Download - The Cats Meow
Hello !!!
You are reading the fifth issue of the Cats
Protection Newsletter in Telford and
Wrekin Area.
Hope you enjoy our
newsletter!
Consider your pet's future Have you made provision for your pets in case you
are hospitalised, die or have to go into care?
It may be that family, friends or neighbours would be willing to care for your pets if you
are taken ill. If none of these are an option, there are organisations who can help
you. We urge you to pre-register your cat before you find yourself in this situation, to
avoid undue worry later.
The Cinnamon Trust is a charity whose volunteers help the elderly look after their
pets. They will help to keep you together by fostering your pet should you go into
hospital, walking your dog, or fetching cat food. They also care for pets when their
owners die. Their sanctuaries provide a restful environment for older pets. The
Cinnamon Trust can also provide information about which care homes are able to
take residents with their pets. Here is a link to their website:
www.cinnamon.org.uk
Page 2 Issue 5
The Blue Cross have a Pets into Care scheme, which is free to anyone living in
England, Scotland or Wales. There is usually a limit of 4 dogs, cats or small animals.
They are not able to assist with exotic species or fish. In the event of your death, the
registered animals would be taken into care until they could be found a new home.
The Blue Cross do not put healthy animals to sleep. For more information or to
register your pets, see:
www.bluecross.org.uk/2082/pets-into-care-scheme.html
The RSPCA runs a Home for Life scheme. They will take on most pet breeds.
Animals will be taken to the nearest RSPCA shelter and assessed for the purpose of
finding them a new home.
www.homeforlife.org.uk
The Dogs Trust have a Canine Care
Card. See this website for more information:
www.dogstrust.org.uk/legacies/
caninecarecard2009.aspx
Cats Protection can provide Emergency
Cat Care Cards for pet owners to carry.
These alert emergency services that you
have a pet that will need to be taken care of
should you be taken ill. They are included in
our legacy pack, which can be requested via
this link:
www.cats.org.uk/support-us/legacy/how-gift-
will-menu/securing-future-menu/
Text from www.cats.org.uk/telford
Issue 5 Page 3
Page 4 Issue 5
Regional Event: Stall at Haygate Vet Centre's Open Day
Venue: 78 Haygate Road, Wellington, TF1 1QN
When: Saturday 17th March 2012
Haygate Veterinary Centre are having an open day at their newly refurbished
branch in Wellington.
There will be lots to do, including a teddy bear hospital and also the chance to look
behind the scenes.
Haygate have kindly given us the opportunity to have a stall there, so please come
along and support us between 11am and 3pm.
Dear Cats Protection!
I think that there is something wrong of my
cat´s ears. How do I know if they might be
ear mites and how should I treat them?
Ann from Telford
An infected cat or kitten will scratch his ears,
shake his head and sometimes damage the skin
on his ears and temples. Ear mites live on dead
skin inside the ear and brown wax will be seen
in the outer ear. Treatment is required to
eliminate them so it is best to take your cat to
the vet.
Hi Cats Protection!
Why is my cat spraying?
Helen from Ketley
lthough we find urine spraying unacceptable,
spraying is actually a normal scent marking
behaviour in cats. Cats use scent signals a
great deal to orientate themselves and
communicate with others. Facial and flank
rubbing and scratching are other behaviours
that also leave scent marks. Urine spraying is
used more in unneutered male and female cats,
especially toms, as it is used to indicate sexual
activity. However, spraying will also occur in
neutered cats. Spray marks tend to be used in
those areas of a cat's territory where a cat feels
insecure or threatened, such as where other
cats are around. Most often this occurs outside,
but can also occur indoors if a cat is stressed
inside.
Answers from the Cats Protection Website
www.cats.org.uk. To ask questions, email
them to [email protected].
Our cats are always neutered, microchipped and vaccinated prior to rehoming. They also
come with 4 weeks free insurance. Cats Protection ask adopters for a fee when rehoming a
cat. If you feel able to make a donation on top of the fee that would, of course, be gratefully
received. We know times are hard so thank you for your decision to rehome a CP cat. Our
branch is entirely run by volunteers and all proceeds go to the welfare of our cats.
Miss Sophie is a 7 month old tortie and white female.
She is afraid of women, so would need to be adopted either by a man, or by a someone who is very patient and prepared to
wait for her to approach them on her own terms.
She is not suitable for a home with children. She likes a small amount of fuss, but may scratch or bite if she's had enough.
She would be lonely without the company of another cat, but
needs an equally playful companion as she can be very boisterous.
Hello there, my name's Bill. I'm a 5 year old tabby & white male. I am
looking for a best of both worlds home, i.e. somewhere I can come
indoors to feed but live outdoors to earn my keep.
I'm not a feral but a long term stray and have forgotten how to live
indoors.
If you are looking for a feline companion, please visit our website for further information and updated
list of cats for adoption: www.cats.org.uk/telford/adopt-a-cat
Page 5 Issue 5
Hello, I am a gentle and hugely affectionate young white &
tabby cat. I can't have too many cuddles!
I'm not ready to be homed until approx 10th March as I haven't
been neutered or had my second vaccination yet, but if you
don't mind waiting you can still get in touch.
Page 6 Issue 5
Animals find the taste of antifreeze sweet and palatable. Each year, many cats, dogs
and wild animals die a slow death from kidney failure after ingesting this substance.
This winter there have already been eight cat deaths in Shropshire attributed to
antifreeze.
A bittering agent introduced into commercially antifreeze would greatly reduce the
number of poisonings. We therefore encourage you to sign this HM Government e-
petition to bring in legislation to enforce this.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/12547
When a cat is first diagnosed as diabetic, coping
with the daily management of the condition can
be a daunting prospect for an owner. That's why
a support and advice network is so important and
that is exactly what CP has compiled.
The DCR contains details of people who have
experience of living with a diabetic cat and are
willing to share their knowledge (non veterinary
only) on a voluntary basis with worried owners.
If you would like to talk to someone who has
been in your position and learned to cope with
diabetes mellitus’, the DCR is available by
contacting helpline by email at
or on receipt of an A5 self-addressed-envelope
(stamps to the value of 50p) from:
Diabetic Cat Register (Helpline)
Cats Protection
National Cat Centre
Chelwood Gate
Haywards Heath
RH17 7TT
Text from www.cats.org.uk
Our Diabetic Cat Register (DCR) is a helpful resource for people whose cats have been
diagnosed with diabetes.
Page 7 Issue 5
To discourage cats from entering your garden: Shoo them away by either shouting or clapping your hands
Squirt water at them using a low-powered water pistol (not a super soaker), being careful to avoid their eyes
Emit a short, sharp high-pitched noise, such as from a rape alarm. Electronic deterrents which are triggered by the movement of a cat and emit a high-pitched sound audible only to cats, are also available
Install an automatic garden spray that is triggered by an infra-red detector that locates movement
Erect high, close-boarded fences next to the hedges in the garden, making it difficult for cats to visit
Try not to leave food for birds and other
wildlife in places that are easily accessible to
cats and also ensure dustbin lids are secure.
In addition, do not start feeding a cat if you do
not want him around
Cats Protection recognises that some people may not want cats wandering into their garden,
and suggests the following deterrents:
To discourage cats from toileting in your garden: Cultivate shrubs closely to prevent cats from finding a place to dig
Spread chicken manure around beds and borders, taking care to use Soil Association approved pellets rather than fresh manure
Consider covering parts of the garden that you do not want the cat to toilet in with stone chippings, pebbles or small rocks
Lion dung-infused deterrent products, the planting of coleus canina and crushed egg shells have been used with varying levels of success to deter cats from toileting in flower beds
Hardy plants and the use of tall planters in
strategically placed positions (entrances,
protruding corners) can help to reduce the
effects of cats marking their territory through
spraying.
Text from www.cats.org.uk
Page 8 Issue 5
Fosterer
All of our cats are looked after by
volunteers in their own homes until a
permanent home can be found for them.
Cats can be fostered either in a purpose
built cabin in the garden, or in a spare room
of their house.
In addition to looking after the health and
well being of each cat, time is spent
grooming and socialising the cats.
We do not mix cats from different
households, so each cabin will only house
a small number of cats.Cats Protection
provide cat food, litter and equipment, as
well as paying for the cat's vet fees
whilst it is in the fosterer's care. We also
organise
and pay for the installation of the cabin.
Cat fosterers should ideally have their own
transport and be prepared to take cats to
and from the vets. They will also need to
collect food and litter from a central
location. The only costs incurred by
fosterers are petrol and a small amount of
electricity for heating and lighting of the
pen.
Fosterers must also be prepared to show
members of the public into their own
homes to view the cats at a mutually
agreed time. They will have first had a
home visit to check that they can provide a
suitable home for the cat.
Fundraiser
We rely on volunteers to raise funds and
increase awareness of our branch and Cats
Protection in general.
Fundraisers can undertake a wide variety of
duties, including helping on stalls, emptying
collection boxes, and planning and
organising new activities.
Our regular events include stalls in Telford
shopping centre and at Roden Fun Dog
Show.
We are looking for new ways to raise
money, and these will depend on the skills
and interests of the people we recruit.
These could include shaking tins outside
supermarkets, organising our own events,
selling items at car boot sales, or setting up
a 100 club.
Fundraising doesn't have to involve a huge
time commitment. If you are able to assist
on a stall for a couple of hours every few
months it would still be of great help.
We are currently on the look out for people to fill a variety of roles. Our branch is entirely
run by volunteers and so that we can transfer all proceeds to the welfare of our cats.
If you are interested in volunteering with Telford & District Cats Protection, please have a
look various roles possible.
Page 9 Issue 5
Membership volunteer
Cats Protections volunteers carry out the
majority of its welfare, fundraising and
education activities and each group has a
membership scheme which generates
income to fund the provision of local
services.
The Membership Volunteer coordinates the
membership scheme and provides support
and information to local members on the
groups activities and services. This role
provides an important link between the
group and local supporters and involves
looking after the groups membership
database, renewing subscriptions and
welcoming new supporters. It will also
involve working with other members of the
group to promote the scheme to attract
new supporters to join.
Good organisational and communication
skills will be important in this role, together
with sound administrative and IT skills.
Experience of working as part of a team
and knowledge of the local community
would be an asset.
Secretary
As secretary, you will support your local
group by taking and distributing committee
meeting minutes, and sending
correspondence to group members, vets
and the general public.
You are likely to need to commit around 2
hours per week to this role, and be able to
attend our committee meetings on a
Tuesday evening.
You must also have good communication
and IT skills and to be able to work
independently and as part of a team.
General help
This may include:
Transporting cats to and from the
vets
Taking photos of foster cats for our
website
Distributing cat litter and food to our
fosterers
Putting up posters
Emptying our supermarket food
collection bins
Making good quality craft items for
sale on our stalls
If you are able to help with any of these, please
complete our
volunteering enquiry form
www.cats.org.uk/telford/volunteering
Our last Cat Playhouse goes to Elaine from Telford.
The Cats Protection will contact the winner.
Congratulations to the winner!!!
Prizes were provided by “SUCKUK” visit them at www.suck.uk.com or
call them at 020 7923 0011
Page 10 Issue 5
Page 12 Issue 5
1. A cat can’t climb head first down a tree because every claw on a cat’s paw points the
same way. To get down from a tree, a cat must back down. 2. Cats make about 100 different sounds. Dogs make only about 10.
3. A cat’s brain is biologically more similar to a human brain than it is to a dog’s. Both
humans and cats have identical regions in their brains that are responsible for emotions.
4. Approximately 24 cat skins can make a coat.
5. While it is commonly thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate
cats, the oldest known pet cat was recently found in a 9,500-year-old grave on the
Mediterranean island of Cyprus. This grave predates early Egyptian art depicting cats by
4,000 years or more.
Do you stand at the computer because the cat is sleeping on the chair?
At the store, do you pick up the cat food and kitty litter before you pick out anything for
yourself?
Will you confess to non-cat owners how many cats you really have?
Do you buy more than 50 pounds of cat litter a month?
"No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens." -
Abraham Lincoln
"People that hate cats, will come back as mice in their next life." - Faith Resnick
"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash.
That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man,
but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain
"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." -
Winston Churchill
"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb
"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat." - Ellen Perry Berkeley
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our newsletter or you have any other suggestions, then
please contact us: [email protected]