We all know cats represent a major threat to native animals and birds. Australia’s 5.3 million domestic cats kill a total of 546 million animals each year in Australia. What’s less well known is that allowing your domestic cat to roam outside exposes them to considerable danger – and the risk of a short life.

About two-thirds of all Australian cat owners have had a cat die while out roaming. The top risks are road traffic accidents, fighting and falls.

Our recent research review found keeping your cat at home at all times isn’t just good for wildlife – it’s much safer for your cat.

Losing a cat is tragic. But there are other risks too. Many owners rack up large veterinary bills while their cats are left with lifelong health conditions. Our review also found this situation is not unique to Australia, but reflects the global risk faced by free-roaming cats.

What are the risks?

Cameras mounted on collars provide a cat’s-eye view of the hazards roaming cats face. In one study of 55 free-roaming felines in the United States, 25% risked poisoning by eating or drinking while away from home – any substance could be hazardous. Nearly half (45%) crossed roads, 25% encountered other cats, 20% crawled under houses and 20% explored storm drains.

open image in gallery

This isn’t just American feline bravado. When cameras were fitted to 37 cats in New Zealand, 59% drank away from home, 40% ate away from home, 32% crossed roads and 21% risked falling by climbing onto roofs.

Australian cats are no exception. In one study, 428 radio-tracked cats averaged 4.8 road crossings per day.

What are the outcomes?

If you’re a fan of The Simpsons you might recall the fate of their family cats: Snowball I and Snowball II died on the road, Snowball III drowned, Coltrane (AKA Snowball IV) fell to his death, and Snowball V is still with us. The reality is uncomfortably similar. Our review found that trauma – mainly road traffic accidents, fighting and falls – kills or injures many free-roaming cats globally.

In a recent UK study, road traffic accidents were the leading cause of death for cats aged less than one year old all the way to eight-year-old cats.

This aligns with European estimates, which suggest 18–24% of cats are struck by a car during their lifetime, with around 70% of those incidents proving fatal. Victims are often under five years old and predominantly male. Risks are higher for those not desexed, as they tend to roam wider and more frequently.

Love and status offer no protection. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s cat, Paddles, colloquially known as New Zealand’s first cat, died after being hit by a car in 2017.

open image in gallery

The dangers extend well beyond road accidents. Roaming pet cats face serious infectious diseases, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and frequently engage in fights, often developing abscesses that can kill and require expensive veterinary treatment.

While it’s hard to quantify the instances of deliberate human cruelty to cats, there is global evidence for deliberate poisoning and injury to roaming cats, many of which die before receiving medical intervention.

In one study tracking 55 roaming cats in Western Australia over just eight months, two were poisoned, one lost a front leg in a traffic accident, one fractured two canine teeth in a fall, and two required veterinary treatment for fight-related injuries.

Drawing all these factors together, we estimated outdoor pet cats have lives at least 2–3 years shorter than the population of contained pet cats. Those that survive accidents or disease may have lifelong disabilities.

How can you reduce the risks?

The simplest way to protect your cats is to contain them on your property, just as Australians do with other domestic animals. Extensive advice is available on how to keep cats happy and healthy while contained.

Importantly, containment doesn’t mean keeping your cat indoors at all times. Backyards can be modified with fence-top rollers to prevent escape. Some owners enclose part of the yard to create a “catio” – an outdoor cat enclosure – allowing their cats to enjoy fresh air and sunshine while remaining secure.

Many cats can also be trained to walk on a harness or leash, making it possible to take them for supervised outings. A recent report from Norway found providing controlled outdoor access is often important for maintaining cat wellbeing.

Cats need to be entertained when in the house. They enjoy outside views, toys, scratching surfaces, above-ground climbing and sitting spaces, and opportunities for play. They are naturally solitary animals, so places to hide are useful.

If cats can’t go outside to toilet, they will need two indoor litter trays. Because cats are fastidious, trays must be cleaned frequently. In multi-cat households, provide one litter tray per cat, plus an extra. Place the trays in separate, quiet locations, and never beside the food bowl.

Responsible cat ownership

Australians love their cats. In 2019, roughly a quarter of Australian households owned a cat. By 2025, that figure had risen to a third. Over the same period, households reporting they kept their cats indoors rose from 36% to 48%.

Perhaps we are finally valuing our cats as we do our dogs and listening to Aussie songwriter and singer Eric Bogle’s sage advice: “Oh you who love your pussy be sure to keep him in. Don’t let him argue with a truck, the truck is bound to win. And upon the busy road don’t let him play or frolic. If you do I’m warning you it could be CAT-astrophic.”

Britain’s Got Talent has been dropped this weekend to make away for Six Nations Live rugby coverage

Advertisement

Britain’s Got Talent has been pulled off air this weekend.

Fans of the ITV competition will be disappointed at the change to the television schedule as the channel makes way for the Six Nations Live coverage.

The rugby tournament will instead air from at 7.20pm on Saturday (March 14) on ITV1 with the clash between France and England set to kick off at 8.10pm.

This time slot usually airs Britain’s Got Talent which returned for its 19th series back in February with the pre-recorded audition rounds have been airing since then.

However, viewers will have to wait and extra week to watch the next bunch of hopefuls take to the stage in front of judges KSI, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell.

Advertisement

Para-athlete Paul Nunnari – who stunned with an impressive aerial silk routine – received the first Golden Buzzer of the series with Simon hitting the coveted button, securing his place in the semi-finals.

It was reported earlier this week that bosses have signed a £120million deal to stay on ITV for another two years.

There is also another Champions Special lined up that will see the best global acts compete next year.

Advertisement

BGT, which last year expanded to run over three months, has had huge success, including being watched 27 billion times online since starting in 2007.

This current run has already had 317 million views in various forms across multiple platforms and has 51 million followers online.

A TV insider told The Sun: “This is a huge vote of confidence in the show, which celebrated the best week of overnight ratings for this series at the weekend.

“It also proved TV execs are looking beyond traditional viewing figures when making strategic decisions.”

Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions has not been staged since 2019, when acts from various Got Talent shows around the world came together to compete.

The event in front of 10,000 people at Wembley Arena, which was won by dance act Twist and Pulse, is expected to be matched when it returns.

Fans will know London-based street dance duo Twist and Pulse, Ashley Glazebrook and Glen Murphy, were the runners-up of the fourth series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2010, coming second to Spelbound in the live final.

Britain’s Got Talent returns 6.45pm on Saturday, March 21 on ITV1 and ITVX

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website

Donald Trump has said US forces have ‘totally obliterated’ military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island.

Posting on Truth Social, the US president hailed American troops who ‘executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East’.

Kharg Island, located 16 miles off the coast of Iran and around 300 miles from the Strait of Hormuz, handles around 90% of its oil exports.

Dubbed the ‘Forbidden Island’, it is heavily guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Announcing the bombing raid, Trump wrote: ‘Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.

‘For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.’

In a later post, Trump said: ‘Iran had plans of taking over the entire Middle East, and completely obliterating Israel. JUST LIKE IRAN ITSELF, THOSE PLANS ARE NOW DEAD!’

The president had earlier threatened to strike oil infrastructure on Kharg Island unless attacks on vessels on the Strait of Hormuz ceased.

The IRGC warned the energy infrastructure of US allies in the Middle East will be ‘reduced to ashes’ if Iranian energy assets were attacked.

It said oil and energy assets of any countries cooperating with the US would be ‘immediately destroyed’ in the event of more attacks on the country’s energy sites.

In a social media post, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the regime ‘will abandon all restraint’ if the islands come under attack and said Trump will be responsible for ‘the blood of American soldiers’.

Markets were watching for any sign that US strikes had damaged the island’s intricate network of pipelines, terminals and storage tanks.

Even minor disruptions could further tighten global supply, adding pressure to a volatile market.

Oil prices have swung sharply on Trump’s changing comments about the likely duration of the war, which began on February 28 with massive US and Israeli bombardments of Iran and quickly spread into a regional conflict with broad consequences for worldwide energy and stock markets.

The US embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad was hit in a missile attack on Saturday, causing smoke to rise from the building, Iraqi security sources said.

They did not have further details on the strike.

In other attacks across the region, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had carried out additional attacks on Israel with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.

Lebanon has become an escalating flashpoint in the war with Israel’s military and Hezbollah forces exchanging strikes in and around Beirut.

On Friday, the Israeli military said its air force had struck more than 200 targets in western and central Iran over the past day, including ballistic missile launchers, air-defence systems and weapons production sites.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Trump deploys 5,000 US Marines to Middle East amid spiralling oil prices

MORE: Photo of Marco Rubio’s feet goes viral after Trump’s shoe-size taunt

MORE: Dubai is now a ‘ghost town’ of empty sun-loungers and pools

Doctor Amir Khan has shared five surprising factors that could spike your blood sugar levels that don’t include food

Advertisement

A doctor has revealed five “surprising” factors that could cause your blood sugar to rise – and none of them involves eating. In certain situations, this might not necessarily be a “bad thing”, he explained.

Blood sugar, or glucose, serves as the body’s main energy source, derived from food and controlled by insulin. Having excessively high or low blood sugar levels can pose different health dangers.

Refined carbohydrates, sugary snacks, or oversized portions are well-known culprits for causing blood sugar levels to increase. Yet, these aren’t the only potential causes.

In a video uploaded to his Instagram page, Doctor Amir Khan highlighted some “surprising” causes behind blood sugar spikes. Dr Amir, widely recognised from his ITV appearances, explained: “Did you know your blood sugar can spike even if you haven’t had a single bite to eat?

“Let me share five surprising things that can raise your blood sugar and why it might not always be a bad thing.”

Advertisement

Stress

Many people don’t appreciate the physical toll stress takes on the body. Dr Amir said: “Number one, stress. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, the fight or flight hormone. That tells your liver to release stored glucose to give you energy.

“Great if you’re running from a tiger, less helpful if you’re just stuck in traffic. Remember, chronic stress equals chronic glucose spikes, and that is not good for long-term health. “

Poor sleep

Difficulty sleeping can trigger additional problems too. Dr Amir explained: “Number two, poor sleep.

“One bad night, your body becomes more insulin-resistant. That means glucose hangs around in the blood for longer.”

He cautioned that over time, inadequate sleep might even raise your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Exercise

This isn’t necessarily harmful, Dr Amir noted. “Certain types of exercises, especially intense or resistance training, can temporarily raise your blood sugars,” he explained.

“Why? Well again, it’s your body releasing glucose for fuel, but really importantly, long-term exercise improves insulin sensitivity, meaning lower blood sugars overall. So this is not a bad spike.”

Advertisement

Infections or illness

Again, this can be the body’s way of trying to stay healthy. Dr Amir said: “When you’re fighting off a bug, your immune system has to ramp up and that comes with a glucose surge. It’s your body’s way of fuelling the immune response.

“People living with diabetes often notice higher blood sugar levels when they’re unwell. That’s totally normal and they may have to adjust their medication accordingly.”

Hormones

His concluding piece of guidance was directed at women. Dr Amir said: “Ladies, this one’s for you because it’s maybe around your periods or the menopause. In the second half of your menstrual cycle, that’s the luteal phase, progesterone levels rise.

“This can make your cells more insulin resistant, meaning higher blood sugars, and of course, the perimenopause and the menopause oestrogen levels decline and that comes with insulin sensitivity dropping.

“So you become more resistant to insulin, leading to more frequent spikes in blood sugar. That’s why women in their 40s and 50s may notice weight gain, fatigue or brain fog, which can be linked to blood sugar shifts. “

He continued: “So remember, not all blood sugar spikes are bad, context matters. But if you’re seeing high readings and you’re not sure why it’s always worth talking to your doctor and not always about what you’re eating, knowledge is power.”

If you’re worried about your blood sugar levels, contact your GP for advice.

It’s so that resurfacing works can be carried out

A car park in Ely city centre will be partially closed for resurfacing. Works are scheduled to start at Newnham Street car park on Monday, March 16, and are expected to last for two weeks.

The free car park will remain open during the works. Sections will be closed off so that contractors can carry out the resurfacing works.

East Cambridgeshire District Council has said that the early morning restrictions still apply. Other restrictions such as the short and long stay times will not be enforced while the work is completed.

The car park with be completely closed on Monday, March 30, while the entrance to Nuthold Lane by the Highflyer pub is resurfaced.

Bill Hunt, district councillor with responsibility for infrastructure, said: “We appreciate this may not be convenient for residents and we apologise, however, the resurfacing work ensures the car park will operate at its best for all users.