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Feline charity launches cat census
The scheme will include a number of measures to help build a picture of the number of homeless cats.
Residents in Everton asked to report stray or feral cats

A leading feline welfare charity has launched the second phase of a major pilot scheme to track homeless cats in the UK.

Cats Protection’s Cat Watch study now aims to find out the scale of un-owned cats living on the streets of Everton. Through various tools, residents, businesses and community groups are being urged to report stray or untamed feral cats.

It is hoped that by identifying areas with high numbers of cats living on the streets, the charity can better target its neutering work.

Cats Protection’s neutering manager Jane Clements said: “Cat Watch is the first step in helping us find out how many stray and feral cats live outdoors in the UK. If pilot schemes in areas such as Everton prove successful, we hope to eventually replicate it in more parts of the UK.
 
“Once we’ve identified stray and feral cats living in the area, we’ll be offering help to have them neutered to control unwanted cat populations. By carrying out our Cat Watch scheme in areas like Everton, we hope to eventually be able to get an accurate picture of the number of unowned cats in the UK.”

The scheme will include a number of measures to help build a picture of the number of homeless cats in Everton, including a mobile phone app, community hub, door-to-door engagement and Facebook.
 
Jane said: “We're concerned about the welfare of these cats, and the impact cat populations have on communities when numbers grow uncontrollably. By tracking these numbers, we can better target our neutering work to help prevent kittens being born on the streets and improve the welfare of those that do."

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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.