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Magnetic-collar moggy steals keys
Image: Stian Alexander
Neighbours discover key-stealing culprit

A nine-year-old cat has been stealing keys from her neighbours, after being fitted with a magnetic collar.

Milo the tabby cat was fitted with a magnetic collar that operates with a magnetic cat flap, in order to stop other cats entering her home and eating her food.

However, in the past five weeks Milo has managed to pick up more than 20 sets of house and car keys, as she goes into her neighbours houses via their cat flaps.

Milo was caught red-pawed when her owner, 27-year-old Kirsten Alexander, spotted her coming through the cat flap dangling the keys from her collar.

"I had no idea what she was getting up to all day when I was at work," said Miss Alexander. "Obviously she likes roaming around and sneaking into other people's homes and it just so happens that her magnetic collar kept picking up people's spare keys.

"When I saw her coming through the cat flap with a set of keys round her neck I thought 'poor thing' because her neck was really weighed down, and then it dawned on me what was happening,” she said.

Miss Alexander found 12 sets of keys in her back garden, eight dotted around her home and six more in neighbours gardens that had dropped off Milo's collar.

"I've given all the keys back and luckily neighbours have seen the funny side of it," added Miss Alexander, who also found nails, pins, screws and bolts scattered around her home.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.