Government of Ireland Leaflet Design – A Guide to Responsible Cat Ownership
At Designwest, we specialise in creating high-quality brochure and leaflet design for public sector organisations across Ireland. One of our most recent and rewarding projects involved the development of an A4 trifold leaflet design for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, titled A Guide to Responsible Cat Ownership.
This engaging and informative DL leaflet design was produced in collaboration with the Advisory Council for Companion Animal Welfare (ACCAW), and it’s aimed at educating the public on best practices for caring for cats—whether they’re pets, rescue animals or part of community colonies. The publication brings together a wide spectrum of essential advice: from veterinary care to legal responsibilities, all within a compact, reader-friendly format.
A Closer Look at the Project
The brief was clear: create a public-facing leaflet design that is approachable, informative, and visually engaging—delivering potentially complex welfare topics in a way that feels accessible and inviting.
Here’s what made this leaflet design project stand out:
-
- Format: A4 folded to DL – perfect for postal distribution and in-clinic placement
- Tone: Friendly, warm, and factual—suited to a broad demographic
- Visual style: Clean typography, cheerful iconography, and soft colours aligned with animal welfare branding
- Client: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Ireland)
This leaflet design had to communicate clearly with pet owners, aspiring cat adopters, and even landlords and community groups.
Structure and Visual Flow
The leaflet’s trifold structure guided our design strategy. We divided the content logically across the six panels to maintain a natural reading flow, with visual anchors on each fold:
- Front cover: Title, government branding, and a compelling image to draw readers in
- Inside panels: Grouped thematically into care, behaviour, risks, legal obligations, and lifestyle considerations
- Back panel: Essential contact details and helpline information for reporting animal cruelty
Through a consistent grid layout and carefully selected fonts and spacing, we ensured that even dense information was easy to scan. Bullet points, subheadings, and icons help break down topics into manageable chunks—ideal for readers of all levels.
Key Topics Covered
This leaflet design was content-rich, touching on a range of crucial points that every responsible cat owner (or potential owner) should know. These included:
1. Veterinary Care
- Importance of neutering at 14–16 weeks
- Vaccinations against cat flu, Feline Leukaemia, and Panleukopenia
- Microchipping and keeping details up to date
- Regular flea and worm treatments to protect both pets and households
2. Behaviour and Environment
- Understanding scratching and marking behaviour
- Creating indoor and outdoor toilet solutions
- Using scratching posts to protect furniture
- How to reduce stress behaviours like overgrooming
3. Legal Responsibilities
- Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013: obligations for care, shelter, and safety
- Dangers of harmful household substances and certain plants
- The role of public awareness in preventing cruelty
4. Lifestyle and Suitability
- Considering whether your home, lifestyle, or schedule suits long-term cat ownership
- Financial preparedness for food, vet bills, and emergencies
- Impact on other pets or children in the home
5. Feral and Rescue Cats
- Understanding the role of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs
- Guidance on managing or fostering feral/community cats
- Encouragement to adopt through registered charities
6. Wildlife and Outdoor Safety
- Reducing risks to local wildlife by using bell collars and keeping cats indoors at dawn/dusk
- Preventing accidents, infections, and cat fights by considering indoor living
- The need for environmental enrichment for indoor cats
All this content was carefully balanced to be informative without overwhelming the reader—a challenge we met by using thoughtful leaflet design choices.
Tailored for the Irish Public
As with all our leaflet design in Ireland projects, we took care to ensure the content felt culturally and contextually relevant. This included:
- Using UK English spelling
- Including helpline numbers specific to Irish organisations like ISPCA and DSPCA
- Acknowledging Irish legislation like the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
- Referring to Irish living conditions such as rental policies, local traffic risks, and regional animal welfare charities
The result is a leaflet design that speaks directly to its target audience—people living in Ireland today, with genuine questions about whether cat ownership is right for them.
Why Government Clients Choose Designwest for Leaflet Design in Ireland
Government departments come to Designwest not just because we design well, but because we understand the requirements of public sector communication.
Here’s what sets our leaflet design service apart:
- Compliance with branding guidelines: We adhere strictly to official formatting, colour use, and logo standards.
- Bilingual design readiness: While this project was in English, we are fully equipped to handle dual-language formats when needed.
- Efficient layout strategy: We know how to fit large volumes of information into small spaces without sacrificing clarity.
- Print and digital delivery: We supply all artwork in both high-res print-ready and digital/web-optimised formats.
- Cultural nuance: We tailor messaging and visuals to match Irish expectations, tone, and norms.
FAQs – Leaflet Design in Dublin and Across Ireland
Q: What is a trifold leaflet design?
A: A trifold leaflet folds an A4 page into three equal sections, resulting in a compact DL-sized format that is perfect for mail, display stands, or clinic counters.
Q: How long does a typical government leaflet design take to complete?
A: For clearly defined content, our studio can turn around first proofs within 5–7 working days. Final completion time depends on client revisions.
Q: What’s the cost of a government-grade leaflet design in Ireland?
A: Costs vary depending on whether the leaflet is bilingual, contains illustrations, or requires printing. For a standard trifold leaflet design like this, pricing generally starts at €1,000–€1,800.
Q: Do you offer eco-friendly printing options?
A: Yes, we work with Irish print partners who offer recycled paper, soy-based inks, and carbon-neutral processes.
Q: Can the leaflet be shared online as well as printed?
A: Absolutely. We provide versions optimised for PDF sharing, website embedding, and social media previews.
Q: Can you help with content creation too?
A: Yes, we work with experienced copywriters and policy advisors who can help distil complex information into plain English.
Final Thoughts
A Guide to Responsible Cat Ownership is more than just a pet care pamphlet—it’s a carefully designed communication tool helping to raise awareness, encourage responsible behaviour, and support animal welfare across Ireland.
By blending smart design with clear messaging, Designwest helped the Department of Agriculture create a leaflet that will have real, measurable impact on pet ownership standards in Ireland.
If you’re a public body, charity, or business looking for leaflet design in Dublin or anywhere in Ireland, our team is ready to help you craft a message that matters—and make sure it looks as good as it reads.