Esther Gibbons (23) received £500 for her report into the benefits of pre-pubertal neutering, while recently qualified vet Constance Fisher received the runners-up prize of £250 for her report ‘Putting the ‘Feline Friendly Consult’ into Practice’.

The EMS awards are part of a scheme enabling third, fourth or fifth-year veterinary students the chance to gain hands-on work experience.

Following this, the students have the opportunity to submit reports on a subject relevant to animal charity work.

"I'm both incredibly shocked and incredibly happy to have won the award,” said Esther. “I had a brilliant time during my placement at the National Cat Centre in Sussex and learnt an invaluable amount about how best to care for the cats that we meet as vets. I can’t thank them enough and can highly recommend an EMS placement with Cats Protection."

Runner-up Constance is a graduate from the Royal Veterinary College and said she was delighted to receive her award.

“As a great cat lover, I really enjoyed my time on placement as a vet student with Cats Protection," she said. "Since graduating in 2022, I have been working as a small animal vet in Sussex where I particularly enjoy caring for my lovely feline patients.”

“Esther won the award as she wrote an informative, well researched summary of the benefits of pre-pubertal neutering, especially in the charity setting. We thought Constance’s report showed a great understanding of cat behaviour and gave a useful summary of ways to reduce feline stress in a veterinary practice,” said Emily Billings, Cats Protection’s Senior Veterinary Surgeon.

To find out more about EMS placements at Cats Protection, visit our information page or contact veterinary@cats.org.uk.