News

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

Why is my cat overweight?

20 January 2018

Going back 30 or 40 years, cats in the UK did not get overweight. They were probably just as loved and cared for then as now, but they were slimmer. Historically, “Appetite is an expression of physiological need,” was another way of saying that cats only eat as much as they need to keep going – they would not eat to excess and get fat.The fact is that now many cats are significantly obese, and most are probably at least moderately overweight. Back in the 1970s the average UK ...
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Unvaccinated cats

09 December 2017

In a recent survey by the PDSA, it was found that 35% of cats received no vaccinations when young; up from 28% in 2011. Please help stop pets suffering needlessly due to not being vaccinated when young. All cats and kittens adopted from Cats Protection will have had their first vaccination and the second vaccination, which follows within 21 – 28 days of the first, is included in the adoption fee if it has not already been completed.As the number of pets going unvaccinated continues to ...
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Blocked Cats

18 November 2017

Some cats can suffer from a condition where blockages stop them urinating. This is often when they don’t drink enough water, perhaps when it is hot. This can encourage small stones and other material to form, blocking the flow of urine from the bladder. Feline urethral obstruction, or the ‘blocked cat’, is potentially fatal if not treated, so if you notice any of these signs, get your cat checked by your vet immediately. Trying to urinate but nothing coming out Tense ...
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Does Anyone Speak International Cat?

11 November 2017

On 5th July we received a call to our helpline from Denis who reported that his cat, Ryzhiy, had gone missing from the Hatfield area on 1st June and could we offer any help? He said that he had brought the cat over from Estonia and that the cat was a neutered and microchipped young ginger boy, but the microchip was still registered in Estonia. Glenn, our welfare officer, gave him advice on what to do and suggested that if he could get some photos of the cat ...
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Going on Holiday?

08 August 2017

Home-stay vs. cattery - what are your options? Going on holiday should be a time for relaxing and forgetting your worries, but when you have a cat that isn’t going with you, arranging its care in your absence can be a stressful time. If you’ve never left your cat before, knowing what the best option is can be tricky, with no way of predicting how he or she will cope. When planning your cat’s care, the less upheaval the better. This isn’t always achievable but forward ...
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The Importance of Microchips

01 May 2017

In the winter edition of our newsletter we had an article about a cat, Lou Lou, who was returned to her owners four years after she went missing as a result of the information on her microchip.In the latest edition we have another tale of Jake, who also went missing and who was also reunited with his owner because he had a microchip, but sadly we also have the story of a young mum who is not chipped and wecannot readily locate her owners.Last year, we were able...
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Welwyn Hatfield District Branch Helps to Raise Profile of Unlicensed Kitten Market to Government

30 October 2016

As always, the branch is inundated with stray cats, unwanted cats, pregnant cats, kittens, more kittens….it is never ending. There are so many cats out there, in our and many other charities, that need loving homes, yet there are those who breed their cats, over and over, to make money. The Government is currently reviewing various laws that licence activities involving animals. This ...
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August Neutering Promotion Success!

21 September 2016

We are delighted to announce that for the second year running we have had a successful Summer Neutering promotion. 36 responsible owners contacted us asking for our assistance in neutering their cats or kittens. As a direct result of our campaign, 49 cats will have been neutered, saving them from potential health problems in the future. Many people believe that a female cat should be allowed to have kittens, but if you ask why, most won’t know. ...
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Skin problems in cats

30 July 2016

When our skin feels irritated, we will itch and scratch until it starts to hurt or the irritation subsides. This is the same for cats except that, whereas we know when to stop, cats will scratch themselves until they are red raw.Far from helping the situation, excessive scratching, licking of affected areas only exacerbates the problems and may cause secondary bacterial infections to develop. It’s a vi-cious cycle of self-harm. Cats with skin complaints may dis-play lesions, flaky skin, ...
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Cats in Season

02 May 2016

The sun is out, the skies are blue and the daffodils are blooming; spring is well and truly here, but for cat owners whose queens are unspayed, the coming of spring was prob-ably announced in a different way – with high-pitched ‘calling,’ urine spraying and more affection than usual. Generally speaking, the feline heat cycle begins in March and lasts through to September. A female cat that is un-spayed will usually be in heat every 2-3 weeks throughout the season, unless she ...
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