Animals at Home Oxford Ltd

15/11/2024

Please support Four Paws Cat Rescue at their Christmas Market tomorrow.
Numerous stalls to buy gifts for your family & friends (not forgetting yourself😉).

❄⭐❄ TOMORROW! ❄⭐❄

Our Christmas Market at Mill View Garden Centre! 10am - 3.30pm 🎄

Make a day of it and come along! You can also browse around the market and garden centre with their lovely variety of plants and flowers, and have a tasty spot of lunch at their Willow Tree café! 🍰☕

07/11/2024

😸 A happy cat is a neutered cat 😸

Neutering can be done at most vets from 5-6 months old when your cat reaches maturity - although some vets may be able to offer this earlier.

Neutering has SO many benefits! With rescue centres being so full, us included, we aren't able to help cats that are in dire need of placement if we are overrun with unwanted litters that could so easily have been prevented.

If you are unsure about neutering, please have a read of the below:

🐾 Prevents females from coming into season and attracting unwanted male attention which then leads to pregnancy
🐾 It is very good for their health - it prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males & uterus infections and cancers in females.
🐾 Reduces the risk of infection and diseases such as FIV through fighting
🐾 Reduces urine / scent marking around the home
🐾 Can put a stop to aggressive and territorial behaviour
🐾 Stops birth defects - animals don't understand family relationships and siblings WILL mate. This increases the risk of offspring with birth defects and deformities i.e interbreeding
🐾 Reduces the risk of theft or getting lost by wandering
🐾 Avoids expensive vet bills - vet fees for problems during or after pregnancy and birth can be very expensive. Offspring should always see a vet for health checks too
🐾 Reduces the cost of of cat food - pregnant and lactating females need a lot more food to give them more energy and produce milk. Kittens also require increased feeding when they are weening / as they grow.

Please also remember that during the time that there are kittens around, sadly, adult cats in rescue care are often overlooked 😿

Just ONE unneutered cat can be responsible for over 20,000 cats in just 4 years if none of the offspring are neutered!

If you have an unneutered cat, male or female, indoor or outdoor, PLEASE speak with your vet to get them neutered and do your bit to help the ever-growing cat population and rescue centres 🙏🏻

27/10/2024

🖤 IT'S NATIONAL BLACK CAT DAY! 🖤

Today is National Black Cat Day! Separate to Black Cat Appreciation Day which we celebrated earlier in the year but with the same meaning.

was created by The Cats Protection back in 2011 to raise awareness of how black cats are often overlooked in rescue centres and take longer to find new homes.

Post a photo of your mini-panther below to show your love for your feline friend! 🖤

20/09/2024

This litter of kittens arrived at our door with their mum last Saturday afternoon. Luckily, we were able to take them in.

Here they are at the vets today for their health checks. This gang are around 5 weeks old so will be with us for a few more weeks until they are old enough for rehoming.

Throughout this year, rescues all across the country have seen such a huge increase in unwanted cats with litters of kittens... if we had 100 pens instead of 10, they would be filled!

Cats that are nursing kittens / are pregnant are in rescues for long periods of time as they need to stay with their babies until they are around 8 weeks old, then neutering needs to be arranged before them themselves can find a new home. And then there's finding the kittens homes too.

It is not an easy journey we can tell you! Nursing mothers and kittens need ALOT of feeding, socialisation and extra care along the way.

That's why it really is so important to neuter your cat. By doing this, along with all of the health benefits that come with neutering, you are doing your bit to help the crisis that animal charities have been facing in 2024.

12/08/2024

Just a reminder to keep your pets safe in today’s hot weather.
Here’s some tips for cat care from Four Paws Cat Rescue - a fantastic rescue charity who always take great care of their feline friends😸

☀ Yesterday was very warm, but it's going to be even hotter today, potentially reaching over 30 degrees ☀

Whilst some of us might like the hot weather, don't forget that our feline friends have coats on all year long! We're re-sharing some of our top tips to help your cat out during the hot weather:

😺 create some shady spots both inside and outside if they want to get away from the sun.
😺 Pop some lick-e-lix treats in the fridge! Your cat may enjoy them in the heat if they are a little cooler
😺 make sure there is good ventilation in the house, however be mindful of how wide you leave your windows open, especially if your cat is indoor only. It can be cooler to keep your curtains / blinds closed.
😺 put down plenty of water, both in the house and in the garden - a couple of ice cubes can be put in water bowls to keep the water cooler
😺 don't leave wet cat food out for too long - it will attract flies!
😺 if your cat has white ears and goes outside, put a pet-safe sun screen on them
to prevent their ears burning or getting sore
😺 if you have purchased a cool mat but your cat wont lay on it, try popping it under a towel or thin blanket to encourage them to use it.
😺 keep active playtime to a minimum during the daytime
😺 groom them - getting any excess, loose hair off their coats
😺 please make sure you check sheds, playhouses, garages etc before closing them up in the evening - your cat or a neighbouring cat may have decided it's a cool place to catnap during the day!

09/07/2024

😹😹😹

23/06/2024

☀ Summer is finally staying for more than a few days this year and it's getting much warmer this week with temperatures potentially going up to around 26 degrees ☀

Here are some top tips to help your cat out at this time of year:

😺 create some shady spots both inside and outside if they want to get away from the sun.
😺 make sure there is good ventilation in the house, however be mindful of how wide you leave your windows open, especially if your cat is indoor only. You can purchase special netting for your windows if you need to open them wider.
😺 put down plenty of water, both in the house and in the garden - a couple of ice cubes can be put in water bowls to keep the water cooler
😺 don't leave wet cat food out for too long - it will attract flies!
😺 if your cat has white ears and goes outside, put a pet-safe sun screen on them
to prevent their ears burning or getting sore
😺 keep very active playtime to a minimum during the daytime
😺 groom them - getting any excess, loose hair off their coats
😺 make sure you check sheds, playhouses, garages etc before closing them up in the evening - your cat or a neighbouring cat may have decided it's a cool place to catnap during the day!

11/06/2024

Today marks 🐾 remembering the lives of our furry friends that we have loved and lost ❤

It is always extremely difficult when it's time to say goodbye to your cherished furry friend and they cross rainbow bridge 🌈

Help is available if you are struggling with the loss of your pet:

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss
https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/grief/advice
https://www.catchat.org/index.php/pet-bereavement-support

06/06/2024

Don’t forget to microchip your cats!

From 10 June 2024 cats over 20 weeks old must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database. 🐾

This includes cats that usually only stay indoors.

By microchipping their cats, owners can increase the likelihood that they will be reunited with their beloved pet if they go missing.

More information on how to get your cat microchipped can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-cat-microchipped

20/05/2024

May is 'Chip Your Pet' Month - the purr-fect reminder to everyone that all owned cats MUST be microchipped BY 10th June 2024, so not long to go!

Should your cat be found and handed into a vet or rescue centre, the first action for them would be to scan for a microchip.

Please speak with your vet to book your cat in to be microchipped if they aren't already! 🐾

A microchip is a very small implant, inserted between your cat's shoulder blades. For a one-off fee, it's there for life and the best way possible of reuniting a cat with their owner should they go missing. Your details are then kept on the microchip company's database to link you as the owner to your cat.

Please make sure your details are updated if any of your contact information changes / you move home as well 😸

19/04/2024

The best way to spend a Friday night, especially on National Cat Lady Day! 😻

13/04/2024

Can you offer a loving home to beautiful Kiki? ❤️

❤ KIKI ❤

This is a special appeal to find a forever home for beautiful 4 year old Kiki.

She is such a wonderful cat with great character, and she loves having a fuss. She loves playing with her toy mice and catnip banana 😸

Kiki has been diagnosed with a condition called HCM which has likely been brought on by the amount of stress she’s endured in the past. She does not currently need any medication.

To find out more, please have a read of Kiki's story by visiting her profile on our website:

https://fourpawscatrescue.org.uk/kiki/ 🐾

07/04/2024

Fun with Spud today!

23/03/2024

Four Paws Cat Rescue’s Easter Fundraiser in Wheatley today. Lovely gifts to buy for your cat mad friends & family! Do go along to help support this wonderful charity😺

19/03/2024

19/03/2024

This week’s Tabby Tuesday star is beautiful Chizzy

05/01/2024

If you are looking to adopt a new furry pal this year, but are wondering how to introduce them to your existing cat please have a read of Catchat's article for helpful tips and advice 😸❤😸

https://www.catchat.org/index.php/new-cat-introductions