A recent report from the RSPCA shows that cats are being abandoned in increasing numbers, thought to be as a result of the credit crunch. Prevention is better than a cure and early intervention can ensure that cats' welfare is preserved at lower cost. All pet welfare organisations would recommend insurance and early diagnosis and there are many free resources available to help owners. Vet Help Direct, which is the equivalent of NHS Direct for animals, is free to use and helps cat owners to decide how urgently their cat needs to see the vet, cutting any delay in treatment for true emergencies and preventing
'Bucket', a 5 year old cat from Nottingham, was fortunate to live after his owner Sarah Rennoldson logged on to Vet Help Direct.com after he displayed odd behaviour. Acting on the advice displayed on the site her owner immediately contacted her local vet Jaqui Gilmour MRCVS at Bill Bowlers Vets and Bucket was diagnosed with a blocked bladder, a life threatening condition which was quickly treated with an operation. Jaqui said ' If Sarah hadn’t brought Bucket in so rapidly he could have gone into renal failure and could have developed metabolic disturbances. He would have been really, really sore, and left untreated a blocked bladder can cause death.'
Vet Help Direct is a UK initiative but since its launch over 100,000 visitors from 152 different countries have used the free service.
