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Short Paws: Are Cats Being Left Behind? UK Welfare Plan Sparks Outcry · Paws Between Us - Pet Stories, Welfare and Building A Bond

• 0:00
  So welcome to our Pause Between Us, your regular dose of positive pet news.
• 0:05
  Every other week we bring you a short, uplifting episode packed with the latest feel-good stories
• 0:10
  from the world of pets.
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  So take a moment to tune out from the negative news dominating our headlines and help us
• 0:15
  shine a light on the good, celebrating the joy pets bring to our lives and sharing the
• 0:18
  inspiring changes making their lives better too.
• 0:21
  So settle in for a short pause and let's spread some positivity together.
• 0:25
  Yes, let's.
• 0:27
  We need it, don't we?
• 0:29
  I do.
• 0:30
  I feel like we do.
• 0:31
  I feel a bit flat today.
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  Do you?
• 0:33
  I don't know if I'm tired or, I don't know, weather, maybe it's the weather.
• 0:37
  Yeah, end of the week, it's been hot all week, which is just tiring when you're enduring
• 0:43
  it all week.
• 0:44
  Busy week, I guess, for both of us.
• 0:47
  Yeah.
• 0:48
  Yeah.
• 0:49
  So, well, hopefully the uplifting news that we're going to share is going to perk us up.
• 0:56
  Yes, because I've been avoiding the main news.
• 0:58
  So let's talk about good news, although I don't know if my news is that good.
• 1:02
  No, well, I mean, I think my news, on my socials, all my updates and news and posts that I receive
• 1:09
  are all related to pets.
• 1:11
  So the algorithm is doing its job, but I just feel like there's so much out there to read
• 1:19
  about and learn about, that can feel overwhelming in itself.
• 1:22
  But it's all good because it's, I think the pet community is a really positive one.
• 1:27
  And yeah, there's lots of really nice stories I keep reading about.
• 1:31
  So.
• 1:32
  Yeah, you're right, like there is a lot of news out there.
• 1:36
  And I kind of like was reflecting today when I was sort of bibbing about my day and thinking
• 1:40
  like I wanted to sort of remind people why we're here and like, I suppose, we're learning
• 1:46
  too because we're not the experts necessarily, you know, we're learning with experts and
• 1:50
  learning from what's coming out in the news and what's on research.
• 1:54
  And there is a lot, it's kind of trying to keep up with all of that.
• 1:57
  So there is a lot out there.
• 1:58
  But yeah, you're right, the pet community is such a lovely one.
• 2:01
  Like people, again, on my socials are generally really supportive and will big each other
• 2:07
  up and want to know more and learn more.
• 2:10
  So at least that's a positive thing.
• 2:11
  Yeah, it's great.
• 2:12
  I think we're all learning together, aren't we?
• 2:14
  And when we share that passion for pets, I think it does unite people and bring people
• 2:20
  together in a really good way.
• 2:22
  So yeah.
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  Thank goodness.
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  Thank goodness.
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  Because that's what they need.
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  Indeed.
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  Indeed.
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  Indeed.
• 2:29
  So what have you got?
• 2:30
  What have you been reading about this week?
• 2:32
  Mine's cat-related.
• 2:33
  This week I thought I would play into my main interests, I suppose, with Maureen Weaver.
• 2:39
  So yeah, the first one is about the UK government's new animal welfare strategy that I think has
• 2:46
  been out a little while now, but the Cats Protection have been campaigning about it
• 2:50
  a little bit because they don't think it goes far enough.
• 2:53
  Okay.
• 2:54
  Yeah.
• 2:55
  So I thought I'd share that because I think they want people to be aware of their position
• 2:58
  and just see how people feel about it and maybe support if they can.
• 3:03
  So they've just put that the strategy abandons cats basically and leaves them behind in areas
• 3:09
  like breeding controls and wider welfare protections.
• 3:13
  And they think that the message really is that cats need to get the same attention as
• 3:17
  dogs and other companion animals.
• 3:19
  And they feel like the strategy is a bit of an afterthought for cats.
• 3:24
  DEFRA says that it aims to improve welfare across companion animals, wild animals, livestock
• 3:30
  and farm animals, and specifically mentions better welfare practices in cat breeding sector.
• 3:36
  It also includes reforms around puppy farming, companion animal imports, shock collars, which
• 3:41
  I can't even believe still exist.
• 3:42
  We talked about this with Rachel when we had Nose to Trail, didn't we?
• 3:45
  Microchipping and veterinary regulation.
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  But the criticism from Cats Protection is that they think the cat breeding reform is
• 3:53
  a bit, is too vague, especially when you compare it to what's there for dogs.
• 3:59
  And they argue that without the clearer rules, there can just be continued unhealthy, underage
• 4:05
  and genetically compromised cats being bred and sold, which then obviously causes long-term
• 4:10
  welfare problems.
• 4:12
  And it also goes alongside like a wider policy movement on cats welfare in Europe, where
• 4:17
  EU legislation has been moving forward with stronger traceability and stronger welfare
• 4:22
  rules.
• 4:23
  So it feels like we're being left behind and the Cats Protection says that we need to sort
• 4:27
  of catch up a little bit and do more.
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  So I think they're trying to encourage people to, I think there's a campaign petition to
• 4:35
  contact your local MP.
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  So if people want to find out more about that, then take a look on the Cats Protection website.
• 4:41
  There'll be lots of information on there.
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  It's a bit of a shame that, yeah, if it is that vague and they need to do way more, then
• 4:48
  I'm not sure like why that obviously isn't included.
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  DEFRA obviously think they're doing enough and Cats Protection haven't had the opportunity
• 4:54
  to get a stronger guidance in there.
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  But there's so much around like unregulated breeding.
• 5:01
  I was learning about this yesterday and today and obviously we talked before about unneutered
• 5:06
  cats and there's lots more kittens around.
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  I was learning that breeding is an unregulated industry and should be so because anyone could
• 5:15
  be a breeder and anyone could do it in any way, in any form.
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  And when we got Weaver and Murray, we had concerns around where we were getting her
• 5:22
  from.
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  But once you're in the home, you want to almost rescue them from the situation.
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  It wasn't bad, but she was breeding dogs.
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  I did see the mother, but then when I went to pick up Murray and Weaver, the mother had
• 5:34
  gone and they were the only two kittens left.
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  The house was kind of strange and the situation was strange.
• 5:39
  I mean, I turned up and the man was in his pants.
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  It was all a bit odd and they were moving house very quickly.
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  The whole thing, although I did get full documentation for Murray and Weaver, not that that mattered
• 5:51
  to me, but it matters that it's a breed registered and they should have documentation.
• 5:56
  But it just felt a bit weird.
• 5:58
  So, you know, knowing if there was a regulation around that, people would have reassurances
• 6:02
  that their welfare, their health was all taken care of and that the mothers weren't
• 6:06
  being over overbred or bred in kind of wrong circumstances, I suppose.
• 6:12
  So, yeah.
• 6:13
  Interesting.
• 6:14
  Yeah.
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  Yeah.
• 6:16
  I just wonder, when you were talking then, I just wondered, you sort of touched on this,
• 6:20
  why haven't cats had the same sort of focus as the dogs have and is that just an oversight
• 6:27
  or is that intentional?
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  Like you say, that the government feels that cats have gone far enough, that there's adequate
• 6:36
  protections there.
• 6:37
  It can be down to interpretation, can't it?
• 6:41
  Yeah.
• 6:42
  Yeah.
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  But I mean, I must admit, on my socials, mainly on my local Facebook feeds, I see more ads
• 6:48
  for kittens, but often a scenario where it's like, oh, my cat isn't neutered and has got
• 6:56
  pregnant and I've now got all these kittens and I don't know what to do with them and
• 7:02
  I think it applies to sort of your average house cat.
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  I don't know, what is the name of a breed if it's like an average?
• 7:10
  I think like moggies.
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  Your moggies.
• 7:12
  Yeah.
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  The ones that kind of go outside and roam and probably meet friends while they're out
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  and kittens happen.
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  So, yeah, I see that a lot and…
• 7:22
  Me too.
• 7:23
  Me too.
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  And, you know, who knows what sort of conditions that the cat and the kittens are being raised
• 7:32
  in.
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  So, I see that more definitely than the dogs.
• 7:35
  Yeah, I suppose like cats do just go out and roam and have more opportunities to mate,
• 7:41
  don't they?
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  If you haven't had them neutered.
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  You're supposed to have them neutered really young, like at four months, I think.
• 7:47
  And if people are letting them out before that, then there's a likelihood they'll come
• 7:50
  into contact and get pregnant really quickly.
• 7:53
  Yeah.
• 7:54
  So, yes.
• 7:55
  And where did you find out about your breeder then?
• 7:58
  Was that online or was that through the vets?
• 8:02
  Yeah, no, I did.
• 8:03
  It was online.
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  I can't entirely remember, but I did look for a registered breeder and I found one.
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  Her kittens weren't ready.
• 8:09
  There was some crossover of timings for when we were ready.
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  And so she recommended a friend and she said she's also a registered breeder.
• 8:17
  So I think, I don't know if I looked into her, whether I just took her, you know, took
• 8:22
  her for her word and just followed along.
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  And that's how I came across this second lady who seemed lovely and was really, cats all
• 8:29
  look healthy.
• 8:30
  The cats were good.
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  She had a big enclosure and a climber thing for the cats.
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  It was just the franticness and the weirdness around her moving very quickly and breeding
• 8:39
  dogs as well.
• 8:40
  And there were lots of cats about it just, and then the payment situation was kind of
• 8:44
  strange and it was all just, there was just something, you know, when you know something's
• 8:48
  not right.
• 8:49
  Yeah.
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  There's lots of red flags there.
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  Yeah.
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  And then at that point I'm invested and I'm like, no, I'm taking, if anything, I want
• 8:56
  to rescue these two cats from this situation and give them a gorgeous home.
• 9:00
  I was saying to somebody this morning, it's like, it's not like you're buying a shirt
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  and you realise, you know, the owner is, I don't know, isn't being helpful or you find
• 9:11
  out like there's a, I don't know, something about the company or the business.
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  Once you're there and you've seen the cat, you're like, well, I'm taking them now.
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  So yeah, any registration, I mean, you can find reputable breeders through like usually
• 9:26
  the breeds registration, can't you?
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  So that's one way I suppose of doing it.
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  Yeah.
• 9:33
  I think it'd be really good to get a breeder on our podcast at some point, a cat or a dog
• 9:37
  breeder, a registered breeder, someone who can just talk us through the ethical practices
• 9:45
  that they follow, the things that people should be looking out for.
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  Some of the red flags to avoid.
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  Because I did read, don't quote me on this because I may have got this figure wrong,
• 9:57
  but I did read that in the UK for dogs, only 30% of puppies come from registered breeders.
• 10:06
  And then they're like, so where are the rest coming from?
• 10:09
  Like what's actually happening?
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  But yeah, so if there are puppies coming from unregistered breeders, that sort of just makes
• 10:17
  you wonder about what's going on, what their early lives are like, who's breeding them
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  and why.
• 10:24
  Yeah, the puppy farm thing.
• 10:25
  The puppy farm thing, aren't they?
• 10:26
  It makes me so sad.
• 10:27
  Yeah.
• 10:28
  I don't know.
• 10:29
  Let's see what happens.
• 10:30
  I mean, if there's going to be a challenge to it, maybe they can move the dial next time
• 10:35
  or even if it's, I don't know if it's in consultation, it doesn't sound like it is actually.
• 10:39
  It worries me that, I don't know, yeah, kind of if the EU were going ahead, this is one
• 10:43
  of the other worries about politically in the UK, if we move away more from the EU and
• 10:47
  they're doing better things than us.
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  I think I like...
• 10:51
  It's one way we're missing out, isn't it?
• 10:53
  Of not being part of the EU.
• 10:54
  So yeah, we expect better of the UK, don't we?
• 10:58
  If there's a petition, we should sign it in terms of raising standards, raising welfare
• 11:05
  standards even more than what's proposed.
• 11:14
  Well, what have you found in the news that's worth sharing?
• 11:19
  So an interesting article called, should you be able to take your dog everywhere?
• 11:24
  Ah, I saw this.
• 11:25
  But yeah, it explores the growing tension in the UK around dogs being welcomed into
• 11:31
  more and more public spaces, restaurants, offices, shops, even potentially flights.
• 11:36
  If the, I think we've spoken about that before, I think there was a petition, wasn't there,
• 11:39
  to take dogs on a plane in the UK and asks whether we've reached a tipping point.
• 11:47
  And what sparked the debate initially was a viral incident online.
• 11:51
  So there was a woman who was dining with her newborn baby when another diner arrived with
• 11:56
  a pram, not carrying a baby, but a sausage dog.
• 12:00
  And so the owner placed a puppy training pad on the restaurant floor, which the lady with
• 12:06
  the baby found very unhygienic and upsetting.
• 12:10
  And when they complained, the dog owner compared her dog to the baby, which escalated the situation.
• 12:18
  And then led the lady with the baby to post a TikTok video that went viral with over 20
• 12:24
  million views.
• 12:28
  Yeah, there was real mixed opinions, I think, about, you know, our boundaries being crossed,
• 12:36
  other hygiene challenges, is it disrespectful for non-dog people, people with allergies,
• 12:42
  people who are comfortable around dogs, you know, people with phobias.
• 12:45
  And the article is reflecting on the fact that dogs really are everywhere.
• 12:49
  So we've got around 13 million dogs, which is up from 9 million pre-pandemic.
• 12:54
  And they are in sort of all the spaces that I go in, because I do search out dog-friendly
• 13:00
  spaces.
• 13:01
  And yet, like I say, there's this current petition out in the moment, which we have
• 13:05
  talked about before, which is, you know, even allowing them in aircraft cabins on flights
• 13:09
  to the UK.
• 13:10
  So with this rise in dogs in the UK, there's obviously more dog mess left in public spaces.
• 13:15
  There's environmental concerns, which we talked about before on this podcast, kind of flea
• 13:19
  treatment chemicals washing into ponds and harming wildlife.
• 13:22
  And then there was a little bit in the article, which I was quite interested in, around, you
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  know, do dogs actually enjoy being taken everywhere?
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  So, yes.
• 13:33
  Do they have fun?
• 13:34
  Do they like getting out and about with their owners?
• 13:38
  And experts in the article had sort of said, yes, mostly yes, as long as they're not overstimulated
• 13:43
  and getting enough rest.
• 13:44
  And this plays into the thing we've talked about before around dogs needing around 14
• 13:48
  hours of sleep a day.
• 13:49
  So they're on the move all the time or they're in busy environments.
• 13:53
  Do they get the chance to sleep?
• 13:57
  And, you know, that is interesting for me because I do sometimes worry that, Betty,
• 14:02
  because she comes everywhere with me, is it really fair?
• 14:05
  Is she really enjoying it?
• 14:06
  Is she comfortable?
• 14:07
  Is she happy?
• 14:08
  But then interestingly today, I popped outside just to do something.
• 14:14
  My husband was in another room and Betty hadn't realised that he was in another room.
• 14:20
  And she just started howling really loudly because I'd left her for a moment.
• 14:26
  Yeah, there's probably an unhealthy attachment there.
• 14:28
  But ultimately, I feel the need to take Betty with me because if I left her at home, she
• 14:33
  would be howling and she'd just be so uncomfortable.
• 14:36
  And, you know, I get the impression she's OK when we go out.
• 14:39
  She enjoys sniffing new places.
• 14:42
  She enjoys meeting people.
• 14:43
  And so long as she can lay down and chill and sleep, she sometimes gets treats.
• 14:49
  She gets to meet other dogs.
• 14:50
  She gets to meet other people.
• 14:51
  But ultimately, she's with me, next to me and wants to be with me.
• 14:57
  At least that's the signals she gives me because when she's not with me, she's howling at the
• 15:01
  door.
• 15:02
  Lots to unpick there.
• 15:03
  Yeah, lots to unpick.
• 15:04
  And, you know, I appreciate that some people are scared of dogs.
• 15:08
  I appreciate that some people just don't like being around them, especially if they've got
• 15:14
  young children that are fearful of dogs.
• 15:18
  There is the hygiene thing to bear in mind because now Betty's older.
• 15:23
  We've talked about sort of incontinence.
• 15:25
  I've got to just watch that.
• 15:26
  I don't want Betty doing a poo in the middle of a restaurant.
• 15:29
  I would be horrified.
• 15:30
  I wouldn't want that.
• 15:32
  What was interesting about the article that I read, it also shared the historical perspective.
• 15:36
  And it said dogs being everywhere isn't actually new.
• 15:39
  That medieval monasteries once banned them because they were overrunning the place.
• 15:43
  And Shakespeare often portrayed them as nuisances.
• 15:46
  I mean, very different context in that they didn't probably have dog rescues, dog neuterings,
• 15:52
  probably lots of dogs without homes that were having babies and dog populations were growing
• 15:59
  in cities.
• 16:00
  And attitudes to dogs probably weren't the same as they are now.
• 16:02
  But apparently, you know, dogs have often been everywhere in the UK.
• 16:06
  And I think we've spoken about this before that in some UK postcodes, there are now more
• 16:12
  dogs than children.
• 16:14
  And with fewer children around, society may simply be more tolerant of dogs.
• 16:17
  I don't know.
• 16:18
  But are we reaching a breaking point?
• 16:23
  Part of the story was, you know, there's a rise in dog attacks to 2,500 dog attacks,
• 16:29
  apparently in 2024.
• 16:33
  But like things like that, like rising dog attacks.
• 16:38
  I know there's also the whole thing about the pandemic made some dogs more have attachment
• 16:44
  issues and not be as socialised.
• 16:47
  So those two things could be sort of exclusive.
• 16:50
  I don't know.
• 16:51
  But yeah, interesting, because I mean, like, I don't have a problem with dogs being anywhere.
• 17:00
  So long as, a bit like a baby, if a baby's crying and screaming, then I don't want it
• 17:05
  near me.
• 17:06
  If it's kind of being quite quiet and is able to kind of be in a social space.
• 17:10
  And I know that's hard.
• 17:11
  And I appreciate, you know, parents can't keep a child quiet sometimes.
• 17:16
  But as a diner or somebody in a public space, a crying, screaming child is awful.
• 17:21
  Same with the dogs.
• 17:22
  If a dog's barking constantly, no, I don't want the dog there.
• 17:25
  But if the dog's well behaved and can sit quietly in any space, I'm happy for it.
• 17:31
  And I think that's probably what it comes down to.
• 17:33
  If your dog's well behaved, is trained and won't lunge at people, won't bark, won't be
• 17:38
  a nuisance, then yeah, I don't think that's a problem.
• 17:41
  But it seems a bit common sense to me, because I would not expect someone to take a puppy
• 17:46
  pad and potentially weeing in a restaurant.
• 17:49
  In my opinion, that does feel unhygienic and a bit silly.
• 17:52
  Like, wait until the dog's, you know, trained and can go where it needs to go.
• 17:58
  Because this actually comes into an interview we'll be doing in a few weeks with
• 18:03
  guide dogs as well, because, you know, guide dogs owners have problems going into restaurants
• 18:08
  and public spaces with guide dogs.
• 18:10
  And that's absolutely a no-no.
• 18:11
  You have to legally allow a guide dog in because it's that individual's support and independence.
• 18:20
  And it provides people with being able to kind of live their life like everybody else.
• 18:26
  So a lifeline.
• 18:28
  It's a lifeline for that person.
• 18:30
  Yeah.
• 18:30
  So you can't stop a guide dog going in.
• 18:32
  And I do understand people kind of who are fearful of dogs, may not like dogs, may not
• 18:36
  want them in the space.
• 18:37
  So it's not an easy answer, is it really?
• 18:40
  But it would be probably nicer if you as a dog owner didn't have to worry about where
• 18:46
  you can and can't go with your dog.
• 18:47
  But then you did mention the attachment problem.
• 18:49
  And I think when we talked to Rachel a few weeks ago, she suggested that you two have
• 18:54
  got a very strong attachment because she goes everywhere with you.
• 18:57
  And maybe some dogs need to learn to be on their own.
• 19:00
  They're not humans, are they?
• 19:02
  So we can't treat them quite the same.
• 19:05
  And again, we mentioned this last time, so maybe a topic we can explore.
• 19:08
  But yeah, I think that's the thing in, you know, living in a busy city, having a busy
• 19:12
  life is that Bessie does come with us to places and often dogs are encouraged.
• 19:20
  So, you know, some of the places that we go to on a weekend, for example, there's lots
• 19:26
  of things for dogs to enjoy too.
• 19:28
  So there's more and more of that.
• 19:30
  So there's like events and get togethers and things where dogs are sort of part of
• 19:35
  the experience.
• 19:37
  I totally agree that you shouldn't really be encouraging your dog to pee and poo in
• 19:42
  the middle of a restaurant or a busy environment.
• 19:46
  So yeah, I think it wasn't clear from the article, was the puppy pad there just as a
• 19:49
  precaution or is it because the dog isn't that toilet trained?
• 19:53
  Yeah, I think that's really important to sort out before you start taking your dog
• 19:57
  anywhere that, you know, if they need to go to the loo, they know how to do it outside.
• 20:02
  So it's a tricky one.
• 20:04
  I think it was for me, I just took comfort in the fact that it did say that most dogs,
• 20:10
  so long as they get enough sleep, yeah, it isn't a bad thing.
• 20:15
  It is a positive thing for them.
• 20:17
  And, you know, I don't go anywhere now without my little bag of stuff for Betty.
• 20:22
  So I always take the poo bags, take the treats, take the water, take a little blanket for
• 20:28
  her to sit on.
• 20:29
  So I'm always thinking of these things as well before we go out.
• 20:32
  I think interestingly, I'd quite like, I sometimes miss my cats and it'd be lovely
• 20:37
  if I could go out with them for the day.
• 20:39
  I could take the dog and take them for a walk.
• 20:41
  I would, it would just be adorable.
• 20:42
  Like if just sometimes they could come and experience the world with me and maybe, and
• 20:46
  I've seen people are doing this, they're harness training their cats and taking them
• 20:50
  into cities and on transport.
• 20:52
  And maybe that might, there might be a rise in cats coming into public places as well.
• 20:57
  So I can see why you want Betty with you and why people like going out with their dogs.
• 21:02
  It's nice, isn't it?
• 21:03
  It's your, it's like a social thing.
• 21:05
  It can bring people together, gives you great enjoyment.
• 21:08
  And I get people sometimes need a break as well, but I didn't bring Betty into my life
• 21:14
  just to leave her at home all day while I was doing stuff.
• 21:17
  I mean, working's different, but yeah, you know, if I'm going to have Betty in my life
• 21:22
  and then just have a, you know, week, every weekend where I'm like, go out for eight hours
• 21:27
  and she's just here at home, it's not really fair.
• 21:29
  It's not fair either, yeah.
• 21:30
  But I also get, you know, there are times when just it's probably easier and the dog
• 21:35
  is perhaps a bit happier just to be at home.
• 21:39
  So like in hot weather, you know, I've left Betty, but one of us is always at home.
• 21:43
  I'm like, actually, can't take Betty on the tube today.
• 21:46
  Can't take Betty out with me because it's just far too hot.
• 21:49
  Yeah.
• 21:49
  There are limits.
• 21:51
  But yeah, it was just interesting to see that there's kind of a bit of a debate going on
• 21:55
  around this issue at the moment.
• 21:57
  So I'd be interested to see what listeners think as well.
• 21:59
  Yeah.
• 22:00
  Tell us what you think if you're in the comments or whatever.
• 22:02
  Interesting.
• 22:03
  Should I do my final?
• 22:05
  Yeah, well, you said you had a third one.
• 22:07
  That's my main bit of news for this week that I've been reading about.
• 22:09
  Mine was just a bit more about toxins because you talked about toxins for dogs.
• 22:14
  So I found an article about toxins for cats and just some of them, again, I wasn't aware of.
• 22:19
  And I think this comes back to, again, we said something before about how cats can get
• 22:23
  on different surfaces and easily get into cupboards and things and eat stuff like dogs
• 22:28
  will.
• 22:28
  So there was things about talking about gummies that are infused with cannabis.
• 22:34
  They're particularly dangerous for cats.
• 22:35
  And these sort of THC stuff that people have nowadays seems to be more common.
• 22:40
  So that can cause neurological tremors and disorientation.
• 22:44
  So be careful if you've got anything like that.
• 22:46
  HRT gels.
• 22:48
  Now, you think obviously the cat's not going to lick the gel, but if you put it on your
• 22:52
  skin and there's some remaining when they lick or clean you, because often cats can
• 22:56
  on your hands, maybe just be careful on that.
• 22:59
  There's things like, people know a lot about this, but like rat poisons and
• 23:03
  rodent poisons to be careful with those.
• 23:06
  Diffusers and scented candles, air fresheners, essential oils can be bad for cats.
• 23:12
  So it's the essential oils part of it, really.
• 23:13
  So even inhaled exposure can cause drooling, respiratory irritation and liver damage.
• 23:18
  So I do have a couple of those around, which I need to be careful about.
• 23:23
  The obvious things like vapes and nicotine patches.
• 23:26
  Again, if there's any liquid leaking or anything like that, be really careful.
• 23:30
  So yeah, there was just a few kind of new things that hadn't come across before and
• 23:35
  just thought it'd be useful to share just very quickly, just to be aware that like,
• 23:39
  even if it's stuff that's not laid out, but that you've maybe rubbed onto your skin
• 23:43
  or that you're using and they lick it off, because that can happen quite a lot with cats.
• 23:48
  So yeah.
• 23:49
  And that's the thing, new things are introduced all the time, aren't they?
• 23:52
  Which you might not expect to be toxic, but gummies with cannabis in them, that's a
• 23:59
  fairly new thing.
• 24:00
  You didn't probably have them years ago.
• 24:02
  And like HRT gels as well.
• 24:04
  You know, those kind of things.
• 24:05
  As new things come to market for humans, I guess you've always got to think, what's the
• 24:10
  animal impact?
• 24:11
  What's the risk here?
• 24:13
  Our neighbours have just got a new kitten and they've got rid of most of their plants.
• 24:19
  They're a little bit gutted.
• 24:20
  They've had them for years and some of them have grown really big and they've really looked
• 24:23
  after them.
• 24:23
  And I've often watered them for them when they were away.
• 24:26
  But yeah, they've realised that they're toxic to cats.
• 24:29
  So they've had to get rid.
• 24:31
  But yeah, there's a few like lilies and things particularly are bad.
• 24:35
  But yeah, you've got to be careful with that.
• 24:37
  Yeah.
• 24:37
  So don't buy me any lilies in my bouquets when you sell them.
• 24:42
  Or CBD gummies or anything like that.
• 24:48
  Yeah.
• 24:48
  So that was really just a quick one.
• 24:50
  Great.
• 24:50
  Okay.
• 24:50
  Well, I think that's a good roundup for this week.
• 24:52
  Hope our listeners have enjoyed hearing about some of the things that have caught our attention.
• 24:57
  And we're always open to hearing your news, things that have interested you that you'd
• 25:06
  like us to talk about and to raise awareness of.
• 25:09
  So please send them in.
• 25:11
  Yeah.
• 25:11
  Thank you.
• 25:12
  Thank you for listening this week.
• 25:13
  And we look forward to seeing you again soon.
• 25:15
  Yeah.
• 25:15
  Cheers.
• 25:16
  See you soon, Sash.
• 25:17
  See you soon now.
• 25:18
  Bye.