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'Cat on lead' trend is causing pets distress, RSPCA warns
Pet owners should stop walking their cats around on a leash because they become stressed and agitated when they “lose control”, the RSPCA has warned. Across Britain a growing number of pet owners are walking their cats on leads in a bid to give them more “enrichment”, the charity says - but doing so is likely to do more harm than good. With many cats cooped up indoors for prolonged periods, particularly in urban towns and cities, there has been a drive in recent years to provide them with more freedom. Capitalising on the trend, well known pet brands have released their own line of cat walking products, with specialists including PetSafe UK and PetPlanet stocking a range of cat harnesses and leads. Meanwhile, social media is also believed to be encouraging the trend, with the hashtag #catwalking used more than 14,000 times on Instagram alongside pictures of owners taking their cats through city centres, on public transport and to country parks. They include actress Marleen Maathuis and interior designer Tim Van Cromcoirt, from south London, who recently took their Maine Coon cat, Ash, on a three day walking holiday to Snowdonia. Ash the cat surveys his surroundings in the rocky climbs of Snowdonia Speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Maathuis said that because Ash was unable to roam freely at home, they had trained him on a leash and now regularly take him on walks across the capital. “Just because we live in a flat and haven’t got a garden, we didn’t want him to miss out on the beauty of life,” she added. ‘Cats are curious animals, they like exploring. It would be a shame if he just stayed indoors because of the busy roads.’ “Some people didn’t notice, whilst others were amazed and struggled to grasp the idea that we were walking the cat. Other people walked by with their dogs and the dogs looked more surprised than they did. “In London, we see it often, people walking ferrets, rabbits - we even saw a guinea pig on a leash in the park recently. People don’t have gardens and so they have to take their animals outside for a walk.” However, the RSPCA warns that this well-meaning trend is having the opposite of the desired effect, because forcing cats to walk with a collar or harness removes their “sense of control”. Unlike dogs, which eagerly await their daily walk, cats are more territorial and likely to become agitated when forced into new environments. Scientist builds incredible ladder for pet after landlord bans catflap 00:28 A spokeswoman added: “A sense of control is very important to cats and being walked on a collar or harness prevents them from having control,” she added. “It may be more difficult for them to be able to move away or hide from anything which might scare or worry them. Therefore the RSPCA wouldn’t recommend that cats are walked outside in this way. “Some loving owners who have cats that live indoors-only may feel that walking cats outside on a harness or collar is beneficial for their welfare. “However, we would generally suggest that for most cats taking steps to provide an indoor environment which has plenty of opportunities to be active and mentally stimulated is likely to be more beneficial for the cat’s welfare than walking them on a lead.” However, many animal behaviourists disagree, claiming that whilst some cats may lack the right temperament, the craze is largely beneficial to animals without alternative access to the outdoors. Laura Moss, the founder of the website Adventure Cats, said: “More people are leash training their cats. Taking a cat outside can be great for a cat’s mental and physical health. “Many indoor cats simply don’t receive enough stimulation and they may suffer from obesity or boredom-related behavioral problems.”
Bagel murder suspect had been cut out of family fortune weeks before killings, documents show
A son suspected of stabbing to death his mother and sister at their £1.5m home had been cut out of the family's bagel baking fortune just weeks earlier. The wealthy bakers were found murdered in the family's home in Golders Green at 8.50pm on Friday in what police have described as "a devastating attack". Joshua Cohen, 27, was arrested in a park on Saturday after his mother Leah, 66, and sister Hannah, 33 were killed. He was charged with murder on Sunday night, and has been remanded in custody until Monday, when he will appear before Hendon Magistrates Court. Family tributes describe them both as "loving and wonderful" people. Mr Cohen's late father Asher was one of the founders of the world renown Beigel Bake in Brick Lane, London, and just weeks ago probate was granted on his estate only naming Mr Cohen's two older brothers Nathan, 30, and Daniel, 34, as directors of the company. Hannah Cohen, 33, was found stabbed to death with her mother in Golders Green, north London. His father died last December at the age of 81. Probate on his estate was granted on July 27 and on the same day the directorship of the Beigel Bake empire was altered to list two of Mr Cohen's brothers as directors. All three brothers had worked in the family business. On Sunday tributes were paid to his mother and sister. The family run the Beigel Bake business in Brick Lane. Credit: Jenny Matthews / Alamy Stock Photo Hannah, who had studied psychology at City University London, was a former pupil at the prestigious Carmel College, Wallingford, which has since closed. Her former schoolfriend told the Telegraph it was a "tragedy". She ran a cake business called Coco Cakes with her sister-in-law Deborah Cohen. Hannah Cohen with her sister-in-law Deborah. Mrs Cohen, who is married to Daniel, told the Mail: "She was a loving aunt to her niece and four nephews and the older ones loved nothing more than baking with her. "She was absolutely selfless and did everything for everyone else. "She was the greatest cook. We went over there every Sunday to eat together as a family and she made the most amazing food. My kids absolutely adored her." Yesterday a message on the company's Facebook page stated: "I'm very sad to say, there will be no more cakes by Coco Cakes." Hannah's mother Leah was described by her family as "a loving, generous and a wonderful mother to her five children". Police at the scene of the double murder of Hannah Cohen and her mother Leah in Golders Green. Credit: Paul Grover Formal identification and post mortem examinations have yet to take place but police are confident they know the identify of the victims. Their next-of-kin have been informed. Staff at Beigel Bake were too upset to talk last night. Mr Cohen senior, who died in December aged 81, arrived in the UK from Israel in the 1960s and worked at his brother's bakery next door initially before branching out and opening his bagel business. Forensics the house in Golders Green Crescent at the scene of a double murder. Credit: Paul Grover Beigel Bake was set up by Mr Cohen senior with his brother and another partner in 1974 and was first Britain's first bagel bakery. It started out as a wholesale business and almost everything was made by hand in traditional Jewish style and is famed for its salt beef bagel. It remains a 24 hour bakery and produces 7,000 bagels everyday.
Woman Charged For Allegedly Throwing Newborn Baby in Garbage Pleads Guilty
The incident happened last year.
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