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Cat charity warns of skin cancer risk
white cat
Cats Protection is urging owners of white cats to keep them indoors during the hottest parts of the day.
Two recent cases illustrate the dangers of sun damage

Leading UK charity Cats Protection has shared the stories of two cats that suffered serious sun damage, in hopes of encouraging owners to protect their pets.

According to the charity's clinical veterinary officer Beth Skillings: "We regularly see cats in our care with badly sunburned ears which need to be amputated to prevent the development or spread of cancer."

Older cat Jenny, for example, had to have both ears amputated when she was handed in to the charity's branch in Caterham. Pre-cancerous cells had developed in her ears.

Since undergoing surgery in June, she has been adopted by Tracy Musgrove from South Nutfield, Redhill.

Similarly, a white-and-tabby stray called Martin was handed into the Derby centre. Martin had developed feline skin cancer in the tips of his ears as a product of years of sun exposure.

After an operation to remove his ear tips he is now ready to be rehomed with an owner who will vigilantly protect him from the sun.

As temperatures remain high, Cats Protection is urging those with white cats to keep their pets indoors during the hottest parts of the day.

"White cats, or those with unpigmented white noses or ears, are at the greatest risk," Beth added. "It may take a few years before the damage is visible but, once the early stages of cancer set in, it is important cats are given urgent veterinary treatment to prevent it spreading."

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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
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."