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Cat ownership up by half a million - PFMA
cat
PFMA's report suggests the rise in pet cats is being driven by increasing numbers of male owners.

UK’s pet cats now number eight million, report suggests

Pet cats in the UK now number around eight million, an increase of half a million cats, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA).

New figures from PFMA’s latest Pet Data Report suggest the rise is being driven by the increasing number of male cat owners, which climbed by 25 per cent (around one million men).

The statistics have been published following interviews with more than 8,000 UK households.

A total of 12 million households are now estimated to have a pet, equating to 44 per cent of households in the UK, and 54 million pets.

Cat-owning households now account for 17 per cent of households with pets. PFMA says more young people own cats, with those aged 16-34 up three per cent, and those aged 35-44 up two per cent.

The research also showed 38 per cent of families with children were considering a small mammal as a pet.

PFMA’s statistics show the breakdown of pet ownership:

  • 15-20 million fish kept in tanks
  • 15-20 million fish kept in ponds
  • 8.5 million dogs
  • 8 million cats
  • 900,000 rabbits
  • 700,000 pet birds
  • 700,000 reptiles
  • 600,000 domestic fowl
  • 500,000 guinea pigs
  • 300,000 hamsters

The full report can be found here: http://www.pfma.org.uk/annual-reports

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.