FAQ
Answers to some frequently asked questions...
How do I sign up to send in samples?
The survey has now closed for new participants.
I did not receive a kit/I lost my kit - what should I do?
Just get in touch by email and we will get a new kit sent out as soon as possible.
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If you recently submitted a sample you should automatically receive a new kit. Please be patient whilst waiting, sometimes this can take a few weeks.
How do I leave the ScienceCats project?
No problem! Just let us know by email, and if you still have a kit just pop it in the post to return it as we can reuse it with another participant.
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Participation is voluntary. All personal data is kept securely and confidentially, and you have the right to request its deletion and your withdrawal from the project at any time.
What kind of samples do you collect?
At the moment we are collecting samples of rodents (mice, voles, rats) and shrews. The samples must be whole (no missing heads or legs!), fresh (within 12 hours) and in generally good condition.
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We may in the future also collect samples of cat faeces and soil from the garden/surrounding area.
Is it safe?
The animal specimens being collected do carry the risk of a wide range of infections. For example the parasite Toxocara cati does have the potential to cause infection in humans. But you are at no significantly greater risk from it that you would be if you normally have un-wormed pet cats at home or eat vegetables grown in soil.
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We provide Personal Protective Equipment in the sample collection kits, along with instructions to keep you safe from any infection.
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How does sample collection work?
As soon as your cat brings home a 'present', (ensuring the animal is dead) the sample should be safely placed into provided packaging and an information sheet completed.
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Depending on your geographic location samples are submitted in different ways. They can either collected from your home/workplace personally by a researcher, or it can be delivered to a collection address (we cover the costs).
My cat brings home lots of animals, can I have more than one kit?
Yes!
Just let us know if you want more than one kit, or if you get two specimens in on the same day and they are small enough its fine to submit them in the same kit.
I got another cat since signing up, what should I do?
Contact us and we will send out a supplementary mini-questionnaire, don't worry you don't have to complete the whole form again!
Do I have to pay anything?
No definitely not! We cover all costs.
When will I find out results for the samples I submitted?
We analyse the samples in the 2nd and 3rd years of the project, and then write up the results, so
there is a delay between you submitting the sample and finding out if it had any parasites. But we promise, as soon as we know, we will let you know!