a good lapcat.
BILLY is a brown tabby kitten, 6-7 months old. He loves playing with balls and is very lively and friendly!
SUKI is a pretty tortie, 7 months old. She was taken in as a stray and is very friendly. She would love to find a loving
new owner.
FRED (above) is a very
handsome boy looking for a
new home! He is a 6 year
old ginger neutered male.
He has a wonderful loving
nature and loves to cuddle.
He enjoys being brushed,
loves to be played with and
is a little vocal at times. Fred
had a urinary problem,
which is now all sorted out,
but he does need to be on a
special urinary diet. He has
had a vet check and has
received his first lot of
vaccinations; he is also micro
chipped. Fred seems to be
okay with dogs and other
tolerant cats. He is a lovely
chap who wants lots of
loving!
Issue 52
Page 11
CATS FOR ADOPTION
NANCY and NEVILLE are brother and sister and are 5 month old tabbies. They are both feral cats and although
they like being picked up and handled, they would
probably suit living on a farm or being with owners who
were used to feral cats.
BIG WILLIE is a short haired neutered male cat around 4 years old. He has been vaccinated and he is in good health. He loves
human company and he is very fit and active. Big Willie would
be happy being somewhere with outdoor space and in a
household with no children.
For more information on any of these cats please call the Homing Officer on 01993 831350
COULD YOU BE A FOSTERER?
Do you love getting ‘hands-on’ with cats? Are you caring, but not overly sentimental, with a
good working knowledge of cat welfare? Are you not afraid to get your hands dirty, happy to
deal with the public, to maintain national standards, and do you understand that cats in care
can need attention outside of normal hours?
Yes? Then maybe you could help as a Fosterer! This very rewarding role isn’t just about stroking
cats, its about looking after them night and day, and includes showing cats to the public, talking
to potential owners about cat welfare, keeping up to date records, and transporting cats to the
vet as and when required. Fostering is normally done in a purpose built cat cabin (which will be
provided) in your own garden, though spare rooms can be adapted for indoor fostering.
For more information please contact us on 01993 831350
Issue 52
Page 12
HOMING REPORT
All has recently gone a bit quiet with a lot of our enquiries being people wanting
kittens. The kitten season starts around April time and we have several people
on our waiting list already.
However so far this year we have homed 32 cats and kittens and made lots of
home visits. At present we have 7 cats in CP care ready for homing.
As always we are grateful to our fosterers and home visitors for the hard work
they put in which has resulted in a quick turn around of cats coming in and
being rehomed.
We still have cats in our care and are expecting kittens at any time, so it
is imperative that we home our existing cats to free up pens.
Sam Bate
There is no snooze button on a cat that wants breakfast.
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A home is where the cat fur sticks to everything but the cat.
DO YOU BUY OR SELL ON EBAY?
YOU CAN NOW CHOOSE WEST OXFORDSHIRE CATS PROTECTION
AS A CHARITY TO SUPPORT FROM THE LISTINGS.
WHEN YOU SELL, WE CAN BE FOUND BY SEARCHING BY COUNTY (OXFORDSHIRE) OR
‘ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL CHARITY’,
WHEN ASKED IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUPPORT A CHARITY.
WHEN YOU BUY YOU CAN AGREE TO SUPPORT OUR CHARITY.
Issue 52
Page 13
ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR RESCUE CAT AWARDS
We are delighted to announce the launch of Rescue Cat Awards 2010 and we’d
like to ask for your help!
The awards are designed to celebrate real life stories of survival, bravery and
heroism in the cat world. These awards are a great way to promote the benefits
of adopting a cat from charities such as ourselves, Cats Protection.
Do you know of a cat that would be a deserving winner of an award? Entries
are open until 27th May and the awards are open to any living cat rescued as a
stray by its current owner or adopted from an animal welfare organisation.
Ways in which you can enter the awards are:
• Visiting Cats Protection’s website at www.cats.org.uk/get-
involved/rescuecatawards and completing the online form
• Calling the Cats Protection National Helpline on 03000 12 12 12 or
This is the fifth time that Cats Protection has held the Rescue Cat Awards and
there are four categories to enter:
• Hero Cat – Cats that save the day!
• Ultimate Survivor – Tales of feline survival against the odds.
• Best Friends – Where a best feline friend has radically improved the
quality of human life.
• Most incredible story – Belief-defying true stories from the cat world.
A special Lifetime Achievement award will also be presented by sponsor Purina PetCare to an older cat chosen from all entries that has shown remarkable
support or friendship to its owner over the years.
Owners of shortlisted cats will be invited to attend a daytime awards ceremony
at the New London Theatre in the West End on Wednesday 4th August 2010.
The Rescue Cat Awards 2008 was supported by a host of celebrities including
Brian Blessed, Prunella Scales, Tim Vincent, Sally Gunnell, David Barby and Alan
Dedicoat and we hope that year’s awards will attract similar support.
Issue 52
Page 14
MY FAVOURITE CAT NOVEL: A REVIEW BY NIKKI POLLAK
I started reading Blitzcat on my way back home from New
Zealand in January and I was so compelled by the story, I had
completed the book in less than the 27 hours it took me to fly
from Auckland to Heathrow!
Blitzcat is set in World War II and is the tale of a black cat’s
remarkable story of how she led the way to safety, out of the
blazing hell of blitzed Coventry. She became a lucky token to
some, with people touching her for good fortune; others
feared her as an omen of disaster. But wherever she went, she
changed lives… From her beginning to her end, the Blitzcat
never waivered once.
“She made her way down the cliff, and on to the beach. At
the edge of the waves, she stopped, shaking her wet paws. She
knew that somewhere ahead was her person, but far, far
away. She miaowed plaintively; stood staring at the moving
blur of uncrossable sea.”
I was fascinated by the story’s usage of psi-trailing, which is a cat’s ability to find its way to its
owners over several hundred miles, travelling through unfamiliar territory to a destination
previously unknown to it. The author’s note in the book mentions the research of Dr Joseph
Rhine of Duke University, who named this type of behaviour. My curiosity in this type of
homing journey prompted me to do an internet search on this Doctor. I found an article on
www.catsinternational.org, called “Incredible journeys by incredible cats”.
This article states that researchers have authenticated cases by incontestable distinguishing
marks, physical abnormalities, specific previous injuries or specific behaviour patterns that
would rule out it simply being a case of mistaken identity.
These cases include Beau Cat, who was a pet in Louisiana. He was reported missing while the
family were house hunting in Texas. The father remained in Texas and the rest of the family
went home, but there was no sign of Beau. After five months, when the family were settled in
Texas, the cat appeared in the schoolyard where the mother was a teacher and her son was a
pupil. Another case includes a cat that was left behind in California and appeared 14 months
later in Oklahoma. And one more case reports a cat journeying 2300 miles over five months,
from New York to California, to join its owner.
American cats are not the only ones taking these extraordinary treks; one report entails a
French cat leaving home to find its owner, a young man who had left for military service.
The cat travelled 75 miles through the Vosges Mountains, before he reached his owner's
barracks 11 days later.
I am truly amazed at the stamina and motivational drive of these cats during these incredible
journeys. Their love for their “person” must be really overwhelming. If you have any cat psi-
The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.
Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The
other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and
food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that
aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is
not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I
will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can
actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each
other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and
having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximise space is nothing but sarcasm.
For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you
there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn
the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through
the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years – canine/feline
attendance is not required.
The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot
stress this enough.
Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the door:
TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:
(1) They live here. You don’t.
(2) If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That’s why they call
it “fur”-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short,
hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak clearly.
Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
Eat less Don’t ask for money all the time
Are easier to train Normally come when called
Never ask to drive the car Don’t hang out with drug-using people
Don’t drink or smoke Don’t want to wear your clothes
Don’t have to buy the latest fashions Don’t need a gazillion pounds for uni
And … If they get pregnant, you can sell their children!
Issue 52
Page 16
LOOKING AFTER YOUR CAT’S TEETH
HAS MY CAT GOT SOMETHING WRONG WITH ITS TEETH?hhhghghghghghghghghg A cat can't tell you when it has tooth pain. But if a cat is going towards food, looking as if it is
hungry, then taking only a bite or two and retreating, this may be tooth pain. Dribbling,
refusal to eat hard food, bad breath, red inflamed gums, pawing at the mouth, blood in the
mouth and teeth chattering are all other symptoms. Occasionally a cat in severe tooth pain
will sometimes also pull its own fur out. vcvcvcvcvcvvcvcvcvcvcvvcvcvcvcvcvcccccvc
Tooth or mouth problems can be a symptom of serious underlying disease, so it is essential
that you take your cat to the vet. The underlying disease will need to be treated, in order to
cure the mouth or teeth problems. A cat which doesn't eat for 48 hours must always see a vet
fast. Other causes of tooth or mouth pain include skin irritation because the cat has eaten
something like a household cleaning product, foreign bodies stuck in the mouth, broken teeth,
abcesses, gum infection etc. All these need proper inspection, diagnosis and treatment by a vet.
In difficult cases get an expert – see British Veterinary Dental Association www.bvda.co.uk.
HOW CAN I BRUSH MY CAT’S TEETH?cvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvcvvv Older cats will often not tolerate having their teeth brushed, but young cats can learn. Get
some CET Forte toothpaste from your vet or pet shop, and put it on your finger. "Sit with the
cat between your knees facing away from you," says Evelyn Barbour-Hill of the British
Veterinary Dental Association. (www.bvda.co.uk) "Then push your finger under her lips from
the front to the back of her cheek. Maybe she will only allow one side to be done at first, but
don't attempt force or make a struggle. Even this much cleaning helps. When a cat is used to
the finger, you can try a toothbrush, a soft cat one. Daily brushing is valuable, even if it is a bit
haphazard. You don't have to brush up and down, sweep sideways."
The disconcerting thing about brushing a cat’s teeth is that you have to push the brush in so far
back. Get your vet or the veterinary nurse to demonstrate because it is difficult to make
yourself do this.
HOW CAN I KEEP MY CAT’S TEETH CLEAN WITHOUT BRUSHING?cvcvcvcvcvcvcvc Wet tinned food provides nothing crunchy to clean teeth. Some cats are more prone to plaque
than others. The ideal diet for teeth is what a wild cat would eat - mice and birds crunched up
whole. A complete dried food is the next best thing for teeth, though if your cat has any other
medical problems check with your vet first. Make sure water is always available. There is a
special diet - Hills Prescription Diet t/d – for cats prone to dental disease.
Some dental experts suggest raw (never cooked) chicken wing tips as a chew, though there's a
slight risk with any bone. A new product, C.E.T. Chews for Cats, is utterly safe - £5.95 for a
pack of 24, sold only through vets. These are freeze-dried fish or meat, treated with an
"antibacterial enzyme system". They help keep teeth clean, but they don't appeal to all cats,
and they are expensive. Or try the BARF diet (www.holisticvet.co.uk) which consists of raw
meaty bones and fresh fruit and veg. It is essential to read up on this. Don’t start feeding your
animal just raw flesh meat. It must have a mixture of meat, bones, and raw veg. Talk to your
vet before you embark on this, because this diet may not be suitable for cats that are still
growing or cats with other health problems.
Celia Haddon www.celiahaddon.com
Issue 52
Page 17
CATS PROTECTION WANTS YOUR STORIES! Request from Francesca Watson, Publications Officer, Cats Protection HQ
It’s that time again when we’re asking you all for information for News & Views. The copy
deadline for News & Views is 16th April.
News & Views gives volunteers and staff the chance to share news, stories and ideas arising
from their day-to-day work for Cats Protection. It could be a successful neutering campaign or
recruitment drive, details of how you overcame a difficult rehoming situation or even how
you turned a novel fundraising idea into a reality.
So if you've got a good story – don't keep it to yourself! You can never send us too much as
we will always endeavour to fit as much into the publications as we can. We realise many of
you are very busy, so you can just send us the details and images (high resolution digital
images at least 200kb in size) and we will put it all together.
If you have any ideas for features that you think could be included in The Cat magazine, let us
know those too! It’d be great to hear your thoughts.
Whenever you have anything that we can use in any of our publications please send it in
straight away. If it misses the deadline of one we can always put it in the next issue. Any
stories or information you have for us should be emailed to [email protected]
Thanks!
Fran
Request from Tom Briggs, Copywriter, Cats Protection HQ Hi everyone,
We’re about to start work on the next edition of Cat Cabin Newsletter and are on the lookout
for stories that we can use to show Cat Cabin sponsors how their support makes a difference
to cats’ lives.
Have you had a cat in your care recently that has arrived under unusual circumstances or
defied the odds to overcome illness or injury to find a perfect new home? If so, we’d love to
hear from you!
All we need are a few basic details and a good quality digital image of the cat in question – we
can do the rest.
If we receive too many to fill the newsletter, we will use the stories elsewhere – such as in The
Cat magazine or on the Cats Protection website, so nothing will be wasted!
Thanks in advance for your help!
Tom
Issue 52
Page 18
DEAR GEORGE …
Dear George
What does all that stuff on the cat food label mean? How do we know what is inside the tin, or
Reading the label is an art form. Start with the main bit of the label which will say either
"complementary" or "complete." This is very important indeed. Anything labelled
“complementary" is not designed to have all the ingredients you need. It is probably a treat
food. Eat it in that way. "Complete" on the other hand is what is says on the tin - ie if your
human feeds only that you will get all you need.gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
Next stage is to look at the list of ingredients. If you are thinking of cost (or you have a poor
or a mean human) look for the percentage of water. Dry food looks more expensive but if
you do some complicated maths (which I can't do) then you may discover dry food is no
more expensive than wet food. Dry food is easiest to leave down so you can snack through
the day - the way of feeding that we cats prefer. On the other hand, some of us need wet
food - cats who have a history of cystitis, for instance. The list of ingredients are listed in order
of how much there is in the tin. That may well mean that cereals comes before meat and meat
derivatives. Carbs are cheap even though we do not need carbs. Meat in catfood in the UK
comes from sources fit for human consumption and does not contain horse meat or whale
meat. This might be different elsewhere. Then there are oils and fats, minerals, various sugars.
Sugars, which can be table sugar, fructose or glucose, can be used as a preservative or flavour
enhancer. We cats don't taste sugar so the latter is more likely to be a reason for use in dog
food.
Next comes an analysis of protein, ash, fibre. Ash is particularly disconcerting.What it means is
the amount of ash left if the food was burned. Why it is there, I do not know and would
welcome information on this. It does not mean that the food contains ash. You can get a
download with a bit more information for your human from www.pfma.org.uk
If a pet food is described as "containing" chicken and rabbit, then the minimum amount of
these meats must be 4% of the contents of the tin and this minimum must be stated on the
label. But the actual amount of the chicken and rabbit inside your can might be more than
4%. If it just says "chicken flavour", there may be no chicken at all!
Additives in pet food are the same as those in human food but that's not saying much. There
is a movement to ban E-numbers tartrazine (E102), quinoline yellow (E104), sunset yellow
(E110), carmoisine (E122), ponceau 4R (E124) and allura red (E129). If these are not good for
humans why should we cats be fed them either? So, on the whole, my advice would be NOT
to let your human buy any cat food which is highly coloured - yellow or red or green. Only a
human would be stupid enough to be attracted by bright colours in food! Poor dears. We
need to keep them under constant surveillance. ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
George
George Online Cat and his secretary, Celia Haddon: george-online.blogspot.com
Issue 52
Page 19
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