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Missing cat found at animal rescue conference
The owners feared they would never see their cat again.
Attendees used microchip to track down owner.

A missing cat has been found after wandering into the Association of Dog and Cat Homes conference and plonking himself down on an attendee from Cats Protection.

Beni Benstead, manager of Cats Protection’s Tyneside Adoption Centre, was sat down during a break in proceedings when the black and white cat decided to sit on her lap.

Staff at the Telford International Centre informed Beni and the other attendees that the cat had been seen around the venue for some time. Sallie Conroy, rehoming supervisor at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Bury, fetched a microchip scanner to see if they could find out who the cat belonged to.

Fortunately, the cat was microchipped and they managed to get in touch with the owner.

The cat’s owner, Sian Tawn, was very glad to hear that her cat had been found. Sammy had gone missing earlier in the year when his owners were moving house. Their previous home had been just a seven-minute drive from the conference centre.

Already on her way to work, Sian popped by to pick up her much-missed cat and bring him home. Despite hoping for the best, she hadn’t expected to see him again.

Sian said: “It was amazing to get the call to say he had been found and was alive. I immediately brought him home and after a quick explore of his new home, and seeing the cats he was brought up with, he went upstairs to be with my husband and just slept non-stop.”

Speaking after the reunion, Beni said: “It was a team effort to get this lovely cat back to his owner. It really was a stroke of luck for him to wander up to a group of cat lovers who immediately sprung into action to try and get him back home. Sian was so excited to see Sammy, and we look forward to hearing how he settles back in with his family.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."