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Fox cub 'lodger' found under sofa
Red fox cub
The fox cub will remain in the care of Fenland Animal Rescue until he is old enough to be released back into the wild.

Homeowner alerted by suspicious cat

A homeowner from Norfolk received a shock last week when she discovered a young fox cub hiding under her sofa.

It is thought the cub had been in the house for several days when the owner noticed a ‘smell’ and had seen her cat acting suspiciously.

The fox cub will remain in the care of Fenland Animal Rescue until he is old enough to be released back into the wild.

“It wasn't until she looked under the furniture and noticed two little eyes staring back at her, that she realised she had a lodger!” said a spokesperson for Fenland Animal Rescue.

“Our team attended and were able to recover the little one safely, however, it soon became apparent that he had been in the house for several days and had been without food or fluids throughout!”

The team quickly set out to find the fox cub’s mother so that they could be reunited. But despite their best efforts, they found no trace of her and had to admit the fox cub into their care.

On arrival at the Centre, the veterinary team assessed the cub for injuries. Despite being seriously dehydrated, the little fox had bags of energy, giving them hope that all was not lost.

Several weeks later, following a course of fluid therapy, parasite medication and a strictly controlled diet, the fox is now free from all infections. He has now been moved to an outdoor pen to get a feel for the wild and can use the space to play and explore.

Rescuers say they will feed the cub a ‘natural diet’ to ensure he develops the skills needed in life and, once old enough, will continue his journey in the wild.

Image (C) Fenland Animal Rescue

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.