The Telegraph reports on information from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on what is described as a “kitten boom”. It’s disturbing but the Covid-19 pandemic really did mess up the UK in a number of ways including pet ownership. Before … continue reading…
NEWS AND COMMENT: There is a rather startling news media story circulating on the Internet at the moment stating that “more than 350,000 pet cats” have been infected by Covid in Britain. And I think that story should carry with … continue reading…
The Brits, including myself, have criticised the Chinese for their alleged lax attitude towards maintaining the highest standards of security at their Wuhan biolab in order to prevent the escape of zoonotic diseases into public places. At one time it … continue reading…
The big news which is unfolding under the radar, and which was ignored by news media until recently because of the political crisis in the UK, is that bird flu (H5N1, a form of avian influenza) is ravaging native wild … continue reading…
I declare my bias/interest: I am for the cat and against science which either purposefully or inadvertently maligns the cat. The question in the title is very big and very bold. The answer is that we don’t know, at present. … continue reading…
NEWS AND COMMENT – SHANGHAI, CHINA: This story is as much about pets as it is about people. In this chilling video we can hear the plaintiff screams and cries of Shanghai residents bellowing out their frustration to the world … continue reading…
In answering the question, I believe that there is a difference between cats and dogs. This article is about the transmission of the superbug E. coli from companion animals to human caregivers via the ‘oral-fecal route’. This is a zoonotic … continue reading…
I know that not everybody is anxious about being vaccinated. However, there will be a general sense of unease in facilities where Covid vaccinations are being administered. This is why it is so pleasant to see a calico (tortoiseshell-and-white) cat … continue reading…
Cat owners should get Covid vaccinated to protect their cat. I don’t think I have heard that before. There’s been lots of promotion of the need to get vaccinated to protect other people. It is known that when you are … continue reading…
I just got this book from the library 😉. Judging by the response to this tweet, this mockup of a book is very popular (see it below). It’s been done very well. It amused me. Like 90% of people in … continue reading…
Yes, domestic cats can get avian flu. However, very few cats contract the disease and the cats in a study who contracted the disease showed no clinical signs of influenza. Also, in this study there was no evidence of transmission … continue reading…
Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool FC manager, has been brave enough to make his feelings known about the anti-vax movement. He has compared people who refuse the Covid vaccination to drink-drivers. He blames them for transmitting the disease to others. And … continue reading…
This is a question which comes up over and over again and it is interesting that the main scientific bodies are ambivalent about the answer. For example, the CDC in the USA are very cautious in answering the question. In … continue reading…
The diseases that cats can give to humans are zoonotic. They can travel between animals and humans and vice versa. Here is a list. This list should not be used to denigrate or harm the cat as humans give each … continue reading…
The question is: can cat faeces go into compost? I did some research on the internet some time ago and concluded that it is unwise to use cat faeces in compost. The general consensus is that it shouldn’t be done … continue reading…
