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RSPCA appeals for homes for farm cats
Farm cat Archie was rehomed by the RSPCA last December, and is growing in confidence.
The charity aims to reduce their stress in catteries.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has appealed for homes with outdoor spaces, as it creates a list of potential farm cat adopters.

The list will enable the charity to rehome farm cats quicker, potentially avoiding the stress of keeping them in a cattery.

Farm cats prefer spacious, outdoor settings to living indoors, and are often nervous around people. However, they still need a carer to provide food, water, shelter and veterinary care.

Despite the name, owners of farm cats do not require a large farm or riding stable to keep them.

The charity is looking for homes of all different types to add to their list, to allow for the many different types of cats they rehome. In the past, some farm cats have found alternative homes in a model village, an orchard and a gazebo company.

One farm cat which has benefitted from the RSPCA’s rehoming work is Archie, a ginger tabby cat. He was rehomed by Karen Owens last December, and was initially shy.

Ms Owens provided a large shed for him to move into, however it seemed that he had found a different vacant shed to move to at first. Although Ms Owens never saw him at this time, she often found empty food bowls, showing that he still relied on her for food.

He soon moved back into the original shed, and is starting to show more affection to Ms Owens – including greeting her with a ‘meow’ and eating from her hand.

The appeal comes as the RSPCA launches its ‘For Every Kind’ campaign, teaching people to rethink their relationships with animals.

Dominika Jagoda, pet welfare expert for the RSPCA, said: “We want to educate the public that not every feline will be an easy-going lap cat. Just like us humans, there are a range of personalities and preferences across each individual cat which comes into our care.

“Farm cats will need less human interaction than a typical domestic cat but they still need someone to look out for them and over time they may want to spend more time with you and allow you to give them a little fuss!”

For more information visit the website, or see the farm cats available for adoption here.

Image © RSPCA

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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.