-
Stena Line to end popular France-Ireland ferry crossing
Rival operators will continue to serve Cherbourg port as passenger numbers on route increase
-
Red heatwave alerts continue as storms sweep across France
South-west and Brittany are the only areas likely to avoid storms this evening after several temperature records were broken in the south yesterday
-
Air traffic controllers’ strike: Paris and south of France airports to face major disruption
Half of flights in Nice and Corsica, and a quarter in Paris are cancelled on July 3. Disruption is also expected on July 4 just before the French school holidays begin
French choose cats over dogs
After many years as France's number one pet, dogs lose out to smaller, quieter, cheaper and more independent cats
GROWING numbers of French homes are choosing cats over dogs as their preferred pet, according to new research by an animal welfare charity.
The Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA) says there are now an estimated 10.7 million cats living in people's homes across the country - up 750,000 in a year.
This compares with just 7.8 million dogs - an annual decline of 696,000. The SPA says it is seeing an increasing number of dogs being abandoned by their owners and fewer people showing an interest in adopting one.
In 2006, the number of adoption requests at one SPA refuge were split 50:50 between cats and dogs. Last year, the charity said 58% of visitors wanted a cat.
SPA president Caroline Lanty told Le Parisien that cats were cheaper to look after - about €600 a year in vets' bills compared with up to €1,000 for a dog.
"In urban areas, people are now preferring cats because they think they are less demanding," she said.
"Unlike dogs, cats do not present much of a cleanliness problem, do not need to be taken for regular walks – and they don't bark.
"Today, whenever people come to see us to adopt a dog they expressly ask for a small one."
Related stories:
The rules covering pets in buildings
Which dog breeds are dangerous?