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Charity urges owners not to wash cats
Cats Protection recommends that owners only bathe their cat if told to by their veterinary practice.
There has been an increase in cat bathing content on social media.

Cats Protection has warned pet owners not to wash their cat unnecessarily, after seeing an increase of cat bathing videos on social media.

It fears that inexperienced owners may be led to bathe their cats, which it says is rarely needed and can be distressing for the cat.

The welfare charity says that washing cats can remove essential oils from their coat, which are needed to add a layer of waterproofing to their skin. It can also affect the efficacy of flea control treatments.

Additionally immersing a cat in water can interfere with their pheromones, affecting their ability to mark their territory.

The charity suggests that this could be due to their evolutionary origins from African wildcats. African wildcats’ natural habitats were deserts, so being in water is unnatural for them.

Cats Protection therefore recommends that owners only bathe their cat if they are told to by their veterinary practice. In most cases, cats can keep themselves clean by grooming themselves.

If you need to bathe your cat, it suggests using only water, or a small amount of unfragranced shampoo. This is because cats have a different skin pH to humans, meaning even a mild shampoo can be damaging for cats.

The charity has shared its advice on grooming cats, as well as other cat care advice, on its Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts.

Elin Williams, Cats Protections’ regional behaviour officer, says: “It’s no myth that cats don’t like water and, as long as they are grooming themselves, they should stay clean,

“If really necessary, using a soft cloth soaked in warm water will be enough to remove most dirt.”

She adds: “If your cat stops grooming themselves for whatever reason then we’d always suggest speaking to your vet first as any changes in behaviour may indicate there’s something wrong.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.