Table of contents for September 2022 in Your Cat

I think one of the many reasons we love our cats is that they keep us on our toes. They have independent personalities and continue to do things that surprise or even baffle us. This month’s lead feature delves into some of those behaviours that appear to make no sense. Why crawl into that tiny box? Or lie all over my keyboard? It’s a brilliant read and will give you a little more insight into these fantastic creatures we share our lives and homes with. The great thing is, once you’ve read the feature and understood these behaviours, you know there will be hundreds more cats will do to keep confusing you! We also want to hear from you this issue! Well, we always want to hear from you with…

iCatCare celebrated International Cat Day (ICD) 2022, which took place on 8 August. This year’s theme was “Cat Friendly Resources” and the campaign focused on providing resources that support the key needs of cats throughout their lives, and promote both physical health and mental well-being. iCatCare shared expert advice and eye-catching downloadable content, as part of a collaboration with world-renowned animal illustrator Lili Chin, to help all those caring for cats (both owned and unowned) ensure they are meeting their essential needs in a cat friendly way. The campaign was launched with the introduction of two new ambassador cats Domino and McTatters (created exclusively for iCatCare by Lili Chin). Domino represents owned cats, whereas McTatters represents unowned cats. The new ambassadors featured throughout the educational materials shared on social media…

Aheroic black cat is receiving praise following his actions after his elderly owner suffered a fall through barbed wire into a stream near Bodmin in Cornwall. Moggy Piran’s frantic meowing and pacing alerted a neighbour to his 83-year-old owner’s location. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service were then called and, along with an air ambulance team, they hoisted Piran’s owner to safety before then airlifting her to hospital. In a post on Facebook, Bodmin Police said: “This afternoon [14 July], officers were tasked to conduct a search for a missing 83-year-old female. The female was located by a member of the public who had spotted the female’s cat, meowing in the corner of a large maize field near to her home address.” It continues: “Piran the hero cat alerted emergency services…

GETTING INTO A BOX THAT’S FAR TOO SMALL FOR THEM Is there a box so small that a cat wouldn’t try to get into it? I don’t think so. They can’t resist them. Putting a tentative paw inside, then curling around and around before squeezing down into the most unfeasibly confined space. Even a small square on the ground marked out by tape can draw them in like a magnet — and there’s many an online video to prove that. One of the reasons for a cat’s desire for a confined space is safety. The instincts of their wild ancestors are hardwired in, so even though they may be in a perfectly nice secure home, they are drawn to behaviours that developed to keep them safe. “Part of who they…

The family renamed him Gruff after the character in ‘Tinker Bell and the legend of the NeverBeast’ because he is a big softie with a heart of gold, which describes Gruff to a T. He is an adorable and friendly cat who always wants to give cuddles and head nudges to the family and loves sitting on Heather’s lap and being cradled. Heather said: “Gruff settled in so quickly and it feels like we have had him years. He is so affectionate and follows me everywhere.” As Gruff settled in, Heather noticed that whenever the food was placed in front of him, he would eat at a rate of knots, wolfing it down, not chewing and often inhaling, then within seconds he would start vomiting. Heather bought him a slow…

“Fans from all over the world visit to pay homage…” The Top 10s series is going to be giving a rundown of everything cat! From cat knowledge to trivia, we will be taking on a range of different themes. Our listicles are not ranked in order, you can just see who or what has made the top 10. This month, we look at the most famous felines to have ever lived. These are real cats as we’ll cover fictional felines in another top 10! 1 A STREET CAT NAMED BOB Cats change all of our lives for the better — and if there was ever a feline that is testament to the life-changing power of kitties, it’s Street Cat Bob. James Bowen was homeless and struggling with heroin addiction when…

As regular readers may know, I recently moved to the Isle of Wight on the basis of family being irreplaceable, wonderful, special, and better on another island. Of course, when you move almost as far south in the UK as you can go, you’re bound to encounter cats from the farthest reaches of northern Europe…wearing Star Wars costumes. Yes, on a beach near Ryde, I met two Norwegian Forest Cats, named Princess Leia and Master Luke, adorned in Star Wars coats. Of course I did. To be clear, I hadn’t been on the catnip when this happened. The cats concerned were two absolutely beautiful Norwegians from Wiltshire (the plot thickens) and they didn’t actually tell me their own names and ages, but rather the information was conveyed by their wonderfully…

ONLINE ENTRIES LIVE FOR ALL 11TH AUGUST – 7TH SEPTEMBER REUSABLE KIM HASKINS RAINBOW CAT INSULATED DRINKS BOTTLE The Reusable Kim Haskins Rainbow Cat Stainless Steel Hot & Cold Thermal Insulated Drinks Bottle holds 500ml and is fun for all the family at home, work, or on holiday. This reusable bottle is great for the environment and life on the go. Printed with a fun design, it is both colourful and practical. The bottle is food safe but cannot be put in the dishwasher or microwave. The bottles keep liquids cold for up to 24 hours and warm for up to 12 so are the perfect solution for transporting your beverages in all outdoor temperatures. • Online Code: Colourful FELINE FRENZY OWLS AND MICE CATNIP TOYS The Feline Frenzy owls…

Things are definitely starting to get back to normal now and we have some wonderful shows coming up. Some are All Breed shows, and some Specialist Breed shows, but wherever you are in the UK, you will be able to find a GCCF Championship Show. Inevitably, the calendar still has cancelled by some scheduled shows, as show managers endeavour to get things moving again after a two or three-year break from their annual routine, but here are some that are coming up — if there’s one near you, why not go along and see the wonderful array of top quality cats that appear at GCCF shows: SOUTH OF ENGLAND • Saturday 13 August at Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Eastleigh, Southampton SO50 9NL — there is a double All Breed Show…

Human diabetes affects nearly five million people in the UK so it’s pretty likely you already know a fair bit about this condition. What you may not realise is how similar diabetes in cats is to type 2 diabetes in humans (the most common form). There are a few reasons why your cat may develop diabetes and not all are preventable. Just like in humans, diet and bodyweight are only a couple of the many risk factors. The good news for cats with the condition though is there’s lots you can do to help manage this common (yet complex) condition. “There’s lots you can do to help…” The pancreas The full name for diabetes in cats is diabetes mellitus. Translated from Greek and Latin, ‘diabetes’ means ‘to pass through’ and…

Imagine a place where you can come face-to-furry face with some of the world’s largest, smallest, and even rarest big cats in the world, right here in the UK. Well, that’s exactly what the Big Cat Sanctuary, located near Ashford in Kent, offers. Set in more than 30 acres of countryside, the sanctuary is a registered charity which aims to successfully breed some of the world’s most endangered cats, both large and small, within the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme. Their overall aim is to protect the species for generations to come but also with the long-term goal of returning these big cats to the wild where possible. So, visitors to the sanctuary will not only get the opportunity to meet some of their favourite big cats, but you will…

A specialist vet has been appointed as Cat Protection’s new chair of trustees. Kit Sturgess, a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons specialist in small animal medicine, will lead the charity’s board of volunteer trustees who are responsible for the values, strategy, and overall performance of the UK’s leading cat welfare charity, which helps 166,000 cats each year. He takes on the role from fellow trustee Angela Swarbrick. Kit will help the charity to continue a new 10-year strategy to help many more felines through the expansion of its advocacy, education, rehoming, and neutering work. Dr Sturgess says: “I am very honoured to become Cats Protection’s new chair of trustees, especially at a time when the charity is delivering an ambitious strategy to have a huge impact on the health, welfare,…

Blue Cross is calling for stories about hero pets from across the nation as nominations open for the 2022 Blue Cross Medal. Animal lovers across the UK are being encouraged to nominate inspirational pets who could be the next winner of the prestigious medal which celebrates pets who are changing or saving lives across the UK — with one extra special pet being awarded the winning medal. Chris Burghes, Blue Cross chief executive, says: “The Blue Cross Medal champions all heroic pets — from amazing assistance or therapy pets to everyday household pets who make exceptional companions. If you own or know of a pet that has done something out of the ordinary to change someone’s life, we want to hear from you.” The previous Blue Cross Medal winner was Carrots,…

“There is fur everywhere” What a summer. There is fur everywhere from relentless cleaning and grooming as the summer moulting takes place on schedule of the change of season. It brings with it the unending cycle of pulling out all the fur that starts to gather in my computers and other machines that are desperately trying to cool themselves with the fan running like a harrier jet. During those beautiful days as the sun shined, the cats stretched out on windowsills and laid in light puddles with their fluffy bellies turned upwards as the sun moved across the sky. On the bed, Gizmo stretched out like a little lion with his paws in the air and his great big white mane — he hadn’t care, he was happy. Pom Pom…

Social media chat Your Cat Magazine’s publisher, James, went to Greece and posted about meeting the feral, street cats and why trap, neuter, release programmes are so important. There were some interesting replies from other cat lovers who have seen the situation street cats face first hand. Sarah Jane said: “We moved from the UK to Bulgaria in 2016 and were shocked by the huge number of stray animals here. Although there are many people here that do love them and try their very best to help them, the general attitude towards stray animals is absolutely appalling, and they are very often classed as vermin and a nuisance. The most upsetting and frustrating thing is that many of the stray cats we care for and feed at night most likely…

PIXI SPINNER, FROM CATIT A whirlwind of feline fun! This stylish new addition to the Catit PIXI range is a cat toy and treat dispenser in one! Activated at the touch of your cat’s paw, this cat toy spins at intervals and dispenses treats at random to prolong the fun. The cute nightlight shaped like a cat’s nose and whiskers helps those felines that like to play at nighttime. Available in silver or blue, and presented in a trendy gift box so it makes the purrfect surprise for your kitty or a cat-loving friend. We have two Catit PIXI Spinners to give away to two lucky readers and their feline friends. • For more information, visit www.catit.co.uk • Online entries live 26th August – 9th September CAT COLLAR FROM THE…

Q My cat sometimes doesn’t return home for a couple of days. Should I be worried? We put food down for him and sometimes a bit goes but we won’t see him. I presume he’s out hunting or staying at other people’s houses. Should I be concerned that he might get hurt or want to live somewhere else? CLARE SAYS: A As cat parents, it’s always a worry when our cats wander off and difficult for us not to feel in control of what’s happening to them. But you’re right in thinking that your cat could be hunting. For some cats, the urge to hunt is very strong, despite the fact that we now feed them! And speaking of feeding, yes, it’s also possible that some well-meaning individual is providing…

“Many have families and work full time as well…” AN OPEN LETTER Sonja K. Steiner is our rescue correspondent and writes the stories about the incredible work that is going on. Having spoken to so many rescues over the months, Sonja wanted to share the big picture of what she had found. This issue, instead of the normal stories, we share an open letter from Sonja… Being the Rescue Correspondent for Your Cat Magazine, I have been in the unique and privileged position to speak to so many wonderful people who are involved in not-for-profit rescues, all of whom are volunteers. They freely give up their time to tell me about their rescue journey and how they came about setting up their own rescues, the rollercoaster of emotions that come with…

Bella wins an Ancol Premo XL Activity Centre, worth £21.90, while the others receive an assortment of cat toys, including a Jittery Mouse, courtesy of Ancol Pet Products. For more information, call 01922 402428. (UK only) SEE YOUR CAT HERE! Email a clear (non-blurry) image of usable size (around 300dpi and 1MB) to pawtraits@yourcat.co.uk Please include your full name, address, and phone number, as well as your cat’s name. www.facebook.com/yourcatmagazine @yourcatmagazine pawtraits@yourcat.co.uk…

For your chance to win one of this month’s great giveaways, visit www.yourcat.co.uk/competitions For more information on how you can enter, turn to the Your Cat Giveaways section on page 29. HERE’S A REMINDER OF THE GREAT PRIZES ON OFFER: GIVEAWAYS (PAGE 29) • PIXI Spinner • Webbox hamper • Cat collar from Cheshire & Wain • Cat scratching rainbow • Freak MEOWt toys • ‘FeedMe Now’ apron • Milk for Cats from TopLife • Kim Haskins drinks bottle • Feline Frenzy toys • ‘Glamour Puss’ bamboo socks • Cat teaspoons WHY NOT SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER? When entering online, why not also sign up to the Your Cat e-newsletter? It’s free! As well as featuring bonus content, there are often exclusive competitions — so more chances to win…

• SUSTAINABLE CAT LITTER LAUNCHES A new range of sustainable cat litter, designed to be environmentally friendly and paw friendly has launched in the UK. Ozzy and Dart — based in Glasgow and founded in 2021 — specialises in sustainable cat products, designed by cat lovers for cat lovers. Ozzy and Dart provides cat owners with the very best non-harmful clumping cat litter that is practical for owners and kinder to the planet. The company packages all of its litter in 100 percent recyclable sacks and sources the product from sustainably managed forests with PEFC certification. Further cementing its commitment to the UK’s population of cats and the wider planet, the company also donates 10 percent of its profits to charity — five percent to dedicated cat charities and the…

“They wanted to find a loving home…” In April 2021, the RSPCA in Birmingham put out an appeal for a very special person to adopt Jermaine. The lovely kitty was rescued by RSPCA inspectors living in a house of 40 cats, all of whom were suffering from cat flu. He also had dental disease. The poorly cat was treated for both of these but the staff at the centre noticed that he was drinking more than normal and urinating frequently, and tests revealed he had stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nobody knew how long Jermaine had left but they wanted him to find a loving home as soon as possible where he could live out the rest of his days The appeal happened to appear in Heather Ferns’ news…

I finally got to visit Bob’s memorial at Islington Green, London. I was pleasantly surprised to see Bob wearing a colourful hand-knitted scarf with his name on it, and colourful flowers around his head — so cute! Bob so reminds me of my Dave who I lost in 2018. Dave was my soul mate and best friend! He was just special, bless him. It makes me sad that I didn’t get to give him the send-off I would have liked, due to the state he was in when he died. Although Dave was all black, he had that same rounded face that Bob had and a look of intelligence about him.…

The Your Cat Product Awards are prestigious and long-time accolades in the pet industry. Run in conjunction with our sister publication, Your Dog Magazine, the awards see our readers vote for their favourite feline products. For those products that are lucky enough to be ‘Highly Commended’ or even scoop an award, it is a real badge of honour as it is the consumers that are saying their products are brilliant. So, now it’s time for you to have your say! What do you think are the best products on the market? What are the things you rely on to give your cat the best life possible? Let us know by voting online at www.yourcat.co.uk/productawards or fill out the voting form and send it back to us free of charge! Everyone…

GENERAL CARE Celia Haddon MA MSc MA is a well-known pet columnist and author of numerous cat books. She is a cat lover and owner, with a cat behaviour qualification and broad experience of feline issues. VETERINARY Aga Zoltowska BVSc MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) DipCABT MRCVS graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2005 and is passionate about cat welfare. Find out more at www.thecatboxsolutions.com BEHAVIOUR Kim Houston BSc (Hons), Dip (AS) CABC, CCAB is a consultant in feline behaviour. She works with clients throughout the UK, helping to resolve cat behaviour problems. Find out more at www.cat-astrophes.com Clare Hemington DipCAPBT is an accredited feline behaviourist. She has a cat behaviour referrals practice and runs her Honeysuckle Cat Toys business with the help of her Siamese, Billy. You can find…

If only these rescues had access to more funds, foster carers, and cattery space then they could help a lot more cats out there. It is these small rescues who go above and beyond to help a cat in need and really are the backbone of the cat rescue world. One of my favourite rescue stories was Mary who was taken in by Claw Cat Rescue based in Northumberland back in December 2021. She was a very poorly cat who also had a disability, but thanks to the dedication and care given by her foster carer Toni Poole, she is about to embark on the next stage of her journey and is being adopted with her friend Jackson. The other stories that are really heart-warming to hear are those cats…

“Gordon was able to give blood” Our first cat came to us a few years ago after she was found roaming the local area, desperate for attention and following people to their homes. We took her to the local vet’s who gave her a health check and scanned her for a microchip. As she had not been chipped, a local cat charity helped us to advertise her online in case she already had an owner. After seven days, no one came forward and we named her Ms Marvel, adopting her into our family. She settled in right away and we estimated that she was around one year old. We had her spayed and she bloomed into a beautiful long-hair calico. She took command of the household until we adopted our…