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Badger caught catnapping in Linlithgow
The badger crept in through the cat flap and fell asleep on the cat bed.

Creature found snoozing on a cat bed

The Scottish SPCA received a surprise this week when they were called out to a badger that had snuck into a house in Linlithgow.

The charity was called out to the property after the badger had crept in through the cat flap and made himself at home on the cat bed. The badger was discovered by animal rescue officer Connie O’Neil:

“I got a surprise when I arrived at the property and saw a badger having a nap!” she said. “He had gotten in through the cat flap and had eaten all the cat food before going for a sleep on the cat bed.

“He didn’t seem too happy when I tried to move him but I was able to slide the cat bed round and it was then that the badger noticed the back door was open so made a run for it!”

Scottish SPCA superintendent Mike Flynn said that it is highly unusual for a wild badger to enter a house and urged anyone who finds one in an unusual place to seek help immediately.

“Like all wild animals badgers can be aggressive when injured or cornered so we would advise not to go near or touch them without giving us a call first,” he said. 

Image (C) Scottish SPCA

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.