An Unexpected Cat Adventure: Patches and Angelina’s Mysterious Escape – Katzenworld


The following is a guest story submitted by one of our readers Linda – if you’d like to submit a story email us via info@katzenworld.co.uk

Every night around 9:30, he stands before me with that look. We’ve been in a relationship for a year now and our routines have become set in stone. I’m not always ready for bed that early in the evening, but I acquiesce and give him what he wants by retiring early.

When I first met him, they called him “Hollywood.” I immediately knew why. He wore a classy tuxedo and there was no mistaking that beauty mark near his mouth. His name was a takeoff from Marilyn Monroe or Cindy Crawford, not to mention that his eyes looked like they were lined with black eyeliner. It was “glam” for sure.

I had reservations about getting involved with him. I had just lost my companion of 17 years due to renal failure, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for another commitment just yet. I knew it would require preparing meals on a regular basis, and heaven knows what would happen ‘ should there be a health issue with either one of us given our ages. That would be something else to consider before I jumped into a living arrangement.

So I got up off the comfy sofa and turned on the night light. He went right to the door.

“Ok. You wanna go out?”

He ran right out with his tail straight up into the cool night air. This night I would leave him outside for awhile because I knew as soon as he came back in, he would run straight to his food dish and then give me that look again. That wanting look. It was his time to retire so he could lay with his head on my shoulder as I read in bed.

“Hollywood,” aka “Patches,” (the grandchildren didn’t quite get the glamorous moniker, and since he had one big white patch on his back, they named him Patches) was a talker. He never re-entered the house without first saying “hello.” This night he ran in with no “helio” and no running to his food dish. Instead, he stopped in the middle of the room. And there she was. “Angelina Ballerina!” She lay on her back with her furry, white underbelly and her long, white delicate tail. Then I realized what I must do. I must acknowledge Patches’ good work.

“Well, hello. Patches. What have you got there? Is that a present for me?”

Patches raised his head to accept my praise, quickly scampered over and flipped Angelina around. Two good belly flops was all I could take.

I quickly moved to the kitchen once again to gather paper towels, rescued her with one fell swoop and released her to the outdoors. Patches ran right out the door to play with his new found playmate. I stood watch and then distracted Patches while Angelina escaped.

Patches turned and ran into the house. I continued to stand outside to watch Angelina survive in the great outdoors. The afternoon sun was at my feet and I looked about the neighborhood as dusk approached.

A few minutes later I returned indoors to talk to Patches but he was no where to be found. I called his name, checked the bedroom closet and looked behind the shower curtain, two of his favorite resting spots. Then I heard him meow. I wasn’t sure where his voice was coming from until I looked up. There he was on top of the entertainment center drinking out of the fish bowl! “Vichyssoise,” aka as “Jaws”, (because you can actually hear him chew his supreme dried shrimp delicacy) is a beautiful, iridescent blue tetra fish. Jaws circled his bowl, fluttering his gills, excited to see his friend Patches with his pink scratchy tongue, slurping water from his liquid home.

“Well, you did a good job, didn’t you? You’re such a good kitty!”

I turned to the kitchen to grab some paper towels, and before I knew it, Angelina jumped up and ran behind the entertainment center.

“Patches? How could you let her get away?” I admonished. Patches seemed as surprised as I was but ran to the entertainment center to see what he could see behind it.

“Well, I don’t see her. Do you?”

I got the flashlight but saw nothing between the wall and the entertainment center except extensions cords.

“Well, I don’t see her. Where do you think she could be?”

I got the broomstick just to rattle around and poke at the cords to see if I could make Angelina come out. No Angelina.

Now for the hard part. Easing the heavy wooden oak stand with vases, plants, framed photos and finery away from the wall would take some effort. After removing most of the “breakables,” I tried to wedge myself against the desk and lean into the furniture using some leverage, but I carried no weight. I could budge it but the strain of one attempt after another left me exhausted. Now, down on my hands and knees, using the flashlight for a keener view, I was stumped until I put my hand on the back side of the entertainment center. I realized there was a recess at the bottom where the back side panel ran short leaving a space for Angelina to hide.

“Patches. Where is she? Where did she go?” I questioned him tauntingly.

Again, out came the broomstick to shake things up a bit more, but to no avail. Patches would race the long stretch from one end of the entertainment center to the other. Back and forth, back and forth he went. This went on for some time until Patches decided to sit still and focus intently on his hidden hostage.

“I know you get more playful at night. Patches but I don’t think your new playmate wants to come out. I think it is time to give up and come to bed.”

I quickly moved to the kitchen once again to gather paper towels, rescued her with one fell swoop and released her to the outdoors. Patches ran right out the door to play with his new found playmate. I stood watch and then distracted Patches while Angelina escaped.

Patches turned and ran into the house. I continued to stand outside to watch Angelina survive in the great outdoors. The afternoon sun was at my feet and I looked about the neighborhood as dusk approached.

A few minutes later I returned indoors to talk to Patches but he was no where to be found. I called his name, checked the bedroom closet and looked behind the shower curtain, two of his favorite resting spots. Then I heard him meow. I wasn’t sure where his voice was coming from until I looked up. There he was on top of the entertainment center drinking out of the fish bowl! “Vichyssoise,” aka as “Jaws”, (because you can actually hear him chew his supreme dried shrimp delicacy) is a beautiful, iridescent blue tetra fish. Jaws circled his bowl, fluttering his gills, excited to see his friend Patches with his pink scratchy tongue, slurping water from his liquid home.

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WSAVA to Confront the Challenges of Antimicrobial Prescribing during Flagship ‘Shaping the Future’ Congress Session – Katzenworld


Thursday September 28 2023, WSAVA World Congress, Lisbon, Portugal

How to influence human behaviour to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the topic under the spotlight at this year’s WSAVA Shaping the Future session at WSAVA Congress. During the session, members of the WSAVA’s Therapeutics Guidelines Group (TGG) will confront the challenges of effective antimicrobial prescribing and highlight the resources available to aid practitioners in this area. They will also compare and contrast different approaches to antimicrobial stewardship, which are being taken in Europe, the UK and the USA.

WSAVA Congress takes place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 27-29 September with its annual Shaping the Future session addressing a key issue of global concern for the veterinary community. This year’s session, entitled: ‘Restriction, Enablement, Behaviour Modification: what is the best approach to improve antimicrobial prescribing?’ will take place on Thursday 28 September at 11.20 am. It will be followed by a panel discussion and a brief review of the TGG’s work to date presented by outgoing chairs, Dr Paulo Steagall and Dr Luca Guardabassi.

According to the TGG, different approaches are already in use to support effective prescribing. These include enablement interventions which provide prescribers with useful information, including guidelines and other educational resources, to support appropriate prescription. Restrictive interventions, in contrast, require prescribers to adhere to a set of rules via national legislation or local control measures.

During the session, speakers including incoming TGG Co-chairs Dr Fergus Allerton and Dr Jennifer Granick, will discuss common behavioural pitfalls in making appropriate antimicrobial selection choices; consider the role of legislation in improving prescribing practices and present examples of both restrictive and enablement approaches. They will also evaluate their outcomes to date and the evidence supporting their value.

The roles of the recently revised World Health Organisation Medically Important Antibiotic List; the European Medicines Agency List and the WSAVA’s own Essential Medicines List for Cats and Dogs will all be considered in terms of their impact on patient care.

Commenting, TGG member, Fergus Allerton, explained: “Veterinary antimicrobial stewardship is a key component of the One Health mission to address AMR yet the most effective ways in which to achieve reduced or optimized prescription are still unclear.

“In France and Germany, for instance, a restrictive approach is currently favoured while the EU has also recently introduced restrictions on the use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine. In contrast, in the UK and USA, a more enablement focused approach has been adopted. During our session we will explore how these different approaches are working in practice and what lessons can be learned. Gaining a better understanding of ways in which we can optimize prescribing is critical if we are to mitigate the threat from AMR and will enable us to support policy makers across the world who are urgently seeking strategies that will most successfully influence human behaviour in this area.”

Dr Fergus Allerton

The WSAVA Therapeutics Guidelines Group is working to ensure best practice in the selection and use of medicines including their quality, availability and responsible use in companion animals while engaging participation of stakeholders and the WSAVA Global Community under the concept of One Health. Its work is generously supported by Zoetis.

The WSAVA represents more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide through its 115 member associations and works to enhance standards of clinical care for companion animals. Its core activities include the development of WSAVA Global Guidelines in key areas of veterinary practice, including pain management, nutrition and vaccination, together with lobbying on important issues affecting companion animal care worldwide.

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Magical Cat Toys from Japan: Discover the Enchantment of Silvervine – Katzenworld


Hello everyone,

This is Freya speaking, and I am delighted to inform you that our humans have recently received a delightful shipment of magical cat toys all the way from Japan. These toys come in a variety of shapes, from fishies to beer bottles, breads, baguettes, sweet potatoes, and even ice cream! To check out the entire range, simply click here.

And here’s an extra something to make you smile – for a limited time, we are offering a 12% discount on all items in our Blog Shop! Just use the code “Oliver” (without the “) during checkout. Happy shopping! Rennie: Oh, imagine the enchantment of encountering this extraordinary creature, the magical fish! Its origins rooted in the mystical land of Japan, this wondrous being captivates hearts and minds alike. But what sets it apart, you may ask? It is brimming with the ethereal essence of a rare and irresistible plant called Silvervine, known for its captivating effect on us feline friends. Indulge your beloved companion with the sheer delight of silvervine cat toys, and witness the extraordinary joy it brings to our lives. Embrace the magic, dear friend, and unveil a world of pure enchantment for your beloved furry companion.

Rennie: Oh, look at me, having a grand old time kicking, biting, and even licking this toy! It’s a riot, really! 🙂 Freya: Oh, Rennie! What do you have there? And why on earth didn’t you invite me to this… Rennie: Me? Nothing… there is nothing here at all! Freya: It’s sticking out under your fat belly… -_-

Freya: Give it to me! Rennie: Nope! Human, can you take her away, please?

Freya: I got the fishy at last! 😀 And it smells so nice… Rennie: Watch me… I will have it back!

Rennie: And it’s my turn again! To love and cuddle the fish. <3

Freya: Not so fast! I still have lots of energy to play with the fishy! Rennie: Fine… you can have it for a while. I am exhausted now. Rennie & Freya: *Drooling* Ohhhh absolutely shattered now… Oliver: Just what I have been waiting for… now that the naughties are spaced out… it’s time for me the grandets of all cats to come in! Freya: Did I just here Oliver? I must be dreaming… he wouldn’t dare to steal our toys! Rennie: No you didn’t…. look! He is here! Freya: Oh noes! Will you stop him for us? Rennie: I can’t move my paws… I am far too sleepy now. XD

Oliver: The purrfect opportunity for me to have some fun with the toys. 😀 And this silvervine is definitely stronger than expected… they are so spaced out that they simply don’t care that I am having fun! Freya: Right… before I fall asleep I guess we better tell your humans where they can get these lovely fishes! Our humans brought back a whole stack of them from Japan and you can get them in various colours in our online shop. They also come in other fun shapes such as sweet potatotoes, Japanese cat bread, baguettes, beer bottles and even cat safe ice cream cones! And if your humans are looking for a cheaper option check out the Owl & Pussycat silvervine toys! https://katzenworld.shop/product/nyagomidokoro-fish-cat-kicker-with-silvervine-matatabi/ Renegade: Have fun fellow felines! 😀 Signed by, His Meowjesty Prince Renegade the Flash & Her Meowjesty Queen Freya the Snow Leopard & His Meowjesty King Oliver the Maker of Mischief

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How to Show Your Cat Love: Making Time for Special Moments – Katzenworld


Sandra McCune from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) talks about how we can show our cats some love by giving them special time each day

Of course, we love our cats every day of the year even when they wake us up early in the morning to be fed or cuddled, when they leave their hairs all over the sofa or when they stay out all night and worry us sick! But it is rather nice for them to be recognised with their own special International Cat Day once a year on Tuesday, 8th August.

International Cat Care is the custodian of International Cat Day, an organisation that works internationally to improve cat welfare through collation and promotion of evidence-based research into feline physical and mental wellbeing.

This year they are encouraging us to set aside five minutes each day to play with our cats to improve their physical and mental health.

Kittens are famous for their playful nature but this natural behaviour can persist right into old age. Play is important for cats, particularly those kept exclusively indoors, to keep their minds and bodies active and well. If you’re not sure how to get started, then take a look at this poster created by Mikel Delgado for helpful tips on playing with your cat, beautifully illustrated by Lili Chin.

SCAS understands how special our cats are! As a charitable organisation, SCAS is dedicated to supporting research, promoting best practices, and advocating for policies that help both pets and people. Read more about SCAS here.

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The Fascinating World of Cats: Ancient Beings with Unparalleled Beauty and Independence – Katzenworld


The following is a guest contribution by Carol B. – If you’d like to contribute to our publication please email info@katzenworld.co.uk

Cats are gifts from above, conceivably beyond the stars, with the wisdom of Buddha, the transcendence of Allah and the supremeness of Amen Ra.

Their beauty is beyond compare, with kaleidoscope eyes reflecting prisms of color that peer into the darkness and identify shapes that mystify and belie.

Their bodies are anatomical wonders of balance, grace, flexibility and litheness, with the coiled strength  of an athlete, the carriage of a ballerina and the attitude of a diva.

They live on their own terms and unimaginably domesticated themselves. They will not compromise their reality, negotiate their stance, grant concessions, or concede under any circumstance.

They are expert but somewhat subtle communicators. There are many behavior nuances and subtleties interwoven with omnipresent curiosity.

They can be impervious, self-serving, entitled and ineffable. After all, what would would you expect from a species that was worshipped by an ancient civilization and has yet to be toppled from its tree-high pedestal.

Everyday is a pleasure to be in their presence. They are serenely oblivious to wokeness, political correctness, what constitutes acceptable behavior and the zeitgeist of an era.

They are ancient beings that will not blend, assimilate or connect to the current condition. They have traveled through centuries and never betrayed their essence. They have remained the same.

They are Cats.

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Cat Puzzle: Find and Circle Calico Words in this Printable Picture – Katzenworld


Hi everyone,

Welcome to our regular feature of cat puzzles!

You can print the below Picture and see if you are able to find and circle in all the Calico related words in the grid!

I hope you’ll have loads of fun with this one.

Published by Soggy Nomad Press and Created by Nola Lee Kelsey

Looking for the answers? Never fear you can find them here! But don’t spoil the fun… try and finish the puzzle before revealing the answers!

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Preventing and Finding Lost Pets: Importance of Microchipping and High-Tech Gadgets – Katzenworld


Countless pet owners have felt the pain of their precious pet going missing—sometimes never to come back. In most cases, though, a lost pet is a largely preventable occurrence, and even if your pet is on the loose, there are thankfully an increasing number of ways to improve the likelihood of their safe return.

In most cases, pets become misplaced either due to instincts (a male going off in search of a female in heat, for example) or simply boredom from a lack of exercise and interaction. But unexpected events such as celebratory fireworks or severe storms can cause them to run away and get lost due to fear and anxiety.

Shockingly, a surprisingly high number of pets are also stolen from their homes every year—as many as 2 million annually in the US alone, according to the American Kennel Club. Around 1 in 3 pets becomes lost at some point in their lifetime, and only 15.8% of dogs and 2% of cats are reunited with their owners, according to the American Humane Association.

What To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing:

If your pet gets loose, the first thing to do is search the area where they escaped—ask neighbours and anyone close by if they’ve spotted your pet. If your pet has a microchip, it will be scanned if they’re are found or taken to a rescue organization, vet, or shelter. You can also preemptively call these local facilities and tell them your pet is missing and give them an accurate description of your pet in case they turn up at a later stage.

Dr Chyrle Bonk, a member of the veterinarian team at ExcitedCats.com, says that “by far the most successful and easy thing to help prevent pets from getting lost—and also, getting them home again—is having proper and current identification. This may be a tag on the collar, or better yet, a microchip.” In fact, many rescue shelters require that dogs and cats be both spayed/neutered as well as microchipped before they can be adopted by a new family. Bonk emphasizes that the chip technology is “a pet’s best chance at a ticket home.”

ExictedCats.com veterinarian Dr Lorna Whittemore adds that while microchips are a great idea, it’s essential to ensure that they work and are up to date. She encourages having your pet’s chip scanned by your vet post-implant as well as at each annual checkup to make sure it’s working properly. She emphasizes the importance of providing as many ways to reach pet owners as possible within the microchip database. “You’d be surprised by the number of pets who are microchipped but whose owners we cannot get hold of because of outdated contact information.” She notes that most forms offer plenty of space for multiple contact details. “Adding those of a trusted friend or family member (with their permission) as a backup can be useful too,” she recommends.

Dr Whittemore also stresses the importance of prevention in keeping your pets safe with a few key tactics: “Keep your cats inside for a couple of weeks after any big move, train them in advance to respond to a call or whistle, and neuter your pets to stop them running off in search of a mate.”

Are High-Tech Gadgets a Quick Fix?

New technology has made finding a lost pet easier and quicker than ever before. You can now purchase collars with tracking devices that connect to your smartphone, so you’re able to pinpoint your pet’s exact location thanks to GPD technology. There are also apps with facial-recognition technology that send out photos of your pet to vets, rescues, and shelters, and even apps that help reunite lost pooches with their owners by using the dog’s unique nose prints to help identify them.

Despite all this new tech, Dr Chyrle Bonk reiterates that “by far our best system for locating lost pets is microchipping.” Pet industry experts emphasize that any new tech be supplementary to the failsafe of microchipping, which remains the first and most important line of defence for lost animals.

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World Cat Day: Celebrating Our Furry Companions and Their Impact on Our Health and Happiness – Katzenworld


Happy World Cat Day everyone!

World Cat-Day, also known as Internation Cat-Day, is celebrated throughout the world on August 08, 2014. It was founded in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other animal rights groups. The cat is a small, furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests. Although cat ownership has commonly been associated with women, a US poll reported that men and women were equally likely to own a cat.

Cats have been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years, and are currently the most popular pet in the world. Owing to their close association with humans, cats are now found almost everywhere in the world. Cats are a common companion animal in Europe and North America, and their worldwide population exceeds 500 million. In 1998 there were around 43 million cats in Western Europe, 33 million in Eastern Europe, seven million in Japan and three million in Australia. A 2007 report stated that about 37 million US households owned cats, with an average of 2.2 cats per household giving a total population of around 82 million. In contrast, there are about 72 million pet dogs in that country.

Despite being solitary hunters, cats are a social species and use a variety of vocalizations, pheromones and types of body language for communication. These include meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting. Interactions with cats may improve health and reduce physical responses to stress: for example the presence of cats may moderate increased blood pressure. Cat ownership may also improve psychological health by providing emotional support and dispelling feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Their ability to provide companionship and friendship are common reasons given for owning a cat. (With material from: Wikipedia)

From cute cat calendar

Thanks,

Marc

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Tummy Rub Tuesday Week 459: Submit Your Cat Photos and Stories for a Chance to be Featured – Katzenworld


Hello everyone,

Welcome to another week of Tummy Rub Tuesday!

The easiest way to enter is by sending them in via info@katzenworld.co.uk. Or just leave a comment with a link to the post / photo you’d like us to use on this blog post.

“Meet Abby” Sent in by Dennis via email.

“Todd and Tova are huge fans of Tummy Rub Tuesday! Todd is our sweet big boy, and Tova is our mischievous little girl. Here are photos of them showing off their tummies. And the last photo is of Todd giving Tova a “tummy hug.”” Sent in via email by Valentina.

“Daisy from Alaska” Linda – Sent in via email

“Titan is an eleven-month-old foster fail. He was a very sick kitten and is still a bit small and fragile for his age. His attitude is full-sized, though. He’d had an exciting visit with his family’s friends, played himself out chasing ribbons and retrieving toys, and went belly up after dinner in a nearby spare chair.” From Joan, sent in via email.

Missed last weeks post? Why not check it out here.

Now we need ALL of you! Do you want to see your cat featured and join our fun blog roll? Follow the steps below. 😀

All you need to do is post a photo or photo story of your fur-friend on your own Blog and add your post link and photo into our Tummy Rub Tuesday post within our Forum.

Simply leave a comment on the post and attach the image you’d like to use. If you’ve got more than one image to use, make multiple comments! 😀

Should you not have an own Blog you can participate by sending us an email with your photo to info@katzenworld.co.uk – just let us know what you would like to have listed as source! 🙂

And to make it fair your cat photos don’t have to be a tummy shot we do understand that not all cats like showing off their belly! So any fun photo story will be fine but tummy ones will be even better 😀

And on next week’s #TRT we will be posting photos with links back to all you guys in the weekly Tummy Rub Tuesday post!!!

A big thank you to all participants from all of us here at Katzenworld.

Not on WordPress but would like to follow us? We are on Bloglovin too! 🙂

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Rising Trend: Food-Inspired Pet Names for Cats and Dogs in 2023 – Katzenworld


Foodie pet names are on the rise, with unusual options including Baguette, French Fry, and Cream Cheese

Have you ever looked at a pet and thought, “What an adorable little baguette!” Well, it turns out, you’re not alone, as a new study has revealed that food plays a big role when naming pets, with over 1 in 10 (12%) of our furry friends are named after food or drink.

TrustedHousesitters has released its 2023 Pet Names Study, which analysed over 50,000 pet names registered on its platform and found that food-inspired names are surprisingly popular for both cats and dogs.

The 2023 top food-related names for cats:

  1. Pepper
  2. Coco
  3. Olive
  4. Ginger
  5. Pumpkin
  6. Oreo
  7. Peanut
  8. Cookie
  9. Mochi
  10. Pickles

The 2023 top food-related names for dogs:

  1. Pepper
  2. Ginger
  3. Olive
  4. Honey
  5. Cookie
  6. Peanut
  7. Mochi
  8. Maple
  9. Oreo
  10. Biscuit

13% of cats were named after a food or drink, with cat owners more likely to pick foodie names than dog owners. While popular names, including Pepper and Coco, take the top spot for cats, many owners opt for more unusual options; Miso, Bean(s), Sushi, Kiwi, Mango, Taco, Cheeto, Cheddar, Basil, and Chilli feature in the top 50 food-related pet names for cats, with one owner even naming their cat French Fry.

11% of dog names are food or drink inspired. Popular foodie names for dogs include classics such as Pepper, Ginger, and Olive. However, many dog owners also get creative when picking a name for their furry friend. Some of the more unusual food-inspired names found for pooches include Dulce de Leche, Cream Cheese, Snickers and Baguette.

The five most popular drink-related names for pets all relate to alcohol, with Cosmo, Whiskey, Brandy, Guinness, and Julip coming out on top. Unique drink-inspired options, including Shiraz, Tequila and Boba also made the list.

TrustedHousesitters Head of Community, Angela Laws, commented:

“While working with pets and pet owners worldwide for over 14 years, I’ve always been exposed to the up-and-coming popular names. But it’s been even more exciting to see what our data has to say about 2023 pet names in this study. One of the most interesting finds is how food has influenced pet name trends this year, with some wonderfully unique options making the list!”.

To explore the full 2023 Pet Names Study findings, please visit TrustedHousesitters here, or learn more about food names for dogs and food names for cats on the blog.

About TrustedHousesitters

TrustedHousesitters is a global petcare travel exchange with a unique, pet-loving community of 165,000 members. Pet sitters stay in owner’s homes in exchange for looking after pets. Founded in Brighton in the UK in 2010, the exchange operates in more than 140 countries and has organised nearly 10 million nights of pet sitting. TrustedHousesitters offers pet sitters exploration, experiences and real homes; it offers pet owners freedom and peace of mind. The company exists to inspire, champion and empower people to experience the world differently – all made possible by the love of pets.

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