Latest news with #tortoise
The Sun
14 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
From a destructive cat to a friendless bearded dragon – your pet queries answered
HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions. Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm has helped with owners' queries for ten years. 4 4 Q) ALTHOUGH she knows it annoys me, my cat keeps scratching my favourite chair. I've already had it recovered once. What can I do to stop Dingo's destroying ways? Peter Thrower, Barnsley A) Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats. It marks their territory, leaving scent behind for other cats that might stray in as well as being a visual reminder that they live in that location. There's also evidence it releases natural feelgood chemicals like endorphins and happy hormones. Dingo is not doing it to annoy you, she just really wants to scratch that chair. They like prominent upright surfaces to do it on, too. The trick is to encourage the behaviour more on appropriate objects. Cat-scratching posts are vital if you don't already have some. Multiple ones around the house preferably. And use a pet-safe deterrent spray on your chair or temporarily wrap it in cling film or aluminium foil to break the habit. Bonkers, but it can work. Q) CAN you please advise on what paint can be used for a tortoise enclosure? World's Oldest Tortoise Jonathan Package - Joe Hollins My family have a pair called Laurel and Hardy. Sara Moore, Selsdon, Surrey A) I have to admit I'm not up to date on the paint market, so it's difficult to recommend products. What I will say is that it needs to be a paint advertised as pet-safe. I'd also mention that it needs to be for outdoor use so it doesn't flake off and get eaten by your tortoises. And on that note, certain colours can be very attractive to tortoises. Bright yellows, oranges, reds and purples in particular are a no-go, otherwise Laurel and Hardy may be chewing their way through your enclosure and we don't want that. Q) I HAVE just bought my son his first bearded dragon. Called Berty, he is really sociable. Should I get him a friend? Amy Parker, Reading A) My niece just got one too and it's reminded me just how fun and sociable they can be as pets. The pet dog of the reptile world, I think. Anyway, you'll be glad to know Berty doesn't need a companion as Beardies are pretty solitary animals. They only really come together to mate. When kept in groups, stress and competition for food and basking spots is high, but fighting, injury and even death can also occur. As with all reptile-keeping, mimic their life in the wild as best you can and you won't go too far wrong. Q) MY cat Princess only eats the jelly on cat food and turns her nose up at the rest of it. What can I do to get her to eat up? I'm worried she'll be hungry. Olivia Edwards, Basildon, Essex A) One of three things is likely to be happening here. Firstly, it's quite possible Princess may have oral pain, caused by dental disease. This is worth a vet appointment. As is the second category — an illness may be making her lose her appetite. You don't mention if she has lost weight or whether she's drinking more but these are always signs to watch out for, in older cats especially. Finally, maybe she's just not that hungry, and she knows that if she turns her nose up you come rushing in with something even more tasty. Cats and dogs can be very clever like that, training their owners to produce the goods when they fancy something different. We often worry too much in this last situation. If your cat is a healthy weight and seems well in herself, simply relax and let Princess finish her bowl. Star of the week 4 SHE played Dogpool in the latest Deadpool & Wolverine blockbuster – and now Peggy is a superhero to other pups. As the five-year-old hairless pugese – a pug and Chinese Crested cross, once voted Britain's ugliest dog – has helped raise £627 for Birmingham Dogs Home at Comic Con Midlands. Rachel Frost, the charity's events and community fundraising manager said: 'We were a little star-struck to have Peggy visit our charity but are extremely grateful for her taking time out of her busy schedule to support our rescue dogs.' Peggy's owner, make-up artist Holly Middleton, 38, from East Yorks, said: 'Peggy and I are very proud to support them.' Donate at birmingham WIN: £50 B&M VOUCHER B&M is giving five lucky readers the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend on their new summer pet collection. The range has everything you need to keep your furry friend happy – from cooling mats and splash pools to Paw Pops you can freeze for a tasty treat. To enter the competition, email sundaypets@the-sun. with the subject line B&M by August 3. Check out the range at T&Cs apply. SAVE PETS FROM GARDEN'S HIDDEN TOXINS 4 SUMMER is the ideal time for pets to relax in the garden – but owners should look out for hidden dangers. Check slug pellets, fertilisers and pesticides are safe for animals, and remember some plants can be deadly. Lars Mortensen, head vet at the Agria pet insurance app, said: 'Dog, cat and rabbit owners should look out for plants such as lilies, giant hogweed, geraniums and hydrangeas. Know which products are pet-friendly and which are toxic.' Kitten Izzie had a risky brush with a lily on the Ards Peninsula in County Down. Her owner, healthcare professional Megan Clarke, washed her and rushed her to the vet, where she was put on a drip to support her vital organs. Agria covered the £2,500 cost. Lucinda Alderton-Sell, of charity Cats Protection, revealed several owners have been caught out by surprise toxins. She said: 'Lilies are poisonous to cats and the toxins can cause kidney failure, which can be fatal.' If your pet has symptoms, call your vet immediately.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Elusive tortoise in Devon still on the run after eight days
The owners of an elusive tortoise that escaped from its enclosure eight days ago have offered a £200 reward for her the 20-year-old Leopard Tortoise managed to scratch her way to freedom from the garden of the Phillips family in Shillingford Abbot in has since been spotted on several occasions by members of the public but is still on the loose, despite extensive searches including the use of thermal owner Nick Phillips said the 18kg (40lbs) tortoise could have travelled about 1km (0.62 miles) a day and the £200 reward was "slight encouragement" for public help. Mr Phillips said: "She was spotted walking flat out, almost running up Weybrook Lane. A lady took a picture from her car and put it on Facebook and my daughter spotted it. We were there within half an hour looking and couldn't see any sign of her."Subsequent to that, a friend, an acquaintance of ours, old chap, said, 'oh, your tortoise, I was driving down Weybrook Lane, there was a tortoise in the road, so I stopped and I put it on the verge'."Mr Phillips added: "Where she's gone now we are not sure."The family has had nine people looking for the tortoise in verges, undergrowth and local woods, and using thermal imaging to try and spot her. The family is becoming increasingly concerned about their beloved pet. "The obvious worst scenario is that somebody has stopped picked her up and driven off but you just don't know," Mr Phillips said. He said Shelly is about the size of a "small car wheel" and is not likely to be getting enough to eat."This time of year when they're active she'll have like a whole lettuce, couple of tomatoes, half a cucumber, watermelon and then they get a special tortoise mix as well," he said. "They would be eating pretty much whatever you put in front of them so I don't know quite how they get on out in the wild." Anyone who spots Shelly is asked to pick her up and put her in the boot of their car or stay with her and contact the family through their social media posts, or by contacting the local police. Mr Phillips said the family would be "very happy" to pay the £200 reward to anyone who manages to return Shelly.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Fire-starting tortoise quickly rescued by brigade
LFB A fire-starting tortoise has been rescued from the fourth floor of a block of flats in south London. London Fire Brigade (LFB) was quick to respond after the lumbering land reptile knocked over a heat lamp which set fire to the hay in its enclosure on London Road in Mitcham on Thursday. A black dog, hiding under the stairs, was also rescued and returned to its thankful owner following the fire at 11:40 BST, LFB said. Crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington brought the fire under control by about 12:20. LFB Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
The pet tortoise that set its owner's London flat on fire
A fire broke out in a south London flat after a tortoise knocked over its heat lamp, igniting its hay bedding. London Fire Brigade crews were dispatched to the incident on London Road in Mitcham. Firefighters successfully rescued the tortoise and a dog, which was found hiding under the stairs. Both pets were safely returned to their owner, and the fire was brought under control within an hour. The flat sustained only light damage, with pictures showing crew members posing with the rescued animals.
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Tortoise rescued after starting fire in south London flat
Firefighters were rushed to a blaze started by a tortoise, managing to rescue the reptile and its canine companion from a flat. The fire broke out in a south London flat on Thursday, after the tortoise knocked over a heat lamp in its enclosure, setting alight its bed of hay, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. Crews attended the scene at London Road in Mitcham after they received a call. They were able to save the tortoise from the fire, alongside a black dog belonging to the same owner, who was hiding from the blaze under the stairs. The LFB sent crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington to tackle the fire. After returning the pets to their owner at 11:40am, they were able to bring the flames under control by 12:22pm. Pictures from the aftermath of the scene show crew members smiling and posing with the pets, with the flat understood to be only lightly damaged by the fire. A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: 'A mischievous tortoise and his canine friend were rescued last week from a fire on London Road in Mitcham.' 'The fire was caused by the naughty tortoise knocking over his heat lamp which fell onto the hay, a combustible material, in his aquarium.' 'After being made aware that there were two pets in the property, crews found and rescued a tortoise and a dog who was hiding under the stairs. Both animals were returned safely to their thankful owner.' 'The Brigade was called at 11:40am and the fire was under control by 12:22pm. Crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington Fire Stations attended the scene.' The incident occurred only a day before more than 70 firefighters were called out to a flat fire that also broke out in south London. The LFB said the blaze left the building 'completely alight,' with crews managing to bring it under control within an hour. Fire crews in the area were forced to act again later in the day as another blaze broke out at an industrial estate in southeast London overnight. Over 150 firefighters were called to tackle the fire at a scrapyard in Erith, working until 7am on Saturday to bring the flames under control.
