It's a 365 day regime with little respite, (!!!) although there are quieter times - however other than being secure, your cat(s) can expect the following, in terms of animal husbandry and welfare management:
1. Morning session - greeting, run and litter tray clean down, a bedding shake out, food replenish and freshening of the water. Administration of any medication, if required, this may also happen at other times of day - oh how the cats love that part!!
2. So long as the cat is amenable, it's also fuss time!! We take our lead from each individual cat - cats may just go outside into their run and give us the cold shoulder!! After a time with us however, this is when cats may initiate play with what we call the "broom game" which may also pertain to a dustpan brush - where they show interest/grab and pluck at the brush with gusto, less so older cats, but it's surprising sometimes, they were all kittens once after all!!
3. The evening visit is largely a repeat of the above, but centres around making sure everything required for the night is in place. In the peak of summer, at times of extreme heat (remember the heat wave?!?) we may also feed wet food, as when it's really hot (like around 30C or more) it simply dries out and gets fly-blown in the heat of the day, a time when cats tend to not be really that bothered with food anyway!
4. Late night visit, not always made, but if it is especially cold or we're concerned about any particular cat or there's a medication requirement for example, then it will be.
5. Unlike catsitters (sorry catsitters!!) we are here all the time - so there maybe trips and/or viewings and ad-hoc trips to empty dishwashers, replenish cattery supplies during the day - these are also chances for interaction with the cats to provide further animal welfare management and so a chance for them hopefully to feel more at home.
6. Lastly our Free Range chickens and almost completely stray children provide hours of daylight feline entertainment, without even being aware of it, particularly the children!!
Friday, December 23, 2005
Cat Sitting Vs. Boarding Cattery
So what do you consider are the merits of each...?
Prior to running a cattery, we had a maximum of four Burmese cats of our own, two boys and two girls. We currently have three cats, the eldest being Sarah who is nearly seventeen. It was really quite an extra additional expense going away and having to deal with up to four cats, as we'd never come across a cattery with a "family run" like we have here - designed with three or more cats in mind - which at least goes some way towards making it a little bit cheaper for people with multiple cats, but obviously it's still an expense item.
So what do you do, well for a weekend away, sometimes we used to get a neighbour to feed them and leave a large litter tray down and then usually we'd block off the cat flap, as one of the cats used to remove it from the back door if it was just locked but not physically obstructed - sound familiar!?! We endeavoured to stop them venturing out - that way we'd feel happier about their security and the likelihood of them being there on our return!! For slightly longer stays away (depending on the "neighbours" we could find and our house/roads at the time) we would reluctantly let them have outside access, as leaving a litter tray down, however large, was not an option when the neighbours agreed only to feed them!! It was always a worry - the neighbours weren't always "cat people" for example, or were simply just busy in life. (again, sound familiar!?!) At the first house we lived in, there were quite a few busy roads around too, sometimes a cattery was the answer, however short the duration of our stay away was destined to be!!
These days, paid for catsitters maybe quite good and generally, not so much is made of letting less well known people into your house, although currently Petsitting is unregulated/unlicensed and the proprietors may also be uninsured, none of these things can be said of Cats Country Club! Do make sure they're reputable and not looking after more than just the cats' interests - the cats' do get to stay in familiar surroundings which is good and hopefully also get looked after. However one downside is that if your cats' have access to the outside whilst you're away, they may not be seen for several days when the neighbour/catsitter visits, which is not a good thing and we have heard of some unfortunate stories here. Leaving the heating on full tilt in winter "just" for your cats might also need some consideration, perhaps particularly these days?!? We would understand if you said "yes" to leaving it on of course, but being a "grumpy old man" (now!!), I had to point it out of course!!
Many cats do realise the family is away and this can be disconcerting for them, some obviously more than others, so it is not an entirely stress free experience - indeed you may find the results of that on the carpet on your return or simply that the cat has gone "walk-about", or both!!??!! With catsitting, whilst your cat is in the familiar surroundings of your house, if it is at all timid, or perhaps just one of them is, it may not get used to what may become numerous different catsitter faces, doing their various and varied rounds, also what to do if a cat or cats bolt and escape past the door and the catsitter and the cat normally has no outside access - the catsitter can't stay there indefinitely?? Sadly, for the cats that stay here, it's the same old faces at CCC, with few exceptions and of course the double door security - there's no escape!
It is often reported how some cats will "clear off" when they see the holiday bags come out of the loft, this is not a unique experience by any means. It is true to say that whilst there is a small level of stress for some cats with the limited proximity to other cats in a boarding cattery, conversely some cats actively seem to relish it, sometimes it's just the journey they don't like - past thoughts of sore trips to/back from the vet perhaps?!?
By comparison to some casual catsitter arrangements, (come on, we've all been there!?!) the boarding cattery is licensed and well versed in animal husbandry, (well certainly this one is!!) feline needs, medication - we have double door security and we're here 24 hours a day. We can also do real-time video surveillance of a cat if it should be considered necessary, (a cat scan if you like - sorry!!) should we have any particular concern over any cats! The boarding establishment is secure giving peace of mind for owners that their cats will at the very least be present on their return. This should be quite a consideration if the alternative to a cattery when you live on a busy road is to allow your cat outside access whilst you're away.
Whilst a cattery's internal and/or external runs certainly will never be as big as someone's home and/or garden, it is worth remembering that cats do actually spend around sixteen hours asleep every day - what a life hey, they really do have it sussed!!??!! So being enclosed in any way, whether a cattery chalet/run or a cat simply locked in an owners house with no outside access that they're usually used to, is still some kind of a restraint.
If your cat has access to an open cat flap whilst you're away, whether being tended to by a neighbour or a professional catsitter, particularly around Spring, birds, rabbits and all sorts may get brought back into the house. If your cat is anything of a hunter, which of course a great many are - not nice to come back too, particularly if the remains have remained unlocated by the catsitters, even more so if the remnants are now fly-blown - it's always the stomachs they leave isn't it!?! One of our boys has a penchant for baby rabbits particularly at certain times of the year, but basically anything at any time of year that he can get his naughty little puds on and we have the dubious pleasure of having to deal with all of them in their various states and stages of life and rigor mortis, we have actually released several live bunnies, after a suitable period of recuperation for them (and us)!! A favourite live rabbit spot in our house is under our coffee table, just out of cat reach, almost respite for them indeed, but the cats usually manage to flush it out, either as a pair or a trio and eventually we see the tell tale signs during or shortly after!!! Cats don't you just love 'em - hey!!??!!
I guess after bearing some of the above factors in mind, at the end of the day, it boils down to personal preference - if you have the right neighbour/relative or a reliable catsitter firm to call upon/use and that you can be sure that that approach works with the layout of your house, that's a way forward, alternatively you may find a cattery you're happy with, I guess it all depends. However, as with most things in life really, you make your assessment, you pay your money and take your choice...
A note on the money front, Cats Country Club have an online credit/debit card facility to help with cattery boarding fees, as best we can for these times of extra expense - actually the only way we can do really, sadly it was always cash up front in "my day" before we ran this cattery!!! Oh look, I'm back in grumpy old man mode again!!
Prior to running a cattery, we had a maximum of four Burmese cats of our own, two boys and two girls. We currently have three cats, the eldest being Sarah who is nearly seventeen. It was really quite an extra additional expense going away and having to deal with up to four cats, as we'd never come across a cattery with a "family run" like we have here - designed with three or more cats in mind - which at least goes some way towards making it a little bit cheaper for people with multiple cats, but obviously it's still an expense item.
So what do you do, well for a weekend away, sometimes we used to get a neighbour to feed them and leave a large litter tray down and then usually we'd block off the cat flap, as one of the cats used to remove it from the back door if it was just locked but not physically obstructed - sound familiar!?! We endeavoured to stop them venturing out - that way we'd feel happier about their security and the likelihood of them being there on our return!! For slightly longer stays away (depending on the "neighbours" we could find and our house/roads at the time) we would reluctantly let them have outside access, as leaving a litter tray down, however large, was not an option when the neighbours agreed only to feed them!! It was always a worry - the neighbours weren't always "cat people" for example, or were simply just busy in life. (again, sound familiar!?!) At the first house we lived in, there were quite a few busy roads around too, sometimes a cattery was the answer, however short the duration of our stay away was destined to be!!
These days, paid for catsitters maybe quite good and generally, not so much is made of letting less well known people into your house, although currently Petsitting is unregulated/unlicensed and the proprietors may also be uninsured, none of these things can be said of Cats Country Club! Do make sure they're reputable and not looking after more than just the cats' interests - the cats' do get to stay in familiar surroundings which is good and hopefully also get looked after. However one downside is that if your cats' have access to the outside whilst you're away, they may not be seen for several days when the neighbour/catsitter visits, which is not a good thing and we have heard of some unfortunate stories here. Leaving the heating on full tilt in winter "just" for your cats might also need some consideration, perhaps particularly these days?!? We would understand if you said "yes" to leaving it on of course, but being a "grumpy old man" (now!!), I had to point it out of course!!
Many cats do realise the family is away and this can be disconcerting for them, some obviously more than others, so it is not an entirely stress free experience - indeed you may find the results of that on the carpet on your return or simply that the cat has gone "walk-about", or both!!??!! With catsitting, whilst your cat is in the familiar surroundings of your house, if it is at all timid, or perhaps just one of them is, it may not get used to what may become numerous different catsitter faces, doing their various and varied rounds, also what to do if a cat or cats bolt and escape past the door and the catsitter and the cat normally has no outside access - the catsitter can't stay there indefinitely?? Sadly, for the cats that stay here, it's the same old faces at CCC, with few exceptions and of course the double door security - there's no escape!
It is often reported how some cats will "clear off" when they see the holiday bags come out of the loft, this is not a unique experience by any means. It is true to say that whilst there is a small level of stress for some cats with the limited proximity to other cats in a boarding cattery, conversely some cats actively seem to relish it, sometimes it's just the journey they don't like - past thoughts of sore trips to/back from the vet perhaps?!?
By comparison to some casual catsitter arrangements, (come on, we've all been there!?!) the boarding cattery is licensed and well versed in animal husbandry, (well certainly this one is!!) feline needs, medication - we have double door security and we're here 24 hours a day. We can also do real-time video surveillance of a cat if it should be considered necessary, (a cat scan if you like - sorry!!) should we have any particular concern over any cats! The boarding establishment is secure giving peace of mind for owners that their cats will at the very least be present on their return. This should be quite a consideration if the alternative to a cattery when you live on a busy road is to allow your cat outside access whilst you're away.
Whilst a cattery's internal and/or external runs certainly will never be as big as someone's home and/or garden, it is worth remembering that cats do actually spend around sixteen hours asleep every day - what a life hey, they really do have it sussed!!??!! So being enclosed in any way, whether a cattery chalet/run or a cat simply locked in an owners house with no outside access that they're usually used to, is still some kind of a restraint.
If your cat has access to an open cat flap whilst you're away, whether being tended to by a neighbour or a professional catsitter, particularly around Spring, birds, rabbits and all sorts may get brought back into the house. If your cat is anything of a hunter, which of course a great many are - not nice to come back too, particularly if the remains have remained unlocated by the catsitters, even more so if the remnants are now fly-blown - it's always the stomachs they leave isn't it!?! One of our boys has a penchant for baby rabbits particularly at certain times of the year, but basically anything at any time of year that he can get his naughty little puds on and we have the dubious pleasure of having to deal with all of them in their various states and stages of life and rigor mortis, we have actually released several live bunnies, after a suitable period of recuperation for them (and us)!! A favourite live rabbit spot in our house is under our coffee table, just out of cat reach, almost respite for them indeed, but the cats usually manage to flush it out, either as a pair or a trio and eventually we see the tell tale signs during or shortly after!!! Cats don't you just love 'em - hey!!??!!
I guess after bearing some of the above factors in mind, at the end of the day, it boils down to personal preference - if you have the right neighbour/relative or a reliable catsitter firm to call upon/use and that you can be sure that that approach works with the layout of your house, that's a way forward, alternatively you may find a cattery you're happy with, I guess it all depends. However, as with most things in life really, you make your assessment, you pay your money and take your choice...
A note on the money front, Cats Country Club have an online credit/debit card facility to help with cattery boarding fees, as best we can for these times of extra expense - actually the only way we can do really, sadly it was always cash up front in "my day" before we ran this cattery!!! Oh look, I'm back in grumpy old man mode again!!
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Interactive Live Webcam - erm.., goes live!!
Finally, whilst we've had a Webcam for about a year now, it has never ventured outside and been made available for access onto the web - it has always been inside the cattery. We have now managed to not only place it outside (!!), although its' position isn't permanent by any means, but to also do the necessary to the website to facilitate anyone to have a play with it! You do need IE 5.x or higher though, as it requires ActiveX support to stream the video to you.... Feel free to check it out at: www.CatsCountryClub.co.uk
Feel free to have a look around...!!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Litter - Here we go again!!
We're still striving for the ultimate cat litter, one the cats seem to readily like, which is not really a problem as all cats adapt very well in this department, but it needs to be easy and quick to keep clean, as "dust free" as possible, environmentally sound and that doesn't get kicked everywhere by the cats!!
In this search for the Holy Grail of litters, I believe we're moving back to wood pellets!! We're going to be trialling the OKO wood pellet, (not the OkO Plus clumping litter, which we've already trialled, please see previous posts) which is quite a chunky pellet and another one - Comfey Pet, which is pine scented and slightly smaller in diameter than the OKO pellet. We will report back on them both in due course, bet you can't wait!?!
In this search for the Holy Grail of litters, I believe we're moving back to wood pellets!! We're going to be trialling the OKO wood pellet, (not the OkO Plus clumping litter, which we've already trialled, please see previous posts) which is quite a chunky pellet and another one - Comfey Pet, which is pine scented and slightly smaller in diameter than the OKO pellet. We will report back on them both in due course, bet you can't wait!?!
The Heat is On!
New electric thermostatic heating has been arranged from November 2006 for the main cattery and this has proved invaluable during the cold spell a few weeks ago in November. These two Dimplex 2.5 Kw (max) convector/blowers are in place in the main cattery to supplement the 1.8Kw (max) quartz heaters at either end of the cattery.
This upgrade has facilitated redeployment of the free-standing convector heater that was in the main cattery into the family run and also a smaller Dimplex convector heater into the isolation pen. This will provide more regulatable and reliable warmth at times of severe cold to all the runs - higher standards all round!!
This upgrade has facilitated redeployment of the free-standing convector heater that was in the main cattery into the family run and also a smaller Dimplex convector heater into the isolation pen. This will provide more regulatable and reliable warmth at times of severe cold to all the runs - higher standards all round!!
Customer Testimonials go Live!!
It's always useful and so far nice to get feedback from our customers. Now we are letting other people, both current and prospective customers, know how existing customers perceive how it's going here at Cats Country Club but how the service we provide is being received by people.
Feel free to have a read via the link on our main site www.CatsCountryClub.co.uk
Feel free to have a read via the link on our main site www.CatsCountryClub.co.uk
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