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Kittens rescued from Great Ormond Street Hospital 
Cassie and her kittens were found by the facilities manager sheltering in one of the hospital's store rooms.

The family were found sheltering in a storeroom.

Children at Great Ormond Street Hospital were given the special task of naming a stray cat and her kittens, who were found sheltering in one of the hospital’s store rooms.



As an early Christmas treat, animal charity Battersea invited the children on Panther, Lion and Leopard Ward to name the kittens. After much deliberation, they decided on Luna, Chocolate and Sky, while GOSH’s own CATS team (Children’s Acute Transport Service), named the mum Cassie. 



Cassie and her kittens were found by the facilities manager sheltering in one of the hospital’s store rooms from the cold. Working closely with Battersea’s Rehoming and Welfare team, they ensured the safe transfer of mum and her kittens to Battersea’s London Centre.

Sorrel Magenta, rehoming and welfare manager at Battersea's London Cattery, said: "When the kittens first arrived at Battersea, we were all surprised by how friendly and healthy they were, given they'd started life in a storeroom.

“The facilities team at Great Ormond Street did a wonderful job of looking after them in the early days, taking on all our advice on how to keep the mum and babies secure until we were able to safely bring them into our centre.”

Jason Dawson, executive director of space and place at Great Ormond Street Hospital added: “Kittens being born at Great Ormond Street Hospital is not something that typically happens here! We’re proud of the Space and Place team for keeping the kittens safe and getting them to the right place to ensure they are properly cared for and can go to a loving home.

“It's wonderful that some of our patients, and our CATS team, can be the ones to name them. It gives the kittens a nice link with where they were born.”

Cassie and her kittens are said to be progressing well. The family will be spending the festive period together in foster care before looking for their forever homes in the New Year. 

Image (C) Battersea.

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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.