News

Newspaper CatWhat is going on in the world of Welwyn Hatfield Cats Protection? Here’s the place to find out!

How Old is Your Cat?

21 January 2021

How old is your cat in ‘human years’? Eight, eighteen or eighty? You’d treat a person of each age differently and the same’s true for cats!For their size, cats live quite a long time. Generally, an animal’s longevity is proportional to its size (with the exception of tortoises, man and a few other animals).A tiny mouse has a short lifespan, a rabbit somewhat longer and a dog between 7 and 20 years depending on its breed or size, its activity, or both. Cats ...
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Lockdown and weight issues - for your cat!

15 December 2020

Lockdown has posed a serious challenge to the waistlines of both people and pets. That that little extra treat here and there all mounted up and perhaps you are feeling that your trousers are a little more snug than you would like and your kitty has become a big cat! While people have been at home more, dogs could be taken on longer walks per-haps, but for cats, the only real COVID difference was the disruption to their daily naps! If you think that your cat ...
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Hairballs: what they are and how to prevent them

13 November 2020

As a cat owner you will be all too aware of a cat's tendency to leave you unwanted gifts. If it’s not still living, long dead, or plain unpleasant, it probably hasn’t been left by your cat! When it comes to gifts, nothing beats the regurgitated hairball for a show of affection! For all we love our animals, there are some things we will never get used to and, getting out of a warm bed and stepping straight onto a freshly deposited cold, slimy mass of...
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Cats Protection Welwyn Hatfield District Branch is 10 years old!

17 September 2020

Happy 10th Birthday! The Welwyn Hatfield branch has turned 10 years old this year! With the impact of Covid-19 it has been a very strange time for all to date. You may know from this site and Facebook posts that we, as most other people, companies and charities, have been in lockdown since mid-March. This of course has had a significant impact on the voluntary work that we do: Responding to calls, emails and Facebook ...
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What is the best diet for my cat?

17 July 2020

Cats can be fastidious about what they eat and perhaps with good reason! They are “obligate carnivores” that have a hard time processing plant proteins. They need meat to survive and cannot stay healthy on a diet of vegetables and grain. Meat contains essential nutrients for cats, such as taurine, arginine, arachidonic acid, niacin and vitamins A and B12. Cats that are deficient in these nutrients are likely to suffer from a range of serious ...
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FIV cats Q&A

25 May 2020

Q. What is feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)? A. FIV in cats is a virus similar to human HIV, although there is no risk of people catching HIV/AIDS from infected cats. FIV damages the white blood cells so infected cats have lower immunity to other viruses and bacteria. Infection is permanent – FIV cannot be cured. Infected FIV cats are identified by a blood test. Q. What are the symptoms of FIV infection? A. The symptoms following infection with the virus ...
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Lucy’s Law will help kittens too......

29 January 2020

New legislation to end puppy and kitten farming was announced by the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, in May last year. Known as ‘Lucy’s Law’, it will mean that puppies and kittens can no longer be sold by a third-party seller – such as a pet shop or commercial dealer – unless they have bred the animals themselves. Instead, anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months must either deal directly with the ...
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Caring for an older cat

11 January 2020

Compared with some animal species, the average life expectancy of domestic cats is relatively long and, thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, is only going to increase. Many cats will live to 17 or 18, with some entering their early 20s and beyond. A one year old cat is comparable to a 20 year old human, with every subsequent year adding four years to its human age equivalent. Therefore, a cat that is 16 years old will be developmentally the same as an 80 year old human; in fact the oldest...
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Is your cat overweight?

28 September 2019

Obesity in cats can be hugely detrimental to health which is why knowing when your pet is carrying excess weight is so important. Sometimes, particularly when weight gain is gradual, you get so accustomed to seeing your pet looking a certain way that you don’t stop to question it. According to International Cat Care, between 39 and 52 per cent of cats in the UK are overweight or obese. A cat is typically classified as ‘overweight’ when they are 10 to 19 per cent heavier than ...
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Preventing boredom in indoor cats

06 September 2019

Some cats are “innies” and some our “outties”. Some have the best of both worlds. But for those that are housed exclusively indoors, boredom can set in if their environment lacks enrichment.There is plenty to suggest that indoor-only cats live longer, safer lives than their outdoor counterparts. But this is only true if their lives are fun and engaging. If you are going to have your cat inside, it is important to make its environment as ...
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Why should cats be kept in at night?

26 May 2019

Not long ago, it was common for cats to be allowed out at night to roam freely and fulfil their natural instinct to hunt. These days, many owners prefer to keep their cats inside at night, where they feel they are safer, and this is something that we recommend.With one in four cats killed on the road – usually at night – it isn’t surprising. At night, car headlights can dazzle cats, meaning they’re more likely to get hurt or killed. Cars...
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Cats Questions and Answers

12 May 2019

Q. When is a kitten old enough to leave its mother and littermates?A. 12 weeks is the best time as the kitten will have learned from play with its brothers and sister, plus it will also have had its first vaccinations. Your vet can advise.Q. When should a kitten be vaccinated?A. The first vaccinations should be no earlier than nine weeks, with the second ones three weeks later. Boosters should then take place annually thereafter. The kitten shouldn’t mix with other animals until fully ...
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