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Is your cat a Gryffinclaw or a Snifferin?
'We thought it was about time that our feline friends had their own school of witchcraft and wizardry.’
Cats Protection creates Harry Potter inspired Sorting Hat for cats

Harry Potter fans can now find out whether their pet cat is a ‘Gryffinclaw’ or a ‘Hufflepuss’, as the charity Cats Protection has created its own version of the Sorting Hat.

The charity says: ‘From Hermione’s faithful moggy Crookshanks, to Professor McGonagall’s tabby animals, there are many felines roaming the halls of Hogwarts. Therefore, we thought it was about time that our feline friends had their own school of witchcraft and wizardry.’

Each house has been given its own personality profile, for example Hufflepuss is for felines who are sleepy, friendly and calm by nature, while those in Gryffinclaw are loyal, affectionate and love to go on adventures - whether its climbing on the furniture or chasing a catnip mouse around at 5am.

Meanwhile, Ravenpaws are intelligent, vocal and active, able to work out exactly when their next meal is due. Finally, Snifferins are energetic, playful and curious at heart, always sniffing out new places to explore and pouncing on anything that moves.

A poll on the charity’s twitter page suggests Gryffinclaw is the most popular house, with 30 per cent of cat owners saying their pet is most suited to this house. Close second is Hufflepuss (28 per cent), followed by Ravenpaw (22 per cent) and Snifferin (20 per cent).

The charity says acceptance letters for ‘Mogwarts’ will be delivered by owl to moggies around the world.

Image © Cats Protection 

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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.