The Cat’s Whiskers...The Cat’s Whiskers FREE Quarterly magazine from Shropshire Cat RescueIssue 121 Spring 2018 Inside … Latest news from our Bayston Hill Shelter and Shrewsbury

The Cat’s Whiskers

FREE

Quarterly magazine from Shropshire Cat Rescue

Issue 121 Spring 2018

Inside …Latest news from our Bayston Hill Shelter and Shrewsbury Shop. Twenty 20 kicks off with a Grand Quiz Night. www.shropshirecatrescue.org.uk

The Cat’s Whiskers Spring 20183Shropshire Cat Rescue

This is the fourth edition of the new look magazine, I hope you enjoy reading it. Many thanks to those who have contributed to this edition with articles, pictures or advertisements.Our front cover features a litter of kittens who were all found forever homes. Thank you to Lorraine Fletcher (www.fletcherphotography3.com) for the delightful photograph. In this edition we are pleased to announce that our

grant application for £10,000 from Support Adoption for Pets has been successful. The grant will provide us with a van to carry out our work. More news on the van next time. Thank you for continuing to support Shropshire Cat Rescue.

David Bates.Magazine Editor.

Contents4 .................... Shelter News - Marion Micklewright, Shelter Manager.8 .................... Pleased to meet you – Pat Piggott, Shelter Volunteer and Facebook Manager.9 .................... Events.9 .................... ActiveWills – Marion Micklewright, Chairman.10 .................. Kitten Club – Alice Leiper, Associate Editor.12 .................. Win! Prizes in our competitions – Alice Leiper, Associate Editor.14 .................. Twenty 20 Launch – Susan Marine, Volunteer.15 .................. The Big PURR Project – Marion Micklewright, Chairman.16 .................. Village Life – Karen Wainwright, Volunteer.18 .................. Shropshire Cat Rescue Shop, Shrewsbury. 19 .................. How to sponsor Shropshire Cat Rescue.22 .................. How you can help us.23 .................. Cats Love Care Homes – Heather Acheson, Volunteer.24 .................. Introducing a new feline friend –Claire Kirby, 4-Legs-Good25 .................. Valuable book nets £150! – Shirley Wright, SCR Shop Volunteer.25 .................. The Bookworm – Jet Pariera-Jenks, aged 7 and regular SCR shop customer.26 .................. A visit to Shropshire Cat Rescue Shelter – Violet Fenn, Writer and Journalist.29 .................. Health Matters – Arthritis - Rebecca Bennett, Quarry Vets.30 .................. £10,000 Grant Success – Marion Micklewright, Chairman. 32 .................. A big thank you …33 .................. Dear Shelter Manager – Marion Micklewright, Shelter Manager.36 .................. Sorry for your loss – Carla Boulton, The Green Oak Foundation.37 .................. Never forgotten …38 .................. Who’s Who at Shropshire Cat Rescue.

Disclaimer: The information contained within The Cat’s Whiskers we believe to be correct at the time of going to press. No responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. The features in this publication are intended as guidelines

only. The businesses and products advertised in this publication are in no way endorsed by the Charity

Welcome to the Spring 2018 edition of The Cat’s Whiskers.

The Cat’s Whiskers Spring 2018 4 Shropshire Cat Rescue

Shelter NewsBy Marion Micklewright, Shelter Manager.

Two weeks before Christmas we had a huge volume of snow dumped on the shelter. Along with everyone else in Shropshire we were brought to a standstill: volunteers couldn’t get through to work their shifts, adopters couldn’t collect their pets, deliveries couldn’t be made and just to top it all, the electricity fuse board blew up. We were lucky in that the electricity company fixed the board but the problem of us using too much power was not going away. With the help of our electrician we drew up a list of all the appliances we used and how


many amps they were drawing off. Conclusion: we needed to change from oil-fired radiators to panel heaters. We were very lucky that our order for panel radiators came through relatively quickly despite being told that there was a month’s wait.Whilst the snow was with us we had a thrilling visit from the children of a Runcorn School who came to build on their social and confidence skills. Most of the children hadn’t seen “white” snow before and certainly not in the volume we had at the shelter. Our written programme of the day’s events was changed to incorporate a snowman building competition, Christmas tree decorating competition and a Mindfulness exercise in snow and the senses. At the end of their day, the children were all given a gift of a small lucky black cat to remind them of the time they had and will continue to have at the shelter. The

gifts are to be funded by the Duke of Edinburgh students.Just before Christmas we had a lovely little kitten brought in that had been found abandoned by his mother just outside Shrewsbury. The kitten was barely alive when he arrived and at the tender age of just three to four weeks, and it was touch and go as to whether or not he would survive. The quick response of our volunteer team ensured that “Little Phil” made a full recovery and he spent his Christmas with the shelter manager, much of the time spent in the tree under the watchful guard of Hector the poodle. Despite pleas of “you must keep him” from family and volunteers alike, Little Phil has now been rehomed and continues to do really well in his new home.Many of the elderly cats that we mentioned in the last magazine have been rehomed despite their vast ages. We are always grateful and


relieved when we have offers from the public for old or difficult cats as this enables us to help more. This applied to Cyril who was not only 15 but also not keen on being in close proximity to other cats which meant that we couldn’t have him in our village. Cyril could be quite rude to volunteers and other cats and we were getting very anxious about what to do with him. John spent a lot of time worrying over Cyril and decided to approach our next-door neighbours to see if they would like to have him as they had recently lost another elderly cat that had come from the shelter. They agreed, and all is wonderful as Cyril now visits us and because he has plenty of space, the other cats are not an issue.

Christmas is of course a

time for giving and gifts of food, cat houses, toys, money etc. came flooding in – we got to know the names of the delivery drivers as they were at the shelter so often! Thank you so much to everyone who donated last Christmas, it may have been cold, long and sometimes troublesome, but the cats didn’t go without anything thanks to you.


Pleased to meet you…By Pat Piggott, Shelter Volunteer and Facebook Manager.

I’ve always lived with animals. Currently I share my home with two dogs, five cats, nine chickens and my family! When I started volunteering I was a member of the Thursday morning crew, under the watchful eye of

Sheila. I worked in the nursery, with pregnant cats, nursing mums and kittens but felt I could offer more.I enjoy working with individual cats. Not all cats cope well with shelter life: some are reclusive or reluctant to eat, others can have unpredictable, unsociable behaviour. We have kittens admitted who haven’t had any or much socialisation. I like to spend time with them, building trust. Every cat is an individual, so one approach doesn’t suit all. Sometimes gentle interaction is enough to calm a cat who is shocked to find themselves in a shelter pen. Letting the cat set the pace of the interaction is essential, not being too quick to try and handle a cat who is reluctant – to follow their lead is important. We don’t like our personal space invaded by strangers and cats are no different. That said, there are cats that will be on their back asking for tummy tickles within minutes of meeting you!I visit the shelter two or three times a week, and if there is a cat that requires more input I try to go more

frequently. I offer Reiki, a natural healing energy, to those cats who are anxious, ill, anti-social or that ask for it – yes some do! It’s a gentle energy and can be very calming. It’s a way of connecting to the cat in a non-threatening way and helps to get the healing process kick started. It’s very rewarding to watch a cat respond and frequently reluctant eaters will start to eat after a Reiki session. I’m also a groomer, helping the cats keep their fur in good condition. I enjoy the hands-on care. Mandy Persian, one of our village residents, is always top of my grooming list. She’s a character – you never know how obliging she will be, she can be lying on her back quite happy to have her tummy brushed, then on the next occasion she’s saying ‘ow’ before the brush has made contact, especially if there is an audience!My other role is managing the Shropshire Cat Rescue Facebook page. This role involves meeting cats when they are admitted to the shelter, getting to know them and trying to get some good photographs to post on our page. Some cats are more co-operative than others. I try to spend enough time with them to get a good idea of their personalities and the kind of home they are looking for; I will then respond to messages on their post.Rarely do I go to the Shelter and do what I planned! Our Administrative Team are great at letting me know if there is a cat they would like me to spend time with. I love meeting new cats and playing a small part in helping them find forever homes.

Alfie taken by Pat Piggott


Forthcoming EventsShropshire Cat Rescue will be represented at the following events. Please come and support us and say “hello” to our amazing fundraisers and outreach workers.

MARCH 12TH - QUIZ NIGHTThe Three Fishes, Fish Street, Shrewsbury 8pm. To book your team ring 07752798658.

APRIL 28TH – MORRISONS, SHREWSBURYWhitchurch Road, Shrewsbury 9am to 5pm. Bag packing and meet the Volunteers.

MARCH 17TH - Table Top Sale Memorial Hall, Oswestry, 9.30am until 12.30.

APRIL 29TH – MITTON MANOR OPEN DAYMitton Manor, Mitton, Staffordshire. Visit our stand at the Open Day. Visit www.mittonmanor.co.uk or Email:[email protected] for more information.

APRIL 7TH – SAINSBURYS, MEOLE BRACEMeole Brace, Shrewsbury 9am to 5pm. Bag Packing and meet the Volunteers.

MAY 5TH - PETS AT HOMEShrewsbury 1.30 to 3.30. Meet the Volunteers and find out about the Moggies Retirement Village.

APRIL 7TH - PETS AT HOMEShrewsbury 1.30 to 3.30. Meet the Volunteers and find out about the Moggies Retirement Village.

MAY 26TH – FUNDRAISING EVENTShrewsbury Market Hall 10am to 4pm.

APRIL 22ND - PET RESCUE DAYThe Quarry, Shrewsbury 11.00am to 4pm

Keep up-to-date about events and other news at www.shropshirecatrescue.org.uk, @Shropshirecatrescue or

@shropshirecatrescue @bigPURRproject.

How to leave a lasting gift - ActiveWillsBy Marion Micklewright, Chairman.

Shropshire Cat Rescue has partnered with ActiveWills’ to make writing a Will that includes a gift to your favourite charities quick and easy. ActiveWills’ mission is to make writing a Will, that is fully legally binding, so easy and so affordable that everyone can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing their family, their wealth and their wishes are protected.In 2015 we launched our Big PURR project (Plan for Ultimate Rescue Relocation) to help us raise £2 million to expand our facilities and opportunities and to provide

a community where animals and people work together through education, arts, tourism and leisure, health and wellbeing as well as volunteering to improve the quality of life for both people and animals.Thanks to ActiveWills’ online Single Will and online Mirror Will writing application, you can create your will at no cost and leave a gift to Shropshire Cat Rescue Big PURR Project in less than 10 minutes. Remember us in your Will and help our work live on.Why wait? Write your Will now…visitwww.activewills.com/charity/shropshire-cat-rescue


Kitten ClubWelcome to Kitten Club! These pages are just for kids. Have fun!

Did you know?Cats originally became pets because they hunted the rats and mice that ate grain in the earliest human towns.

Did you know?The most kittens recorded in one litter is 19.

Wordsearch

Can you find all the words in this wordsearch?

basket fur moggy tabby blanket gingerpaw tail cat kitten scratching toyclaw long haired short haired treat


JokesDid you hear about the cat that joined a band?She played purr-cussion!

What is one place your cat can sit, but you can’t? Your lap!

Poetry cornerJet (aged 7) has sent us this great poem about her Granny’s cats.

Granny’s Cats.

Cleo is so friendly,

when I stroke her she purrs and sits.

Benny’s like a tiger,

wishing to chase tom-tits.

Snowy’s like a shadow,

soon away she flits.

Tigger is like Benny,

he just stands and spits!

Ellie, where has she gone?

In the garage. In its midst!

Do you want to share your story or your artwork? Have you heard a great cat joke you think will have us rolling around laughing? If so, please send it in! We love seeing what kids write, draw, paint and create.Send any contributions to Magazine Kitten Club, Shropshire Cat Rescue, Windy Ridge, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0AU or email them to [email protected]. We cannot guarantee that all submissions will be published.

And here’s a picture of Jet’s Granny’s cat Benny!

Thanks very much for sharing your fun poem, Jet.


Win!Welcome to this edition’s competitions!

To win, simply read our magazine and answer the questions. Send your name, address, telephone number and email address along with your answers to [email protected], post your answers to SCR Spring 2018 Competition, Windy Ridge, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0AU. The closing date for entries is 30th April 2018. All correct answers received by the closing date will be entered into a draw and the winners notified within 4 weeks. We will include the winners’ names in the next edition of the magazine.

Last edition’s winnersThank you for all your entries to the winter edition contests. The Park Hall Farm tickets were won by Rachel Sadler, who correctly answered that Sparkle loves sitting on laps. The Little Yurt Meadow night’s stay was won by Mark Mainwaring, for correctly answering that we had looked at the Retirement Village part of the PURR Project. The £20 Pets at Home voucher winner was Sandra Harris, who correctly answered that Contact the Elderly brought 14 guests to the Shelter.

Win 2 tickets to be Keeper for a Day at North Shropshire CollegeLearn about taking care of numerous animals in a fun day out at NSC’s Walford campus. Over 7s only. Find out more about the college at www.nsc.ac.ukQuestion 1: According to our Shelter News page, what unusual weather did visitors from Runcorn School find when they visited the Shelter in December?

Win a £20 Pets at Home VoucherPets at Home is a national pet supplies retailer. Their Shrewsbury branch is at Meole Brace Retail Park. Visit them online at www.petsathome.com.Question 2: How many teams competed in our Grand Quiz Night to launch the Twenty 20 celebrations?

Win a Cream Tea for 2 at Cafe on the CopCafé on the Cop is on Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, serving hot drinks, cakes and lunches.(Prize available Sunday to Friday only).Question 3: Oreo and which other cat was featured in this edition’s Village Life feature?


2018 is the 20th anniversary of Shropshire Cat Rescue becoming a registered charity. The Twenty 20 Team have planned 20 events in 2018 to mark the occasion and raise funds for the Big PURR Project. The year-long programme of events kicked off in January with a Grand Quiz night. The sold-out Grand Quiz was held at The Shrewsbury Club, Sundorne with 15 teams and 66 quizzers taking part. The Quiz Master was Laura Beaumont who posed some devilishly difficult questions that really put the brain into overdrive! After 3 hours the winning team was the Quizly Bears with runners up The Belle Vue Tiggers. The Grand Quiz, True or False game and raffle raised a whopping £536.

A big thank you to The Shrewsbury Club for hosting the event and providing a delicious curry for the hungry participants (only £4 a plate!) Our thanks also go to all the quizzers who attended and to Buttonbury, Crescent Cakes, Tanners, La Bonne Parisienne, St Locks Locksmiths, Stop Coffee Shop, Fiona Jackson Designer/Maker, NH

Personal Training and many more who donated raffle prizes.

Twenty 20 kicked off by exhilaratingGrand Quiz Night.By Susan Marine, Volunteer.

Quizly Bears (from left to right) John Peters, Reece Mytton, Simon Trifunovic, Siobhan Peters, Kath Davies, Sian Robinson, Dave Davies

Just a small selection of the raffle prizes

Finally, thank you Amanda Mullins and the Twenty 20 Team for organising the launch event. For more information about Twenty 20 events go to Page 9 and

just look for the Twenty 20 logo.


The Big PURR ProjectBy Marion Micklewright, Chairman

The Big Plan for Ultimate Rescue Relocation (PURR) Project aims to raise £2 million to create an exciting new centre near Shrewsbury to encourage education, community activities, leisure, tourism and animal welfare, to benefit the whole community.Shropshire Cat Rescue has outgrown the current Shelter at Bayston Hill. There is no more room for expansion and we desperately want to support more cats and kittens to find their forever homes. Over the next year, the magazine will focus on key aspects of this ambitious project. In this edition, we feature the Community Hub and Education Centre. The proposed Community Hub would bring together a range of activities into one community building. It would host a seasonal programme of public events and provide a space to host other community groups. We are committed to continuing our work with organisations such as Contact the Elderly (contact-the-elderly.org.uk) who were featured in our Winter 2017/18 magazine. Plans to host the 2018 afternoon tea are underway. The Community Hub is also designed to generate an income for the Charity by renting out space to local artists, craftspeople and musicians. It is essential that the charity finds new and innovative ways to generate income to ensure our long-term success. Our community hub would aim to provide services for all age ranges and all social and cultural

groups. The proposed Education Centre is a key part of the ethos of Shropshire Cat Rescue. The Centre would host workshops and pet care classes for all ages. It would also support and extend our existing Duke of Edinburgh scheme and the work we do with post-16 students, adults, other agencies and other charities. The Education Centre aims to be a highly regarded venue for classes and workshops, offering a high standard of service and state-of-the-art facilities and would represent a modern learning environment. It should inspire and connect our visitors with the work of the charity. It should be a dynamic and stimulating environment that creates a unique learning experience. Our aim is to teach all ages about the importance of animal welfare. In the last edition of the magazine we featured a visit by North Shropshire College; the new Education Centre would allow us to expand the work we do with schools and colleges.The detailed planning for all aspects the Big PURR Project is continuing as the Charity aims to reach the £2m to fund this ambitious plan. You can donate to the Big PURR Project in many ways. Please go to page 22 to see how you can help us achieve our ambitious fundraising target.


Village Life By Karen Wainwright, Volunteer

Oreo arrived in the retirement village in March 2017. She is nearly 15 years old. Oreo is blind but her disability doesn’t stop her from roaming around the Village. She is very friendly and always enjoys some fuss. When she hears your voice it does not take long for her to come and find you. Since living in the village she has suffered from high blood pressure but thankfully it has now returned to normal.Just like our other blind cat in the village, Titch (who is one of our sponsored cats – see page 19 for details), both have mapped out the layout of the village very well and it is only very occasionally that they

bump into things. If you pick up a blind cat it is very important that you put them back in the same spot so that they know instantly where they are.Whiskey is 15 years old and she was rehomed for a couple of months in 2017 but sadly has had to come back due her owners passing away. Whiskey is used to the way of life in the Village and enjoys receiving attention. Like Oreo she is an awesome moggy. Whiskey is one of a few moggies in the Village who have long hair, and the volunteers spend quite a lot of time trying to keep them well groomed.

Photographs by Karen Wainright.Karen Wainright is a long serving volunteer at Shropshire Cat Rescue. She carries out several roles and is a member of the Magazine Team and has specific responsibility for magazine distribution.

Introducing Oreo and Whiskey from the Retirement Village.

There are seventeen moggies in the Retirement Village of which only four

are male cats.

Did you know .....The current average

age of our Village cats is fifteen years

Elderly cats are weighed on a weekly basis as weight

loss can be an indication of an underlying health issue such as a thyroid or kidney

problem.


Shropshire Cat Rescue Shop

LocationThe shop is located on Roushill Bank, which is between Lloyds Bank and Café Nero at the bottom of Pride Hill. It is attractively laid out on two floors and sells a wide range of books, CDs, DVDs, clothing, bags, bric-a-brac, jewellery and vintage goods. There are some real bargains to be found within; why not come and look when you are in Shrewsbury? Donating goodsThe shop relies on the generosity of people donating goods. You can leave goods at the shop or at the Cat Rescue Shelter. We are always pleased to receive high quality goods but there a few items we cannot accept:

Electrical itemsVHS videos and cassette tapesFood Soft toys if they have no “CE” labelPrams, pushchairs and bike helmets

We are also a collection point for cat food. We accept any type of cat food and it will be taken to the Rescue Shelter. VolunteeringVolunteers at the shop, like those at the shelter, are unpaid. The proceeds

from sales at the shop go to support the cats and other animals at the shelter. You do not need to give up a full day to volunteer at the shop; many volunteers do a half day but a regular commitment is appreciated. Please visit the SCR website for more information at https://www.shropshirecatrescue.org.uk You will be given basic training and ongoing guidance and support which will enable you to gain useful retail experience.

Opening hours and how to contact usMonday to Saturday:11:00am to 4:00pm. Closed on SundayShropshire Cat Rescue Shop3 Roushill Bank,Shrewsbury, SY1 1PN

Telephone: 01743 236222Email: [email protected]


How to sponsor Shropshire Cat RescueSponsor a Cat - £12 a year

Sponsor the Rabbits and Guinea Pigs - £15 a year

Sponsor the Nursery - £25 a year

Pickle moved into the Retirement Village in 2016 at the age of 10. She is tabby and white.

There are seven hutches and a large enclosure for the rabbits and guinea pigs. The rabbits are neutered and vaccinated. Some are rehomed whilst others are cared for at the Shelter.

The Nursery was built in 2011 from a grant by Support Adoption for Pets. There are seven pens for pregnant and nursing females and two incubators for orphans.

Titch is an elderly stray who came to live in the Retirement Village in February 2013. She is black and white and blind, but she still enjoys a good life.

Annwyn is a 12 month old tortoiseshell and white female. She now lives at the Shelter and has put herself in charge of vermin control.

Mandy moved into the Retirement Village in October 2014. She is a blue Chinchilla Persian with lots of character.


How to sponsor Shropshire Cat Rescue

Sponsor the Moggies Retirement Village - £50 a year

Sponsor the Shelter - £100 a year

The Moggies Retirement Village was built in 2010 and is currently home to over 25 elderly cats.

The Shelter was built in 1999 and has continued to grow. We have 13 free ranger cats, 25 cats in the Retirement Village plus up to 122 cats and kittens waiting for homes.

Your sponsorship or your gift

Pickle

£12Your sponsorship begins on the first of the month following receipt of payment and lasts for 12 months.

You will receive a Sponsorship Certificate, plus an information sheet about your chosen sponsorship package, one or more photographs and an annual update to keep you in touch.

Mandy

Titch

Annwyn

Rabbits and guinea pigs £15

The Nursery £25

The Moggies Retirement Village £50

The Shelter £100In addition to the above you will also receive 4 editions of The Cat’s Whiskers Magazine

TOTAL PAYABLE £

Please return the form and a cheque, made payable to Shropshire Cat Rescue, to Shropshire Cat Rescue, Windy Ridge, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0AU.More information about our sponsorship packages can be found online atwww.shropshirecatrescue.org.uk


How to sponsor Shropshire Cat RescueYour details

Title: Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Dr Address:

First Name(s):

Surname:

Tel:

Mobile:

Email: Postcode:

Is this a Gift?If you are purchasing a sponsorship package as a gift, please provide the recipient’s details below. Your gift will be sent directly to them with a gift card bearing your name. To ensure your gift arrives on time, please order your gift package at least 2 weeks before the special day.

Date gift should arrive: Occasion: Birthday/Anniversary/Christmas

Who is gift from (to appear on card): Other occasion:

Name of recipient: Address:

Tel:

Mobile:

Email: Postcode:

- boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate!

I am a UK Taxpayer and would like to Gift Aid the cost of my sponsorship package.

I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

Please tick

Gift Aid is reclaimed by the Shropshire Cat Rescue from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer.


How you can help usNot everyone can adopt a cat but there are lots of ways you can support the work we do at the Shelter.You can find out about our sponsorship packages on pages 19 and 20, visit us online at www.shropshirecatrescue.org.uk or contact Marion Micklewright at the Shelter on 01743 872857.

Donate any sum of money at our Virgin money giving page.

To buy a unique range Shropshire Cat Rescue merchandise from our eBay shop.

Visit our page and donate goods from our wishlist.

Giveacar is a not-for-profit social enterprise that can turn your old car into cash for UK charity.

By Cheque, payable to Shropshire Cat Rescue and sent to Windy Ridge, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0AU.

The Cat’s Whiskers Magazine

Leaving a Legacy

The quarterly magazine can be sent to you by post for a minimum donation of £5 for 4 editions. This covers the cost of postage and packaging. You can subscribe online at www.shropshirecatrescue.org.uk or contact Cindy Mason-Morris at the Shelter on 01743 872857.

Text SCRT75 to70070 to donate £3 to the Shelter

Text PURR15to 70070 to donate £3 to The Big PURR Project.

If you would like to remember Shropshire Cat Rescue, please write us into your Will and register it with your solicitor; that way you can rest assured that you are going to make a real difference to the lives of many cats. Ask your solicitor to record our charity name “Shropshire Cat Rescue” and number (No. 1071884) or contact the Shelter if more information is required.


Cats Love care HomesBy Heather Acheson, Volunteer

Would you like a cat on your lap?We’ve arrived on another care home visit and the staff member shows us to the lounge where a few residents wait in anticipation.An elegant lady is the first; she’s a cat lover of many-a-year and looks forward to the SCR visits. Daphne places the big ginger moggy carefully on her lap and the resident is soon very happily stroking the handsome boy, although he hardly fits on her lap! It’s lovely to see a sparkle in her eyes, especially when we all start to hear purring.Those residents who would like to, take turns to have a cat on their lap and enjoy some pussy cat fussing time. We also involve residents who

don’t really like cats as we ask them about any pets they’ve had. There’s a lot of chat and an enjoyable atmosphere.I’ve noticed a resident sitting apart from everyone else; he doesn’t say anything but keeps looking over with interest. One of our tasks as volunteer visitors is to help everyone to feel included. A little later he has a gorgeous grey female cat on his lap and I strike up a conversation. He’s a new resident and is still adjusting, but soon he’s

telling me about cats, dogs, as well as his human family and upbringing. It’s lovely to help people’s memories bubble to the surface.Next we do some room visits, for residents who can’t come to the lounge. One fragile-looking lady with a gently-vibrating bed soon has a cat lying on her legs. The bed’s purring, the cat’s purring, but we volunteers are a little worried… however, we are firmly told “No, he’s not too heavy. Don’t disturb him!”After we leave I think about our visit and hope that both residents and feline visitors have found it enriching; I certainly have!

SCR Volunteer Heather and Care worker Gabriela with Mandy the Persian cat at Mount House and Severn View Care Home.


I have recently been asked about introducing a new rescue cat to an existing cat. I will start by explaining what a cat is and what they need from a behavioural perspective. From here it should be easier to understand why an already-resident cat might not automatically get on with a new cat – and vice versa. In order to provide properly for more than one cat living under the same roof and facilitate the cats getting on – or at least to tolerate each other – it helps to understand their basic needs. Whilst cats are a social species, they hunt alone and as such they can survive alone. As a result, when relationships do break down cats are not motivated to repair them because they don’t need each other. Cats do not have appeasement ‘language’ so they are unable to resolve disputes. Therefore it is best to try to avoid any confrontations or fights from the outset.Cats can form ‘social groups’ with other cats but if you are introducing a new cat into the territory of an existing cat, then they won’t be of the same social group. Introduced properly, cats may go

on form a social group with the existing cat(s) but they may well not. Cats that sleep together and groom each other are likely to be part of the same social group.Each individual cat or each social group of cats need their own ‘core territory’ within which they live, sleep and eat. Their toilet area should be on the edge of this ‘core territory’ and beyond this exclusive ‘core territory’, individual cats or a social group of cats will choose to have further territory and this ‘hunting range’ may be time-shared with other cats. Within the domestic setting each cat or social group of cats need their own ‘core territory’ containing food, water, resting and hiding places and access to the outdoors or to a litter tray. Groups of cats living together need to feel that there are enough resources to go around. An essential precursor to introducing an additional cat to an already-resident cat will involve ensuring that each individual cat has what they need.If your existing cat is already fearful or anxious then adding an additional cat is likely to make things worse!

Claire Kirby is a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), The Canine Behaviour & Training Society (TCBTS) and is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist. Claire is also a visiting lecturer and consultant at Harper Adams University. 4-Legs-Good Community Interest Company, based in Shrewsbury, counsels clients in and around the West Midlands. Visit www.4-legs-good.co.uk, email [email protected], or phone 01743 249968 or 07929954310 for more information.

Meet your new feline friend…By Claire Kirby, 4-Legs-Good


Valuable book nets £150!By Shirley Wright, Shop Volunteer.

I am particularly interested in books and every week spend time sorting through the book donations. I put out on the shelves a great selection of books to hopefully entice

customers whatever they like to read. Recently, we had an autobiography donated, written by the late Mike Hailwood, the British Motorcycle Road Racer. The book had been signed by the author. I took the book home and having done some internet research found that the authors signature was potentially valuable. I listed the book on eBay and, to my surprise, it sold very quickly for £150! The buyer was from the USA and collected sports memorabilia. I was delighted to be able to raise such a great amount from one book.

Shirley Wright at Shropshire Cat Rescue Shop, Shrewsbury

“The Bookworm”By Jet Pariera-Jenks, Aged 7 and Regular SCR shop customer.

Hello, my name is Jet. I have been going to the Shropshire Cat Rescue shop for a long time. The ladies who work there are very nice. I like this shop because they have lots of nice books. There is not anything I don’t like about it!I am seven and have been going for seven years! When I was little my mum left me with some food in my pushchair and went upstairs. The ladies at the till looked after me. I like my food as much as I like my books! I was very happy! On a Friday afternoon you might find me upstairs in the shop, sitting in front of the bookcase with my head in a book! Jet in her favourite spot in the shop!


A Visit to Shropshire Cat Rescue ShelterBy Violet Fenn, a Shrewsbury-based Writer and Journalist.

I’ve never really liked animal rescue centres. However efficient and kindly they are, there’s always something soulless about them. I’ve always loved visiting them, because that’s different – I can go around all the cages and think about whether I could rescue one of the inmates and give them a happy home away from the chaos.

Shropshire Cat Rescue is completely different. It’s the first time I’ve visited a rescue centre and genuinely loved the place, its atmosphere and the attitude of the people running it. The idea of the cat retirement village is such a simple one, yet I’d never seen it in action before. But the difference it clearly makes to the residents is huge and self-evident. Being able to live like, well, cats – with cosy spaces and privacy and companionship if they want it – means that there is little or no stress of the kind so often seen in more standard catteries. The open days are the perfect opportunity to see for yourself just what Shropshire Cat Rescue does

Violet and Smudge enjoy a bit of fuss.All photographs courtesy of John Benge.


for our feline friends and what an amazing place it is. I took my son, who is very difficult to impress, and he was thrilled with the ponies and goats and, well, just about everything he saw. His absolute favourite thing was sitting quietly on the ground in the veteran’s section, with cats clambering happily all over him. And they do this to just about anyone – if you sit for long enough on one of the benches, sooner or later a resident will pad over to check you out.

And there are the kitten nurseries too, of course. Rows of well-kept cages that look more like stacked hospital incubators. Notes about kittens’ preferences are stuck to the doors to remind people that one kitten is an escape artist, the next shy and in need of coaxing out with some chicken. Most of all, there is a happy atmosphere and that can only be a good thing – both for cats and their human visitors.


HEALTH MATTERS –ArthritisAdvice from Rebecca Bennett, Quarry Vets, Shrewsbury.

The weather is cold, the snow has been falling... the sort of weather, and the time of year, that can make joints creak and bones ache. In this third article about problems seen in the retirement village, arthritis is the focus. Cats are brave and do not complain when they are aching or sore but arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, is a very common problem in old cats. We also see arthritis in younger cats, often if they have had a road traffic accident with damage to their bones, or if they are overweight.Signs of arthritis in cats can be very easy to miss and are often overlooked as cats cannot tell us they are sore. Sometimes you will see them limping, however more subtle signs are:

• Reduced mobility, looking hunched/stiff, reluctant or hesitant to jump up/down

• Reduced activity, sleeping more• Changes in grooming habits,

starting to look scruffy, dull coat, often matted hair down their back

• Changes in temperament, becoming withdrawn or grumpy and aggressive especially when being picked up or stroked

Sometimes, if arthritic changes are very bad your vet can tell just by

examining your cat that they have joint problems. We may be able to feel their joints clicking or grating (this is called ‘crepitus’) or they may have reduced movement in their limbs. Sometimes we need to perform x-rays to assess their joints.There are a number of options for treatment. Weight control is extremely important, cheaper than medication and a lot healthier! Nurses at your veterinary practice will often do weight control clinics and are keen to help and advise you.

In early arthritis, nutritional supplements can help to keep joints healthier and lubricated.In the later stages of arthritis, there are long term medications to help ease the pain, if used appropriately and at the correct dose they are very safe. Some of the village cats are on long term arthritis medication, and are a lot happier for it. If in doubt, get your cat checked out by your vet.

Rebecca Bennett graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1999, and has worked at Quarry Vets, Shrewsbury since 2008. She enjoys all aspects of her job, especially working with cats. Quarry Vets can be contacted at www.quarryvets-shrewsbury.co.uk or telephone 01743 362556.


£10,000 grant success.By Marion Micklewright, Chairman

In 2017 the Trustees made an application for a grant from the Support Adoption for Pets Grant Programme. We are delighted to announce we have been awarded a grant of £10,000. In the UK thousands of cats, dogs and other pets arrive at a rescue’s doors through no fault of their own. Support Adoption for Pets believes that every homeless pet deserves a second chance at happiness. They support organisations, like Shropshire Cat Rescue, who share that vision by providing funds that make a real difference to the welfare of UK pets, either by improving the care that rescue centres/charities provide to these animals or by actively reducing the number of homeless pets.The Support Adoption for Pets charity was established in 2006 by Pets at Home. It is now the number one financial supporter of pet rescues in the UK, donating nearly £2 million every year. People often think that Support Adoption for

Pets is largely funded by Pets at Home. Actually, most of the funding comes from generous Pets at Home customers when they donate to one of the fundraising appeals, buy merchandise, or round up their shopping to a pound when they are at the till. They are also supported by corporate sponsors, and by the donations made by adopters when they give a pet a new home. They are also incredibly grateful to the store and support teams across the Pets at Home Group who hold fundraising events in store, organise their own charity challenge events, and of course spend every day caring for the hundreds of homeless pets in their adoption centres in stores.Shropshire Cat Rescue regularly hosts a “Meet and Greet’ at the Shrewsbury Pets at Home store at Meole Brace. You can find out when we are there on the Events list on Page 9.The £10,000 grant will go towards the purchase of a vehicle to support the work of the charity and will feature in a future edition of the magazine.Thank you to all the volunteers and Trustees involved in writing the application and to Support Adoption for Pets who approved the grant.

Recommended reading.By David Bates, Magazine Editor and Volunteer

Derek Tangye (1912 –1996) was a British author who lived in Cornwall for nearly fifty years. He wrote nineteen books which became known as The Minack Chronicles. The books are about his simple life on a clifftop daffodil farm called Dorminack, affectionately referred to as Minack, at St Buryan in the far west of Cornwall with his wife Jeannie. The couple had given up sophisticated metropolitan lives, he as a newspaper columnist (during the war years he had worked for MI5) and she as a hotel PR executive, to live in isolation in a simple cottage surrounded by their beloved animals, including several cats which featured in nearly all his works.

The first of The Minack Chronicles was “A Gull on the Roof” published in 1961. This was followed by a new book almost every two years. Sadly, now out of print, these books are compelling reading for cat lovers. Look out for these in hardback or paperback when visiting charity shops.


A big thank you…

…To the Oswestry Team. The Animal Lovers Christmas Fayre on 25th November raised £216.99. It was a brilliant day with

the venue having a Christmas tree and music to attract the customers. There was a steady flow of customers who all bought well and supported our Room Raffle. Thank you to Gaye Kent, who made a beautifully decorated Christmas cake and for the other goods donated by supporters.

The Team had two stalls at Oswestry Christmas Live on 1st December and raised £127.75. This is a fabulous event with rock bands on the stage and a really lovely festive atmosphere. One stall had the children’s and adult’s tombola together with Christmas goods. Thank you to Trisha Leigh who ran the second stall which had a beautiful selection of cuddly toys, adorned with jewellery, with all the cuddly toys having names instead of tombola tickets. This is a new idea by Trisha and the children really loved it.


Dear Shelter ManagerWe moved to a new house a few months ago, kept Charlie in for a fortnight, but he keeps returning to our previous home, crossing busy roads in the process, what can we do to encourage him to stay?Your cat must have made some friends at his previous home, human or otherwise. It is important that while you keep Charlie in to get used to his new home, that he has plenty of human contact, lots of treats and plenty of stimulation as these are the things that cats tend to crave. Moving to a new house can be quite a stressful time for us humans and maybe Charlie is picking up on your emotions along with all his familiar smells being moved around. I would recommend a Feliway plug-in just in case your home had a previous cat living in it; ensure that Charlie has a “space” of his own with a cosy bed, scratching post, cat grass to nibble on, catnip to smell and/or chew and plenty of time with you to play and groom him.

Dear Shelter ManagerMy cat died as a result of ingesting anti-freeze a few years ago, we didn’t recognise the symptoms and would be grateful if you could share this valuable information to ensure others don’t go through what we had to with Sasha.Whilst it is hard to conceive that people deliberately put antifreeze down for cats, it sadly does still happen, and the results are dreadful. Antifreeze is sometimes used in water features and as we know full well at the shelter, cats love to drink from water features. Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning come on very quickly and the cat may be wobbly, drink and urinate a lot and seem quieter than usual. As the toxins take hold, the cat will stop eating, may vomit, may be unable to stand and feel cold to the touch. Within a few days the kidneys will fail, and the cat will collapse and either die from kidney failure or have long-term kidney damage. To stand any chance at all, it is imperative that if you cat shows any of the first stage symptoms to get your cat to a vet.


Dear Shelter ManagerGinger (now in 18th year) had his annual jabs recently. Any visit to the vet is quite stressful for him although we try to reduce all his pet hates! He is very much an old man for 24 hours afterwards and was slightly sick same afternoon. He did have his annual check-up and was classed as pretty good for an old un.What are your personal feelings about jabs in senior cats, bearing in mind he does go outside in daytime if he wishes and our garden/field and wild area is a popular right of way for all the local cat population?Cat Flu jabs are similar to human ones in that they don’t protect from all strains of the many flu viruses that work their way around our areas but are a cocktail designed to protect from the worst kind “at the time of making”. Despite our vaccination programme, many of our old cats contract the milder forms of flu virus

as they become so vulnerable to infection, but had they developed the stronger strain through not being vaccinated, we would have witnessed an horrific demise and miserable end to their otherwise happy and content lives. Under the circumstances and especially as you live close to an area of unvaccinated cats, I would strongly recommend you continue with vaccination – slightly sick is nothing compared to the horrors I have witnessed cat flu cause.

Dear Shelter ManagerWe have a nasty cat that regularly walks through my back garden. Recently my cat had an abscess which the vet believes was caused by a bite from another cat. Roly doesn’t want to go outside anymore and if I put him out he just runs back in and growls. What can we do to get him to enjoy his garden again?

Most of the answers lie with the design of your back garden. If you have a very open garden you may need to introduce some bushy pot plants so that Roly has plenty of “cover”. Cats also prefer to have high vantage points so that they can survey their garden to ensure that there are no predators in the vicinity. Feeding Roly some treats outside from one of his new vantage points would be a good starting point to win Roly’s love for the garden back.

The Shelter Manager would love to hear your questions or queries. Email [email protected] quoting Dear Shelter Manager in the subject line or write to Shelter Manager, Shropshire Cat Rescue, Windy Ridge, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY30AU. We will try to respond to as many queries as possible, but it may not be possible to answer all questions we receive.


Sorry for your loss…By Carla Boulton, The Green Oak Foundation.

Losing a pet may seem no big deal to non-pet owners. To the bereaved pet owner, the loss can be huge and have a great effect on day-to-day life. As we start to break down the ways our pet is part of our life, we can see why.Pets are part of our routine – exercise, shopping, planning holidays, everyday conversations; our joy, our frustration. Pets become part of the family and often grow alongside other family members or indeed are the only other family member.What is it that our pets give us that is unique, and which brings us to become so attached? If I were to put this question to a pet owner I imagine amongst their answers would be ‘companionship’, ‘a reason to go out’, ‘warmth’, ‘love’. My thoughts on this are that it is the unconditional love and lack of judgement our pets offer which cement our relationship with them – very similar qualities to those which counsellors offer in the counselling room.Losing a pet can be something we expect – when the pet has been

unwell – or can be unexpected – perhaps an accident or a sudden illness. When the illness has been long term often the owner will begin the grieving process during the pet’s lifetime, perhaps imagining and planning for life without them. A sudden loss adds shock to the equation. Neither scenario is easy for a pet owner. Things to bear in mind are:

• No death is the same, each time we lose a pet is a new experience. We cannot expect to know how we will feel. Go easy on yourself.

• Explain to friends and relatives how you feel in plain language. Try to understand that they may not be able to grasp what you are going through. Ask for help when you need it.

• Acknowledge that there are many emotions you may feel: anger, blame, sadness, helplessness and tiredness are all very common and may not necessarily arrive in this order. It is common to feel okay one minute and then experience a wave of emotion the next.


• Owners often find it helpful to gather together collar, photographs, poems about the pet, birth/vet records in a ‘memory box’. This box can be seen as a celebration of your pet’s life.

• Give yourself time to grieve. People may suggest the answer is to ‘just go and get a new one’, and while for some people this is the answer, for others time is needed and the thought of replacing their loyal friend is unbearable for a while – or forever.

If you feel you need help, Counsellors at The Green Oak Foundation are here to help with your pet losses. Your loss is important, and we are here to support you through what can be a difficult and confusing time.The Green Oak Foundation is a Community Interest Company providing affordable, donation-based counselling in Shropshire. Telephone 01743 340 880, email [email protected] to book an appointment or visit www.thegreenoakfoundation.co.uk.

Never forgotten…

… As a Rescue Shelter we do our utmost to make sure all the cats in our care are rehomed or are able to live out their remaining years in our Moggies Retirement Village. Inevitably, due to ill health or old age, our Retirement Village cats die and occasionally we rescue a cat that we cannot save. All of the cats that we lose at the Shelter are remembered. Our volunteers lay a named pebble at the edge of the retirement village in memory of the cat. This helps us remember all of our cats. It is also a place of remembrance for volunteers who have shared their time and energy looking after all the cats that have passed away at the Shelter.

Photograph courtesy of John Benge


Who’s Who at Shropshire Cat Rescue

Who’s Who at the magazine

Shropshire Cat Rescue is a Registered Charity (number 1071884). The charity was established in 1998 and is proud to have Virginia McKenna and Jim Hawkins as Patrons.You can contact the Shelter on 01743 872857 and the Shropshire Cat Rescue Shop (3 Roushill Bank, Shrewsbury) on 01743 236222. You can write to the Shelter Manager, Shropshire Cat Rescue, Windy Ridge, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 0AU or email [email protected]

Magazine Editor ............................................................. David Bates: [email protected] Advertising .............................. Daphne Owen: [email protected] Associate Editor ............................................Alice Leiper: [email protected] Co-ordinator ................................. Susan Marine: [email protected] Distribution Officer ....................................................................... Karen WainwrightMagazine Subscription.................................................................................Cindy Mason-Morris

Printed and published by www.spottypenguin.com 07545551596

Accounts Manager ................................................................................................Suzanne DolphinActing Shop Manager ..................................................................................................... Laura TarrelAssistant Shelter Manager ............................................................................................. John ColesDuke of Edinburgh Officer ....................................................................................Tracy FramptonFacebook ..............................................................................................................................Pat PiggottFundraising ...........................................................................................................................Gill BowlerGift Aid Officer ....................................................................................................................Marg LloydLegacies Officer ............................................................................................................Peter KamplerMedia Officer.................................................................................................................. Anne WignallOffice Manager .................................................................................................................Chris WalkerOutreach .......................................................................................................................... Julie KamplerShelter Manager ............................................................................................ Marion Micklewright Sponsorship ......................................................................................................Cindy Mason-Morris Twitter ..........................Susan Marine @bigPURRproject, Marg Lloyd @ShropsCatRescueWebsite Design ..................................................................................................................Jem Turner

Chairman .......................................................................................................... Marion Micklewright

Trustees ..................................................................Dianne Beaumont, Gill Bowler, Marg Lloyd,.............................................................................. Marion Micklewright, Ola Trillo, Anne Wignall

Published quarterly – March, June, September and December

In June 2017 Shropshire Cat Rescue relaunched its quarterly magazine as a brand new, full-colour glossy magazine. It is full of interesting and informative articles about cat care and the work the Shelter does.With a quarterly distribution of 2000 copies, your advertisement can be seen in homes, pet shops, waiting rooms and more all around Shropshire. It is available online through our website and Facebook page, which has an audience of around 50,000 cat lovers.

BUSINESSES – why not promote your goods and services to these cat lovers with an advertisement in this exciting new publication? The magazine is A5 (14.8x21cm) Eighth of a page - £20 per edition - £60 for the yearQuarter of a page - £35 per edition - £105 for the yearHalf Page - £55 per edition - £165 for the yearFull Page - £80 per edition - £240 for the year

Prestigious Back Cover Position - £120 per edition - £360 for the year

Contact us NOW to be part of this exciting magazine!

Telephone Daphne Owen on:

07980 808662Email: [email protected]

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The Cat’s Whiskers

The Cat’s Whiskers...The Cat’s Whiskers FREE Quarterly magazine from Shropshire Cat RescueIssue 121 Spring 2018 Inside … Latest news from our Bayston Hill Shelter and Shrewsbury

Documents

The Cat’s Whiskers...The Cat’s Whiskers FREE Quarterly magazine from Shropshire Cat RescueIssue 121 Spring 2018 Inside … Latest news from our Bayston Hill Shelter and Shrewsbury