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Battersea's fattest ever cat begins Christmas diet
Texas with Battersea staff member
Texas with Battersea staff Yogamaya Von Hippel.

Twelve-kilo moggie weighs three times its recommended weight

Concerned staff at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home are desperately trying to help a morbidly obese cat lose weight in the run-up to Christmas.

The monstrous moggie, named Texas after America's infamously larger than life state, was brought into the rescue centre weighing a whopping 26 pounds. Staff at Battersea were stunned to see the size of the eight-year old domestic long haired cat, which proportionally would weigh the same as a 41-stone middle-aged man.

Battersea's Cattery Team Leader, SuiLi Weight, said: "Many people may be starting to think about losing a few pounds in the countdown to Christmas, but for Texas this really is a very serious health issue he’s battling. At Battersea we take in around 3,000 cats every year, so we see cats of all shapes and sizes, but Texas is by far the biggest cat we’ve ever seen. We have had to specially kit out his pen with a double staircase up to his bed and extra bedding to make sure he is comfortable. Some people might think it’s funny to see a cat this big but it is in fact extremely sad to see an animal which is suffering so badly.”

Texas was brought into Battersea because his owner had passed away. He has now been put onto a weight loss programme to help him lose the pounds, and shares a home with foster carers where he has more room to move around and exercise.

SuiLi added that overfeeding your cat is a form of cruelty. "You may thinking you are showing it love by giving it treats and feeding it human foods, but it's in fact an incredibly cruel thing to do in the long run."

If you would like to rehome Texas, call Battersea on 0843 509 4444 or visit www.battersea.org.uk

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Greyhound Board announces change to vaccination guidance

News Story 1
 The Greyhound Board of Great Britain has published new vaccination guidance, with all greyhounds registered from 1 January, 2027 required to have the L4 leptospirosis vaccination, rather than L2.

The change comes in response to the reduced availability of the 'L2' Leptospirosis vaccine across the UK, and aims to support best biosecurity practice across the racing greyhound population.

GBGB veterinary director Simon Gower, said "While rare, Leptospirosis is a serious infectious disease that can affect both dogs and humans, so it is vital that we offer our greyhounds the broadest possible protection.  

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News Shorts
Free webinar explores congenital heart disease in dogs

A free webinar is to provide veterinary professionals, dog breeders and pet owners an new insights into congenital heart disease.

Chris Linney, a cardiology specialist and Veterinary Cardiovascular Society (VSC) member, will present the webinar from 7.00pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday, 12 November.

Dr Linney will explore the types, causes and clinical presentation of congenital heart conditions. This will include diagnostic approaches, treatment pathways and emerging research opportunities.

The session is the third to be organised by The Kennel Club, with the VCS, following an introductory webinar and a talk on acquired heart disease. Dr Linney's webinar consists of a one-hour presentation, followed by a 30-minute question and answer session.

Dr Linney said: "This webinar will be an opportunity to deepen understanding - not just of the diseases themselves, but of how breeders, vets and owners can work together to support affected dogs and improve outcomes for future generations."

Click here to register for the webinar.