The latest from the feline world!
WELFARE Charity appeals to public after kittens dumped
The RSPCA is appealing to the public for information after two kittens with cat flu were found dumped in a box close to a school in Rugby.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Jack Curran rushed to the scene to collect the kittens after the charity had been alerted to the kittens’ plight by a concerned member of the public.
Jack says: “These kittens, who we believe are around four weeks old, are not very well at all. They have cat flu, which has made them quite poorly.
“They were so cold when they were discovered. It’s so sad to think how long they were there for and what would have happened to them if they hadn’t been found. Such young kittens are so vulnerable to predators and it is no wonder they were so nervous.”
The charity is now urging the public to come forward with any information about what it calls a “callous” act.
Jack continues: “Somebody must know who owned these kittens. If so, please call our appeals line on 0300 123 8018 so we can look into it further.
“It is never acceptable to abandon an animal, even if you think you are doing it with good intentions because you can’t afford veterinary fees. It is a cruel way to treat an animal. If you have a pet who needs veterinary care, there is financial help out there — the last thing you should do is dump them.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS New Zealand feral cat-hunting competition axed
A children’s feral cat-hunting competition in New Zealand has been axed following backlash against the event.
BBC news reported organisers of an annual hunt were criticised after announcing a new category for those aged 14 and under to hunt feral cats. The animals are considered a pest and a risk to the country’s biosecurity.
Youngsters were told to not kill pets, but were otherwise encouraged to kill as many feral cats as possible for a prize. The child who killed the most between mid-April and the end of June would have won NZ$250 (£124).
The event had been announced as part of a June fundraiser hunt for a local school in North Canterbury in the South Island, a largely rural area of New Zealand where hunting is popular.
The competition each year typically sees hundreds — including children — compete to kill wild pigs, deer, and hares.
HEALTH Cat-only clinic in Manchester
A husband and wife vet duo have opened Manchester’s first cat-only vet clinic after renovating the city’s oldest veterinary surgery.
Founded by local veterinary surgeons Ellie
