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Wizz Catz Rescue - Newsletter No12 - October 2007
SPECIAL CATS NEED SPECIAL PEOPLE
Success Stories
Mozzy and Treacle are now settled in their new home, thanks to Mandy who fell in love with this pair the minute she saw them on the website. On arrival at Mandy's house, it was decided to keep them in the kitchen/diner to start off with, but Treacle was having none of it and, knowing that this was her new home, wanted to explore from the minute she got there. Mozzy, on the other hand, tired from the journey, settled straight into his bed. Treacle took an instant liking to the luxury rug in the living room and stretched herself to her full length, rolling around on it to appreciate its full, soft quality. Mandy was amazed at just how quickly the pair settled, and Treacle has already undergone surgery to have her thyroid removed, which went well. This means she no longer needs a daily tablet which she used to have here. The pair have explored the garden and, true to form, it didn't take Madam long to realise that if she climbed the tree this would take her very neatly straight over the fence! Mozzy, on the other hand, stays closer to home but has already staked his claim on HIS garden by having a showdown with next door’s cat, showing him firmly who is boss. Having won that battle, Mozzy has now been renamed General Mozart Montgomery. However, when he thinks that Mandy is not looking, the sedate old gentleman has a mad five minutes where he pretends to be 15 months old as opposed to 15 years old! The pictures show that both Mozzy and Treacle have staked a claim on the settee and Mandy is now confined to the floor, although as Treacle has reported, it is a very nice rug! The only complaint so far is that Mozzy sometimes wishes he was deaf as he does not appear to appreciate Mandy's attempts at singing along with the radio and gives her one of those looks that we all know so well - complete disapproval!!
For Adoption
Amber is an 11 year old Persian whose owner is unable to give her the care and attention that she needs. Amber has already been seen by our vets and has a clean bill of health. She has also seen the ‘hairdresser’ and is now sporting a shorter, cropped look for the summer! Amber is currently still with her owner as we don’t have any room for her at present. However if you would like to adopt her then please contact me and we will forward your details on to her owner.
Becky was an extremely unhappy little cat when she first came here and did not want me anywhere near her! She is two and half years old but was not at all sociable, and hissed, spat and lashed out at me. She spent her first few days sitting on the shelf, shaking whenever I approached. However, as the weeks have gone on she has made huge strides and her true personality is now starting to come through. She had lived in a flat previously so the garden was a new experience for her, but one that she now thoroughly enjoys - so much so that she does not stop for breakfast in the morning such is the rush to get back out and do some more exploring! Becky is not suitable with young children as it is necessary to not make any sudden moves around her. She needs to earn your trust to show her true personality, but with a little patience and guidance she has a very affectionate and appealing nature.
Smudgie too is making wonderful progress, albeit at her own pace. She would suit a quiet environment as it takes her a while to trust people, but when she does she is very affectionate. She likes to head-butt me and will meow at me for attention if she feels that it is elsewhere, rather than on her! She too now goes outside, albeit at a slightly gentler pace than our Becky! Because of the upheaval in the house over the last few months Smudgie has realised that a lot of noise is not necessarily a bad thing and that no one is going to hurt her. This little cat will be very rewarding to work with as she has such a sweet nature underneath all that mistrust.
Still With Us
Milly
How is everyone? I am having to watch my back at the moment. Becky does not seem to like tortoiseshell cats. According to her this place is over-run with them! I know what she means - we did have a tortoiseshell stay with us for a few weeks, then of course there is Poppy who visits, then Treacle, but she’s been re-homed now, but then Cheeky arrived and she is tortoiseshell too. So I guess she has a point, but then she is black and white and I don’t know if it’s me, but this place seems to be awash with black and white cats. Now where shall I start...?
Tom
Hi, I hope you are all well. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for myself. I have been to the vets as I have been very poorly. I am losing my sight and am in some discomfort so Mum gives me painkillers every day to make me feel a bit better. Because I am not well I am now going to step down as a sponsor cat and take things a bit easy. I will, of course, still write to those of you that sponsor me, but Prinie will now take my place so that I don’t have any new sponsors. I can still find the warm spots in the garden which is what I love doing and I like to cuddle up to Mum for extra love and attention, but I am getting a bit sick of tuna - hopefully it will be chicken tonight!
Princess Chloe and Sophie
Hello everyone! Soph and I are now allowed outside. Sophie was straight out and running around the garden like a little whirlwind. I was a lot more hesitant to start off with but now my favourite thing is to climb right up the 30ft bushes and sit there with the birds. Only problem is I can’t get down! I cried and cried but Mum said I had to work it out for myself. She guided me through and down the bushes and eventually I jumped on the cat pen roof and worked my way down from there! Sophie does not climb like me, but she did come back rather wet one day and she wouldn’t tell Mum what she had been up to! Soph and I now help Becky, as even though she is two and a half, she has never been outside so we chase her around the garden and play with her and show her all the great places to go! The other night I was very naughty and I would not come in when I was called - I thought I would get my own back on Mum for leaving me stranded in the bushes! Of course, I did eventually turn up but it was getting dark and by then Mum was very worried. I could hear her calling ‘Prinie-Prin’, so I did my usual chirrup, jumped over the fence and came running towards her. She scooped me up, kissed me all over and then started crying - I think I might have taken the joke a bit too far - I didn’t mean to upset her. I’ve not done that since. Soph, on the other hand, comes to Mummy the second she is called! Oh! To be so perfect!
Fund Raising/Donations
Crystal Peaks:
Saturday 30 June - £428
Saturday 28 July - £438
Saturday 25 Aug - £238
Saturday 08 Sept - £256
Future dates for Crystal Peaks:
Sunday 14 October
Sat/Sun 17/18 November
Sat/Sun 08/09 December
Thanks as always to James, Linda, Kelvyn and Kirsty for being there, and to the regulars that always come and see us!
Thank you to those of you who save your pennies for us - they all add up! Thanks to everyone for their contributions and donations.
Thank you, too, to Crookes Veterinary Surgery for having one of our collection boxes.
Cats Whiskers Exhibition - 27 October to 4 November
Helen will be holding an exhibition at her gallery in Rowsley, Derbyshire. We will also be there with a small stall over both weekends. Helen’s work needs to be seen to be believed. Her animal portraits are stunning and are not just confined to cats. There are dogs, British wildlife and world wildlife. Prints come in various sizes and start from as little as £7.50. Also available are cards, fridge magnets, notelets, bookmarks and key rings. Please see ‘advert’ for full details.
Other Fundraising Venues
If anyone in Sheffield knows of anywhere where we could hold a stall would they please tell us about it. Obviously without funds we cannot continue our work so please contact me with anything you think we might be interested in. I know as well that many companies will match fundraising pound for pound so if your company will do that and you want to help us, please let me know. Like all other rescues we run very close to the edge most of the year!
It's A Cartridge!!!
Roy, from Its A Cartridge has very kindly offered to make a donation to us when you order your new ink cartridges off of him. So please visit his website; contact him with the cartridges you currently use and see if he can do you an even better deal - that way we all win! Don't forget to mention where you got his name from otherwise he won't know it's come from us and every penny counts in the rescue business. Click on the link below for his website.
Cats to Sponsor
Due to ill health Tom will now retire from being an official sponsor cat, however, if you have sponsored him he will continue to send you updates on how he is doing. Princess Chloe will now earn her keep by becoming the newest Sponsor Cat. It’s not too early to think about Christmas either. If you know you will be sponsoring a cat as a present for someone at Christmas please let us know sooner rather than later so that Kelvyn does not get inundated at the last minute.
Lost & Found
We have had a number of lost cats during this quarter, but the good news is that some of them have been found. I think we all expect the worst when our beloved pet goes missing and I cannot emphasise enough that if you have not already done so then please, get your cat microchipped. I have written a small piece on lost cats but there is far more information on the web site about what to do if you actually lose your cat. My friends told me recently of a black cat found in their area - he was scanned, and reunited with his owner. He had been missing for 6 months. 2 days later, leaflets were coming through the door. ‘Lost - Black Cat’. Yes, you’ve guessed it - this little cat had been living elsewhere for 6 months! The lady was informed that the cat was chipped and owned, and although obviously upset at the loss of her little companion she was glad he was reunited with his owner.
When Your Cat Goes Missing
It is always very sad when someone loses their cat - mixed emotions of ‘I wish I’d never let him out’, together with ‘I wish I’d had him microchipped’, all things that may or may not have made a difference. There are a few things that we can do to help our little furry friends live a safer life without them being confined to our houses. As many of you will know I personally feel that most cats do miss out if they are confined to a life indoors, however, I also understand how people feel when they lose a cat and want to keep the next one as an indoor cat so they never have to go through ‘that’ again. To this I would say just one thing: We all let our partners and children to and fro as they please - to a certain extent - we cannot wrap ourselves or our family in cotton wool for their entire existence. Your cat is a born hunter not a couch potato, so don’t turn him in to one.
As a rule I let my cats out when I am in, and get them in when I am out. Not always practical and sometimes there will be the odd ‘rogue’ one that goes AWOL! We have a very set routine in our house: Raffles and Charlie go out at 5am and are back in by 7am. Everyone else then goes out around 7.30am. Then at 5pm at the very latest, everyone comes in, and Raffles and Charlie can go out again until about 9pm. It’s a bit more complex for us because Charlie and Raffles have to be kept separate from all the other cats, but it’s not impossible and each cat soon learns the rules! If you live near a busy road then keep them in at peak times. Cats do not need to be out all day and night. Remember they sleep 16 hours out of 24, so by leaving them outside all that time they will have to find somewhere safe to sleep. Finally, I would recommend that cats are kept in at night. This is the time they are most vulnerable to road traffic accidents. Cats are creatures of habit and will soon settle in to a routine - I have cats here of all ages, shapes and sizes and they all fit in to my routine. Even the rescues awaiting re-homing have access to the outdoors but have the same routine as the majority.
Microchip - I cannot emphasise this enough. In my opinion every cat should be microchipped, whether it is indoor, outdoor, young or old. Don’t assume that your cat will get ‘lost’ a few yards up your street! Cats can be found hundreds of miles away from their homes, and we as rescues have no hope of finding you, the owner, unless your cat is microchipped. Many rescues will re-home a ‘found’ cat after 7 days. If you know of anyone who has found a cat, insist they go to the vets and have it checked for a microchip. Offer to take them yourself if you have to. Don’t assume because it is ‘thin’ that it is a stray - it could have been missing for some time, or could be on medication.
And remember ... for all those stories about ‘missing cats’ there are just as many stories about cats turning up on people’s doorsteps. So don’t think the worst as there are a lot of people out there that love cats and look after them - yours may be one of them.
More detailed information about what to do when your cat goes missing is available on our Lost & Found section of the website.
Cats for Adoption
Cats to Sponsor
Newsletter No 11 - July 2007
Newsletter No 10 - Apr 2007
Mozzy and Treacle are now settled in their new home, thanks to Mandy who fell in love with this pair the minute she saw them on the website. On arrival at Mandy's house, it was decided to keep them in the kitchen/diner to start off with, but Treacle was having none of it and, knowing that this was her new home, wanted to explore from the minute she got there. Mozzy, on the other hand, tired from the journey, settled straight into his bed. Treacle took an instant liking to the luxury rug in the living room and stretched herself to her full length, rolling around on it to appreciate its full, soft quality. Mandy was amazed at just how quickly the pair settled, and Treacle has already undergone surgery to have her thyroid removed, which went well. This means she no longer needs a daily tablet which she used to have here. The pair have explored the garden and, true to form, it didn't take Madam long to realise that if she climbed the tree this would take her very neatly straight over the fence! Mozzy, on the other hand, stays closer to home but has already staked his claim on HIS garden by having a showdown with next door’s cat, showing him firmly who is boss. Having won that battle, Mozzy has now been renamed General Mozart Montgomery. However, when he thinks that Mandy is not looking, the sedate old gentleman has a mad five minutes where he pretends to be 15 months old as opposed to 15 years old! The pictures show that both Mozzy and Treacle have staked a claim on the settee and Mandy is now confined to the floor, although as Treacle has reported, it is a very nice rug! The only complaint so far is that Mozzy sometimes wishes he was deaf as he does not appear to appreciate Mandy's attempts at singing along with the radio and gives her one of those looks that we all know so well - complete disapproval!!
For Adoption
Amber is an 11 year old Persian whose owner is unable to give her the care and attention that she needs. Amber has already been seen by our vets and has a clean bill of health. She has also seen the ‘hairdresser’ and is now sporting a shorter, cropped look for the summer! Amber is currently still with her owner as we don’t have any room for her at present. However if you would like to adopt her then please contact me and we will forward your details on to her owner.
Becky was an extremely unhappy little cat when she first came here and did not want me anywhere near her! She is two and half years old but was not at all sociable, and hissed, spat and lashed out at me. She spent her first few days sitting on the shelf, shaking whenever I approached. However, as the weeks have gone on she has made huge strides and her true personality is now starting to come through. She had lived in a flat previously so the garden was a new experience for her, but one that she now thoroughly enjoys - so much so that she does not stop for breakfast in the morning such is the rush to get back out and do some more exploring! Becky is not suitable with young children as it is necessary to not make any sudden moves around her. She needs to earn your trust to show her true personality, but with a little patience and guidance she has a very affectionate and appealing nature.
Smudgie too is making wonderful progress, albeit at her own pace. She would suit a quiet environment as it takes her a while to trust people, but when she does she is very affectionate. She likes to head-butt me and will meow at me for attention if she feels that it is elsewhere, rather than on her! She too now goes outside, albeit at a slightly gentler pace than our Becky! Because of the upheaval in the house over the last few months Smudgie has realised that a lot of noise is not necessarily a bad thing and that no one is going to hurt her. This little cat will be very rewarding to work with as she has such a sweet nature underneath all that mistrust.
Still With Us
Milly
How is everyone? I am having to watch my back at the moment. Becky does not seem to like tortoiseshell cats. According to her this place is over-run with them! I know what she means - we did have a tortoiseshell stay with us for a few weeks, then of course there is Poppy who visits, then Treacle, but she’s been re-homed now, but then Cheeky arrived and she is tortoiseshell too. So I guess she has a point, but then she is black and white and I don’t know if it’s me, but this place seems to be awash with black and white cats. Now where shall I start...?
Tom
Hi, I hope you are all well. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for myself. I have been to the vets as I have been very poorly. I am losing my sight and am in some discomfort so Mum gives me painkillers every day to make me feel a bit better. Because I am not well I am now going to step down as a sponsor cat and take things a bit easy. I will, of course, still write to those of you that sponsor me, but Prinie will now take my place so that I don’t have any new sponsors. I can still find the warm spots in the garden which is what I love doing and I like to cuddle up to Mum for extra love and attention, but I am getting a bit sick of tuna - hopefully it will be chicken tonight!
Princess Chloe and Sophie
Hello everyone! Soph and I are now allowed outside. Sophie was straight out and running around the garden like a little whirlwind. I was a lot more hesitant to start off with but now my favourite thing is to climb right up the 30ft bushes and sit there with the birds. Only problem is I can’t get down! I cried and cried but Mum said I had to work it out for myself. She guided me through and down the bushes and eventually I jumped on the cat pen roof and worked my way down from there! Sophie does not climb like me, but she did come back rather wet one day and she wouldn’t tell Mum what she had been up to! Soph and I now help Becky, as even though she is two and a half, she has never been outside so we chase her around the garden and play with her and show her all the great places to go! The other night I was very naughty and I would not come in when I was called - I thought I would get my own back on Mum for leaving me stranded in the bushes! Of course, I did eventually turn up but it was getting dark and by then Mum was very worried. I could hear her calling ‘Prinie-Prin’, so I did my usual chirrup, jumped over the fence and came running towards her. She scooped me up, kissed me all over and then started crying - I think I might have taken the joke a bit too far - I didn’t mean to upset her. I’ve not done that since. Soph, on the other hand, comes to Mummy the second she is called! Oh! To be so perfect!
Fund Raising/Donations
Crystal Peaks:
Saturday 30 June - £428
Saturday 28 July - £438
Saturday 25 Aug - £238
Saturday 08 Sept - £256
Future dates for Crystal Peaks:
Sunday 14 October
Sat/Sun 17/18 November
Sat/Sun 08/09 December
Thanks as always to James, Linda, Kelvyn and Kirsty for being there, and to the regulars that always come and see us!
Thank you to those of you who save your pennies for us - they all add up! Thanks to everyone for their contributions and donations.
Thank you, too, to Crookes Veterinary Surgery for having one of our collection boxes.
Cats Whiskers Exhibition - 27 October to 4 November
Helen will be holding an exhibition at her gallery in Rowsley, Derbyshire. We will also be there with a small stall over both weekends. Helen’s work needs to be seen to be believed. Her animal portraits are stunning and are not just confined to cats. There are dogs, British wildlife and world wildlife. Prints come in various sizes and start from as little as £7.50. Also available are cards, fridge magnets, notelets, bookmarks and key rings. Please see ‘advert’ for full details.
Other Fundraising Venues
If anyone in Sheffield knows of anywhere where we could hold a stall would they please tell us about it. Obviously without funds we cannot continue our work so please contact me with anything you think we might be interested in. I know as well that many companies will match fundraising pound for pound so if your company will do that and you want to help us, please let me know. Like all other rescues we run very close to the edge most of the year!
It's A Cartridge!!!
Roy, from Its A Cartridge has very kindly offered to make a donation to us when you order your new ink cartridges off of him. So please visit his website; contact him with the cartridges you currently use and see if he can do you an even better deal - that way we all win! Don't forget to mention where you got his name from otherwise he won't know it's come from us and every penny counts in the rescue business. Click on the link below for his website.
Cats to Sponsor
Due to ill health Tom will now retire from being an official sponsor cat, however, if you have sponsored him he will continue to send you updates on how he is doing. Princess Chloe will now earn her keep by becoming the newest Sponsor Cat. It’s not too early to think about Christmas either. If you know you will be sponsoring a cat as a present for someone at Christmas please let us know sooner rather than later so that Kelvyn does not get inundated at the last minute.
Lost & Found
We have had a number of lost cats during this quarter, but the good news is that some of them have been found. I think we all expect the worst when our beloved pet goes missing and I cannot emphasise enough that if you have not already done so then please, get your cat microchipped. I have written a small piece on lost cats but there is far more information on the web site about what to do if you actually lose your cat. My friends told me recently of a black cat found in their area - he was scanned, and reunited with his owner. He had been missing for 6 months. 2 days later, leaflets were coming through the door. ‘Lost - Black Cat’. Yes, you’ve guessed it - this little cat had been living elsewhere for 6 months! The lady was informed that the cat was chipped and owned, and although obviously upset at the loss of her little companion she was glad he was reunited with his owner.
When Your Cat Goes Missing
It is always very sad when someone loses their cat - mixed emotions of ‘I wish I’d never let him out’, together with ‘I wish I’d had him microchipped’, all things that may or may not have made a difference. There are a few things that we can do to help our little furry friends live a safer life without them being confined to our houses. As many of you will know I personally feel that most cats do miss out if they are confined to a life indoors, however, I also understand how people feel when they lose a cat and want to keep the next one as an indoor cat so they never have to go through ‘that’ again. To this I would say just one thing: We all let our partners and children to and fro as they please - to a certain extent - we cannot wrap ourselves or our family in cotton wool for their entire existence. Your cat is a born hunter not a couch potato, so don’t turn him in to one.
As a rule I let my cats out when I am in, and get them in when I am out. Not always practical and sometimes there will be the odd ‘rogue’ one that goes AWOL! We have a very set routine in our house: Raffles and Charlie go out at 5am and are back in by 7am. Everyone else then goes out around 7.30am. Then at 5pm at the very latest, everyone comes in, and Raffles and Charlie can go out again until about 9pm. It’s a bit more complex for us because Charlie and Raffles have to be kept separate from all the other cats, but it’s not impossible and each cat soon learns the rules! If you live near a busy road then keep them in at peak times. Cats do not need to be out all day and night. Remember they sleep 16 hours out of 24, so by leaving them outside all that time they will have to find somewhere safe to sleep. Finally, I would recommend that cats are kept in at night. This is the time they are most vulnerable to road traffic accidents. Cats are creatures of habit and will soon settle in to a routine - I have cats here of all ages, shapes and sizes and they all fit in to my routine. Even the rescues awaiting re-homing have access to the outdoors but have the same routine as the majority.
Microchip - I cannot emphasise this enough. In my opinion every cat should be microchipped, whether it is indoor, outdoor, young or old. Don’t assume that your cat will get ‘lost’ a few yards up your street! Cats can be found hundreds of miles away from their homes, and we as rescues have no hope of finding you, the owner, unless your cat is microchipped. Many rescues will re-home a ‘found’ cat after 7 days. If you know of anyone who has found a cat, insist they go to the vets and have it checked for a microchip. Offer to take them yourself if you have to. Don’t assume because it is ‘thin’ that it is a stray - it could have been missing for some time, or could be on medication.
And remember ... for all those stories about ‘missing cats’ there are just as many stories about cats turning up on people’s doorsteps. So don’t think the worst as there are a lot of people out there that love cats and look after them - yours may be one of them.
More detailed information about what to do when your cat goes missing is available on our Lost & Found section of the website.
Cats for Adoption
Cats to Sponsor
Newsletter No 11 - July 2007
Newsletter No 10 - Apr 2007
We have had a huge amount of upheaval here over the last three months. The kitchen has been completely re-done - thank you to my brother-in-law Martin for sorting that out for us. He has done a wonderful job with some nice, easy to keep clean units and floor for all those little accidents just waiting to happen! We also had holes in the large cat pen roof caused by a firework last year, and then next door’s ridge tiles made another huge hole in the roof when we had those gale force winds earlier in the year. We now have a lovely new roof which I am assured is bomb proof!
A reminder that Helen will be holding The Cats Whiskers Collection exhibition at the end of October and will be making a donation from the proceeds to Wizz Catz Rescue. There is also a 10% discount voucher on Helen’s advert and you can present this at any time of the year when you visit her gallery in Derbyshire, or go via her website; there is a Wizz Catz section. Don’t forget, too, that we will be at the gallery 27/28 October and 03/04 November. Further details can be found later in this newsletter.
It’s not too early to start thinking about Christmas and if you would like to sponsor a cat for a Christmas present, you can tell us now as it will allow Kelvyn some extra time. He is usually inundated at this time of year so if you know you are going to want one - please let us know.
If you are new to Wizz Catz Rescue and would like to go on our email newsletter list then please contact me with your email address. Every quarter you will receive an email letting you know that it is now ready for viewing on the website.
It feels slightly premature writing this now, but this is the last newsletter before Christmas, so from Linda and Kelvyn, James and me, we hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.
A reminder that Helen will be holding The Cats Whiskers Collection exhibition at the end of October and will be making a donation from the proceeds to Wizz Catz Rescue. There is also a 10% discount voucher on Helen’s advert and you can present this at any time of the year when you visit her gallery in Derbyshire, or go via her website; there is a Wizz Catz section. Don’t forget, too, that we will be at the gallery 27/28 October and 03/04 November. Further details can be found later in this newsletter.
It’s not too early to start thinking about Christmas and if you would like to sponsor a cat for a Christmas present, you can tell us now as it will allow Kelvyn some extra time. He is usually inundated at this time of year so if you know you are going to want one - please let us know.
If you are new to Wizz Catz Rescue and would like to go on our email newsletter list then please contact me with your email address. Every quarter you will receive an email letting you know that it is now ready for viewing on the website.
It feels slightly premature writing this now, but this is the last newsletter before Christmas, so from Linda and Kelvyn, James and me, we hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love Milly xx
Firstly ensure bed is camouflaged
Get camouflaged friend to join in.
Dangle feet over the edge to give the appearance that the bed is far too small.
Get your friend with the extra long fluffy tail to back you up.
If all else fails seek suitable accommodation elsewhere.
Lost - Woodseats Area
Lost - Sheffield 5 Area
Found 2 miles from home
Found 3 miles from home
