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.
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

Drive to rehome forgotten felines
Lily
Have a heart for a black cat this Halloween

GIVE black cats a chance is the message from Cats Protection in its third annual drive to encourage more people to adopt monochrome felines.

National Black Cat Day is being held on October 31 to encourage people to offer a home to an unwanted black or black-and-white moggy.

Around half of the 6,200 cats in Cats Protection’s care are black or black and white and, on average, each of these cats waits around a week longer to find a new home.

Jackie May, Cats Protection’s information and education manager, said: "It’s sad black and black-and-white moggies are homeless for longer so we wanted to give them a chance to shine and show that fur colour is only skin deep. At Cats Protection we are standing up for the ‘under-cat’ and asking people to consider taking a black or black-and-white cat into their home.

“Once favoured by storytellers in tales of magic and witchcraft, black cats have developed an undeserved bad reputation that is still bubbling away."

This National Black Cat Day, Cats Protection is inviting people to share their black and black-and-white cat stories, photos and videos on its Facebook page.
 
Over 250 of the photos that have already been submitted have been used to create a new poster which will be used by the charity to promote adopting a black or black-and-white cat.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/catsprotection

Image shows Lilly, who is at Cats Protection’s Dereham Adoption Centre in East Anglia. She is 11 years old and came to the centre as her owner was emigrating.

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

Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.