Free RSPCA microchip event for your pets in Ormskirk

The Southport, Birkdale & District Branch of the RSPCA is offering to microchip Ormskirk pets free of charge.

Pet owners can take their dogs, cats and rabbits to a special free microchipping event to be held on February 1, between 11am and 3 pm, at Ormskirk Cricket Club, Brook Lane Ormskirk. 

The RSPCA believes that microchipping is the most reliable way of finding your pet if it is lost or stolen.

The quick and painless procedure places a small chip, the size of a grain of rice, underneath the animal's skin.

Each microchip has a unique number, which is then entered into a national database alongside the owner's name, address and telephone number.

The RSPCA's chief veterinary officer Steve Cheetham said: "Microchipping your pet provides the ultimate assurance that should your pet go missing it can be easily traced.

"Even the most pampered pets can stray too far from home and get lost or stolen but a microchip permanently links the pet and the owner to ensure a happy reunion should the worst happen."

The RSPCA asks pet owners to put their dogs on a lead while cats and rabbits need to be in a suitable carrier.

Owners of other small animals should check with the Animal Shelter before taking them to the Cricket Club. Further details can be obtained from the Animal Shelter in New Cut Lane Southport or by phone on 01704 567624

Casper the commuter cat killed in hit and run

Casper the cat, famous for travelling around Plymouth on the number 3 bus has died after being hit by a car while crossing the road to catch his bus.

I wrote about Casper back in September, after his owner discovered how he hopped on the bus around 10am every morning and sat on the back seat throughout its entire 11 mile route.

The feline would travel around his home city of Plymouth in Devon, for up to an hour before arriving back at the same stop.

Devastated owner Susan Finden, 65, said whoever ran over her cat failed to stop and help him.

She said: 'Many people knew Casper, who loved everyone.

'He enjoyed the bus journeys. Sadly a motorist hit him and did not stop.

'Casper died from his injuries. He will be greatly missed - he was a much loved pet who had so much character. Thank you to all those who befriended him.'

Missing Hurricane Ike cat found over a year later

This is a lovely heart-warming story. Juliet's cat Simon went missing when Hurricane Ike hit Webster in Texas in America over 16 months ago.

Juliet was studying in Paris at the time and Simon was staying with Juliet's mother. This Christmas, Juliet returned home after being gone a year and a half.

She had dreams of finding Simon alive and that she never gave up hope. "Just as I was ready to give up, I looked across the street and saw a small gray furball." It was Simon.

Don't you just love a happy ending! Click here to see an interview with Juliet.

Charlie's on Twitter!

Hello my feline friends! Just to let you know - you can now follow me on Twitter!

You can find me at twitter.com/catchatcharlie You won't ever need to miss a blog post, and you can find out what I get up to through out my day!

 Love Charlie

Boston cat summoned for jury duty

A cat in Boston in America was summoned for jury duty. Sounds like a practical joke, but it did happen as ABC's Channel 13 reported that feline Sal was called up.

Sal's owners Anna and Guy Esposito had to get a letter from the vet to excuse him from court.

Apparently, The Espositos think they may know the source of the mix up - Sal really is a member of the family, so on the last Census form, Anna listed him under "pets".

Anna said: "I just wrote 'Sal Esposito', scratched out the 'dog' and wrote 'cat'."

Eurovision Cat song

I posed a question to fellow blogger Jamie McLoughlin on his Boom bang a blog, asking him whether any cats had been featured in Eurovision over its 54 years.

He told me there was a Finnish band in 1994 called CatCat. They didn't do anything particularly catlike on stage, however, they wore bodices and danced about in platform shoes.

Hillar Vimberg from Estonia also sung a song about a cat in the qualifying heats - it was called Cat Story (see video below). Unfortunately, it didn't get through. Never mind!

Snow cat: video and pictures of Charlie's first snow day!

Charlie is loving the weather at the moment I can't keep him away from the snow! Check out this video!

Cat litter sales soar as big freeze sets in

Poor Charlie - everyone's been out buying up all the cat litter to grit their roads with and now the poor man has none for his toilet!

With councils across Britain struggling to get hold of grit - people are finding alternatives to including table salt!

Asda say they've seen a 55% increase in sales of cat litter in the last 48 hours.

I went to my local Tesco and the shelves were practically empty - so Charlie has had to do his business outside - the only problem is once I let him out he won't come back in! He loves the snow!