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Feline lonely this Valentine's Day?
Image Sheila
Battersea staff say Sheila may look tough on the outside, but she is sweet and sociable.

Cat lovers can find their purrfect match at Battersea

For those who are "feline lonely" this Valentine's Day, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is opening its doors to help singles and romantics alike find their purrfect cat companion.

As well as free canapés and a glass of bubbly, guests at the charity's free event will enjoy the chance to get up close and personal with the charity's residents in cat cuddle booths.

Battersea staff hopes visitors will find their purrfect feline match, offering a second chance for some of the thousands of cats the charity takes in each year.

Lindsay Quinlan, head of the cattery, says: "Battersea staff and volunteers hope visitors find a treasured tabby or marvellous moggy they can share a life with. Everyone is feeling the love and excited about Valentine’s Day at Battersea’s Cattery this year.

"We’re looking for homes for our beloved black cats as well – it’s so easy for people to overlook them. But don’t let superstition get the better of you, these cats need all the devotion they can get from their new owners. There are plenty of cats looking for love and we hope this is a Valentine’s Day for them to remember."

One such feline looking for love is eight-year-old Sheila, who was found wandering the streets and has had a hard time a Battersea.

Staff say she may look tough on the outside but she is a "tame tabby with a heart of gold" and is "sociable and sweet".

With Valentine's Day coming up, Battersea is appealing for animal lovers to donate red or pink knitted blankets for its residents to snuggle into during the cold winter months.

Battersea's Feline Lonely event takes place at Battersea's Cattery in London from 5.30pm to 9pm on February 14
.

Find out more about the blanket appeal here.

Images courtesy of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue cases lead to restricted zone extension

Following the detection of new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), the restricted zone has been extended to include additional parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire, as well as Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and part of Dorset.

The zone now covers 28 counties and unitary authorities in England. As of 16 December, 185 cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed in England and Wales during the current vector period.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.