RICK EDWARDS LETS THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG ON UK FELINE VACCINATION ISSUES
7 years ago 
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Rick Edwards, host of the BBC’s brand new daytime quiz show !mpossible and self-confessed cat lover, has pledged his support to the Viral Cats campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of vaccinating our feline friends.
In a recent survey of 2,000 UK cat owners, commissioned by Merial Animal Health[i], it was revealed that nearly 50% of UK cat owners don’t vaccinate their cat annually, meaning many UK cats are at risk from preventable diseases such as Feline Infectious Enteritis (feline panleukopenia), Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Herpesvirus, Feline Calicivirus and Chlamydophila Felis.
The most common diseases found in the UK are Feline Upper Respiratory Disease, more commonly known as cat flu, with signs including severe flu-like symptoms, fever, depression, eye ulcers and even pneumonia, and Feline Leukaemia virus (more commonly known as FeLV). FeLV is a lifelong infection and unfortunately most cats will die within three years of diagnosis. It is typically spread via direct contact between cats, usually through grooming or bites.
The report revealed that over a fifth (22%) of owners have never vaccinated their cat at all and just over a quarter of owners said that they would wait until their cat is ill before considering vaccination.
Feline fanatic Rick, whose tortoiseshell moggy Tippi Edwards features prominently on his Instagram and Twitter feeds, has partnered with Merial Animal health to help raise awareness of the risks of not vaccinating and the potential effect this could have on the nation’s cats.
Rick commented: “I decided to join the Viral Cats campaign because I was honestly staggered when I read the research about how many people aren’t getting their cats vaccinated. I’d do anything to protect Tippi, and I’m sure all other cat lovers would too if they knew more about the risk of serious disease. I don’t believe that the cat owners who aren’t getting vaccinations realise how vital it is. If they did, they’d be getting down the vets pronto!”
These latest findings support other recent research, commissioned by the animal welfare charity, the PDSA, which revealed that six million UK cats and dogs could be at risk from diseases due to a fall in the number of owners vaccinating their pets[ii].
The PDSA report found that a quarter of owners cited lack of contact with other animals as a reason to not vaccinate. This revelation is supported by the Merial survey which found that 60% of owners know little or nothing about the diseases that could affect their cat and 28% believe vaccination not to be necessary at all.
Dr Sally Edis-Bates BVSc MRCVS explains: “The lack of awareness regarding the importance of vaccination is surprising, especially the relatively high number of UK cat owners who don’t believe that vaccination is important at any stage of their cat’s life. Many owners understand the need to vaccinate in the first few months, but it appears that the message regarding regular annual vaccination and its importance in helping to guard against potentially life threatening diseases is not getting through. I would recommend that cat owners who are unsure whether their cat is protected, speak to their vet to find out if their cat is fully covered”
The Viral Cats campaign aims to improve education of UK cat owners so that they understand the risks associated with not vaccinating their cat. To help owners find out IF their cat is at risk of disease, a new online cat health checker quiz is available via the Viral Cats website www.viralcats.co.uk .
Owners will be asked a series of simple questions about their cat, such as age, whether it lives indoors or out, whether it lives with other cats and how often it visits the vet. Following completion of the quiz, owners will find out whether their cat is at risk and in need of a check-up. If their cat is deemed to be at risk participants will have the option to receive a free text entitling them to a 2-for-1 vaccination at participating practices, if their vet advises that a full primary course is necessary. By entering their postcode, the tool will show the cat owners three local practices where the 2-for-1 offer is redeemable.
[i] OnePoll survey of 2000 UK cat owners, conducted by Merial Animal Health, 2017
[ii] PDSA 2017
[i] OnePoll survey of 2000 UK cat owners, conducted by Merial Animal Health, 2017
[ii] PDSA 2017
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