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Celebrity ‘paws’ created for charity auction
Cats Protection hosts online auction to raise much-needed funds

Seventeen celebrities and artists, including model Twiggy and ex-England goalkeeper David Seaman, have each drawn around their hand to create unique "paper paws" for Cats Protection’s Celebrity Paws online auction.

The auction, now in its seventh year, raises much-needed funds for the charity which helps over 218,000 cats and kittens each year.

It will start on eBay on Thursday, November 21 and finish on Sunday, December 1.

Cats Protection has revealed that 2,000 fewer cats were adopted during 2012 than the previous year.

The charity is expecting further bad news as requests to adopt cats via its national helpline have slumped by around 40 per cent so far this year compared to the same period in 2012.

As a result of this, Cats Protection has launched a desperate appeal for people to adopt cats or make a donation.

Celebrity couple David Seaman and Dancing on Ice skater Frankie Poultney, adopted two cats - Smokey and Willow - from Cats Protection’s Newbury Adoption Centre. Frankie said: “David and I are pleased to be supporting Cats Protection by drawing ‘paper paws’ for the cause. We hope they raise plenty of funds and help many unwanted cats find loving homes.”

Zahir White, spokesperson for Cats Protection said: “We are very thankful for the paws from all of the celebrities and artists. We hope to get as much money as we can for each one as it will help at a time when it is harder than ever to find homes for unwanted cats.”

“From Frankie’s henna-like design to Twiggy’s abstract illustration featuring a blue eye and red lipstick, each design shows a great deal of ingenuity and craft and hopefully they’ll prove popular with bidders.”

To bid in the auction and to find out who else has donated their paw print to Cats Protection, please visit www.cats.org.uk/celebrity-paws.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.