Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 22nd December 2023
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Battersea collaborates with iCatCare to improve cat welfare
The plans will support long term, global cat population management.
The CFH programme aims to promote more strategic rehoming.

Battersea has collaborated with International Cat Care (iCatCare) to develop a new programme, which hopes to promote more proactive and strategic working with rehoming.

The Cat Friendly Homing (CFH) programme will work to assist the rescue sector with becoming more professional and sustainable.

The CFH programme’s principles state that each cat should be treated as an individual case, with only suitable pets being rehomed and no cat being worse off from human intervention. It aims to limit the time cats are spent in rescue centres or confinement, and neuter all cats at the earliest opportunity.

The plans will see veterinary training provided on key subjects such as neutering and shelter medicine. It will also see experts and organisations from different disciplines contributing to handle cat population management together.

It is hoped that that these plans will support long term, global cat population management.

The programme has been funded by a three-year grant from Battersea, as the rescue charity marks its 140th anniversary. It forms part of Battersea’s Global Programmes strategy, which sees it work with organisations across the UK and internationally.

Last year saw Battersea award 20 grants to rescue centres and organisations across six countries, helping nearly 350,000 dogs and cats.

Vicky Halls, head of unowned cats at iCatCare, said: “Now is the time for us to adapt, stop the never-ending cycle of reactivity and make a change for cat welfare.

“Cat Friendly Homing, an iCatCare initiative, represents a shift to a more proactive way of working that will not only tackle the problem at a population level, but also help more unowned pet cats to achieve the outcome that best suits their needs.”

Roxanne Nazir, head of grants and programmes at Battersea, said: “We are proud to support such an ambitious programme and as we mark our 140th anniversary of helping cats, there couldn’t be a better time to announce this collaboration.

“We cannot wait to see the impact this work begins to have on feline welfare and the rehoming sector over the next three years and beyond.”

Image © Battersea

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.