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Cat Play Ideas to Beat the Winter Blues

Cat play ideas to beat the Winter blue | PawSquad

Cat Play Ideas to Beat the Winter Blues

When the nights are still dark and the weather turns grim, many cats are still spending more time indoors. Less daylight, fewer outdoor adventures and a quieter household routine can all add up to boredom, frustration and the classic “winter blues” vibe. The good news is that a few simple cat play ideas and indoor cat enrichment tweaks can make a huge difference to your cat’s mood, behaviour and health. Research consistently links play and enrichment with better feline welfare and improved quality of life, including fewer behaviour problems and a stronger cat guardian bond.

Below are practical, vet behaviourist friendly ways to keep your cat physically active and mentally switched on all winter.

Why winter can be harder for cats than we think

Cats are brilliant at sleeping through most of the day, but they still need regular outlets for natural behaviours like hunting, climbing, scratching and exploring. For many cats, play is a safe way to express the predatory sequence: stalk, chase, pounce and grab. When cats do not have enough stimulation, we can see signs like nighttime zoomies, pestering, scratching furniture, ambushing ankles, overgrooming, or just seeming a bit flat.

Winter can also nudge weight upwards. Several studies have found links between lifestyle, activity levels and feline overweight risk, and regular play is one of the protective factors.

Before you start: what “good play” looks like

Think “little and often” rather than one long session.

  1. Aim for 2 to 5 short play sessions daily (even 3 minutes helps).
  2. Mimic prey. Make the toy hide, dart, pause, then escape.
  3. Let your cat win. End with a catch so it feels satisfying.
  4. Finish with a small food reward or a meal. This matches natural hunt-then-eat instincts and can help cats settle afterwards.

If your cat seems uninterested, don’t assume they are lazy. Many cats need the right toy, the right timing, and a routine that feels safe and predictable.

Cat play ideas to beat the Winter blue | PawSquad

Cat play ideas that work brilliantly in winter

1. The “hunt and pounce” wand routine

A fishing rod style toy is one of the best tools for interactive play because it keeps hands away from teeth and claws. Create a mini “hunt” around the room: behind the sofa, under a chair, up onto a cat tree. This mirrors natural hunting behaviour and is strongly recommended in enrichment guidance for indoor cats.

Try this 5-minute structure:
Minute 1: slow stalking and hiding
Minutes 2 to 4: quick bursts of chase and pounce
Minute 5: one big “catch”, then a small treat

2. Food puzzle play (brilliant for bored indoor cats)

Food puzzles turn mealtimes into enrichment and can reduce boredom, especially for cats who scoff from a bowl in 30 seconds. Start easy: scatter a portion of kibble, hide treats in a scrunched towel, or use a cardboard egg box. Then level up to proper puzzle feeders.

PDSA share several simple, safe DIY ideas that work well for most cats.

Important: factor treats into daily calories, especially if your cat is prone to weight gain.

3. “Treasure hunt” scent games

Cats live in a world of scent. Hide a few high value treats in different rooms, pop a pinch of catnip on a mat, or use silvervine for cats who are not fussed by catnip. Rotate scents occasionally to keep it interesting.

This is a great option for senior cats or cats with mobility issues, because it gives mental stimulation without demanding lots of jumping.

Learn more about Mobility Care here (for stiff, older cats who seem less keen to play).

4. Box city and paper bag adventures

Cardboard boxes are cheap, warm, and endlessly entertaining. Cut doorways, add scrunched paper, and make tunnels. Paper bags can also be fun but always remove handles to avoid entanglement.

This kind of enrichment is routinely recommended as part of a cat friendly indoor environment.

5. Window watching with a purpose

If winter weather keeps you both indoors, a window perch can become “Cat TV”. Place a comfy bed, add a scratch post nearby, and occasionally sprinkle a few treats on the perch so your cat chooses it. Even indoor cat guidance highlights the value of climbing and safe viewing points.

If your cat becomes frustrated watching outdoor cats, block lower windows temporarily or offer a play session right after, to redirect that energy.

6. Clicker training and trick games

Training is not just for dogs. Cats can learn “touch”, “sit”, “go to mat”, “high five”, and even harness skills. This builds confidence and can be particularly helpful for shy cats who avoid play.

There is evidence in shelter settings that reward based training can influence stress related measures, and clinically we often use similar approaches to build positive routines at home.

Learn more about Behaviour and Training Consults here (especially if your cat is anxious, reactive, or you are dealing with unwanted scratching or night time disturbance).

Cat play ideas to beat the Winter blue | PawSquad

Make play work for your cat’s personality

Not every cat loves the same thing. A quick guide:

  • If your cat is a “stalker”: choose slow, sneaky toys that hide and peek
  • If your cat is a “sprinter”: try short bursts, then rest
  • If your cat is a “thinker”: food puzzles and training games shine
  • If your cat is older or arthritic: keep play low to the ground, add traction rugs, and focus on sniffing games and gentle chase.

If your cat suddenly stops playing, especially if they were previously keen, it is worth checking for pain, dental disease, weight gain, or stress. Cat behaviour changes are often health changes in disguise.

Useful Links:
24/7 Vet Consults (for advice if your cat’s behaviour or appetite has changed).
Nutrition Consults (if weight gain is creeping in over winter).

Safety tips every winter play session should follow

  1. Avoid leaving string, ribbon, hair ties or yarn out unsupervised.
  2. Laser pointers can be fun but always finish by directing your cat onto a physical toy they can catch, then offer a treat to prevent frustration.
  3. Rotate toys weekly so they feel “new” again. Cats habituate quickly to the same objects.
  4. If you have multiple cats, provide enough space and resources so one cat cannot block access to toys, food puzzles, or favourite perches.

When to get extra help

Book a vet consult if you notice any of these alongside boredom signs:

  • Reduced appetite or drinking changes
  • Hiding more than usual
  • Aggression that is new or escalating
  • Overgrooming, skin sores, or repeated vomiting
  • Limping, stiffness, or reluctance to jump

A quick conversation can help you work out whether this is normal winter behaviour, stress, or something medical that needs hands on care.

Winter does not have to mean a bored cat and a frazzled household. A few minutes of interactive play, some simple enrichment like food puzzles and box games, and a routine that lets your cat “hunt, catch, eat, rest” can genuinely lift mood and reduce nuisance behaviours. The key is consistency and choosing play styles that match your cat’s natural preferences.

If you would like personalised ideas for your cat, or you are worried boredom might actually be pain or stress, download the PawSquad app to access 24/7 Vet Consults. You can also book Behaviour and Training Consults, Nutrition Consults, Mobility Care support, and explore our Health and Happiness Tools for everyday wellbeing tracking.

Disclaimer
Always supervise your cat during play. Never leave your cat unattended with bags or packaging, and never use plastic bags as toys, as they pose a serious risk of suffocation and injury.

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WE DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO CLAUSE 12 “LIABILITY” AS THIS LIMITS OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ALLEGED LOSSES IN USING OUR SERVICES IF THINGS GO WRONG.

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i. you have been charged; and

ii. there is a technical issue caused by PawSquad that means that you are unable to complete the online consultation (this does not include any failure caused by the device or internet connection you use to access the Service); or

iii. the Pet Professional considers that your pet’s problems are best addressed through a different Pet Professional (e.g. a behaviourist rather than a vet) or is unable to provide you with any information, guidance or advice; or

iv. PawSquad is unable to provide a Pet Professional to conduct the consultation at the scheduled time and is unable to offer a suitable alternative time slot

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ii. Contains numbers and special characters (eg! @ # $% ^ & * () _ + =} : ”?> <)

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l. the Pet Professionals may keep notes and copies of the information that you provide and any information, guidance or advice they give through the Services, and you agree that they may use that information for any internal professional purposes as may be required by law or relevant regulation (such as for supervisory purposes).

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o. In certain circumstances, we and/or the Pet Professionals may be required by law or regulation to disclose certain information that you provide. This includes, without limitation, in the event that there is a suspicion of animal abuse (including neglect) or any illegal or criminal activity.

p. You hereby consent to the Company obtaining your pet’s medical records from the person(s) you indicate as your primary veterinarian(s) and the Company providing information to such primary veterinarian relating to your usage of the Website and Services. You authorise copies or summaries of the medical records and images pertaining to your pets to be released to the Company by fax, first-class mail or by e-mail. You hereby consent to the Company’s storage of Your pet’s medical records in the Company’s system so that they can be reviewed by Pet Professional(s) you speak with or distributed to emergency or specialist referral hospitals at your request in the event that your pet might need emergency care at a time when your primary veterinarian(s) might not available to care for Your pet.

9. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF ACCOUNTS

a. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your Account and deny you access to the Sites and/or the Service at any time at our sole discretion and for any reason including, without limitation, if you are in breach of these Terms.

b. If your Account is suspended or terminated by us for any reason, you must not attempt to register another account.

c. You may terminate your Account at any time by sending an email to the address in clause 18 below, and we will process that termination request and close your Account as soon as possible, usually within seven (7) days of receipt of your termination request.

d. Any obligations or liabilities that have arisen or been incurred before the suspension or termination of your Account (including, but not exclusively, your obligation to pay any Charges incurred) must survive and remain enforceable despite such suspension or termination.

e. After termination of your Account, we reserve the right to keep a record of the information provided in relation to your Account and your use of the Services, in accordance with our Privacy and Cookie Statement.

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b. Any assurances or guarantees that we provide in relation to the Sites or the Service are set out in these Terms. Nothing in these Terms will affect your consumer rights. Advice about your legal rights is available from your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau or Trading Standards office.

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11. MODIFICATIONS OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

a. PawSquad reserves the right to modify, add, terminate these Terms at any time by posting the amended Terms in the “Terms and Conditions” section of the Platform. Users have the obligation to permanently check the “Terms and Conditions” section to ensure that they are aware of the update or modification of the conditions.

b. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the amendment to the Terms is immediately applicable. If the Platform is still used, the user’s acceptance will be considered as tacitly manifested.

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c. The use on the Platform of any trademark name does not constitute an advertisement for the respective company. The administrator of the Platform does not assume responsibility and cannot be blamed for damages caused by using the content of the site.

d. It is strictly forbidden to post on the Platform any content, including materials, comments, images, videos, but not limited to them, which have obscene or vulgar language, contain illegal, threatening, abusive, indecent, racist, chauvinistic messages or which could discriminate against any person in any way or which would violate any other human rights and freedoms in accordance with the law in force.

e. Audio & video recording and screenshots – It is forbidden to record (including in the form of screen recording) any piece of the PawSquad Platform, whether it is on the Appstore / Google Play Store or online.

f. Any breach of the Terms and Conditions will result in the termination of the Services for you and the financial consequences.

g. Please report any copyright infringement to welcome@pawsquad.com.

13. LIABILITY – PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY

a. If we fail to comply with these Terms, we are responsible for any loss or damage that you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of the Terms or our negligence, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable.

b. Loss or damage are foreseeable if they are an obvious consequence of our breach or if they were contemplated by you and us at the time we entered into this contract.

c. We do not exclude or limit in any way our liability for:

i. death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors (including the Pet Professionals);

ii. fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;

iii. any other liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

d. We shall not be liable to you for any indirect, special or consequential loss or damage, including with limitation:

i. loss of profit;

ii. loss of goodwill;

iii. loss of business reputation;

iv. loss of savings;

v. loss of business;

vi. loss of contract.

e. We also exclude, but only as far as legally possible, all terms and warranties or promises implied by law or by statute.

f. We assume no responsibility and cannot be held responsible:

i. on any damages caused by the improper use of the contracted services through the PawSquad Platform;

ii. for malfunction, viruses, damage caused by system errors, due to accessing our page or application;

iii. for the information entered by Users and Pet Professionals in their profiles;

iv. for non-compliance by Users and / or Pet Professionals of their obligations in accordance with these Terms and Conditions or the applicable legal provisions.

g. We will not be responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance, of any of our obligations under these Terms that is caused by you or any act or event beyond our reasonable control. In the event of any act or event beyond our reasonable control, we will notify you as soon as possible and the time for our performance of our obligations will be extended for the duration of the event outside our control. You may cancel your Request if an event outside our control takes place that delays our ability to provide the Services and you no longer wish to use the Service.

14. ACCESS TO THE SITES AND THE SERVICES

a. While use our reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Sites and the Service are available 24 hours a day, we cannot be held responsible if, for any reason, the Sites (or any of them) or the Service are unavailable at any time or for any period.

b. Access to the Sites and/or the Service may be suspended temporarily and without notice in the case of system failure, maintenance or repair or for reasons beyond our control.

c. The availability of the Service is dependent on the availability of a Pet Professional at the time you submit your Request. If no Pet Professional is available at that time, we will do what we can to get the next available Pet Professional to contact you as soon as possible using the details you provide, to try to set up a consultation.

15. PROHIBITED USE

a. You may not resell or make any commercial use of the Sites or the Service or any information provided on or through the Sites or the Services without our prior written consent.

b. You may not use the Service to contact the Pet Professionals for any reason other than to seek information and guidance for your pet in accordance with these Terms.

c. In addition to other prohibitions set out in these Terms, you are prohibited from using the Sites, the Service or any information or content provided on or through the Sites or the Service for any or in any way in contravention of our Acceptable Use and Intellectual Property Policy.

d. You are not authorised to use the PawSquad Platform or its content for the following:

i. any illegal action;

ii. to ask other persons to initiate or participate in illegal actions;

iii. violate international, federal, local laws, rules, general laws or other local ordinances;

iv. violate or disregard our intellectual property rights or those of others;

v. harass, abuse, insult, hurt, defame, slander, denigrate, intimidate or discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, race, age, nationality or disability;

vi. to publish false information or to intentionally mislead by information;

vii. to publish or transmit computer viruses or any type of malicious code that could affect the functionalities or operations of the Platform or of the partner sites;

viii. to collect or monitor the personal information of others;

ix. to deceive, to act in a virtual crime using various internationally prohibited methods;

x. for any obscene or immoral purposes;

xi. to attack the security systems of the Platform or of the partner sites

e. You must comply with our Acceptable Use Policy

16. COMPUTER OFFENCES

a. If you do anything which is a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (such as for example introducing viruses, worms, Trojans and other technologically harmful or damaging material) your right to use the site will end immediately, we will report you to the relevant authorities and provide them with details of your identity.

b. You must not try to obtain access to our server or any connected database or make any ‘attack’ on the site.

17. LICENCES

a. We are the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights in the site including any databases that hold relevant information about the site. They are protected by copyright or trademark registration and you may only use any such material and the documents in line with these Terms and Conditions and this paragraph specifically. If you do not use the materials in line with these Terms and this paragraph specifically, you lose your right to use our site, and must destroy or return any copies of documents you have made of it or any part of it. We reserve all our rights conferred to us by law to remedy any such breach.

b. Provided that you comply with these Terms, we grant you a limited non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access the Sites, to use the Service and to download and install a copy of the App on any compatible device that you own or control and to run such copy of the App for your own personal use in accordance with these Terms.

c. For further information on the Intellectual Property Rights relating to the Sites and the Services, please see our Acceptable Use and Intellectual Property Policy

18. THIRD PARTY LINKS

a. Certain content, products and services available on the Sites and through the Service may include materials from third-parties.

b. Third-party links on the Sites may direct you to third-party websites that are not affiliated with us. We are not responsible for examining or evaluating the content or accuracy and we do not warrant and will not have any liability or responsibility for any third-party materials or websites, or for any other materials, products, or services of third-parties.

c. We are not liable for any harm or damages related to the purchase or use of goods, services, resources, content, or any other transactions made in connection with any third-party websites. Please review carefully the third-party’s policies and practices and make sure you understand them before you engage in any transaction. You must direct complaints, claims, concerns, or questions regarding third-party to the third-party.

19. OTHER IMPORTANT TERMS

a. Each of the paragraphs of these Terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.

b. The Terms govern the relationship between you and PawSquad and are not enforceable by any other person. The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 will not apply to these Terms.

c. Neither party’s failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms will be deemed a waiver of such right or provision.

d. These Terms (and your use of the Sites and the Service) must be governed and interpreted in accordance with the law of England and Wales. The parties agree to submit any disputes arising out of or in connection these Terms and from your use of the Sites and the Service to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.

20. CONTACT

a. If you have any questions or complaints about the Services or about these Terms, please send us a message via our contact form, by email to welcome@pawsquad.com or write to us at PawSquad, The Chocolate Factory, Keynsham, Bristol, B531 2AU

Privacy Policy

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Welcome

Welcome to the Pawz Limited (“PawSquad”) Privacy Notice.

Pawz Limited is part of IVC Evidensia, a global leader in veterinary care. See our website www.ivcevidensia.com for details. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This notice explains how we collect, use, and protect information about you, who we may share it with, and the rights that you have. This notice covers most of the ways in which you will interact with us, through the website, in our practices, on social media or via our Apps. It is important that you read this notice carefully so that you understand how we look after and process your personal data, and so that you are aware of your privacy rights and how the law protects you. If we need to use your personal data in different ways, or for reasons not covered by this notice, we will let you know.  This could include notifications, signage in specific locations or other messages. We will also update this notice from time to time. Please also note that this notice does not apply to data about your animal, which are covered by the Royal College of Veterinary Service (RCVS) guidelines. Data related solely to animals is not subject to data protection law.

What is included in this privacy notice?

1. Important information and who we are 2. The personal data we collect and how we use it 3. How we collect your personal data 4. Who we share your personal data with 5. International transfers 6. Keeping your personal data secure 7. Data retention 8. Being in control of your own information 9. Changes to this privacy notice and your duty to inform us of changes

1. Who we are

Controller

For the purpose of the UK General Data Protection Regulation, Pawz Limited is registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK with reference number ZA804358, (collectively referred to as “Pawz”, “we”, “us” or “our” in this privacy notice)

Personal data processed by any company within the group will also be made available to other Group companies where we need to – for example, to provide or support our services to you, where we are under a legal obligation, or if you have given us your consent (for example for marketing purposes). You can find a list of companies in the IVC Evidensia Group (“IVC Group”) here, Contact Details The IVC Evidensia Group has appointed a Data Protection Officer. If you have any questions about this notice, including any requests to exercise your legal rights, please contact them:
  • By post – FAO: Data Protection Officer, The Chocolate Factory, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 2AU
  • By email – privacy@ivcevidensia.com.
Other Controllers Where you use our websites and click on external links, or visit our social media pages, your personal data may also be processed by the providers of those services – for example Meta (Facebook) or  X (formerly Twitter). Those sites will collect further information about you for their own purposes, separately from IVC Group. Where we also use the data they collect, IVC Group might also be jointly responsible with the other company for determining how and why your personal data is used, and making sure that it is protected.

2. The personal data we collect and how we use it

Data that we collect may include:

  • Contact details such as your name and address, including email and social media account information if you contact us that way, and location information where we are referring you to local services;
  • Information about services you have used or requested, customer service information such as compliments or complaints, opinions and survey responses, contact preferences, and information which our employees might record as they provide services to you or your animals. This may also include recording calls you make to some of our services;
  • Where there is an option to upload pictures and videos to assist with a better diagnosis, we ask that you do not include any images of people. We have no intention to collect personal data via uploaded media.
  • Financial information, including payments made, account and credit status;
  • Information about how you use our websites and online services including social media pages, including technical identifiers such as cookies or via your browser’s consent management options (more information here);
We will collect this data so that:
  • We can provide the services you are using or have requested, and manage payment for them as part of our contract with you;
  • We can improve our services to you and other customers, including gathering feedback from you via surveys, as part of our legitimate business interests;
  • We can manage our online and other services effectively and securely, as part of our legitimate business interests and legal obligations to you;
  • We can meet legal and regulatory obligations, to prevent or detect crime, or in the public interest, including protection of animal welfare;
  • We can provide you information about products and services that may be of interest, as part of our legitimate business interests and, where necessary, subject to your consent.  This may include using your contact details to get in touch, where we feel there would be a health benefit to your animal.
If you do not want us to use some of your personal data, we may not be able to provide services to you – for example payment data or contact details. We do not normally collect or use ‘special category’ data, such as religion, sexuality, or health data.

3. How we collect your personal data

We use different methods to collect data. These include:

a) Directly from you – you may give us any of the above information by subscribing to one of our health plans or contacting us via social media, telephone, post, email, or face-to-face in one of our clinics. We may also collect data if you attend any events that we are participating in. b) Automated technologies or interactions – as you interact with our website, we will automatically collect technical data about your equipment, browsing actions and patterns. We collect this personal data by using cookies, server logs and other tracking technologies. We may also receive this technical data about you if you visit other websites which employ our cookies – click here to read about how we use our cookies. c) Third parties – we may receive information about you from third parties such as:
  • Contact, financial and transaction data from providers of technical, payment and delivery services;
  • Advertising networks (based on your cookie consent);
  • Analytics providers;
  • Credit reference agencies;
  • Where your pet is referred to us from another practice, information that practice holds about you;
  • Other IVC Evidensia Group companies;
  • Debt recovery agencies;
  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons;
  • Other veterinary specialists, laboratories and animal health providers and agencies, where the personal data cannot be anonymised or is otherwise necessary.
Where we have received information from other sources, we will have informed you when we collected that data that it may be shared internally and combined with the data that we collect about you from your use of this website. We do not normally collect or use ‘special category’ data, such as religion, sexuality, or health data. Lawful basis for processing your personal data Depending on the processing activity, we rely on at least one of the following lawful bases for processing your personal data under the UK GDPR:
  • Consent – where you have given us your explicit consent (or implied consent where appropriate), for example for marketing;
  • Contract – where it is necessary for entering into or the performance of a contract with you, for example where we are treating your animal;
  • Legal Obligation – where it is needed to comply with a legal obligation that is imposed on us, for example for passing on animal welfare concerns or responding to legal orders;
  • Legitimate Interest – where it is necessary for our legitimate interest (or those of a third party) to improve your overall customer experience and achieve the purposes set out above and your fundamental rights do not override those interests;
  • Vital interest – where it is necessary in an emergency situation, such as emergency medical care;
  • Public task – where it is necessary for the performance of a specific task that is in the public interest that is set out in law.
If you fail to provide your information If you fail to provide certain information when requested (such as your payment card details), we will not be able to sign your pet up to a health plan and you will not receive any associated benefits. Marketing You can ask us to stop sending you marketing messages at any time by clicking “unsubscribe” on our emails or asking your practice to change your preferences. If you have provided your consent, click here for information on how you can reject cookies and opt out of targeted advertising online. We may ask you to confirm or update your marketing preferences if you ask us to provide further products and services in the future, or if there are changes in the law, regulation, or the structure of our business. Change of purpose We will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it, unless we reasonably consider that we need to use it for another reason and that reason is compatible with the original purpose. If you wish to get an explanation as to how the processing for the new purpose is compatible with the original purpose, please contact us at privacy@ivcevidensia.com. Please note, we may process your personal data without your knowledge or consent, in compliance with the above rules, where this is required or permitted by law.

4. Who we share your personal data with

As well as using service providers to support our business (data processors), we might share information with other separate organisations who are also Controllers. This may include:

  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons;
  • Other veterinary specialists, laboratories and animal health providers and agencies, where the personal data cannot be anonymised or is otherwise necessary;
  • Insurance companies
    • If you are using our services as a benefit of your insurance policy, your data may be shared with your insurer for their own quality assurance purposes.
  • Other professional regulatory bodies and legal advisors;
  • Debt recovery agencies;
  • Law enforcement, fraud prevention agencies and other public authorities;
  • Companies approved by you (such as social media sites).
Where any part of our business is outsourced, sold, or merged, and where permitted by law, we will share your data with the new provider so that services can continue to be provided to you. They may use your personal data in the same way as set out in this policy. We will of course inform you of any such change and give you an opportunity to opt out of your data being shared with a new provider.

5. International Transfers

IVC Evidensia is multinational company, and some of our business processes may take place outside of your own country. We ensure that your data continues to be protected to the same standards by:

  • Ensuring that the country has been agreed by data protection regulators to provide an adequate level of protection; or
  • Making sure that regulator-approved contracts are in place to protect your data and rights (including standard contractual clauses) which ensure your personal data receives adequate protection.
  • IVC Evidensia in Europe and the United Kingdom (UK) currently uses service providers in the following countries/regions:
  • The United Kingdom (UK) and Isle of Man
  • The European Union (EU) /European Economic Area (EEA)
  • The United States of America (USA)
  • India
Please contact us at privacy@ivcevidensia.com if you want further information on the specific safeguards used by us when transferring your personal data out of the UK.

6. Keeping your personal data secure

We have security and other measures in place to help protect your data and limit how it can be access or used, and to identify and handle suspected breaches of personal data and other security threats

We limit access to your personal data to those employees, agents, contractors, and service providers who have a need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions, and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality and other contractual terms to protect your data. If you would like to know more about how to protect your information and your computer and devices against fraud, identity theft, viruses and other online problems, please visit Get Safe Online. Get Safe Online is supported by HM Government and leading businesses.

7. Data retention

We will retain your data for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, tax or reporting requirements.  In most cases, client personal data will be retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date at which we stopped providing services to you.

8. Being in control of your own information

Under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act and EU data protection law you have some important rights available to you. In connection with these rights, you may:

  • Request information about how we are using your data
  • Request a copy of your personal data
  • Request that we correct any personal data that is inaccurate
  • Request that we do not make any automated decisions based on your data (do not worry, we do not)
  • Request that we delete your data
  • Where you have been asked for and given us your consent, withdraw that consent
  • Request that we stop processing all or part of your data
  • Request that we transfer elements of your personal data to another service provider
Right to object Your privacy rights include the right to object or restrict or suspend us from processing your personal data in certain circumstances. If you do object to, restrict or suspend our processing of your personal data, we may not be able to provide services to you. Some of these rights may be limited in some circumstances, or subject to exemptions.  If you want to exercise your rights, or to make a complaint, please complete a Rights request form or contact us at privacy@ivcevidensia.com. If we cannot resolve a complaint as you would wish, you may also make a complaint to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) via their website, or via your local EU regulator.

9. Changes to this privacy notice and your duty to inform us of changes

We keep our privacy notice under regular review, and will update it from time to time If we do, we will post the revised version here and change the date below (the date it applies from) and/or contact you directly where we deem appropriate to do so under applicable law.  You should check here regularly for the most up-to-date version of the notice.

This version was last updated on 26th June 2024. It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during your relationship with us by contacting privacy@ivcevidensia.com or by contacting us directly.

Acceptable Use Policy

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Thank you for visiting our website www.pawsquad.com (our site). This is our Acceptable Use Policy and by using our site, this policy applies to you and you agree with it as part of our Website Terms and Conditions.

The terms in our Acceptable Use Policy may change, so we advise you to check this page because when you use our site, you are bound by it.

 

ABOUT US

This site is run and maintained by Pawz Limited company number 08402231 registered address is The Chocolate Factory, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2AU, trading as PawSquad (“we”, “us”, “our”, Company”).

Our email address is at welcome@pawsquad.com.

VAT number 115 1416 58

 

USE OF OUR SITE

You agree not to use this site for any of the following purposes:

    • to break any laws or regulations;

 

    • to do anything fraudulent, or which has a fraudulent effect;

 

    • to harm or attempt to harm minors;

 

    • to do anything with material that does not meet our content standards (these are listed below);

 

    • to copy in any way or re-sell any part of our site;

 

    • to interfere with or damage any part of our site, equipment, network, software or storage arrangements;

 

    • for unsolicited advertising material (known as spam); and

 

  • to transmit any data or material that is harmful to other programs, software, or hardware.

 

CONTENT STANDARDS

Our content standards apply to all material that you contribute either to our site or to our interactive services.

Your contributions must be accurate (if they are factual), genuine (if they state opinions) and within the law.

Your contributions must not be defamatory, obscene or offensive, likely to deceive, harass, annoy, threaten, or invade someone else’s privacy. Your contributions must not promote material that is sexually explicit, promote violence or discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, age, disability, or sexual orientation, infringe anyone else’s intellectual property, be used to impersonate anyone, or misrepresent anyone’s identity or encourage or assist anything that breaks the law.

 

INTERACTIVE SERVICES

Where we provide use of interactive services, we will tell you clearly about the service, we will tell you what form of moderation we use for the site, we will try to assess risks on the site and will moderate if we think it is appropriate.

We are not however required to moderate our interactive service and we will not be responsible for any loss or damage to anyone who does not use our site according to our standards (whether or not we have moderated the service).

 

AGE LIMIT

Our services are not intended for the use of minors under the age of 18.

You must not use this website or our app or attempt to register an account with us if you are under the age of 18.

 

COMPUTER OFFENCES

If you do anything which is a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (such as for example introducing viruses, worms, Trojans and other technologically harmful or damaging material) your right to use the site will end immediately, we will report you to the relevant authorities and provide them with details of your identity.

You must not try to obtain access to our server or any connected database or make any ‘attack’ on the site.

 

SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

If we believe you are in breach of our Acceptable Use Policy, we will take whatever steps we think are necessary to address this, including stopping your use of the site temporarily or permanently, removing material you have put on the site or any of our social media groups, sending you a formal warning, taking legal action and/or making a report to the relevant authorities.

We will not be held liable for any of your costs arising from any actions we take to deal with any breach of this policy.