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 pr.catsprotection@gmail.com.

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

helpline@cats.org.uk

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

Page 13 Issue 5

1 5 2

5 6 8 9 4 1

1 8 6 5

2 7

2 5

4 7

4 1 7 2

2 7 6 9 1 8

6 3 7

If you would like to know about advertising opportunities in

our newsletter or you have any other suggestions, then

please contact us: pr.catsprotection@gmail.com