A MONMOUTH veterinary student has won an annual award from the UK’s leading cat charity.

Alicia Jones, a student at the University of Bristol, was Cats Protection’s winner in the Extra Mural Veterinary Study (EMS) awards, which give veterinary students the chance to gain work experience at either Cats Protection or Dogs Trust and then write reports about their experiences.

Alicia’s report on the stresses faced by cats entering rehoming organisations and methods to reduce the causes, secured her a £500 prize and recognition certificate.

Alicia said: “I am thrilled to be presented with this award. During my time at Cats Protection it was a pleasure to see many of the practical methods of reducing stress for cats in rehoming centres in action.

“Cats are solitary beings and not used to confinement with large numbers of others, so minimising the unavoidable stress they face while going through the rescue and rehoming process is vital.”