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CAT NEWS AND EVENTS, APRIL 2007:
PEDIGREE KITTENS:
News from two of our clients about recent arrivals - a
litter of three Orientals
and a litter of seven Siamese,
all likely to be looking for homes in June. Please enquire at
either of the clinics for more information. We're having lots
of enquiries for people looking for "Moggie" kittens but we're
hearing of very few. We're advising people to contact the local
cat rescues and be prepared to travel outside of Edinburgh.
We'll also remind prospective cat owners to consider a more
mature rescue cat rather than a kitten- they can be more difficult
for the rescues to rehome but as many of our clients are discovering,
given them a little time and attention and they are every bit
as rewarding as the cute kitties! Visit our webpage
for more information about finding a new cat or kitten.
TAKE CARE:
A Scottish newspaper recently had an article regarding three
Bengal cats going missing in South Queensferry, sparking fears
that pedigree cats may be targeted by catnappers. The news follows
reports of several disappearances of potentially valuable pet
cats in West Lothian in the past few weeks. We're not aware
of any similar reports in Edinburgh but we would advise owners
of pedigree cats to be cautious about their cat if he or she
goes outside.
PURRFECT EDUCATION:
Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, has launched a 'purrr-fect'
new education website
to teach children about the importance of responsible pet care.
The free website, aimed at five to 14-year-olds, has two sections,
one designed for primary school children and another for secondary
school children. The site is packed full of games, quizzes and
downloadable video clips of PDSA vets and nurses, called PetCasts.
These help bring to life important pet care messages and vital
information such as how to choose the right pet in a fun and
unique way.
 PETS
ON THE MOVE:
At The Cat Clinic we've noticed a definite increase in
international travel of our patients, partly due to the relative
ease of transport brought about by the Pet Passport scheme which
avoids 6 months' quarantine on entering the UK. We've had cats
coming to Scotland from places such as Hawaii, Australia, Greece,
Japan and Dubai. We're also seeing them going to more exotic
places such as Barbados and China. The prospect of sending your
pet overseas can seem daunting for both you and your pet. Pets
on the Move is a family run travel agent which can take care
of every aspect of your pet's travel. They can provide as much
or as little help as you want, and can assist moving your pet
almost anywhere in the world ensuring your pet arrives safely
into your hands. Visit their website
for more information.
PROHIBITED PROCEDURES ACT:
Legislation recently came into place in Scotland which helps
to prevent any unnecessary procedures on animals. The area which
received most press attention regarded the banning of tail docking
in pups but less well known was that the act also considered
procedures on all domesticated species, cats included. A prohibited
procedure is defined as a procedure which involves the interference
with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal unless
it is carried out for the purpose of the medical treatment of
an animal. In order for us to be able to continue certain procedures
such as neutering, the Act introduced exemptions. The exemptions
for cats are ear tipping (to identify feral cats), microchipping,
tattooing, vasectomy, castration and spaying. Declawing, where
the tips of the toes are amputated to remove the nails, has
been an unethical procedure in the UK in recent years but this
new legislation now makes it an offence in Scotland.
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