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Time with cats can combat loneliness, report concludes
The report makes a series of recommendations to help people struggling with loneliness.
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cats makes recommendations for care providers, welfare charities and the Government.
 
Spending time in the company of cats can help to tackle loneliness, a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cats (APGOCATS) has concluded.

The report, released to coincide with Loneliness Awareness Week, suggests that cat ownership and interaction is one of several measures with the potential to tackle loneliness across all age groups in specific social situations.

It also makes a series of recommendations for care providers, welfare charities and Government to explore allowing and encouraging people who are struggling with loneliness to interact with cats.

Among the recommendations includes a call for prescribing social time with cats, either through volunteering or fostering felines for animal rescues or, if appropriate, getting a cat as a pet.

Other recommendations include encouraging housing providers to allow more renters to own or foster cats; health care providers to be able to access information on cat care, and animal welfare organisations to widely share advice about owning and caring for cats.

“As a cat owner I have always found great pleasure and happiness from having cats in my life and can testify to how they can be great companions and provide love, support and enjoyment,” commented Sheryll Murray MP, Chair of APGOCATS.

“Tackling loneliness is a priority health issue facing many across the UK. The role cats and other pets can play to help tackle the problem is under-researched and merits further attention. I very much look forward to taking forward the report recommendations.”

APGOCATS is made up of a group of MPs, peers and associate organisations with an interest in feline welfare. Supported by numerous animal welfare organisations, including Battersea, Blue Cross and Cats Protection, the group seeks to support discussion and debate about what politicians and the Government can do to further the welfare of cats.

“I very much welcome this report by APGOCATS which has been compiled by organisations and experts that care about both cats and people," commented Robin Hewings, director of campaigns, policy and research at the Campaign to End Loneliness.

"It is clear that the role of cats in combating loneliness is under-explored and this report goes a long way to highlighting the many ways they can help. There is no simple cure for loneliness, but there is clearly real potential for cats to have a more beneficial role in people’s lives, and I urge the Government to consider the findings of this report.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.