From an undernourished stray cat to a young dachshund – 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 tails.com, has helped with owners’ queries for ten years.

Shiver the soothing Blue-tongued Skink was rescued by owner Dale Preece-Kelly[/caption]

Shiver was rescued by owner Dale Preece-Kelly 14 years ago and is a star of Critterish, an unusual collection of therapy animals based in Kidderminster, Worcs.

Dale, 55, says: “She has a hypnotic and calming quality.”

Shiver’s Zen-like air has won hearts at Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, which has branches in Liverpool, Coventry and Middlesbrough specialising in helping early years children facing life-limiting illness.

Dale says: “She always captivates the kids.”

See critterishallsorts.co.uk.

Learn what makes your moggy tick

COULD your moggy be a life saver? A leading feline clinic is appealing for cat blood donors.

Dog blood donor services have existed for years but help for their kitty counterparts lags behind.

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Kerry Flynn says: ‘If you have a cat under eight years old, vaccinated and over 4kg, we urgently need donors and funds’[/caption]

Last year, The London Cat Clinic joined forces with Portugal-based Animal Blood Bank to create the UK’s first dedicated feline blood donation centre.

Clinic Director, Dr Jeremy Campbell, says: “Cat blood donations are a relatively safe procedure that can mean the difference between life and death.”

However cat blood is hard to store, so the donor must rush to the rescue.

In September, animal rescue charity Protected Paws started their own database.

Stray kitten Ruben, saved from deadly flea bite anaemia at four weeks old, is an early success story.

Co-founder of the London-based charity, working with DNA Vetcare, nurse Kerry Flynn says: “His blood matched a cat on our register. Pops was raced to us by his family and in 48 hours Ruben was playing.”

Kerry, 33, says: “If you have a cat under eight years old, vaccinated and over 4kg, we urgently need donors and funds.”

See protectedpaws.co.uk.