Yesterday the winners of the Cats Protection National Cat Awards were selected in a plush awards ceremony held in London. Five winning cats rose to fame in the following categories: Best Friends, Hero Cat, Most Incredible Story, Outstanding Rescue Cat and Celebrity Cat.

A cat with an extraordinary story to tell headed up the Best Friends category, and also claimed the prize of overall winner of the National Cat Awards. Jessi-Cat was handed the accolade for her extraordinary relationship with her owner Lorcan.

Lorcan suffers from Selective Mutism, which makes it hard for him to talk and express himself. Jessi-Cat has helped Lorcan deal with his illness. Lorcan is able to show Jessi-Cat love, and even express it in words, which he struggles to do with humans. Jessi-Cat has transformed Lorcan’s life in a remarkable way, which is why he was selected as the overall winner.

A black and white cat called Charley was the winner in the Hero Cat category for saving her owner’s life. Owner Susan suffered a diabetic attack in the middle of the night and Charley rushed to the rescue to wake her husband to help her. A hero cat if ever there was one!

The Most Incredible Story went to a cat called William who, against all the odds, managed to drag himself home after a vicious dog attack. William’s back legs were in such a bad state that one of them had to be amputated. The incident happened earlier this year, and he has since made a full recovery and is coping well with life on three legs.

A little cat called Phoenix won the Outstanding Rescue Cat award for her resilience to her bad start in life. She was found in a bad way having been very badly burnt. She was taken into a veterinary practice and cared for over a three month period. She was then adopted by the practice manager and has made a full recovery.

The winner of the final award, Celebrity Cat, was chosen by the public, and the prize went to Simon’s Cat! We love Simon’s Cat and think his cartoons are really fun, bringing smiles to cat lovers everywhere – a worthy winner!

For more information about the winners of the National Cat Awards, take a look at the information on the Cats Protection website.

Is your cat worthy of an award?

Why not tell us what award you think your cat could win by commenting on this blog post!

A cat in Luton has found fame as a cat burglar! He has been caught on CCTV carrying all manner of objects through his cat flap including sponges, clothes and even pants!

Nicknamed Denis Cat Burglar Newman, the crafty collecting kitty has now been made a sponsor for Homeless Cat Rescue in Bedfordshire, using his fame to help raise money for the charity. ‘Denis Stole My Pants’ t-shirts can be purchased, and so far, the sale of these t-shirts has raised enough money to buy a microchip scanner for Homeless Cat Rescue. A microchip scanner is a vital piece of equipment to help determine if a suspected stray cat has a microchip or not.

Denis had a tough start in life. His mother was a stray and was found in a bad way. Unfortunately she passed away, and Denis now suffers from a permanently wheezy chest. Because he was taken in as a stray, his owners know first-hand how important it is to help fund cat adoption centres like Homeless Cat Rescue.

Homeless Cat Rescue in Bedfordshire relies on generous donations from the public to help rehome stray and unwanted cats. They need a regular supply of cat food and cat litter, and flea and worm treatment. They’re also looking for old bric-a-brac to sell at car boot sales and people that can provide foster homes for cats that are waiting for permanent homes.

Has your cat ever brought anything strange through the cat flap?

If so why not tell us about the strange things they bring you by commenting on this blog post!

Hi, I’m Newton, the SureFlap mascot! I love my job demonstrating the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap all over the world. You might find me in vets and pet shops across the UK, in America and even New Zealand!

But check this kitty out; she’s got an awesome job – as a security cat! And they’re saying she could be the world’s first ever feline security guard; now that’s something to purr about!

Her name’s Millie and she’s a beautiful Bengal cat. She was found wandering amongst the toys in Bandai’s warehouse in Southampton. Don’t worry though she’s got a loving home. She just loves exploring!

Millie’s got an impressive CV so the humans at Bandai were quick to hire her – her skills include climbing and loud purring.

The humans are giving Millie a pretty sweet salary. Instead of being paid with that silly human paper money stuff, she’s being paid in cat food and… wait for it… fish! And she gets to be surrounded by toys all day. What more could one kitty want?

Millie’s human parents are right behind her in her new job. They say she’s the purrfect candidate for the role of security cat because she often likes to spend long hours alone and she is very vigilant.

The humans at Bandai are starting to stock up with toys for Christmas, so it’s the perfect time to hire a security cat. Good luck in your new role Millie!

Does your cat have a job?

If your cat has been hired to do a particular job, why not let us know about it by commenting on this blog post!

Image courtesy of Niklas on Flickr

Several cats in Scotland have suffered from a disease that stiffens their back legs and tail, which makes them walk like a robotic cat. Experts do not know what causes this curious disease, but it’s thought that the illness could have been picked up whilst the cats were out hunting.

Around fifty Scottish cats have been affected by the robotic cat disease over the last 10 years and most have been located in a rural area between Inverness and Aberdeen. There has also been one reported case in Liverpool, though there could be other unreported cases elsewhere in the UK.

Robotic cats can find it difficult to get around as they are no longer as agile as they used to be. They can become distressed as they can get themselves getting into sticky situations that they find difficult to get out of.

The strange robotic cat disease not only affects a cat physically, it can also affect them in a behavioural way. Many cats in Scotland that suffered from the disease became more affectionate, while a select few became more aggressive.

There is no cure for the disease at the moment, and sadly, most robotic cats are put to sleep within a year of contracting the illness. However, there is one couple that are dedicating their time to caring for their robotic cat, and have done so for the last two years.

The Sims live in Aberdeenshire with Tinkers, a robotic cat that can’t be left alone for any length of time or he becomes terribly frightened. Tinkers knows that he is vulnerable, and if left alone, he becomes afraid of being attacked.

The disease has also affected Tinkers memory; sometimes he even forgets to eat. Mr Sim has become very dedicated to caring for Tinkers and is determined to care for him for as long as possible so that he doesn’t have to be put to sleep. Mr Sim said: “Really, I can’t go anywhere because I’ve got to be with him all the time. I always believe if you take on a pet you’ve got to give it 100%, you can’t just forget about it whenever it suits you.”

Are you caring for a disabled cat?

Why not tell us about your disabled cat by commenting on this blog post.

Image courtesy of ~Kenny on Flickr

A fat cat was dumped in the foyer of the Fredericton SPCA Animal Shelter in Canada in December, containing the aptly named Tiny, who weighed a whopping 30.2 lbs. Initially the shelter workers had no idea the box contained an animal as it was taped shut; until it meowed. Inside the box were Tiny and another much smaller cat, Rapunzel.

Tiny the fat cat has been put on a special diet to help bring his weight down and a special Facebook page has been set up to help him, and other cats like him, lose weight. Follow Tiny’s Weight Loss Challenge on Facebook to find out how he gets on with his diet and to donate to the Fredericton SPCA Animal Shelter to help fund his care. Tiny is the largest cat the shelter has ever seen and they are keen to get him down to a healthy weight with the help of support from the public.

It costs around $5 a day to feed Tiny his special food. Another fat cat in the shelter, Pepper, who weighs 19 lb., is also on the same diet. They both also need special, on-going veterinary attention. The Fredericton SPCA’s goal is to raise $4,900. Any money that isn’t used to care for Tiny and Pepper will be put towards the care of other animals at the shelter.

The Fredericton SPCA Animal Shelter hopes that Tiny’s story will educate cat owners on the dangers of pet obesity. If you suspect that your cat might be overweight, take them to be weighed at your local vet. Your vet will be able to advise you on the type of diet your fat cat should be eating in order to get their weight under control. Don’t forget that regular exercise for your cat is an important part of any diet.

Do you have a fat cat?

Tell us how you are treating your fat cat and the type of diet and exercise regime they are on by commenting on this blog post! Has your fat cat managed to lose weight since going on its special diet? We’d love to hear how much they’ve lost!

When a tabby cat was taken into the Tiverton branch of The Blue Cross recently, her microchip details caused quite a stir when they discovered that she was registered to an address in France. The French cat, who the centre nicknamed ‘Fifi’, caused quite a stir and led to a difficult search to find her owners.

The Blue Cross soon discovered that the French cat’s owners no longer lived at their address in France. Had Fifi somehow travelled to the UK across the channel? Or were her owners now living in the UK? The Blue Cross couldn’t take any chances and had to keep the French cat in isolation in case she had carried rabies or other illnesses over from France.

After an extensive search, The Blue Cross was contacted through Facebook by Fifi’s owner’s daughter (the power of social media!) They discovered that Fifi’s real name was in fact Tiggy and that her owners had moved over from France and were now living in the UK in Devon.

Tiggy had been missing for a month and her owners were delighted to discover that she had been found and cared for by The Blue Cross. They have since declared that they will be getting their address details updated to a UK microchip database.

Microchips are an effective way to identify your cat, but they can only be fully effective if your contact details are kept up to date. If you move house, don’t forget to get your contact details updated as soon as possible. You never know if your cat will decide to go walkabouts. Moving house for a cat can be quite stressful and confusing for a cat, so it’s at this time when it’s more important than ever to ensure that their microchip details are accurate.

The Anfield cat that skulked across the pitch during a Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur game last week will soon be up for adoption. Currently in foster care, the Anfield cat has now been renamed Shankly. Shankly is under the care of Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre in Formby, Merseyside.

Freshfields will ensure that the Anfield cat undergoes the same procedure as any other cat in their care that is up for adoption. He will be vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. The Anfield cat will be up for adoption in around three weeks. Freshfields have stressed that they will not be taking reservations for his adoption and that anyone wishing to adopt him should call the centre in three weeks and go through the same channels that they would if they were adopting any other cat.

When the Anfield cat took to the pitch, he created a storm on Twitter overnight, with multiple Twitter accounts cropping up claiming to be the Anfield cat! A similar Twitter sensation occurred when Larry the cat took up residence as Chief Mouser at 10 Downing Street.

Now that the Anfield cat is in the care of Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre he has said goodbye to his life on the streets and is sure to find a good home. When Shankly was taken in, he was a little worse for wear, with bites on all over him and an abscess under his chin. In spite of his wild life on the streets, Freshfields reports that he’s an affectionate and friendly cat.

Freshfields Animal Rescue has two centres. In addition to the Liverpool centre, they also have one in Wales. They are dedicated to saving the lives of unwanted, homeless and abused animals. Check out their website to find out more information about this fantastic animal charity and to see what animals they currently have available for adoption. In addition to Shankly there are many more cats in their care that are waiting for loving homes!

If you haven’t seen it already, take a look at the footage below of the Anfield cat crossing the pitch!

When a long-haired, ginger cat was taken into the Cromwell Vet Group in Huntingdon, the vets there were stunned when they discovered the cause of her discomfort.

Image courtesy of @Sarah209 on Flickr

Eight year old Gemma hadn’t eaten for several days and she had been acting unusually quiet. After an x-ray of her stomach and an exploratory operation, vets discovered a giant hairball measuring 12.5cm lodged inside her stomach. The giant hairball left absolutely no room for food, so it was no surprise that Gemma hadn’t been eating.

Gemma underwent surgery to have the giant hairball removed. If it hadn’t been removed then she would certainly have died, as there is no way that she would have been able to pass or bring up the giant hairball. She is now recovering at home and her owners have been offered advice on how to groom her effectively.

Cats naturally form hairballs and can vomit them every so often. But to avoid giant hairballs forming, it’s important to develop a regular grooming routine with your cat. Even short-haired cats should be groomed regularly.

If you have problems grooming your cat, then speak to your vet about special hairball control diets that can stop giant hairballs from forming.

The Cromwell Vet Group is a stockist of the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap. They have five veterinary practices in the Cambridgeshire area, the first dating back to the 19^th century! Visit the Cromwell Vet Group website to find out more information about the RCVS accredited practice.

Do you groom your cat regularly?

Tell us your cat grooming stories by commenting on this blog post! Does your cat willingly allow you to groom her? Is she a long-haired or short-haired cat? What techniques do you use to groom your cat if she tries to resist?

Image courtesy of @NancelAnders on Flickr

Meows to all the kitties out there – it’s been a while since I’ve done a blog post! I was just checking out some cat stories in the news and I came across something pretty amazing. Two kittens were taken into the Gosport Town branch of Cats Protection with 18 extra toes! That’s a lot of spare kitty toes…

Sadly the kittens were in a pretty poor condition when they were taken to Cats Protection, but they already have a new home to go to, so at least it’s a happy ending. I expect their unusual toes must have caught the attention of many potential adopters!

Ned and Fred are gorgeous black and white kitties (like me). Ned’s got eight extra toes while Fred’s got ten! It’s not unusual for cats to be born with extra toes, but that many? That’s mighty unusual. Apparently cats with extra toes are called polydactyl – sounds a bit Jurassic to me!

Polydactyl cats are perfectly healthy. There’s nothing wrong with cats having a few extra toes. I’m wondering if it helps them climb trees better. That would be brilliant! If I was a polydactyl cat they’d call me Super Paws!

The only problem that polydactyl cats might face is if their claws grow too long, depending on which way the extra toes face. If the extra toes face inwards towards the other toes then in-growing nails could be a problem. But this can easily be resolved with diligent claw clipping.

No one really knows why polydactyl cats are born, but kittens tend to inherit extra toes from polydactyl parents, so it looks like they’re here to stay!

Is your cat a polydactyl cat?

Why not tell us about him or her and let us know how many extra toes they have. Let’s find the polydactyl cat with the most toes!

We love hearing stories about cats that are reunited with their owners thanks to their microchips after they have been missing for long periods of time. These stories really hit home the importance of getting a cat microchipped. If a cat goes missing, there’s no chance of their microchip getting lost, so they stand a good chance of being returned home safely.

During the Christmas holidays, a black cat named Willow was safely returned to her owners, having been missing for four years!  Delighted to have her home, her owners said it was the best Christmas present they could ever hope for.

Willow was taken into Gables Farm Dogs’ and Cats’ Home in Plymouth, UK and scanned for a microchip. The address details on Willow’s microchip led them directly to her owners, who rushed to the centre to pick her up.

Mrs Worth, Willow’s owner, had given up hope of ever finding her beloved cat again, so she was naturally shocked when she received the call. When Willow was returned home, she was timid at first, but found a comfortable sleeping spot for the night on Mrs Worth’s tummy.

You might think that Willow would have been fairly bedraggled having spent so many years on the streets, but it wasn’t so. Before being taken to Gables Farm Dogs’ and Cats’ Home, she was looked after for six months in a home environment. Mrs Worth was delighted to welcome her lovely black cat home and in such good condition.

Gables Farm Dogs’ and Cats’ Home is a registered charity that rehomes cats and dogs all over Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. They rely on donations from the public to run the shelter. They also offer boarding for cats and dogs, where all proceeds go directly to the charity.

Have you ever lost your cat?

Why not tell us the story of how you lost your cat and how he was returned home safely by commenting on this blog post! Let us know if he was returned home safely because he has been microchipped.