April 17th saw the CAS team attending our second year at the Three Counties Showground’s family-friendly agricultural event, CountryTastic.

The event was a jam-packed day for children and parents to experience the wonders of the British countryside through various activities, but CAS were excited to be a part of the deeper message on rabbit welfare.

Forming our very own ‘Rabbit Ranch’ zone, we were able to showcase what good rabbit housing and welfare standards are, as well as providing educational advice on appropriate rabbit care and enrichment toy-making for children to take part in.

Two of our gorgeous rabbit residents, Domino and McCoy attended and were the perfect models to showcase what a happy bunny looks like when they are provided with good quality housing, enrichment and lots of space!

Sadly, despite being the third most popular choice of pet in the U.K, rabbits also remain the most neglected. Many live a life of solitude in inappropriate housing such as hutches and indoor cages, which do not meet the minimum housing requirements for their welfare considerations.

**A rabbit should freely have access to a living accommodation area of 10ft x 6ft with a minimum height of 3ft **

Our attendance at this agricultural event was driven by our partnership with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) campaign in 2023, a movement to boycott agricultural rabbit displays. RWAF set the precedence to help end the typical largescale event showcasing of rabbits, who are held in small, meshed cages for hours to be viewed by the public, holding no consideration of the rabbit’s welfare or comfort.

A step was made to change this at the Great Yorkshire Show, followed in quick succession by the Three Counties Showground in 2024, a change we hope can continue to grow across the country.

As an organisation we look forward to supporting better rabbit welfare and helping to break the myths many people sadly carry about rabbits.

If you are in need of any advice or support about rabbits or to better understand your bunny, you can talk to our team at smallanimals@gawa.org.uk

Enriching dog walks: Elevate every stroll

Dog walks are an essential part of your pet’s daily routine, offering mental stimulation and physical benefits to both human and dog participant.

Regular walking can help maintain your dog’s weight management, improve digestion, boost cardiovascular health and help with their overall mobility but more than just physical benefits, mental stimulation is a key benefit to a daily stroll.

To enhance your dog’s walking experience and keep them mentally sharp, consider adding these enrichment activities to their outings:

Vary the route: Dogs love novelty, and a new route can provide them with fresh scents, sights, and sounds. Take a different path through your local neighbourhood, visit a nearby park or woodland, or explore new trails in your area. Changing the scenery keeps your dog mentally engaged and can prevent walks from feeling mundane.

For those wishing to explore something new in the local area or further afield, why not take a look for a new dog-friendly stroll. Check out some of the best dog friendly strolls in Gloucestershire, according to the AA.

Let them sniff: Dogs experience the world primarily through their sense of smell, so give your dog time to stop and sniff around during walks. This is mentally enriching for them, allowing them to gather information and satisfy their natural curiosity. Don’t rush the walk—let your dog linger and explore. It has even been reported that just 20 minutes of sniff time can be the equivalent to 1 hour of a standard walk!

Add training or trick practice: Whilst training should begin at home where there are less distractions for your dog, use your walk as an opportunity to reinforce basic obedience commands or introduce new skills. Practicing “sit,” “stay,” “heel,” or “come” while on the move keeps your dog mentally stimulated and strengthens your bond. Always use positive reinforcement, like treats or praise, to make the experience even more rewarding.

For those dogs in need of additional training support when on walks, you can contact our Behaviour team at behaviour@gawa.org.uk for more specific practical advice on training and positive reinforcement techniques.

Interactive toys and challenges: Bring along toys like a tug rope or ball to incorporate play into the walk. You can also use food puzzles or treat-dispensing toys to keep your dog engaged. Hide treats along the route to encourage scent tracking and problem-solving.

Including scent games can be a fun way to engage your dog and make walks even more fun!

Give them a good stroke: Incorporating a moment to stop and stroke your pet during a walk is not only enjoyable but can give you the opportunity to give your pet a quick health check, feeling for lumps/bumps, discomfort or even knots and tangles in their coat. Taking a moment to watch your dog walking can mean you pick up any changes in their stride or gait, which could give an indication of illnesses like arthritis or lameness through injury.

The team at CASVet can help provide you with good, routine health care guidance for your pets and tips on health checking your pet.

Watch for mental stimulation opportunities: Keep an eye out for sights, sounds, and even textures that your dog can engage with. Whether it’s observing birds, hearing the rustle of leaves, or walking on different surfaces, these small elements provide fun, mental enrichment during the walk.

By adding variety, play, and mental challenges to your dog’s daily walk, you can make the experience more fulfilling and enjoyable for you and them!

Summer is almost here at long last and, while we all love a bit of sun, it is no secret that there are times when we can have too much of it.

During the hot summer months pets can suffer from the same problems as humans including overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. Please read on to find out how you can keep your pet safe in hot weather.

Keeping our dogs cool

Exercising and walking

As important as physical exercise is for dogs, every summer day dogs are taken to veterinary centres suffering from heatstroke after a walk. This can be fatal and is avoidable for the most part.

As a general rule, walking your dog when the temperature is below 20C is ideal. Most dogs are comfortable at temperatures between 15-25°C, but this is very much dependent on their age, breed, size, coat length, amount of exercise they’re engaging in, individual health and fitness.

If and when our dog stops on the lead during walks, and wants to lie down to rest, we must listen to their need and allow them to do so.

Smaller dogs, long haired dogs and dogs which are brachycephalic (French bulldogs, pugs, English bulldogs etc) are also more prone to heat stroke. When going on walks, regularly provide fresh clean water for your dog. Don’t allow time off lead if your dog is likely to zoom around as this can cause them to overheat, heightening the risk of them developing heatstroke.

In hot weather, dogs can still overheat and get sunburnt, even on short walks in the shade or early/late in the day. Apply pet-safe sun cream to exposed areas like the nose, ears, and pads, especially for lighter or thinner-coated breeds and dogs with pink noses.

Only take dogs to the beach if you can provide shade and plenty of fresh water. Rinse them thoroughly afterward to remove sand and salt, which can cause skin irritation. Wash under their collar or harness and clean these items at home.

To avoid long walks in the sun, try mental enrichment games like snuffle mats to keep dogs engaged and relaxed indoors. Find our how-to video on making a snuffle mat HERE.

Keeping cool indoors

There are many ways to keep dogs cool indoors. Shaving them for summer may seem helpful, but fur provides insulation and sun protection, increasing the risk of sunburn and heatstroke. Regular grooming is essential year-round—our onsite groomers, Short Bark and Sides, are here to help.

Cooling bandanas, coats, and frozen treats like a frozen Kong, pig ears, or kibble in ice water can help. Placing damp towels on the floor and adding ice cubes to water bowls also keeps dogs cool.

Warm dogs may become restless searching for a cooler spot—let them. To manage excess energy, offer cooling boredom busters like frozen cabbage for destructive chewers or frozen apple for relaxed chewers.

Keeping rabbits and small animals cool

Keeping cool indoors

Studies show heatstroke is a leading cause of death in pet rabbits, so it’s vital to know how to keep them cool. Always provide plenty of fresh water, adding ice to help maintain a lower temperature. Offering safe frozen or soaked vegetables can also help (ensure they are suitable for your pet).

At the Shelter, we use ceramic tiles or dampened towels with cold water for rabbits to lie on. Regular grooming is essential, especially in summer, to remove old winter fur and prevent overheating. Using a cold compress on their ears can also help, as rabbits lose heat through their ears, and dampening them speeds up the cooling process.

Outside in a hutch or run

Hutches can heat up quickly, so provide plenty of shade by moving them as needed—morning shade may vanish by afternoon. Add ceramic tiles and damp towels inside for cooling.

Topsoil helps rabbits stay cool as they dig and burrow. Ensure it’s pesticide-free and place it in a litter tray for cooling playtime.

If exposed to sunlight, apply pet-safe sun cream to sensitive areas like the nose and ears, especially for light-coloured or thin-furred pets. Breeds like mini lops, with shorter noses, struggle to cool down.

Older or unwell pets should stay indoors on hot days, and fresh water must always be available.

Keeping our Cats cool

Keeping cool indoors

Many things can help cats stay cool indoors. Cat’s often love playing with an ice cube as they can bat it around and chase it. Using cooling mats to lie on and wearing cooling bandanas can be ideal. If possible, place a fan near them to create a cooling breeze.

Some cats might also like ice cubes in their water bowl or a wet towel to lie on.
Keeping on top of grooming can also prove beneficial as when dead hair is removed, they will feel more comfortable, and a breeze is more easily felt. 

You may notice your cat grooming themselves more often than normal. This is nothing to worry about and is a way that they can cool themselves down with their saliva. 

Remember, it is especially important to keep older or unwell cats inside on hot days as they will be more sensitive to the heat.

Car Journeys with your dog, cat or small pet

It is important not to conduct any unnecessary car journeys. When it is 22 degrees outside, temperatures can quickly rise to 47 degrees in cars, outbuildings, sheds and caravans and this can be deadly for your pet. Even if your car has air conditioning, keep journeys to a minimum and limit to important events such as vet visits.

Small pets and cats should be securely restrained in a pet carrier while travelling. Water bowl attachments are available to keep them hydrated on the move.

Never leave a pet in the car unattended in hot weather, especially if they are prone to separation anxiety because they will get even hotter due to stress and adrenaline. All pets can die in hot cars and as it can happen very quickly.

We are delighted to share our Spring/Summer 2025 Newsletter

Most cats love to go outside and, with lots for them to explore, the outside world offers cats the opportunity to express their normal behaviours.

However, International Cat Care estimate that a total of 10% of cats in the UK are indoor cats and reasons for keeping an indoor cat can include:

• Living near a busy road
• Cat’s health problems
• The cat is elderly
• Those cats with pedigree status (Ragdolls, Siamese etc)
• Living in an area with a high cat population

If you choose to keep your cat as an indoors it is important to ensure they are still able to exercise, are provided with enrichment, and given the opportunity to express their natural behaviours to prevent behavioural problems.

Catios

Cat Friendly Gardens

For cats who have access to the outside, some will spend a lot of time in their outdoor environment. There are things we can do to make our gardens safer and more enjoyable for our cats.

• Avoid lots of open spaces – provide lots of places for your cat to hide
• Provide places where your cat can seek shelter from the weather and to feel secure, such as a kitty cabin or outdoor cat house.
• Provide a place for cats to spend time with their owner outside, such as garden tables and chairs.
• You can build shelves and trellis’ which can be attached to walkways and fences for cats to climb and play on
• If you would like to avoid your cat going to the toilet in your favourite flower beds you can create a latrine area for them to relief themselves. This is a purpose-built area which can be filled with sand or soil. This should be placed somewhere where the cat will feel safe and secure.
• Ensuring only cat-safe plants are planted in the garden
• Be mindful of hazardous chemicals such as weed or pest killers which should be avoided in the garden and outdoor surrounding area.

Cat Friendly Plants

Whether provided as an addition to your garden, home, or Catio, plants can be a great way to provide our cats with extra stimulation and enrichment whilst reducing their stress and anxiety levels.

Here are some examples of great pet friendly plants:

• Catnip – Catnip often promotes excited behaviour, play, or relaxation.
• Barley grasses – Is often used as cat grass! Chewing grass can provide our pets with nutrients, minerals, and vitamins promoting a healthy diet as well as reducing risk of hairballs by stimulating digestion.
• Valerian Root – Can help relieve stress and anxiety. Furthermore, it can promote play and exercise in housecats who prefer to lay around all day.
• Silver Vine – Alternative to catnip and can stimulate play.
• Cat Thyme (Teucrium Marum) – Can have antiseptic qualities for sores and skin. It is sometimes used in cat toys. It opens your cats’ olfactory receptors (scent receptors) which can cause excitement and curiosity in our cats! Note some cats dislike the smell.
• Cat friendly herbs – rosemary, thyme, and sage – These cat friendly herbs can make a good edition to your Catio as well as your cooking!

Toxic Plants

Cats are naturally curious so although they only need meat in their diet, they may still sniff, eat and chew plants. Therefore, when planting in our garden or getting house plants we should also be mindful of what plants are toxic to our cats to ensure the safety of our pets.

Here are some examples of toxic plants for our cats:

• Lilies of any kind
• Hyacinth
• Cabbage palms
• Dragon Tree
• Poinsettia
• Tulips
• Yucca plants
• Daffodils
• Iris
• Amaryllis

Symptoms of plant poisoning can include:

• Drooling
• Not eating
• Low energy
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Drinking more
• Urinating more
• Rashes or red skin
• Ulcers in the mouth
• Pale gums
• Twitches or seizures
• Collapsing

Always do your research before getting new plants. If you think your cat may have ingested a poisonous plant ring your vet for advice immediately.

World Book Day is an annual event held to celebrate and encourage reading.

The day further aims to offer all children and young people the opportunity to own a book of their own. To access free resources and book vouchers CLICK HERE to visit World Book Days official site.

Cheltenham Animal Shelter aims to support children reading by working with our rescue animals through our Paws for Reading scheme.

Two local primary schools currently access to project; The Ridge Academy and Gardners Lane Primary School. The initiative was set up in 2017 alongside Prestbury Library and The Ridge Academy to help local primary school children with low level reading confidence.

“I would say that this project is very rewarding – it’s my favourite. The SEN pupils get to be out in the community and can enjoy being in the library. Having a dog in the room immediately reduces their anxiety levels. It has been so wonderful to see children enjoying books – especially those who didn’t think they liked them – we can always find a book that fits with their special interest. It’s satisfying to know that the animals coming from the shelter – enjoy their socialisation time too.”

 

Laura, Library Assistant at Prestbury Library

During the sessions children read aloud to one of our rescue animals.

Through reading to a dog, cat, or rabbit, instead of their peers, teachers, or parents it allows them to relax and enjoy the experience without the pressures of expectation. Furthermore, it can be a therapeutic experience for the young person, by reducing their stress levels, resulting in any worries they have surrounding reading decreasing, making the activity more enjoyable.

“Paws for reading has been a great way of getting our pupils to be interested in reading and motivated to read aloud. Reading to animals has helped with building their confidence and enjoy reading more in a stress-free environment.”

 

Rachel, Teacher at The Ridge Academy

The project further benefits our rescue animals.

Sessions run at Prestbury library with the Ridge Academy allow the dogs to have respite from their kennels. During both the onsite sessions where the children read to our cats or rabbits, and off-site sessions with the dogs the sounds of the children’s voices and extra human companionship can help relax the animals and reduce their stress levels within the rescue environment.

All our animals are assessed by our behaviour team, ensuring any pets taking part in the sessions will enjoy their time on the project and benefit from the extra human interaction.

Here is what some of the students from Gardners Lane Primary School have to say about their experience of the project!

“I really liked visiting the animal shelter because the animals were amazing. The rabbits were so awesome and cute. I liked reading to them.”

“It’s good because I love animals, and I liked reading to them. They liked my story book too”.

“I liked reading to the cats and one of them liked it when I played with the cat toy. It was fun”

“Danielle was so nice to us and let us see all the cats and rabbits.”

“I liked the cats as they came out to see me when I read my book. I think they wanted to play.”

To find out more about our project or express an interest in your school joining the initiative please visit our Paws for Reading page.

We had a fantastic time during our sessions this February half-term.

Our children and young people helped look after the rescue animals by cleaning kennels and rabbit pens, making cat toy pom-poms, and experiencing exclusive animal interactions.

During the session we focused on pet safety and how our pets communicate through their body language to tell us how they are feeling.

We also learnt about the ‘ladder of communication,’ which is a tool originally created by Kendal Shepherd. The ladder demonstrates steps dogs will typically show when communicating stress or uncertainty in a situation.

Animal Encounters

For our dog meets, the children met Jasper the Greyhound and Mia the SBT X Shepherd. During the session they had the opportunity to meet one of the dogs and then set up lots of scent games and enrichment items for them. This included hiding treats amongst towels, egg boxes, cones, snuffle mats and treat balls and puzzles.

The children also met Jasper, Rory, or Cinnamon the cats who enjoyed playing with the children with interactive rope toys. These toys are great for mentally stimulating our cats and enabling them to express natural behaviours such as, pouncing and stalking as they would when hunting!

While we had the cats in the sensory area, we discussed cats body language and how they communicate to us how they are feeling.

For our rabbit interaction the children met shelter residents in small groups where we had an informal chat about rabbit handling, nutrition, and enrichment! Marlin took part in most of the sessions. All the children and young people did a great job being calm and quiet around him, which really helped build his confidence around people.

Sessions for Young Adults! 

One of our sessions this holiday was aimed exclusively for secondary school students. During the session the young people helped clean out small animal pens, prepared enrichment items by making destruction tubes for either a rabbit, dog, or cat, and met our rescue animals.

During the session the young people learnt about dog body language, and “life skills.” We also looked at calming signals and how our dogs may use lower-level signs of stress to show they are unsure or need a break from training. We then looked at basic trick training and positive reinforcement by rewarding our dogs with toys, treats, or praise. 

With our rescue dog we put this to practice by doing trick training with Mia. Each of the young people had a chance to get Mia to ‘sit,’ ‘touch’ or ‘wait,’ which are all important life skills for dogs. 

Our dogs knowing these commands can also help when finding them a new forever home. After her training we had some ‘down time’ with Mia in the education room with some human company and snuffle mats.

Here at Cheltenham Animal Shelter, we celebrate World Spay Day to highlight the importance of neutering our pets, and to advocate how neutering can be highly beneficial for our pet’s welfare.

In 2024 alone we looked after a total of 67 kittens. 40 were born at the Shelter, 20 were brought in as strays, and 7 were signed over because their previous owner was no longer able to care for them.

Neutering is an operation that prevents female cats getting pregnant, and stops male cats impregnating female cats. For females this procedure is known as ‘spaying,’ and for male cats a ‘castration.’

In 2024 we neutered approximately 91 cats and kittens.

As responsible pet owners it is important to understand the benefits of neutering our pets, the procedure can have a positive impact on their health, behaviour, as well as preventing unwanted litters.

Cats can get pregnant from 4 months of age. Unneutered cats should not mix after this time, including siblings. It is a myth that there are benefits to our cats having a litter before neutering. In fact, as cats can get pregnant so young, it could even be harmful for them to have a litter when they are so small themselves.

Not only can neutering prevent unwanted litters but you are also:

Protecting female cats

• Neutering can help protect your cat from getting diseases including some cancers and tumours.
• Reduces the risk of womb infections.
• Repeated pregnancies can affect the cat’s body condition and leave them vulnerable to diseases.
• Protecting female cats from the risks of pregnancy.

Protecting male cats

• Can help prevent them from roaming further away from home, which can carry risks including getting lost and car accidents.
• Can reduce the risk of cats getting into fights with other cats, which can result in injury.
• Unneutered male cats are at more risk of contracting FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Cats can become infected with FIV through cat bites. CLICK HERE to read the Blue Cross news article on FIV.
• It can also help prevent ‘spraying’ in your home. Cats spray urine to mark territory. Unneutered cats will also spray to attract potential mates. In unneutered cats this can lead to spraying in your home and garden.

Helping to reduce the cost of cat ownership

• Pregnant cats come with vet bills.
• The cost of looking after the kittens after birth.

Before your cat is neutered it is important for both your cat and those around you to

• Keep unneutered cats inside!
• Ensure siblings of the opposite sex are kept separate from four months of age.

So why do we love our pets?

There are the obvious benefits of having pets like companionship, helping with feelings of loneliness and the pets need for exercise inspiring people to become healthier. Pets also help us with increased social interaction and provide support for people dealing with difficult times such as poor mental health, bereavement or loss.

There has also been scientific evidence to show that pets provide benefits for people’s health and wellbeing. For example, it has been shown that people who have pets are more likely to live longer. This is because the presence of a pet brings a positive effect upon our mental health and wellbeing.

When it comes to scientific studies around the human and animal bond, there are many theories in why we choose to be close to and love our pets. One of the theories called stress-reduction, looks into how animals can reduce a person’s stress levels. For example, when being stroked, animals release ‘happy chemicals’ themselves but they also increase these chemicals levels in humans. These include chemicals such as: serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline.

Another theory, social support theory, looks at emotional, practical and informal support through supportive human relationships, for example how dog walking can increase social interactions with people.

Another popular theory is attachment theory which investigates how the attachment between humans and animals mirror a parent – child relationship. A 2019 study revealed that cats have the same attachment to their owners that babies show to their parents!

So what can we do to show our pets that we love them?

Take dogs out for a wellness and enriching dog walk
A wellness and enriching dog walk can really help our dogs feel comfortable and calm in their environment. This type of dog walk is not our usual getting from A to B walk but is instead a big opportunity for our dogs to sniff as much as they want to and be out as long as they would like. As sniffing helps dogs learn more about their environment, they are more likely to enjoy this type of walk and it might even tire them out more than your usual walk!

Treat them with a new toy
We love to spoil our pets with toys and what better day to do this than National Love Your Pet Day! You do not even have to buy a toy for them but you can instead create a new toy. See below for our how-to sheets on pop-pom toys for cats, hay balls for our small animals, destruction boxes for dogs and snuffle mats for any pet – just add their favourite treat.

All of these toys can be made with items that you might find in your home and your pet will adore them! Click the images to enlarge.

Play their favourite game
Why not play your pet’s favourite game to show that you love them? This could be a game of hide and seek with a treat hidden behind a pillow or even a game of fetch in the garden.

Treat them to a spa day
How about treating our pets to a groom or even massaging some pet safe balm onto their pads and noses to help with any dryness. Most animals need to be brushed regularly and this is a great time to do it to ensure they are kept clean and tidy. We have fantastic groomers onsite here where you can surprise your pooch with a groom to show them you love them! Check out Short Bark & Sides dog grooming services based at the Shelter.

Make some fun and easy treats at home
Along with making toys at home, we can also hand bake some animal treats! See below for our how-to sheets on treats for our pets.

The best way to show our pet we love them is by making sure they are healthy and safe.

Ensure your pet is up to date with their vaccinations and carry out a health check to make sure they are feeling the best they can be!