A third of British pet owners believe their pooches and moggies have piled on the pounds and fear their pet is overweight.
Concern over podgy pets has grown in the last few years, with veterinary professionals reporting an increase in levels of pet obesity. Many claim to have seen a rise in the number of overweight dogs, cats, rabbits and even small rodents being brought into surgeries for treatment.
The survey by Argos Pet Insurance has found that one in three (35 percent) people are worried that their dog or cat may weigh too much.
Some pet owners are trying to combat the problem, as a quarter of people interviewed have put their pet on a diet with the aim of reducing their weight. The same percentage of people also report working out with their animal to try and help them lose weight.
Five percent of people do feed their pet a special diet to match their own, while three percent feed their pets a vegetarian diet. Meanwhile, just one percent of pet owners feed their dogs or cats a vegan diet.
Rebecca Cannon, veterinary surgeon with Argos Pet Insurance, commented: “One problem may be the amount of food being given, even if the diet is good quality and balanced. Sometimes owners don’t realise their pets are overweight for their breed. Other owners may be failing to follow feeding guidelines. For example, feeding their pets on demand, when they assume them to be hungry, providing too many treats or allowing them to graze from a surplus of leftover food.”
Obese animals face similar health implications to overweight humans. Argos Pet Insurance have seen an increase in claims for obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and even certain types of cancer. As with humans, pet obesity can reduce life expectancy and quality of life.
The main causes of animal obesity are often, as you’d expect, too little exercise and too much food. However, some pets put on the pounds after neutering or due to conditions like hypothyroidism.
Rebecca added: “These figures regarding people’s fears that their pets are overweight are alarming and not to be ignored, but it is great to see some people are working to help their pets lose weight. We all want our pets to live long and happy lives, so we need pet owners to be conscientious when it comes to diet and exercise. Obesity is dangerous territory, putting pets at risk of a whole array of serious health problems.”
If you’re worried about your pet, check out these guides to getting your dog or cat in shape.
In a nutshell, pets, without a doubt, make great companions at home. But aside from keeping everyone in the house company, there are many scientific studies that prove the health benefits of keeping pets. For one, they decrease the chances of allergies and asthma among kids. Patients recover faster from major illnesses when they have pets. And furry companions help reduce the stress of their owners.
Those are just a few major advantages of having pets at home. But for people who are still thinking of owning one, it makes you think what kind of pet is best to keep. For most families and homeowner, they are already settled for a dog, which is not surprising. Some choose small animals like mice, hamsters, or guinea pigs. While others go for unconventional pets such as spiders, lizards, or other exotic pets.
But what about cats? What makes them a very good pet choice? Why is it great to take care of these feline creatures? Just like the pets mentioned above, cats have a unique charm and outstanding qualities that no other pets possess. They can be wild hunters when it comes to catching their preys, but they can also be calm and affectionate toward their owners whenever they feel like it.
Apparently, there are other reasons why it’s nice to keep cats as pets other than their natural characteristics. With that, Purring Pal has created an infographic that shows 40 reasons to take care of cats.
I’m not a big advocate on scruffing cats and during my cat behaviour consultations I often hear clients tell me that, as a way to get their cats to obey them when they have been ‘naughty’, they scruff them ‘ because that’s what their mummies would have done when they were kittens”. The truth about scruffing cats starts now!
These are some of the facts below to highlight why scruffing is never a good idea in most circumstances.
Many cats react adversely to scruffing resulting in aggressive behaviour
A kitten’s relationship with its mother is based on a different set of principles. A mother cat knows the precise pressure to place on the skin at the back of the neck. She scruffs her kittens not to reprimand them (as many people over quote) but to carry them or move them from danger. For an adult cat the action of a human scruffing it is frightening and puts the cat into an un-relaxed and guarded state.
Lifting a cat or suspending its body weight by its scruff (the skin on the back of its neck) is unnecessary and could be potentially painful. It’s certainly not the most respectful or appropriate way to pick up or handle your cat.
The theory was that since kittens go limp when their mothers carry them by the scruff, a tight grip on the loose skin over a cat’s shoulders would trigger the same response. But this “flexor reflex” occurs only in very young kittens. It is now thought that gripping the skin in “mother cat fashion” causes stress and can make a cat more fearful.
Scruffing should only ever be used in a situation whereby you need to restrain a cat quickly because of adverse circumstances. Apart from this scruffing should never be used as a training action or reprimand.
Treat your cat with respect and train in a proper manner. Forceful actions such as scruffing should never be anyone’s choice of action.
We hope you have enjoyed this article on the truth about scruffing cats.
References:
Dr Marty Becker, Karen L Overall, G Landsberg, W Hunthausen, L Ackerman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. Middlesex University also awarded Anita the Gerry Fowler Prize for achievement in recognition of her work and final result.
Anita is also a specialist mobile cat groomer who works closely with vets on aggressive or phobic cats. She writes for Your Cat magazine and is on their experts panel for cat grooming. Visit http://www.catbehaviourist.com.
“Yuki”. Unison soft pastels on ClaireFontaine Pastelmat. 24*30cm.
This is a snow bengal cat which I was kindly given permission to sketch. I was struck by her amazing colouring and regal pose!
I have a soft spot for blue-eyed cats – probably because I have never owned one. I have only learned that there are some blue-eyed bengals since joining cat groups on Facebook, which has been so educational for me.
I am always looking for what will make the subject special – is it the composition, the pose, the lighting, the colours ? Here the cat looked composed, alert, interested, authoritative, … all at once, and her colours were amazing.
Sara Day
I am an artist who makes work of animals and people.
Three cats live with me – Maine Coon Orlando, Bengal Pandora and black moggy Rio.
Commissions, and indeed any art enquiries – welcomed.
No matter if you have a dog, cat or small furry such as a rabbit, keeping your pet’s nails in good shape is an important part of being a pet guardian. And of course with many of us still in lockdown around the world this isn’t always an easy task!
Are you one of those pet guardians that feel like they simply have to take their pet to a vet or a groomer in order to trim their nails? If the answer is yes, don’t fear as this was us once as well!
For the sake of reducing stress for our little Oliver and harm to our wellbeing we always used to take him to our local vet. An expensive trip for a five minutes job but we thought it was worth it to reduce stress and stop him getting in grown nails.
But what makes it such a stressful process? Why do our cats refuse to have their claws clipped? Many cat lovers will claim that cats should not have their claws clipped as they need them for defense and to be able to climb up objects which are fine for outdoor cats that constantly use their claws and thus shed the outside sheet while loosing some of the sharpness of their claws. Sadly when it comes to indoor cats, even those with access to plenty of scratch trees and pads, not clipping their nails can lead to problems such as overgrown claws or even those growing into their soft pads which is not just painful but can potentially lead to dangerous infections.
So what if you have an indoor cat and your cat simply “refuses” to have their nails clipped?
Well as mentioned… we have been in the same situation with our moggie Oliver, ever since we adopted him as a kitten simply would not tolerate having his nails clipped with conventional clippers. To make things worse his claws are genetically predisposed to grow inwards towards his pads thus leading to a bi-monthly visit to the vet or our groomer friend to have them trimmed, usually a 3 people job EVEN with the assistance of a professional but certainly less dangerous than doing it at home.
Our assumption was that he must have had a horrible experience before we adopted him and most likely that is correct!
Luckily for us, one of our partners PerAnimal started distributing a unique clipper called ZenClipper which is not just completely silent but features a unique circular design that prevents pet guardians from cutting the quick as long as the right size of the clipper is purchased. As with any new product I am sceptical until we get to try it out but were pleasantly surprised as to how silent and easy to use the clipper was when we initially trialled it with our easy cats (Rennie & Freya will actually sit and push their claws out during caticure!)
So the next stage was Mr Oliver, the destroyer of solid oak wood tables (the last time we tried to do it at home, prior to having one of these clippers he actually managed to shred the solid wood table!). We got him onto Iain’s lap and I got ready to cut his claws of course accompanied by some low-level growling as he assumed it was going to be one of the traditional clippers!
Much to our surprise we got through the first couple of claw tips with a bit of growling and one hiss, waiting for the moment he’d turn and outright attack… but that moment never came! Instead, we managed to clip all of his claw tips on both the front and back legs. It was still a 2 people job, hence why we have no photos BUT coming from NOT being able to cut his claws at home at all to be able to clip ALL of his claws in one session was a HUGE and unexpected improvement.
So how does ZenClipper work?
ZenClipper a revolutionary new pet nail clipper that is designed to clip just the tip of the nail. Zen Clipper has a patent-pending conical blade that only allows the tip of the pet’s nail into the cutting area, it’s like putting the tip of the nail into a small funnel. You clip just the tip and avoid the quick. Originally invented for cats, Zen Clipper can also be used on dogs, birds, reptiles and small animals like ferrets and rabbits.
All nails are slightly different on every pet, although most are similar in size and shape for a specific type pet. The first time you use ZenClipper, observe that the quick of the nail, the red part that has the blood supply, won’t be cut by the blade. Just a few tries and you’ll be using the ZenClipper confident that it “Clips the Tip and Not the Quick”. ZenClipper is especially helpful for pet owners with limited near vision since it will prevent you from cutting off too much of the nail, even if you cannot see up close.
There are 7 sizes of Zen Clipper and below are some guidelines for choosing the right size for your pet.
Zen Clipper Size XXS – 1.5mm hole. This size is for smaller birds, kittens, ferrets, smaller reptiles and small animals like guinea pigs.
Zen Clipper Size XS – 2mm hole. The XS is for most adult cats.
Zen Clipper Size S – 2.5mm hole. This is for larger cats, larger birds, puppies, large reptiles and very small dogs.
Zen Clipper Size M – 3mm hole. For small dogs and larger puppies. A Dachshund would be a good fit.
Zen Clipper Size L – 3.5mm hole. For dogs approximately 20lbs to 40lbs | 9 – 18kg.
Zen Clipper Size XL – 4mm hole. For dogs approximately 25lbs to 50lbs | 11- 23kg.
Zen Clipper Size XXL – 5mm hole. For medium to larger dogs, approximately 25lbs to 60lbs | 23 – 30kg.
The vast majority of adult cats use a size XS. But it not uncommon to need 2 different sizes to cater for front and back claws.
A handy sizing card can be ordered or downloaded in our Shop.
Why does ZenClipper make such a difference to pet behaviour?
From our trials on Mr Oliver we think this is down to a few reasons. For starters most of traditional clippers make a loud noise when you try to clip your pets claws there as these are completely silent. The second reason is most likely down to cheaper clippers often crushig the nail and causing discomfort instead of actually cutting it. As there is no way for you a human finger to get into the clippers the blades on these are ultra sharp and thus easily clip even tougher nails!
And of course knowing that there is no chance to accidentally cut the quick it means us humans are much more confident in clipping our pets nails which means we are quicker at doing it and most likely our pets read that our body language has changed.
The ZenClipper is available directly in our blog shop.
As a five-day cold snap grips, the RSPCA is urging people to remember animals
With temperatures plummeting to below freezing and heavy snowfall in many areas, the RSPCA is urging people to do their bit to help animals.
The Met Office has this week issued a number of yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK.
RSPCA Inspectorate Commissioner Dermot Murphy said: “It’s really important we help our animal friends get through the chilly weather, and we’ve got lots of helpful advice and tips available for people to make sure their own pets, and local wildlife, are kept safe.
“Already this week we have responded to a number of calls about animals being abandoned or left to fend for themselves in the freezing cold. We’ve seen dogs left tied up or outside with no shelter and horses and livestock struggling as their only water source has frozen over.
“Wild animals will also be struggling in this icy weather, facing challenges such as dehydration, hunger and cold. But a few little changes to your everyday routine can really make a difference to animals. For example, a little bit of extra food left out for a hungry bird may be the help it needs to last through a spate of frosty weather.”
Here are the RSPCA’s top cold weather tips:
Keep a close eye on outdoor pets like rabbits and guinea pigs; if the temperature starts to drop below freezing, you may wish to move your bunny inside. We recommend guinea pigs are housed indoors when temperatures are below 15OC. If you do bring your pets indoors, they still need plenty of time and room to exercise safely. If you have to leave them outside, provide them with lots of extra bedding and make sure their home is protected from adverse weather with insulating but ventilating covers. Hutches should be in a sheltered position, with a sloped roof and should be raised off the ground at least 4ins.
Ensure cats have constant access to the house or to a warm, indoor area such as an outbuilding or barn. You should also ensure the cat’s bedding or sleeping area is warm, dry and away from any draughts.
Antifreeze and rock salt – commonly used at this time of year – can be poisonous to pets so keep any stored products out of their reach. If you’re concerned your pet may have ingested anything they shouldn’t, please speak to your vet immediately.
If you have a pet who gets wet or cold, rub them dry with a towel and make sure they have plenty of warm bedding.
If you have an elderly or sickly dog, you can buy a special coat or jumper to keep them warm when you’re out walking. Make sure your dog can still behave normally, for example, go to the toilet easily and that it is a good and comfortable fit.
When walking your dog in the dark or riding your horse, wear reflective clothing and think about reflective protection for your pet too!
Keep your pet dog away from frozen ponds, lakes or rivers which can pose a danger, and make sure their paws don’t get impacted with snow.
If you keep pet birds in aviaries, coops, or runs, then you should also protect them from the cold weather. Provide plenty of additional dry, warm bedding such as straw and cover enclosures to keep the wind and rain out. Birds will eat more to keep warm in cold conditions so ensure the birds always have access to plenty of food and fresh water, ensuring water does not freeze over.
Never house animals, including birds, in greenhouses and take caution if housing them in conservatories.
If you have a fish pond, check it every day to make sure the surface is not entirely frozen as poisonous gasses can build up under the ice. Don’t break the ice as this can harm the fish, but carefully place a saucepan of hot water on the surface to gently melt a hole in the ice. Never tip boiling water straight onto the pond either, as this can also harm or kill any fish living there. And never try to use antifreeze or salt to thaw frozen ponds or birdbaths.
Horses and livestock need extra care in the winter, such as adequate shelter to escape bad weather, extra feed as grass can be sparse, and regular checks on water troughs to keep them clear of ice. Give added protection with a waterproof rug, ensure they have access to dry standing areas, and check hooves regularly for loose shoes or signs of problems such as mud fever. Farmers and smallholders should give extra consideration to young animals and whether they need extra protection from the cold weather.
Wildlife may need an extra helping hand during tough, winter conditions. Birds can struggle to find food during the winter months so, to help them stay strong over this period, householders can leave out extra food for them (like suitable seeds and grains such as oats and sunflower seeds; cooked pasta or rice; boiled potatoes, cheese, or uncooked unsalted bacon rind; raisins and sultanas; net-free fat or suet balls; apples, pears and soft fruits; insects such as mealworms or waxworms).
Keep bird baths free of ice, leave out bowls of clean water, and keep feeders clean.
Carefully check any wood or leaf piles for wild animals such as hedgehogs, frogs and mice before lighting any fires or bonfires. If you find wild animals in hibernation, be sure to leave them be.
We don’t advise keeping dogs outside in any weather. Meeting the needs of dogs when they’re kept outside is very hard – and more so in very low temperatures. Owners should make sure their dogs have a clean, comfortable and dry sleeping area with a safe heat source so the temperature does not drop below 10OC.”
Remember – if you see an animal outside in the cold that looks like it is suffering, take a note of the location, the time and date and call the RSPCA on the emergency line 0300 1234 999.
Help the RSPCA protect animals this winter and join the Winter Rescue today.
Here we are in the midst of January and as many of you probably know, Monday of this week had the distinction of being awarded the most depressing day of the year. This shadowy title became known due to the timing of a combination of post-Christmas blues, cold dark nights and the arrival of unpaid credit card bills.
According to Awareness Days a university professor managed to precisely calculate the most depressing day of the year, using a following formula combining weather, debt, low motivational levels, etc. If interested check it out here – third Monday of January.
But Monday’s behind us now and only 60 days until Spring!
To celebrate, we thought we’d segue with a fun story.
Our family recently enjoyed the new Top Gun movie (Maverick) and recalled a featured post we did last year on one of our favorite cat celebs – an adorable black panfur called Lizzy (stage name @OwlKitty). She’s an online superstar who lives in Portland with her pawsome pawrents. See the full story of Owl Kitty here.
We couldn’t resist sharing their latest creative meowsterpiece – a parody of Top Gun Maverick (incl. scenes from the original!) Check out the latest heroics of Lizzy below.
In case you’re curious (we were) … here’s the behind the scenes at the making of this hilarious Top Gun Parody starring OwlKitty! Enjoy!
Cat lovers across the UK are being invited to nominate their furry friends for the biggest event in the feline year – the National Cat Awards.
Run by the charity Cats Protection, the annual event celebrates the nation’s most marvellous moggies, with heart-warming tales of devotion, courage and companionship.
Entries open on Tuesday 10 January and owners have until noon on Friday 24 February to nominate their cat in one of four categories:
Cat Colleagues – Celebrating cats who bring joy to the workplace or make working from home a pleasure.
Family Fur-ever – Recognising cats that make a family complete, whether they’re a child’s best friend or a comforting sofa buddy.
Moggy Marvels – Jaw-dropping stories of survival, heroism and companionship in the cat world.
Social Star – Paying tribute to those fame-hungry felines who spread joy on social media.
Cats Protection’s Chief Executive John May said: “Cats are undoubtedly some of our nation’s most treasured pets, and over the past few years many of us have found their companionship more important than ever.
“The National Cat Awards are all about celebrating everything we love about cats – from their entertaining antics to their comforting presence. And in recognition of just how much enjoyment cats bring to the world, we’ve introduced a new Social Star category, where the public can nominate their favourite famous felines.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the awards once again and look forward to sharing many wonderful stories of moggy brilliance, and hopefully inspire more people to adopt a rescue cat in 2023.”
Winners will be selected in a public vote and by a panel of judges before being announced during a ceremony at London’s Wilton’s Music Hall on 17 July 2023.
The winner of the National Cat of the Year trophy will inherit the title from Jasper and Willow, who were named joint National Cat of the Year 2022 in recognition of the role they play at St Peter & St James Hospice in Haywards Heath, Sussex.
To nominate your cat, or for further information about the National Cat Awards, visit www.cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards from Tuesday 10 January.
Battersea has seen a record number of puppies and kittens born at its centres this year, the charity’s latest figures reveal.
In 2022, the leading animal welfare charity saw 133 kittens born across its three centres in London, Old Windsor and Brands Hatch – the highest figure in the past decade. This is compared to an average of just 82 in the 9 years previous.
By August 2022, the number of kittens born at Battersea had already surpassed 100 – more than twice the total amount of kittens born on site in the entirety of the previous year.
Meanwhile, dog births on site also saw a significant increase, with more puppies born in 2022 at Battersea’s centres than any of the previous 5 years. 29 puppies in total came into the world under the care of the charity’s dedicated staff this year, a figure almost double the previous yearly average of 16.
These figures come as the charity reports it is seeing a higher proportion of pets admitted into its care due to financial pressures on owners. In November this year, 15 per cent of dogs and 10 per cent of cats were brought into Battersea by owners who told them they could no longer afford to keep them or afford their vet bills. For dogs, this is up from 1 per cent the same month the previous year.
Commenting on the trends, Centre Manager Steve Craddock said: “Whilst it’s hard to say for certain, we suspect that in 2022 the social and economic climate has created the perfect storm for unwanted litters of kittens and puppies.
“First and foremost, with the ever-increasing cost of living, keeping household budgets tight is understandably a priority for pet owners. We suspect fewer people are getting their pets neutered, perceiving this to be a non-essential cost.
“However, we know the reality is quite different. Cats can reach sexual maturity and get pregnant at just four months old, leaving unneutered cats at a high risk of having unwanted kittens – which will be both time-intensive and costly to care for. Our research estimates the average yearly cost of owning a cat is now approximately £1,500, so any unplanned litters will come with a hefty price tag attached for the average family.”
Snowflake, who at just 9 months old unexpectedly fell pregnant with 4 kittens, is one of several cats taken into Battersea’s care due to unplanned pregnancies this year. Unable to afford the costs of caring for a small litter, her owner admitted mum and the four kittens – Spruce, Fir, Pine and Poinsettia – to Battersea in September. Just under 2 weeks old on arrival, they were cared for and socialised at the charity’s London site before eventually being old enough to be rehomed 2 months later.
Battersea advises neutering kittens between 9 and 12 weeks, and puppies from 6 months old depending on breed. As well as neutering any unneutered dogs or cats before rehoming them, the charity also contributes to community outreach to manage populations and improve the welfare of non-domesticated cats. Last year, working in collaboration with other organisations it successfully neutered 81 feral cats.
Approximately 2 million people in the UK suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but do pets get affected in the same way by these winter blues? For animals, especially dogs, who rely heavily on the outdoors for most of their exploration, the colder months could be difficult.
Here, Cliverton, experts in kennel insurance, look into how our beloved pets are affected by the changes in season and what we can do to help our pets get through the winter months still wagging their tails.
How do the winter blues affect pets?
The symptoms of seasonal affective disorder usually present in humans are a change in appetite, sleep schedule and energy, low moods and irritability. But did you know that this can actually present in your pets too. If you notice a shift in sleeping or eating behaviour, it might be down to SAD. Whether your cat is overeating and becoming more irritable towards you, or your dog isn’t as excited when you come home and avoiding their food bowl, it could be due to the changes in weather.
The lack of sunlight can have a large effect on your pets, especially dogs who are accustomed to being energetic outside. A study by PDSA found that one third of owners spot signs of depression within their dogs during the winter months.
Some believe that pets are not negatively affected by the colder months, but rather they feed on our emotions. In fact, studies show that dogs can find human emotions contagious, with the shifting moods of an owner influencing the way a pet feels. With one in three of us Brits showing symptoms of SAD annually, we could be causing our pets to feel the same way.
What can I do to help my pet during the winter months?
Keep a routine
One of the main symptoms of SAD is a change in behaviour, especially sleep. As with humans, if pets are showing signs they are sleeping too little, or too much, they could be struggling emotionally. By maintaining a routine, you can help keep sleeping patterns at a constant across the year. This can be anything from scheduling playtimes, feeding times, and walks to maintaining your own routines, such as your habits in the evenings and mornings to help your pet regulate theirs. However, understand that sometimes your pets will just feel like sleeping more. Sleeping more in winter can help conserve heat and energy during the coldest days of the year, so keeping an eye on your pet’s routine and monitoring abnormalities is important. If your pets cannot be motivated, there might be something else at play, so consider a trip to the vets.
Maintain your own energy
Pets can provide emotional support, but sometimes our emotions can impact them more than we understand. Seasonal Affective Disorder might not only affect your pet, but the way you react to these shifting temperatures and shorter days might also impact their wellbeing. Maintaining self-care during this time can help your pets feel more relaxed. If you are feeling yourself then they might too. Try increasing light exposure in your house to fight off those short days or spend time outside during sunlight hours. Battling your own SAD could help your pets too.
Diet
And as with humans, your pet’s diet can also contribute to their mood. One quarter of owners questioned in a survey said they attempted to improve their pet’s moods through additional food, especially treats. While it can be difficult to know what to feed your pets, especially if they are showing signs of a loss of appetite, it is important that you maintain a healthy diet to fight those winter blues. Planning ahead of time can help with this, start maintaining a healthy diet early in the year in preparation for the winter can mean you can maintain a routine while also benefitting your pet’s health. Staying away from treats and food which have high levels of artificial flavours, colours, and additives can help boost your pet’s mood.
It is important to know how to fight off the winter blues as we enter the colder months. Our pets can often be our sources of happiness, but we are also theirs. Maintaining our own emotions throughout the winter might help them maintain their own energy levels. So whether you are going on more walks than normal during the sunlight, or accepting that some days are duvet days, you can get through seasonal affective disorder together.
