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Mental health patients get chance to foster cats
Kate Lines, senior occupational therapist, Sue Arnold and Susan Dicks, volunteers at Northampton Cats Protection, and Josh Ferron, Cats Protection operations manager.
New fostering pen built at hospital in partnership with cat charity.

A new cat fostering pen has been built in the grounds of a mental health hospital, as part of a collaboration with Cats Protection.

As well as providing a place for cats from Cats Protection Northampton Branch to be cared for while they wait to be adopted, the pen will also allow patients at Broomhill Hospital in Spratton, Northamptonshire, to benefit from looking after the animals.

The patients working with the cats are being provided with training and support as part of their occupational therapy. The first cats to stay there, two-year-old Rue and her son Buddy, have already been adopted.

The idea for the fostering pen came after the hospital rehomed a cat called Aurora last year. The patient who cared for Aurora found the experience had a positive impact on her mental health and her confidence increased.

Kate Lines, a senior occupational therapist at the hospital, said: “Cats Protection was open to partnership working, expanding on this initial work with patients as assistant fosterers. Work began to install a Cat Pen to provide a welcoming safe space for cats or kittens while they waited for their new homes.

“The role of supporting a cat in their recovery journey to moving on, mirrors the patient’s own recovery journey.

“This dovetails with our broader use of animal therapy within the setting. And importantly will enable patients who love and miss having animals to be able to interact with them again.”

Josh Ferron, Cats Protection operations manager, added: “This is a unique partnership for Cats Protection, and while getting to this point has involved input from a lot of people, everyone has been so committed to the project. To see it get off the ground is already a rewarding experience for all involved.

“To be part of the rehabilitation journey for patients while also increasing capacity for the branch to bring in and help more cats really is an epic win-win and we look forward to nurturing and building this collaboration.”

Image © Cats Protection

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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...
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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.