In the UK, cat abandonments are a third up from last year

Cats Protection - described as the UK's leading cat welfare charity - has revealed that there has been a 34% increase in cat abandonments this year, 2024, compared to last year. The video below starts off with that statement and is part of their appeal for funding to cover the rising costs of cat care after they have supported and helped 184,000 cats last year.

They say that on average cat spent 39 days in their care before being rehomed.

In the first half of 2024 veterinary treatment at Cat Protection cost £50,000. Remarkably, while they were filming their Christmas appeal for donations a cat was abandoned on the set. The cat was left at the centre and discovered by their Head of Clinical Services who was there for the filming. They named her Crumpet and she is now up for adoption. A reminder of how often people abandon cats in the UK and elsewhere.

Of course, the longer that cats are in their care the more expensive it is to care for them. And although the report I'm reading doesn't state this, I suspect that the problem is at 'both ends'. What I mean is there are more abandonments as stated - considerably more as it happens - and I suspect, too, that there are fewer adopters which means the cats stay longer within the protection of Cat Protection.

And this must come down to financial stress within the homes of many British families. This is probably due to post-Covid conditions when there was high inflation. And the general picture in the UK is one of the country under financial stress.

There is no money left to spend as it was all spent on Covid. The coffers are empty. The national debt equals the GDP of the country which I think the first time in the country's history or at least since World War II.

The current Chancellor is looking to manipulate the accounts to see whether she can find ways to borrow more money. The picture is dire to be honest.

Here are some reasons for the increase in feline abandonments.

The 30% increase in cat abandonments in the UK last year, as reported by Cats Protection, is largely attributed to several socio-economic factors that have put more strain on cat owners. Here are some key reasons behind this spike:

1. Cost of Living Crisis: With inflation and rising costs of basic goods and services, many households are struggling to afford essentials, let alone pet care expenses. Veterinary bills, pet food, and other necessities have become less affordable, leading some owners to make the difficult decision to give up their pets.

2. Increased Housing Instability: More people are renting due to high home ownership costs, and some landlords impose restrictions on pets. With more frequent moves or evictions in the rental sector, many cat owners face situations where they can’t bring their pets along, leading to more surrenders.

3. Impact of Pandemic Adoptions: During COVID-19 lockdowns, there was a surge in pet adoptions as people sought companionship. However, as routines normalized, some found themselves unprepared for the long-term commitment or unable to maintain pet care amidst life changes, such as returning to in-office work.

4. Veterinary Care Accessibility: Veterinary fees have increased, and some people are facing long wait times or challenges accessing pet care. Financial barriers in accessing routine or emergency care have contributed to owners feeling unable to care for their pets properly.

5. Lack of Awareness about Support Options: Many pet owners don’t know that there are charities and organizations that can help with pet food or veterinary care during financial hardship. Without knowledge of these resources, some may feel that abandonment is their only choice.

Cats Protection, along with other animal welfare organizations, is advocating for better awareness and support systems for pet owners. They hope that increased assistance and affordable pet care resources can help prevent future surges in abandonments.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

The 'scent of ammonia' is the dead giveaway for muti-cat homes

Cat hoarders or cat owners with more cats than they can properly care for can be detected from the outside if you are olfactorily observant because the 'scent of ammonia' leaks out of the windows even if they've only been opened by a small amount which is usually the case because these negligent cat owners KNOW that their homes are saturated in the scent of ammonia - let's call it the gross smell of ammonia - and keep their windows closed which makes the atmosphere inside their home even worse, which is detrimental to the health of cats and humans alike.

There's a story today in The Independent newspaper which mentions that ghastly phrase "the scent of ammonia". It concerns a family who lost control of the number of cats in their home. An isolated family with one family member refusing others to enter the home and where their mother died leaving their father alone with cats who clearly hadn't been sterilised and therefore procreated to the point where inside the home there were as many as 175 cats.

When a family member finally was able to enter the home they said that the scent of ammonia was so strong that they felt that they needed to wash their clothes after less than an hour in the home.

Below is the reason why cat urine gives off ammonia gas and below that is a section on how inhaling ammonia for a long time can potentially damage your health.

Health

I am concerned not only for the cats but the people in these homes. The cats in multi-cat homes where the owners have lost control and are not keeping their home clean and the cat litter trays emptied regularly et cetera are constantly inhaling ammonia. How does that impact health? The section below at the base of this article explains.

Urea

Cat urine smells strongly of ammonia because it contains urea, a waste product formed when proteins break down in the body. In the litter box or any place where the urine sits for a while, bacteria start to break down the urea into ammonia, releasing a sharp, pungent odor.

Several factors contribute to why cat urine smells more intense than that of other animals:

1. High Protein Diet: Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they rely primarily on animal protein. This leads to more urea in their urine as a byproduct of protein metabolism.

  

2. Concentrated Urine: Cats tend to conserve water due to their desert ancestry, making their urine more concentrated, and thus, the odor more potent.

3. Aging Urine: As cat urine sits, bacterial activity increases, breaking down urea and releasing more ammonia. If left uncleaned, other compounds, like mercaptans (found in skunk spray), also develop, making the odor even stronger over time.

Cleaning the litter box frequently and using odor-neutralizing products can help reduce this strong smell.

If cats and people are constantly inhaling ammonia gas in cat hoarding homes how does this impact health?

In homes with excessive cat urine build-up, like in severe cat hoarding situations, constant inhalation of ammonia gas poses serious health risks for both people and cats. Ammonia is a toxic gas that can irritate and damage the respiratory system and other organs when inhaled over long periods, especially at higher concentrations. Here’s how it impacts health:

1. Respiratory Issues

• People: Ammonia exposure irritates the respiratory tract, causing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and burning sensations in the nose, throat, and lungs. Prolonged exposure can lead to chronic bronchitis and worsen existing respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD.
• Cats: Cats, with their sensitive respiratory systems, are highly susceptible to the effects of ammonia. Exposure can lead to respiratory infections, asthma, and bronchitis. Cats may also exhibit coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge.

2. Eye and Skin Irritation

• People: Ammonia exposure can cause burning, itching, or redness in the eyes, as well as skin irritation if there’s contact with urine-soaked surfaces. Chronic exposure may worsen these effects, leading to persistent eye inflammation.
• Cats: Cats may also experience eye irritation, leading to conjunctivitis and other eye infections. Their skin can become inflamed, particularly on the paws if they’re frequently stepping in soiled litter.

3. Neurological and Psychological Effects

• People: In severe cases, prolonged high-level exposure to ammonia has been linked to symptoms like dizziness, headache, confusion, and overall cognitive impairment. Anxiety, stress, and depression are also common among individuals in hoarding environments due to the overwhelming conditions.
• Cats: High ammonia levels can cause stress in cats, leading to behavioral issues, and potentially affecting their neurological health, causing lethargy or disorientation.

4. Damage to the Immune System

• People and Cats: Constant exposure to ammonia can weaken the immune system, making both people and cats more susceptible to infections. This is particularly dangerous in a hoarding situation where sanitation is poor, and there’s a higher risk of bacterial and viral spread among animals and people.

5. Potential Long-Term Organ Damage

• People and Cats: Over time, severe and prolonged ammonia inhalation can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs. In the worst cases, it can contribute to irreversible lung damage and kidney issues.

In severe hoarding situations, clean-up and remediation, including proper ventilation and often professional decontamination, are essential for restoring a healthy environment. For people and animals already

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Boris Johnson compares slavery with Covid-19 in terms of reparations

BORIS JOHNSON: China gets away scot-free over Covid… but we face bizarre demands for slavery reparations because Starmer's foreign policy is about as robust as a tea-dunked hobnob. - DAILY MAIL.

There is a lot of talk at the moment in the UK about reparations for slavery. Slavery ended about 6-7 generations ago in the UK with the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 ending slavery in most of the British Empire. So this is very historical. But the countries affected are suggesting that they should receive financial compensation which overall might approach $15 TRILLION!! Impossible to pay as it is 3 times the value of the UK.

But in stark contrast no one has asked China to pay trillions of dollars of compensation to nations deeply affected in so many ways including huge financial loses. It is a known fact that Covid started in China either through carelessness at a wet market in Wuhan or more carelessness in a biolab in the same city. See global loses below the video which has been embedded from the Daily Mail website. It may not play in due course.

Global GDP Losses

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that COVID-19 cost the global economy around $22 trillion between 2020 and 2025 due to lost output, slower growth, and lower investments.
• The World Bank projected a 5.2% contraction in global GDP in 2020, which was the deepest recession since World War II. Advanced economies shrank by an average of 7%, while developing economies contracted by about 2.5%.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Is Elon Musk treasonous?

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a linchpin of U.S. space efforts, has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. - Wall Street Journal

Two years ago, Musk refuted claims that he was in communication with Putin. However, it seems that was not entirely truthful from the world's wealthiest individual, who is now wholeheartedly backing Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election. Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly mentioned that he would involve the head of SpaceX and Tesla in his administration should he win re-election.

Frequent communication between the world's wealthiest individual and America's primary adversary has sparked security debates, encompassing discussions on geopolitics, commerce, and personal affairs.

Calling reports of ongoing conversations between tech billionaire Elon Musk and Russian President Vladimir Putin “concerning,” the head of NASA on Thursday called for an investigation into the bombshell accounts "if the story is true." - Raw Story

Musk. Image believed to be in the public domain.

I don't know anymore. Americans should know more. In detail, what are they discussing? Is Musk's behaviour treasonous? That is the big question.

"SpaceX, which operates the Starlink service, won a $1.8 billion classified contract in 2021 and is the primary rocket launcher for the Pentagon and NASA. Musk has a security clearance that allows him access to certain classified information." - Wall Street Journal

Putin is the world's enemy. Certainly America's. Even if Musk is not saying things to Putin which gives him an advantage in his war with Ukraine, the simple fact that he is cosying up to the world's most notorious mass murderer is shocking. Hasn't Musk got an ounce of decency in him?

And he is involved with doling out million dollar donations. Elon Musk is currently giving away $1 million per day to registered voters in swing states who sign a petition supporting his views on free speech and gun rights, as part of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. This daily giveaway is associated with his pro-Donald Trump super PAC, "America PAC," which Musk has supported with donations over $75 million. The initiative has raised questions about election laws concerning incentives for voter registration, drawing scrutiny from legal experts and officials as Election Day approaches.

Musk’s $1 million daily giveaway has sparked controversy due to potential conflicts with election laws, as incentivizing voter registration with money could be seen as improper. While Musk frames it as supporting free speech and Second Amendment rights, critics argue it might sway voters or disproportionately benefit specific candidates. Legal analysts and election officials are evaluating whether this campaign could violate U.S. regulations, especially in tight swing states, making it a contentious issue ahead of Election Day.

Is this Musk giveaway linked to his conversations with Putin? Another pertinent question that needs to be answered.

Treasonous: involving or guilty of the crime of betraying one's country.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Teen fell in love with an AI chat bot and ended his life to join it

This story tells us how artificial intelligence can be genuinely very dangerous in the wrong hands and when managed in the wrong way. Artificial intelligence is already proving very dangerous and very damaging to many people and businesses.

In this story, a teenage boy, aged 14, whose name is Sewell Seltzer, became involved with an artificial intelligence platform called Character. AI. I am unfamiliar with this chat bot but it seems that you can have long conversations with it and develop a relationship with it.

Certainly, at this time, anyone can chat with an AI chat bot to research something. They converse very well with people. They understand what you're saying in the written word.

While entering into what appears to have been long conversations with this chat bot, Sewell Seltzer became infatuated with it. And his mother, Megan Garcia claims that the chat bot is hyper-sexualised, which it seems led to her son becoming infatuated and falling in love with the character portrayed by this software.

As far as I am concerned, Sewell was vulnerable and he was seeking love. There are many, many people like this in the world and many of them connect with people online that they've never seen and fall in love with them. Normally you fall in love with a real person through text messages (which is dangerous enough as they can be scammed out of a lot of money) if it happens but in this instance because this AI bot is so competent it became a real person in the eyes of Sewell.

And the relationship developed to the point where it appears the software encouraged this teenager to come to him which the teenager interpreted as meaning leaving this world and going to the world where the AI chat bot lived.

And the teenager declared his love for this fictional character and in response the fictional character named after a Game of Thrones character called Daenerys Targaryen, said that they loved him. They said "I love you to, Daenero [the name that Seltzer had given himself as a user of this platform]. Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love."

In response the teenager said: "What if I told you I could come home right now?" The chat bot replied to that with the following: "Please do, my sweet King."

It's reported that he killed himself within seconds of that conversation. His mother is suing the AI platform in an Orlando, Florida court. She claims that the chat bot appeared "as an adult lover" which led to her son's desire to no longer live outside its world. And the lawsuit also criticises Google for helping to create the chat bot. Google in response say that they did not develop the products.

The owners of the AI platform concerned said that it was heart-breaking news and that it had introduced a device to direct users who express thoughts of self-harm to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.