Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Nominations open for National Cat Awards
"I really hope that this national celebration of our feline friends will inspire more people to welcome a cat into their lives" - Owain Wyn Evans.

Cat owners are invited to submit their pet for consideration.

Cats Protection is asking pet owners to nominate their cats for the National Cat Awards, an annual celebration of the devotion and courage of cats across the UK.

Launching the opening of nominations, BBC weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans said: “I’m a big fan of cats, not just because they’re such amazing animals, but also because of the incredibly positive impact they can have on people’s lives. 

“It’s such an honour to be helping launch the National Cat Awards, and I really hope this national celebration of our feline friends will inspire more people to welcome a cat into their lives.”

Nominations open today (11 January) and will close on Thursday 10 March, and cat owners will be able to nominate their cat in one of four categories, with a brand new category focusing on cats who have helped in the workplace, whether they've been helping their owners to adjust to working from home, or brightening up an office. 

The categories are as follows:

▪  Cat Colleagues – Cats who bring joy to the workplace or make working from home a pleasure
▪  Most Caring Cat – Cats that positively impact a person’s health or wellbeing
▪  Furr-ever Friends – Tales of friendship between children and cats
▪  Outstanding Rescue Cat – Fabulous felines adopted from animal charities
 
The winners will be chosen by a panel of celebrity cat lovers, and announced at a ceremony on 4 August 2022.

Kate Bunting, Cats Protection's Awards organiser, said: “Over the past two years, the UK’s pet cats have played an even more important role in our lives – whether it’s keeping the kids’ company during home schooling, being a companion for people living alone in lockdown or simply being there during times of uncertainty.

“From chilled out cats that provide comfort and support, to the mischievous moggies that make us smile, cats undoubtedly have a special place in the hearts and homes of millions of people. We’re thrilled to once again be hosting our National Cat Awards and are looking forward to sharing many wonderful stories of moggy marvelousness!

“We hope that by celebrating some of the UK’s most incredible cats we’ll inspire more people to consider adopting a cat in 2022.”
Further information, including how to nominate a pet can be found at cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards

Image (C) Cats Protection

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
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.