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iCatCare releases guidance on unowned cats and decision-making
The documents providde guidance to those working with cats on decision-making regarding unowned cats.
Free documents consider key questions on unowned cats.

Cat welfare charity International Cat Care (iCatCare) has released a series of free-to-access documents to advise on cat-friendly decision-making.

The documents, focusing on decision-making in situations with unowned cats, provide accessible and practical information for those working with unowned cats who often have to make complex decisions about care.

Claire Bessant, chief executive of iCatCare, commented on the need for the documents: “Working with cats can be complex, and never more so when it is in the field of unowned cats and how to help both them and the people on this front line of cat welfare. 

“Bringing together this information has taken many years - time to understand cats and the issues, time to understand people’s challenges, and time to consult and review what we know and what we don’t. 

“For unowned cats, there is no doubt that good advice is scarce, hence our approach to bringing together information in as straightforward and pragmatic a way as possible.”

The first document, titled 'Managing cat populations based on an understanding of cat lifestyle and population dynamics', explains the issues that free-roaming cat populations cause and the need to humanely stabilise populations over time.

The importance of collaboration in trap-neuter-release (TNR) programmes is discussed, as well as the role that pet cat owners should play in helping organisations to achieve population reduction. 

'Outcomes for kittens born to free-roaming unowned cats' discusses the gaps in knowledge surrounding long-term outcomes for kittens born to unowned cats. The document considers how those involved in care for kittens in this situation can make good decisions for the kittens' unique circumstances.

Describing cats who have been with homing organisations for a long time because their behaviour fails to appeal to potential owners, 'inbetweeners' are cats who have previously been treated as pets but struggle to live in a conventional pet setting. 

In the 'Identifying solutions for inbetweener cats' document, iCatCare provides help to organisations to recognise these cats, and to develop solutions that work for their needs.

All three of the new cat-friendly decision-making documents are available to download from this link to iCatCare's website. 

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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.