Cats Protection - Trafford Branch
CATS PROTECTION - TRAFFORD BRANCH
Mewsletter : Issue 33 – Autumn 2009
News & Information
Cats Protection - Trafford Branch
Co-ordinatorJudy Mullin
SecretaryGaynor BloorTreasurerRita Bright
Homing OfficerPat Brown
Fundraising OfficerJan Williams
Membership SecretaryCarole Skelhorn
Mewsletter EditorPhil Bloor
Any contributions for the Mewsletter, please contact Phil :
e-mail :
Cats Protection’s vision is:
To ensure that every cat is given the chance of a life where it will be treated with kindness and understanding of its needs.
There are many ways to support Cats Protection to find out more about them, please contact a member of the Trafford Branch Committee, or the CP Helpline by phone on 08702 099 099 or by e-mail
Head Office :Cats Protection, National Cat Centre (NCC), Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT
Tel : 08702 099 099(Calls charged at national rate)
Fax : 08707 708 265
Email :
Web :
Reg Charity :203644 (England and Wales) / SC037711 (Scotland)
The Editor reserves the right to edit any material to fit space available.
Please contact the Editor with anycontributions (i.e. articles, letters,poems, stories, etc.) for consideration for the Mewsletter.
Cats Protection and the Editor are not responsible for the opinions, advice and factual content of items contributed by authors. Views and comments are those held by individual contributors and do not necessarily conform with those of the Trustees or the Editor.
Betty’s Musings
I must tell my fan club readers how very, very annoyed I am about this new cat that’s encroached on my space.
3 years ago I shared my home with 2 humans, 4 other cats and 2 pesky dogs. I was very tolerant of them all, and apart from the odd skirmish with bad tempered Meg, the household was usually quiet peaceful.
One by one they’ve all passed on to a better world. A few weeks ago my humans beloved Frankie came to a tired ending – I did quite like him, as he never caused me any bother, and I did miss him a little at first. Then I suddenly realised at last I am the only pet in the house!
What bliss – I got all the attention and space, with nobody bothering me. Life was really good for a few weeks!
Then one awful day, I realised there was another cat in the front room. After a few days I was allowed to see the interloper.
Shock – horror! I don’t know whether I was expected to be grateful for a new brother – but I showed them! As he rushed joyfully towards me, I let out a shriek and ran off leaving him looking very put out.
I then went to my food dish to eat a little and came back to be sick at my lady carers feet. Nobody took any notice at my best dramatics, so eventually I gave up. As he’s a wimpy cat, I take great satisfaction in giving him the evil eye and keeping
him firmly in second place.
Any sympathy cards and condolences can be sent to me c/o Judy.
Betty
(V.A.C)
(Very annoyed cat)
Alfie : Update
Hi Judy & Pat
Just to give you an update on Alfie (aka Alf) the black and white moggie, who we adopted in January. Lewi, our Deerhound, LOVES Alf. Every morning Alf rolls over for a good grooming and frequently ends up with dog slobber in his black fur.
We were very worried at first about letting him out as we didn't know if he would come back, plus for the first couple of months he was a lazy cat and just wanted to sleep all day. He is enjoying the sun and outdoors now though - he's up trees, sunning himself on our garden wall, and last week he was on the garage roof so he's definitely getting more active.
Please pass our thanks on to Claire, his foster carer. Alf is great fun, very chatty and friendly and very accepting of the huge dog!
Thanks again.
Angela
Just a thought...
What's the collective name for kittens?
How about a cuddle of kittens?
Any ideas?
I came,I purred,I conquered.
Teddy : Update
An update on Teddy - featured in the last issue.
Pat went to do a home visit for a lady who wanted to give a home to Katie – one of our mothers. Her husband wanted Teddy too, so with fingers crossed we homed them at the same time.
Teddy, being a confident cat started out by giving his new home the once-over, whereas Katie went under the table to view everywhere from a safe position.
Suddenly Teddy spotted her and went over to introduce himself only to be met by a big hiss. He moved away about 4 feet lay on his side and just gazed at her. Teddy fell in love!
For a few days this repeated itself, but quiet soon all was well and they get along nicely.
Judy
Rosie Pybus
My name is Rosie I live with my owners Mark and Ann and my doggy pals Sandy and Mandy. When I was CP cat you called me Dodi.
I have lived with Mark and Ann since 2001. When I first came I just had pussy cat pals but, unfortunately, they have all died and it just left me from the feline clan. Since I have lost my cat pals Ann and Mark reckon I have become more vocal, but with me being the cat and the longest resident with them all, I have to keep those dogs and the humans in order so I have to be more vocal! Also I have to remind those dogs I am the boss of the animals in the Pybus house. I love to play with my toys especially with a bit of string or a mouse (the animal version that is, as I am not into computers, I leave that to the humans).
Unfortunately, I have kidney problems but I manage on my special diet and my medication. The vets reckon I am doing ok but I have to be prodded now and again to have blood tests to see how I am doing. I love to lie on my back and show you my tummy but don’t be fooled; this doesn’t mean you can stroke my tummy! I really hate being combed but I like looking beautiful, so I have to let them comb me so I can stay looking beautiful.
I hope all the other cats get lovely homes as good as mine and get spoilt rotten like I do.
Thank you for reading my story but I must go now for a bite to eat, followed by a well earned sleep. However, I might go out and have a lie in the sun, I’m not sure yet, I will have to have a think about it!
Loads of love for now.
Ann Pybus
Next Mewsletter
The deadline for the next issue of the Mewsletter is...1st December 2009.
If you have any contributions, please e-mail
Tallulah
Tallulah is a petit 3 year old Ragdoll/ Persian, who was well-loved by her owner. Unfortunately her life-style wasn’t to her needs as she was unhappy living with 2 other cats and it was difficult controlling an undiagnosed allergy she had.
When I first met her, she had no fur, on her face and the skin was infected - she was a very unhappy girl. Through expert treatment from our vets within a few short weeks her fur had grown back and she became happy and playful.
A special dry sensitivity food seems to suit her and she’s now being weaned off low steroid pills. She has gone to be fostered by Audrey, a friend of the group, until we feel she’s ready to find a quiet, preferably indoor, home.
Judy
Thomas
Now named Tommy, he was a homeless and un-neutered male of around 5 years old, roaming through gardens looking for someone to feed him and hopefully give him a home. The older couple, who fed him, unfortunately couldn’t take him in as the 3 resident females were frightened of him. He only wanted to be friends but they were having none of it!
The lady became concerned when he developed a limp with his back leg and as time passed by it became worse when he couldn’t put down his leg at all. This is when she rang us for help.
He was taken to the vets for the usual castration and his leg x-rayed. The infection was so severe that the leg was swollen badly and a piece of bone wedged near the joint.
A sample was sent to the lab to determine the correct antibiotics and the joint flushed out, which fortunately washed out the loose bone. However the length of time taken since the infection started has caused arthritis to set in the joint, but a low dose of painkiller daily will solve any discomfort. He is a very gentle and eager-to-please boy who has finally found a loving home with Tony and I (and a very sulky Betty) as he is here to stay!
Judy
Judy’s Open Day
Judy’s Open Day was brilliant - more senses than one!!!
The weather was fantastic throughout - we had to put up another gazebo to provide additional shade. Whereas the following day it poured down all day. How lucky were we?
The preparations for ’Open Day’ started weeks - in fact, months in advance. On the day, our band of volunteers / helpers started at 9:00 to unpack boxes & bags, set up the stalls, put up signs & posters, collect the cakes and refreshments, etc.
This was tinged with a note of sadness in that Frankie, one of Judy’s cats, had had to be put to sleep a couple of weeks earlier. Frankie always knew it was ‘Open Day’ and used to supervise proceedings. He had an innate ability to locate any goods containing cat-nip from a range of half a mile, and ’beg’ his own supply. We missed you Frankie!!!
By 11:00 preparations were complete and the ‘gates’ opened…
...over the next 4 hours, approximately 200 people flocked in. It was wonderful to see so many friends again, and to meet new ones - all with a common love of cats.
Guests visited the stalls, purchased cakes, enjoyed the refreshments, had a go on the raffle, toured the pens—to view the cats and kittens - and chatted with fellow cat lovers.
At 3:00, when the last guest had left, the helpers started to pack everything away and return Judy’s home and garden back to normal, before having collapsing into a chair, for a well deserved rest and a drink!!!
£1,980.15...
Yes that’s the amount raised on Open Day—what a fantastic achievement.
The Committee would like to thank:
All the volunteers who helped prepare the wonderful food, help set up and run the stalls, and of course, pack everything away at the end of the day
Everybody who made items, grew plants, gave things to sell, donated raffle prizes, etc.
Judy and Tony for giving up their house and garden for the day
Everybody who attended the Open Day—your generosity, loyalty and support leaves us amazed and humbled.
Trafford C.P. Committee
THANK YOU
Unsung Hero
Special thanks to one of our ‘unsung heroes’ on Open Day - Gill.
Gill is frequently simply referred to as “Judy’s sister” and somehow (normally!!!) manages to dodge the camera, but Gill is responsible for providing a constant flow of tea, coffee and squash from dawn until dusk!!!
She lives in Nottingham and comes over to look after the cats in the pens whilst Judy and Tony are on holiday, and comes back especially for the Open Day!
All lives should have nine cats
e-mail from our RDM
Hi—Just a note to say thank you for the invite last Sunday – it seemed to be a tremendous success.
Will you please thank all the volunteers on my behalf for doing such hard job and also thank Judy for opening her home and garden to those who attended.
Did you manage to home any cats from the day?
I hope so. Please let me know.
Anyway thanks again.
Kind regards.
Suzanne
Suzanne Scott - Jackson
Cats Protection : Regional Development Manager - North and North West
Thank you Barclays
Once again our thanks to Barclays, who matched £ for £ the monies raised by Carole and Phil, as part of the Barclays Community investment programme.
Judy said “We are grateful to all the helpers and supporters, who made this event such a success – raising nearly £2,000 and re-homing 4 cats and kittens. We are extremely appreciative of Barclays, who have supported us for several years under their £ for £ scheme.”
Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.
With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 145,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for more than 49 million customers and clients worldwide.
Since the business was established more than 300 years ago, Barclays has grown to offer a range of products and services tailored to meet the specific needs of its customers all over the world.
As a responsible global citizen, Barclays is committed to ensuring the sustainability of the communities in which the business operates, and strives for sustainable relationships with customers and clients worldwide.
In 2008, Barclays invested £52.2m in community projects around the world and supported more than 57,000 colleagues in 31 countries to get involved with community activities.
Fundraising : Future Events
DateVenue
Saturday 3rd OctoberStretford Street Collection and Table
Saturday 21st NovemberSale Market Walk
If you can help at any of these fundraising events…...please contact Janet Williams on 0161 969 1599.
I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to Karen Sykes on behalf of the cats in our care, for her time and effort in collecting donations of food from Wilkinsons in Sale and Stretford + Pets at Home, and also to the stores for their generosity.
Janet Williams
Just Giving
Thank you to Karen Flower, who advised of a website to check out if you are considering a fund-raising event and asking for sponsors:
A cat is not lazy — it is motivationally challenged
Christmas is coming...and the Christmas cards have arrived!!!
We were disappointed that we did not have many Christmas cards available for sale at Judy’s Open Day
- as we were awaiting the Order Forms from Head Office. However, we are pleased to advise the Christmas card order has now arrived!!!
If you would like some Cats Protection Christmas cards, or 2010 calendars or diaries, ... please come to our table at Stretford Arndale Centre on 3rd October, or in Sale Market Walk on 21st November…
…or to avoid disappointment contact Janet Williams on 0161 969 1599.
Mews from Mull
Greetings! Well, mews from here - most importantly our pen Is up and withstanding the high winds. We can't wait for our first customer and are currently enticing a mother and her three kittens off the croft.
So there's not much to report - continuing our very important neutering programme and awareness raising, which seems to be working.
It is the Ardnamurchan Branch 10th Birthday Celebration in September - I'll take a picture of us all and send it for the next Mewsletter.
Oh, one of our members is on the short list for the CP "unsung hero" award - so we are keeping our fingers crossed for that bit of fame!
Many many regards
Janet & Alan
Fostering Matters
We were asked to help CP back in 2001, as they were in need of a fosterer for a family of four motherless, four-week old kittens. We had no experience, just a deep love for cats and kittens, and a little-used dining room. We discussed the possibility with our own three well-loved and treasured cats. It was agreed that so long as they stayed out of their way, they would pretend it wasn't really happening. Our fostering career commenced.
Each case is different- unwanted, unloved, alone, ill, injured, abused, frightened, traumatised.. their past history varies, and some tales are too horrible to recount. All are special, all are needy, wonderful, rewarding and heartbreaking to part with. Pat phones to say a perfect home has been found and it's time to let them go.
After weeks, sometimes months of being with them, parting is painful and tearful. We've coaxed the timid ones to allow themselves to be stroked and to learn to trust, and heard their first purr of contentment after a lifetime of misery. We've had the stampeding kittens racing to be petted and played with as we open the door to their room. Parting is very emotional. When we first began, another fosterer gave us advice on how to let go. “Give each a kiss and pray they have a happy, healthy life.”