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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 28th November 2019
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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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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.