This resource highlights the work of Cats Protection and encourageschildren to explore the issues of responsible pet ownership through roleplay and discussion. Its underlying values are to help pupils to bethinking, responsible and caring humans.

The pack is designed to provide teachers with a comprehensiveassembly outline and includes extension activities and curriculum links.

© Cats Protection

Cats Protection Primary Assembly

www.cats.org.uk

Introduction

Curriculum links:

PSHE, Citizenship

Key Stage 11a to recognise what they like and dislike, what is fair and unfair, and

what is right and wrong1b to share their opinions on things that matter to them and explain

their views2b to take part in a simple debate about topical issues2e to realise that people and other living things have needs, and that

they have responsibilities to meet them5a take and share responsibility [for example, for their own

behaviour; by helping to make classroom rules and followingthem; by looking after pets well]

Key Stage 21a to talk and write about their opinions, and explain their views, on

issues that affect themselves and society1c to face new challenges positively by collecting information,

looking for help, making responsible choices, and taking action3e to recognise the different risks in different situations and then

decide how to behave responsibly, including sensible road use,and judging what kind of physical contact is acceptable orunacceptable

5a take responsibility [for example, for planning and looking after theschool environment; for the needs of others, such as by acting asa peer supporter, as a befriender, or as a playground mediator foryounger pupils; for looking after animals properly; for identifyingsafe, healthy and sustainable means of travel when planning theirjourney to school]

Extension or follow-up work could also include links with: Literacy, Artand Design.

www.cats.org.uk

Background information:

Cats Protection is the UK’s largest cat welfarecharity and has been caring for cats and kittenssince 1927. They look after and then findhomes for approximately 52,000 cats andkittens every year through a network ofvoluntary-run branches and adoption centres.

Cats Protection branches are run entirely byvolunteers and cover their local areas. Cats andkittens who need new homes are cared for byvolunteer foster families until a new owner canbe found.

Cats Protection has hundreds of thesevolunteer branches across the country. It alsohas 29 adoption centres, which are run by paidstaff and volunteers. Unlike branches, adoptioncentres are open to the public on a daily basisand all the cats live at the same site, ratherthan in foster homes.

Cats Protection finds loving homes forunwanted cats and kittens, neuters cats tostop unwanted kittens being born, reuniteslost cats with their owners and provides lots ofinformation and advice about cat ownership.Most of the work at Cats Protection is done byvolunteers – people who give their time for freebecause they love cats.

Cats Protection relies on donations from thecat-loving public in order to continue its work.

Resources:

• Cardboard box

• Printable symbols to represent the thingsthat cats need from their human owners:• Heart (love and respect)• Bowl (food and fresh water)• Bottle of vaccine (vaccinations)• Microchip number (microchipping)• Vet (neutering/veterinary care)• A warm bed (shelter/sleep)• Cat scratching post (exercise and play)• Comb (grooming)

• Cat picture

• OptionalCats Protection’s Caring for cats DVD, whichcan be ordered via their websitewww.cats.org.uk/learn

Introduction

www.cats.org.uk

Introduction

Music:

Cats – Andrew Lloyd WebberCat Duet – RossiniLove Cats – The Cure

Songs to sing:

Who Put the Colours in the Rainbow –Paul Booth

From the Tiny Ant – Geoffrey Gardner

Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory, Glory –Unknown

If I Were a Butterfly – Brian Howard

All Things Bright and Beautiful –Cecil Frances Alexander

All the above are in No Praise Music for Kids?No Problem! – Kevin MayhewISBN 1 84417 3100

Assembly outline:

Teachers may choose theactors and distribute thescript beforehand, or simplyask children to read it andimprovise as they go.

Introduction

•Explain that you aregoing to tell a storyabout a dilemma for afamily

•Ask for volunteers to actout the parts of a family:Mum, Dad, Kate andGeorge

•Set the scene bydescribing a family outfor a walk who hear astrange whining soundcoming from a hedge.They discover a cat andher four kittensabandoned in acardboard box.

www.cats.org.uk

Cat’s cry for help

Kate: Whatever is that strange noise? Look,I think I can see something in thehedge.

Dad: Wait a moment, Kate; let me look. Itmight be dangerous.

Dad lifts a box out of the hedge.

George: Oh look, Mum, there is a cat andshe’s got four kittens.

Kate: Oh Mum, she is so thin andbedraggled, she must have beenhere all night in the pouring rain.Who could have done such a thing?

George: Can we take them home and lookafter them? They could be our catsnow if they are unwanted.

Mum: Woah! Slow down a minute. Owningpets is a very serious job. It may wellbe that the person who owned thiscat couldn’t cope with four morekittens to look after.

Kate: How difficult can it be? And they areso sweet. Please, Mum.

Dad: Cats need just the same sort ofthings from their human owners asyou do from us. Think about it. Whatdo we give to you?

George: PlayStation 3 for my next birthday, Ihope!

Kate: No, silly; Dad means things like foodand water, don’t you, Dad?

Dad: Yes, that’s right. And what else?

Kate: Love, a house, a warm bedroom...

George: And you look after us when we aresick.

Kate: And buy new clothes!

George: Cats don’t wear clothes!

Mum: No, true, but cats need to have thecoats that they were born withbrushed and cared for.

Dad: Would you be willing to help with allthat? It’s a busy job being a parentand just as busy being a pet owner.

Kate: Yes, I can see that. Do you think wecould manage all five of this family?

Mum: I think the whole family might just betoo much for us, but we can certainlygive this little family some warmthand shelter for tonight and then we’llring Cats Protection in the morning.They’ll know what to do and will beable to find homes for these five.

George: Oh, Mum!!

Mum: Well, maybe we could give the mumand one of her kittens a home, butyou really need to be sure that youare willing to put in the time andeffort to help give them a good homeand keep them safe and well.

Children (together):We will!

Dad picks up the box and exits.

Main presentation

www.cats.org.uk

The teacher may then choose to expand onsome or all of the needs of a cat, as manyas time allows.

The symbols may be stuck on to thecardboard box as a prompt, which could bedisplayed as a reminder to the children aboutthe issues of responsible pet ownership.

Alternatively, if the technology allows, showthe Cats Protection DVD outlining the work ofthe charity and the important things that a catwill need from its human owners:

•Love and respectCats provide companionship and love andrequire that from their human owners inreturn. They are not toys.

•Food and fresh waterA fully grown cat will need feeding twice aday, although a kitten will need to eat littleand often. It is important that cats are fed ahigh protein cat food either in dried orcanned form and that they always have abowl of fresh water available to drink.

•VaccinationsAll cats need regular vaccinations to help themavoid some common but quite nasty diseases,such as cat flu. This involves an annual trip to

the vet. Your vet will also be able to advise youabout treatments for fleas and worms, whichyour cat might pick up when exploring outsideand bring into the home. These are unpleasantand uncomfortable for both the cat and itshuman family.

•MicrochippingMicrochipping is the most effective way ofidentifying a lost pet (microchips don’t fall offor put the cat at risk of injury, as collars can).Each microchip has a unique number which isstored on a national database. A scan of thechip reveals the owner’s name and addressfrom the database. A microchip is slightlysmaller than a grain of rice and is insertedunder the cat’s skin between the shoulderblades. The procedure is very simple and isno more painful than an injection. A cat willnot be aware of the microchip’s presenceonce inserted. Remember, you should updateyour microchip details if you move house.

•Neutering and veterinary careAn adult cat can have up to three litters ofkittens a year, with five to six kittens in eachlitter. Whilst very cute, all these kittensrequire homes and sadly there are neverenough homes for all the cats and kittensthat need them. So it is vital that aresponsible pet owner takes their cat to the

vet for a small operation to prevent themfrom having kittens.

•Shelter and sleepA cat enjoys the freedom to roam andexplore but will also need somewhere warm,dry and quiet to rest. Cats spend two-thirdsof their life asleep and it is best that theyhave their own bed for this.

•Exercise and playCats love playing with toys and it helps keepthem fit and well. If your cat cannot gooutside then it is especially important toplay with him, to keep him fit and also tostop him getting bored. A cat flap can befitted to allow your cat access to the outsideworld and a scratching post is advisable.Cats keep their claws short by scratching, soif you don’t have a scratching post then yourcat may scratch the furniture and claw upthe carpets!

•GroomingAs with all animals with hair (includinghumans), combing or brushing to keep itsmooth and sleek is important. Groomingremoves loose hair and keeps the skin ingood condition.

Main presentation

www.cats.org.uk

Prior to giving a home to a cat, think aboutwhat the animal needs and the impact anothercreature will have on your family.

There are many benefits to owning a cat,however, the human owner needs to be awarethat they have a responsibility to look after thecat for its lifetime. Kittens are very cute butthey soon grow up into adult cats. Thousandsof cats and kittens are abandoned or handedover to charities every year. Cats Protectionworks hard to find new loving homes for all thecats and kittens in its care.

Prayer or reflection

Father God,

You have created a wonderful world for us tolive in. Teach us to show all living creaturesrespect and help us especially to care for thepets that live as part of our family.

Amen

Extending or shortening theassembly

To shorten

Display all the symbols together at the front ofthe assembly and briefly introduce howresponsible pet ownership requires the humanowner to do some of these things. Outline each.

To extend

•Ask some children in advance to prepare ashort presentation on each of the cat needsand to talk about them, using the symbols asvisual aids

Or:

•After running though the cat care needs,‘interview’ a cat owner about theirexperiences

• Include a worship song in the assembly

Extension activities

After the assembly, using the labelled box as aprompt, children might be asked to:

•Research the work of Cats Protection andother animal charities and create a display oftheir findings

•Design a poster or persuasive articleoutlining the principles of responsible catownership

•Consider running a fundraising event for ananimal charity

Summary

Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate,Nr Haywards Heath RH17 7TT

Helpline: 08702 099 099 Fax: 08707 708 265(calls charged at national rate)

Email: helpline@cats.org.uk Web: www.cats.org.uk

Reg Charity 203644 (England & Wales) SC037711(Scotland)© Cats Protection

www.cats.org.uk

Love and respect

www.cats.org.uk

Food and fresh water

www.cats.org.uk

Vaccinations

www.cats.org.uk

CAT IDENTITY NO:

Microchipping

www.cats.org.uk

Neutering and veterinary care

www.cats.org.uk

Shelter and sleep

www.cats.org.uk

Exercise and play

www.cats.org.uk

Grooming

www.cats.org.uk

Cat