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Battersea centre’s longest-stay cat finds home
Winnie spent 195 days in the charity's care before her new owners found her.
Winnie gains new home for the new year.

The longest-stay cat in the care of Battersea’s Old Windsor centre has finally been rehomed after almost 200 days.

Winnie, a two-year-old domestic shorthair, was originally brought to the charity’s Old Windsor centre after being found as a pregnant stray.

She gave birth to five kittens shortly after arriving. The family was looked after by one of the charity’s foster carers.

The kittens were soon rehomed, but Winnie needed additional veterinary support before she was healthy enough to leave Battersea's care.

She was put on a personalised treatment plan and 195 days after she first arrived at the centre, a couple based in London decided that Winnie was the cat for them, taking her home on New Year’s Eve.

Hazel Adams, cattery team leader at Battersea, said: “We are so glad that Winnie has started off the new year in a loving new home after a long stay with us, which was made even more exciting as we are currently celebrating 140 years of caring for cats!

“Getting Winnie ready to find a new home was a real team effort from our dedicated clinic team, cattery staff, foster carers and volunteers who looked after her during her stay; everyone at here at Battersea is over the moon that she has finally found a family who loves her just as much as we do.”

Image © Battersea

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.