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What do we do about the "cat crisis"?
kittens
In Surrey alone, the RSPCA has rescued 384 cats so far this year.
Vets invited to an event hosted by Surrey vet school and the RSPCA

Surrey's new vet school has teamed up with the RSPCA to tackle the UK's overpopulation of cats. The school hopes its students will lead the way in changing attitudes to early neutering.

More than 120 veterinary practices in Surrey have been invited to a training evening on December 2 to discuss a solution to the problem.

A panel of experts will attend, including the RSPCA's chief vet James Yeates, Surrey's Gail Anderson and representatives from regional RSPCA inspectorates and Cats Protection centres.

James said: "The idea behind the evening is both to share with vets in the area the problems we are facing with the overpopulation of cats, and provide a forum for us to discuss the best ways of dealing with it".

In Surrey alone, the RSPCA has rescued 384 cats so far this year. This is up from 260 in the same period last year. Across England and Wales as a whole, the charity has rescued 30,205 cats compared to 27,840 in 2013.

James Yeates said he hopes the training evening will become "the launchpad for finding a solution in Surrey".

"Last year was horrendous in terms of the number of cats which were abandoned. They were left in boxes outside our shops, by rubbish bins, in woodland and all kinds of places - it was heartbreaking."

Recent research found that 85 per cent of litters are unplanned. The RSPCA believes this is because too few owners realise cats can get pregnant from four months of age.

Professor Anderson, head of veterinary education at Surrey vet school said: "By highlighting the advantages of early age neutering for cats we can address the problem of unwanted 'teen pregnancies' in cats that add so much to the problem.

"We want our vet students to be leaders in changing the attitude to early neutering so it becomes the norm for the profession".

The event will be held at the University of Surrey in Guildford. It costs £20 a head, including refreshments, and will count as CPD certification. Contact the university's Julia Gerhold on jgerhold@surrey.ac.uk for information about attending.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
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Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.