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Three new cat behaviour courses launched
Charity offers different 'intensities' of learning
Charity offers different ‘intensities’ of learning

International Cat Care already provides a range of distance education initiatives aimed at the veterinary profession. It claims that its new courses – ranging from a two-month short course to an 18-month online tutor-led course – fill the gap for cat professionals and cat owners eager to learn more about cat behaviour.
 
Enrolment has already opened for ‘Getting to Know your Cat: an Introduction to Feline Behaviour’ – a six-month online course aimed at all cat owners and enthusiasts. It is made up of five modules that look at many aspects of feline behaviour including:
  • the impact of domestication
  • understanding the behaviour of free-ranging cats and pet cats
  • how cats communicate and use their senses
  • understanding feline emotions and how they allow us to assess a cat’s welfare
  • what are a cat’s environmental needs and how can we best provide them
  • understanding why behaviours might become problems for their owners and first aid interventions for these behaviours.
Students work through the course materials at their own pace, with a short assessment at the end of each module; and on successful completion of the course, students will receive a certificate. The first 50 students to enrol will receive a 50 per cent discount on the cost of registration.
 
‘Cat Friendly Introductions: Cats, Dogs and Babies’ is scheduled for launch at the end of the year. According to the charity, this second course is the perfect follow-on to ‘Getting to Know your Cat: an Introduction to Feline Behaviour’ or can be studied as a stand-alone project. Again, aimed at cat owners and enthusiasts, this course provides the learner with the knowledge to assess whether their home and current cat is likely to accept another cat and how best to choose a new feline addition.

It also provides step-by-step advice on how to best introduce cats to other cats, dogs and babies to maximise the chance of a positive relationship in the future. This course is a two-month, short online programme during which students work through the course materials at their own pace. There is a short assessment at the end of each module and on successful completion of the course, students will receive a certificate.
 
To complement the current behaviour course available to veterinary professionals, ‘Advanced Feline Behaviour for Cat Professionals’ is a course aimed at providing the same high level of knowledge to those working with cats in a range of parallel capacities – such as rehoming centres, groomers, boarding catteries and cat sitters. This is an 18-month, online, tutor-led course that allows for inter-peer and tutor discussion.

Learners work through the modules remotely allowing them flexible study times around their working lives. This course covers the same elements as ‘Getting to Know your Cat: an Introduction to Feline Behaviour’ but in greater depth. There is also additional focus on behavioural development in kittens and the impact of their early experiences on behaviour; as well as how cats learn and how we can use this to improve the welfare of cats.

This course is modular and students work to deadlines to complete assessments that are marked externally by feline behaviour experts. On completion, students will receive a certificate. Enrolment is open for this course, with a start date of March 2020.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.