What’s Making Global Cat and Dog News Today?
The Best Pet Daily Round-up of News, Research, Opinion or Fun published about Dogs and Cats from around the world:
Australia (The Guardian) Small dogs leading the pack on postie attacks, Australia Post says
In Brief: Australia Post is facing a significant challenge with dog attacks on postal workers, reporting an average of 11 dog-related incidents each day over the past six months. Queensland has the highest number of these incidents, followed by New South Wales and Western Australia. Surprisingly, it's the smaller dog breeds that are most often involved in these aggressive encounters.
Rod Maule, Australia Post's general manager of safety and wellbeing, has urged dog owners to ensure their pets do not pose a risk to postal workers. The safety of their employees is a priority, and Australia Post has warned that it will cease deliveries to any home where it's unsafe for their staff to approach due to aggressive dogs. Most of these incidents occur on customer properties, often at the front door or during letter delivery. Following these incidents, Australia Post communicates with local councils to prompt necessary enforcement actions to address these hazards.
United Kingdom (BBC Countryfile) Where did all the pets go? More than 25,000 dogs, cats and llamas reported missing since start of 2023
In Brief: Over 25,000 pets, including nearly 5,000 dogs and more than 20,000 cats, have been reported missing in the UK from January 2023 to June 2024, as per Petlog, one of the UK’s largest lost and found pet databases. Additionally, 700 ferrets, 300 tortoises, and 20 camelids (such as camels, llamas, and alpacas) were also reported missing. The South East emerged as the region with the highest number of missing pets. Despite these large numbers, the recovery rate has been somewhat promising, with 74% of dogs and 62% of cats being reunited with their owners. The majority of missing pet reports came from England, followed by Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The Kennel Club, which manages Petlog, notes that pets often go missing in the summer and may wander off due to various distractions or even theft. Microchipping has been highlighted as a critical measure for pet recovery, with laws in place requiring microchipping and registration of dogs and cats by certain ages. Despite the effectiveness of microchips, their success depends on owners keeping their contact details current with the microchipping database.
United States (Catstar) 14 Cat Overpopulation Statistics (2024 Update)
In Brief: The issue of cat overpopulation in the U.S. is severe and widespread, with recent statistics revealing some alarming trends. Approximately 75 million cats are kept as pets in the U.S., with 40% of these being adopted from shelters. Despite high rates of spaying and neutering among pet cats, there are still significant numbers of fertile animals contributing to overpopulation. Each year, between 6 and 8 million cats and dogs are surrendered to shelters for various reasons, including financial constraints and lifestyle changes.The number of cats entering shelters annually is around 2.6 million, but the shelters are struggling to cope with these high numbers. There are more than 14,000 rescue and shelter organizations across the country, but they are overwhelmed by the nearly one million additional pets in their care compared to 2021. This surge in numbers has led to an increase in euthanasia, with 330,000 cats euthanized in 2023, 15% more than the previous year. Many of these animals are healthy but are put down due to lack of space.
The root of the problem lies in the reproductive potential of unspayed cats. A single female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce more than 350,000 kittens in just 7 years. This prolific breeding exacerbates the issue, with only 10% of the homeless animal population making it into shelters. The situation calls for widespread spaying and neutering to help control the population and reduce the number of animals suffering in the streets or being euthanized in shelters.
Singapore (The Straits Times) Singapore’s new cat licensing rules will weed out backyard breeders
In Brief: Singapore is implementing new cat licensing rules to combat the issues arising from unlicensed breeders, a measure aimed at improving the welfare of cats and curtailing backyard breeding. These breeders often neglect standards of animal care, overbreeding cats for profit, which can lead to health issues like cerebellar hypoplasia due to poor breeding practices.The new Cat Management Framework will limit the number of cats per residence—two for Housing Board flats and three for private homes—and will require all pet cats to be licensed and microchipped. This initiative is expected to help reduce illegal breeding by ensuring that owned cats are kept indoors or are part of a trap-neuter-release (TNR) program if not owned.
Veterinarians will play a crucial role in this framework, as they will need to report any suspected unlicensed breeders. The stringent rules also address the issues of inbreeding and the lack of care for kittens, which can lead to severe health problems and even necessitate euthanasia for those severely affected.
Currently, Singapore has only three licensed cat breeders, highlighting the disparity between legal and illegal operations. Unlicensed breeders often evade detection and sell animals at significantly lower prices, exploiting the high demand for affordable pets. The new rules aim to clamp down on these practices by enhancing the tracking and management of the cat population, ultimately protecting both the animals and potential pet owners from the consequences of unethical breeding.
United States (DVM) Guidelines for the use of NSAIDs to treat chronic pain in cats
In Brief: The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have updated their guidelines for the long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in cats. These guidelines aim to help veterinary professionals make informed decisions when prescribing NSAIDs, which are widely used to manage chronic pain in cats but can pose risks due to cats' unique metabolism. Key aspects of the guidelines include mechanisms of action, indications for use, necessary screenings, managing comorbidities, monitoring efficacy, and handling adverse effects. Specific contraindications, such as severe kidney disease, liver dysfunction, and concurrent corticosteroid treatment, are detailed to ensure safe usage. Resources like cat carer guides and a client pamphlet on managing chronic pain are also provided to support caregivers.
