Chelmsford Cats Protection | 1 Spring/Summer 2015 Why Become a Member? For as little as £7.50 per annum, you can help our Branch to carry out the aims of Cats Protection. You will receive two Newsletters a year, which will keep you informed of the work being carried out by our branch, our events and, most importantly, introduce you to some of the characters we have had the privilege to look after. We look forward to welcoming you to our membership. See (F1) at the back of this Newsletter. I'd like to wish you a belated Happy New Year and welcome you to the first newsletter of 2015. Although it seems like the Christmas decorations have only just been taken down and the evenings are slowly beginning to lengthen, we are already turning our attention to our 2016 branch calendar; you will find an entry form and rules enclosed with this edition. We love to see your photos capturing your feline friend at rest or play and look forward to revealing the winning snaps when the calendar goes on sale at the Family Fun Day in August. This edition is packed full of useful information, such as Adoption Centre Manager Kieron's facts about neutering on page 9, there's bound to be a fact that surprises you! As always, there's plenty of heart warming tales, not to mention adorable photos! Why not turn straight to page 6 for a real life fostering success story? It sums up the work of Cats Protection perfectly (or perhaps that should be purr-fectly!) Please keep your letters and updates coming, as your contributions are what help to make this newsletter a success. Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you at one of the fundraising events later this year (check out the diary dates on page 11!) Helen. ***MISSING*** Tulip was homed in The Plume School area of Maldon in July but has been missing since August. Please help to spread the word and contact the Adoption Centre with any information. Thank you. Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. Our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats Protection has simple and clear objectives to help cats: Homing - Finding good homes for cats in need Neutering - Supporting and encouraging the neutering of cats Information - Improving people’s understanding of cats and their care. Chelmsford Cats Protection helps hundreds of needy cats each year at an annual cost of around £70,000. No cat is put to sleep except on genuine medical grounds. Dear Friends, Members & New Members In this edition Who’s Who? Honey's Update: News from the Adoption Centre Sponsor Cats Coco the Kitten Fig's Tail Notice Board Why Do We Encourage Neutering? Cash for the Kitty: Fundraising Update Abandoned and Alone Home Sweet Home While the Cat's Away! Application Forms
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SS15 newsletter CURRENT - Cats Protection · Chelmsford Cats Protection | 4 Honey Honey's Cat Stats! 2014/15 Cats homed Cats in September 34 39 October 37 36 November 20 47 December
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Meet Zara and her nephew Tommy, can you believe that this pair have a combined age of 33?! Not
only do they look a lot younger, they also don't act their age!
Zara & Tommy were homed from the Adoption Centre as youngsters but sadly their owner became ill
and was no longer able to care for them.
Tommy and his Aunt Zara love a fuss and don't mind sharing the strokes and attention with one
another, there's no family rivalry amongst these two!
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 4
Honey's Cat Stats!
2014/15
Cats
homed Cats in
September 34 39
October 37 36
November 20 47
December 19 10
January 56 37
Finally, while everyone is celebrating
Mothering Sunday on March 15th, spare a
thought for Leia, (top) who would like
nothing more than a forever home to share
with her mum, Tinkerbell.
A young, petite mother and daughter tortie
duo, these two can be quiet at first but you
will soon see they are full of character and
love attention.
Leia and Tinkerbell came to the Adoption
Centre from a multi cat household but have
never lived with young children, so a home
with only adults or older children would suit
these two best.
I do hope we can find them a home for
Mother's Day!
With best fishes,
Honey xx
This is Michael, but once you get to know him,
he's happy to be called Mike.
Michael has spent the last 11 years working in a
yard heading up the pest control team and
accommodation was provided with his job.
Michael's working days are over and now he's
looking for a warm place to spend his
retirement.
He is shy at first and you will find he doesn't talk
much about his career, but with an
understanding owner and time, he will learn to
appreciate home comforts and be a great
addition to the family.
Why not pop along to the Adoption Centre to
meet Michael?
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 5
Sponsor Cats Sponsoring a Chelmsford CP cat - a unique gift idea
For further details on our Cat Sponsorship scheme please
complete contact form F3 on page 20
Above: Blanche, Becky, Dennis, Abbie.
Below: Ella, Nikki, Tabitha, Honey.
Sometimes we meet cats who suffer from medical or behavioural
problems. These cats require our long term care, as it is not their
fault that life has dealt them an unfortunate hand.
Providing such ongoing support is only possible with the help and
generosity of our sponsors.
Please help us to continue to care for these cats by sponsoring
one of the cats on this page - who will capture your heart?
All sponsors receive updates of their chosen cat or cats and
photos (where the cat is willing to co-operate!)
Under 18’s sponsorship is only £12 a year
Receive a goody bag when you sign up!
Meet your sponsor cat!
Receive updates and photos throughout the year!
Your chance to draw your sponsor cat and see the picture
featured in future editions of this newsletter!
Sponsor Cat Fact!
Nikki is the only sponsor cat who isn't sponsored individually.
Could you be the person that Nikki could call her own sponsor?
Carol’s Pen
Carol’s Pen is used as an isolation pen
for ill, nervous or problem cats.
Sponsors of Carol's Pen receive a
certificate and a twice yearly update
with photos (where possible!) of the
resident cats.
If you would like to become a sponsor
of Carol’s Pen, please complete form
F4 at the rear of the newsletter.
It is with sadness that we must report
that Sponsor Cat Chocolate had an
inoperable tumour and was put to
sleep in February.
Our thoughts are with his foster family
at this sad time.
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 6
Coco the Kitten Membership Secretary Norma Smith shares her story of a special foster kitten
This little kitten arrived at the shelter wrapped in a
blanket, covered in fleas with a tummy full of
worms. His gums were white and he had no fur
on the underside of his body or his back legs.
The vet said he would have probably died that
weekend if he hadn’t have come into our care.
His estimated age was about four weeks just
judging the size of him, but when examined by the
vet, we were told he was at least 8 weeks old and
had stunted growth. Not a good start in life for
this little boy.
He was treated for his worms and my husband
and I picked off over 60 fleas before we took him
home. We called him Coco because the little fur
he did have was quite brown. He was fed a good
diet and given lots of TLC.
Coco turned into a very loving, affectionate and
playful kitten. His fur gradually grew back much
blacker, but always showed the brown tinge in it.
Coco’s favourite toy was his yellow feathery
worm on a stick he took everywhere with him. He
was so tiny that he had to jump on a shoe box up
onto the scratch post, then onto the sofa to give it
to us to play with him. He would run with it down
the hall into the dining room almost tripping over
it, again when he wanted us to play with him. He
played fetch with a piece of screwed up paper. He
was so full of character.
After 2 months living with us, he was finally taken
to his forever home to live with a new big brother
called Jasper and a new sister called Maisie Belle
(another one of my foster kittens).
He has settled in very well and is keeping his new
friends and family very happy.
Coco when he first arrived...
...with his favourite toy...
...and after two months of TLC.
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 7
Fig's Tail The importance of being microchipped
Fig and his owner Melanie know all
about the importance of being
microchipped and have decided to
share their story to highlight the big
difference made by something as small
as a grain of rice.
Adoption Centre Manager Kieron
begins the tail:
"A tabby was brought into the centre
at the weekend at the beginning of
January. We scanned him and he had
a chip. Luckily the details were up to
date and we gave the owner a ring.
Fig was reunited and we then received
this nice update from his owner
Melanie."
Thanks to the Cats Protection I have my baby back, Fig,
thanks to microchipping.
Fig accidently got out from our new house two days after
we moved in, I put posters up with pictures, I rang RSPCA,
PDSA, vets and the Cats Protection, I had him on Facebook
and all the lost pet sites but for 6 months nothing, I looked
for him every day and night with my daughter and finally
stopped at Christmas never not thinking of him and
wondering if he was safe. He is an exceptionally friendly cat,
I hand reared him from 2 days old. He loves everyone
including cats, dogs and children.
The nights I laid awake thinking about him and then last
Saturday a very kind man handed him into the Cats
Protection where they immediately scanned his microchip
and I got the call I lost hope of ever having. We have FIG!!!
Fig is now home exactly the same, as friendly as ever,
rubbing up to the husky dogs and being acquainted with his
mum and uncle. He follows me everywhere, it's a happy
ending for Fig and me. But I would urge everyone to get
your cats microchipped, all the posters and Facebook and
knocking on countless doors didn't bring him back, it was
the microchip, so I just want to say thank you Cats
Protection and the very kind gentleman that brought him in.
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 8
Notice Board Looking for ways to show your support? Look no further!
Did you know that our funds can benefit greatly from the Gift Aid
scheme, without costing you any more money on your donation? If
you are a taxpayer but have not yet filled in a Gift Aid Form so that
we can register you – PLEASE DO SO! For every £10 given, we can
claim back £2.50 from the Tax man and we can make a claim for a
gift as small as £1. We are able to claim on membership
subscriptions, sponsorship and donations, the exception is the ‘100+
Club’, which is classed as a lottery. If you did not receive a form with
this newsletter, please contact our Treasurer, Secretary or the
Adoption Centre (see contact details on page 2).
You only need to send us the form once – we can then claim for any
donations, etc that you may make in the future or backdated
donations of up to six years.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF AT ANY TIME YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS
OR YOUR TAX STATUS CHANGES AS OUR CHARITY COULD BE LIABLE
IF YOU DON’T.
WANTED!
Cakes, preserves and crafts for our Fayres
Please contact Margaret Mimpress on 01245 492613 (cakes
& preserves) or Jill Jeffreys on 01245 460372 (crafts)
We are always grateful to receive new or good quality nearly
new clothes, new pieces of carpet, new items such as
jewellery, toiletries, toys, unwanted gifts etc.
Good quality bric-a-brac, CDs, DVDs, new stationery,
complete jigsaw puzzles and small items of furniture.
(Please note we can no longer take videos and that
upholstered items should conform to EEC furniture and
furnishings (fire safety) regulations)
CATS SEEKING ALFRESCO HOMES
We often have feral/semi-feral cats
that desperately need homes, as
they find life in a pen very
stressful. They would ideally suit a
stables, farm or smallholding as all
they want is the outside life, a
shelter to sleep in, food and
someone to care about their well-
being. If you think you could give a
home to one of these cats or
would like more information,
please contact the Adoption
Centre on 01245 478389
If you would like to buy a gift for
our cats, why not visit our Amazon
Wish List?
We have a range of items to suit
every pocket. You can place your
order online and the gift will be
sent direct to the Centre.
Thank you to everyone who has
purchased from Amazon so far!
Have you got a Co-op
Community Card?
Why not pick one up
from the Centre and
help us every time
you shop!
We are currently looking for
volunteers to help with the daily
cleaning of the cat pens on
Mondays, Tuesdays and weekends.
If you can help on any of these
days we would be pleased to hear
from you.
Please contact the Adoption
Centre for more information.
We are collecting Felix tokens and used
postage stamps - please drop them into the
Adoption Centre!
Why not join us on Facebook, Twitter
and Flickr?
Keep up to date with the latest news,
photos and events!
You can access all of the above from our
website homepage.
We would like to apologise if you were affected by the postage and delivery problems experienced by many of our
readers of the AW14 newsletter. If you incurred the £1.44 Royal Mail surcharge, we would like to offer you a
discount of this value off your next membership renewal. We received a written apology from Royal Mail regarding
the length of time the items were held at the sorting office, a copy of which is available to view upon request.
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 9
Why Do We Encourage Neutering? Adoption Centre Manager Kieron Adams shares some neutering facts
One unneutered female can produce 18 kittens a
year: three litters per year, 5 to 6 kittens in a litter.
If all these are left unneutered this could lead to
20,000 descendants over five years!
Cats can start breeding from four months of age.
Kittens can be safely neutered from four months of
age.
Cats will readily breed with their brothers and
sisters.
The length of pregnancy is nine weeks.
A female cat can come into season again just six
weeks after giving birth.
Female cats in season will call and wail every three
weeks during the breeding season, January to
August.
Unneutered females are at risk of developing
cancers of the ovaries, uterus and mammary glands.
A neutered cat is:
Less likely to spray or have toileting issues indoors.
Less likely to roam - most instances of
cats involved in road accidents are young
unneutered male cats under one year of age.
Less likely to fight, and transfer diseases. Fighting
can be the cause of diseases being passed from one
cat to another cat, through biting and saliva.
Neutered cats do need less food than an
unneutered cat, they tend to become more relaxed
and homebodies, rather than spending time out
and about looking for a mate!
Unneutered males are at risk of developing
tumours of the testicles.
It is a simple procedure for males and no stitches
are required.
Some cats may receive pain relief for several days
after surgery.
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 10
Cash for the Kitty Our fundraising update and ways you can help us raise money
100+ Club winners
Oct 1st prize 13 Mr & Mrs Lees, Galleywood
2nd prize 87 Mrs W Phillips, Saxmundham
Nov 1st prize 175 Mr P Mackshea, Maldon
2nd prize 2 Mrs Moynihan, Maldon
Dec 1st prize 52 Mrs Cook, Brecon
2nd prize 96 Mrs Sellers, Chelmsford
Jan 1st prize 80 Mrs Pavely, Downham
2nd prize 157 Mrs Syrett, Heybridge Basin
Feb 1st prize 6
Mrs J Wong, South Woodham
Ferrers
2nd prize 70 Mr T Charrington, Writtle
Fundraising Summary:
October 14 - February 15
Animals in Need £411.95
Pat & Robin Davidson's Christmas
Fair £2,000.00
Christmas Fayre £835.71
Jumble Sale £449.95
Snip & Chip Event £400.00
Feed a Cat at Christmas £820.00
Have a flutter and help our furry feline friends!
Join our 100+ Club today!
The annual subscription is £10 and you will receive written confirmation of
your number. Each month two numbers are drawn, the first receives £30 and
the second receives £15. As a Christmas bonus, the prize money increases to
£50 and £30 respectively. All profit made by the 100+ club is used to help the
cats in our care.
So come on, fill in application form F2 at the rear of this newsletter and have a
flutter for our feline friends!
Help us by donating your rubbish!
Please bring your aluminium cans to the
Centre for recycling. We are collecting soft
drinks cans, lager cans etc but not steel cans
such as baked beans or soup.
They are usually labelled "Alu" but if in any
doubt, check with a magnet, which will not
stick to them.
You'll be helping the environment, too!
In 2014 we raised £212.25
Turn your old mobile phones and ink cartridges into cash with
Total raised in 2014 = £151.50
Feed a Cat at Christmas winners
1st prize: Mrs L Dowling, South Woodham Ferrers
2nd prizes: D Reeves and Mr K Coombes, Basildon
Most entries: Denise Kirby
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 11
Dates for your diary 2015
Jumble Sale, Danbury Village Hall - 14th March 1.30 - 3pm
Spring Fayre, Chapter House Hall - 18th April 10am - 12pm
*NEW EVENT* Xtreme Run Obstacle Course - 19th April
Bocking Fayre - Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May
Pat's Spring Fair, Springfield - 9th May 12 - 2pm
Heavy Horse Show - 14th June
Blackwater Show - 21st June
*EXTRA EVENT* Jumble Sale, Danbury Village Hall - 11th July
Adoption Centre Family Fun Day - 8th August
Autumn Fayre, Chapter House Hall - 19th September
*UPDATED* Animals in Need, St. Luke's Church Hall, Moulsham Lodge -
3rd October
Many thanks to all who
support us via the Co-op
Community Card, two of
our younger residents
are seen here receiving
a cheque for a
wonderful £127.50 from
Co-op Membership
Officers Georgina
Leather and Amanda
Jennings.
Unfortunately we didn't
receive any entries for
Honey's Caption
Competition (AW14
newsletter) so the prizes
kindly donated by
tattypuss.co.uk will be
used in a future draw.
The Felix tokens total
for 2014 is a massive
£417.60.
A big thank you to all
our collectors as well as
Jackie Tilsley, Jill Piper,
Penny Bloom and Jill
Jeffreys for helping to
process and submit the
vouchers.
You can now help us raise funds just by shopping
online! Visit
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/cpchelmsford
for more details and to sign up.
So far we have 23 supporters and have raised a
brilliant £221.71!
The Pets at Home Summer Fundraising
Drive ran from 6th August - 2nd
September last year and raised a
fantastic £847.81 for the Adoption
Centre.
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 12
Abandoned and Alone
Cat Care Assistant Louise Mullis highlights a worrying trend
In the last few months, the Adoption Centre has had to make space for newcomers who have literally been
dumped on our doorstep.
Cat Care Assistant Louise tells us about some of the cats who found themselves abandoned and alone.
10th October: Bailey is found in a cat basket in the
lane.
Bailey was left abandoned by our gate. A big
handsome cat who did not seem to suffer to much
from his ordeal. Bailey knows his own his mind and
was looking for owners who would be happy to
share their home knowing that he would be the
boss. He can be a good boy when he chooses to be
and is happy to have a cuddle but generally he likes
to do his own thing.
Bailey was with us for 36 days before finding a new
home, considering he wasn't neutered and needed
his vaccinations he was quickly snapped up.
The Adoption Centre staff were recently invited to a
tea party to see Bailey "the new cat on the block" in
his forever home...
Centre Manager Kieron attended the party in
Bailey's honour and says:
"Bailey was so sweet, he sat at the table for some
time before heading off to his sofa for a snooze."
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 13
12th November: the weekend of the big bonfire displays.
A neighbour spotted a cat basket again in the lane, this time containing four kittens.
Suitably named Flash, Phoenix, Cinders and Sparkles, our best firework names!
These four cuties were really shy to begin with, but considering their horrific ordeal of being dumped, they
were extremely trusting and quickly learnt that we were only trying to help them.
They were in our care for just over a month before finding their forever homes.
8th January: Jess & Julia found in Deadmans Lane - without a
basket.
Jess and Julia (named after two of our vets!) were left abandoned
in our lane with no regards for their safety.
Pushed out of the car, poor Julia was found in our lane absolutely
terrified and frozen with fear. After a four hour rescue attempt by
staff and volunteers in very wet conditions, Jess was found
cowering in the hedge.
Both cats are recovering now but are looking for sympathetic
owners who will give them the care they deserve.
Understandably after such an ordeal, these two are looking for a
quiet home, with no other pets or young children.
We hope to be able to bring you an update on Jess & Julia in the
next newsletter!
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 14
Home Sweet Home
Catch up with ex-residents as they settle into their forever homes
Dear All,
I just wanted to drop you a short note to say thank you
once again for looking after Mitzy and Mopzy (now
Dashie and Fluff!) so well.
They have settled in brilliantly at home and are very calm,
happy and loving cats. They have obviously been very
well looked after and lovingly handled whilst in your care.
They really enjoy human company and are even happy to
play with our two overexcited boys (aged five and three).
They are eating very well and are perfect at using the
litter trays.
We are absolutely delighted that they are now part of our
family!
Kind regards,
Nina.
Do you remember meeting Winnie & Nelson
in the last newsletter?
The shy pair were in the care of the branch
for a total of 7 months, finally finding their
forever home in February.
Their new owner Martin shared this update
with us on our Facebook page...
Hello! It's been just over a week since Nelson
and Winnie came to live with me. Now called
Felix and Charli - they are both still adjusting
to their new surroundings and have made
their home underneath the staircase! But
slowly they are adjusting and becoming
braver, Felix in particular is venturing out and
exploring. Last night was a big step forward
as they both came into the living room. Felix
is also beginning to play and roll around.
Both are eating well. It's going to be a slow
process but it's going to be worth it.
The photo (left) shows Felix and Charli dozing
in their armchair after sharing a delicious
Sunday dinner!
We love to receive updates from previous Adoption
Centre residents - why not write in and let us know how
your cat is doing - perhaps you would like their story to be
featured in a future edition of the newsletter?
Please note, letters may be edited for clarity and length.
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 15
While the Cat's Away!
From cats settling in at home to cats sunning themselves abroad
As we look ahead to the summer, you will no doubt be thinking about taking a holiday. Whether it's a
couple of days enjoying our weather or a couple of weeks a little further afield, I'm sure, like me, you'll
find yourself befriending the local cats!
On a recent trip to Turkey, our Minutes Secretary Jenny Smith discovered her hotel was welcoming not
only human guests...
Jenny says:
"It's the first time I have been to a hotel that has done anything for stray cats - I think the notice gives all
the information. There were bowls of dry food and water around the hotel grounds as well as in the Cat
House. I am not sure how many cats there were but I think there were at least 14. I didn't see any of the
cats in the house as it was far too hot but they may well go in there during the winter."
Chelmsford Cats Protection | 16
CHELMSFORD CATS PROTECTION DONATION/MEMBERSHIP FORM (F1)
I enclose £________Annual Membership Subscription (minimum £7.50 per annum - please deduct £1.44 for postage surcharge reclaim) or
I enclose £________ Donation towards the cats in care.
I would like to pay by standing order YES � NO � Name: Dr/Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other __________________________________________________________________________
Tel No: ________________________________ Email address: _________________________________________________
Please make cheques/postal orders payable to CHELMSFORD CATS PROTECTION and return with the completed form to: Mrs Christine Davenport, 3 Petrel Way, Chelmsford CM2 8XH
Sponsorship – Suggested £3.50 per month for adults (but in reality whatever you can afford it all helps!)
I would like to pay by standing order YES � NO �, return as below
Please make cheques/postal orders payable to CHELMSFORD CATS PROTECTION and return completed form to: Louise Mullis, Willow Grove, Deadmans Lane, Galleywood CM2 8LZ