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Newsletter for The Cats Protection in Telford and Wrekin Area.
Citation preview
Our vision is a world where every cat is
treated with kindness and an understanding
of its needs
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ABANDONED CAT COOKIE.
This is the second issue of
the Cat´s Meow Newsletter. As the
weather is getting colder and
colder, our newsletter is also
concentrating on winter and
Christmas season. Recently Cats
Protection in Telford and Wrekin
Area rescued an unwanted cat,
who was abandoned in the vets
office. Thanks to the charity the
cat is now in a new loving home
and prime example of the type of
work that the Cats Protection, and
it’s volunteers, get involved in
towards re-homing unwanted cats.
Plunging temperatures, icy conditions and heavy snowfall
present a number of risks for pet cats, particularly those
cats who like to wander outside. However following a few
simple tips can help to keep cats safe:
When your cat comes in from the snow, wipe off any road grit
and any other substances that may stick to his paws or fur.
Keep the doors of sheds and outbuildings shut or wedged open,
so that cats do not become trapped.
Cats may also climb into vehicle engines for warmth whilst out
roaming. Be vigilant, and check under the bonnet of your
vehicle before starting your vehicle.
Provide some shelter for cats that have access outside, such
as a designated shelter, or cardboard box partially covered
with plastic sheeting.
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Take special care of your cat if he has arthritis, as the cold can
severely affect inflamed joints. Provide additional warm and
comfortable places for your cat to rest or sleep. If your cat is
finding it hard to reach his favourite resting places then look at
ways of making it easier for him to reach his preferred places.
Also ensure he can easily access his chosen toileting site.
If your cat uses an outdoor water source to drink, make sure it
doesn’t freeze. Always have clean, fresh water available inside in
case the outdoor source is inaccessible.
If your cat is seeing snow for the first time, then consider letting
your cat wander in a safe and enclosed area such as a garden,
and accompany them when they do.
If you should let your cat wander further, let him outside when
temperatures are highest and traffic levels are lowest. Also,
check your cat flap regularly to ensure it hasn’t frozen over or
become blocked by snow.
Keep your cat in during the hours of darkness when there is a
greater risk of cats being involved in road traffic accidents, theft
and physical attacks.
If you haven’t done so already, consider taking out pet insurance
for your cat in view of the risk to your cat posed by the winter
weather.
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Come and Visit our Christmas Stall on 3rd December in Much
Wenlock Christmas Fayre in Telford. We will be selling our usual
range of merchandise, giving a wide range of original Christmas
gifts and stocking fillers.
We also have an lovely selection of Christmas cards and gift wrap.
The fayre is open from 10am to 5pm and there will also be lots
more to see and do, including street theatre, live music and an ice
rink. See you there and lets help cats and kittens in need together.
Hi Cats Protection;
I have a 6 months old kitten and I am really worried how to look
after my cat during the winter months as it is my first feline friend.
Are there any specific things I should do or be aware of?
Kate– Newport
Colder season always presents more worries over our animals
safety. We have included many useful tips and advice how to look
after your cat in a winter.
So just look through our Feature Story.
Hello!
We are very interested in adopting a kitten but are struggling to
find a local rescue. Can you provide some details of local centres
to Telford or is it possible to adopt directly through you? ?
Millie– Telford
You can find more information and a list of cats waiting for
rehoming at www.cats.org.uk/telford. Our cats are always
neutered, microchipped and vaccinated prior to rehoming. They
also come with 4 weeks free insurance.
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In the next issue a plane Cat
Playhouse will find a lucky
owner. All you have to do is sign
up for our digital newsletter and
send us an email to
with the title subject “sign up”.
More prizes yet to come ...
Prizes were provided by “SUCKUK” visit them at www.suck.uk.com or call
them at 020 7923 0011
In our last issue we started
the competition for these
amazing Cat Playhouses. Fire
Engine went to the lucky
subscribers Richard & Cathy
Fox . Congratualations for the
winners!
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The fireplace flickered a blue flame in amongst hot coals. The rug, old yet still not yet threadbare was the perfect place to warm a tail, as Cora had found out many years previously as a young kitten. Her ear flicked appreciatively at the steady flow of heat, and she let out a contented half purr, stretching out her back legs slightly. With a belly full of food, a warm place to nap and the
humans quietly tapping away at their heat generating compy-thingys Cora decided that there was no greater life for a cat.
Living the university life suited her. There was a church and churchyard behind her house, the ideal place to catch mice and voles. The small village inside the university housed most of the lecturers, who mostly didn‟t keep pets and of course the students were forbidden, so she had
almost unchallenged reign over her territory. The university itself was situated in amongst parkland and woodland, so there were acres and acres to prowl through if she was feeling
energetic. And of course, there were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of books.
Intelligent, or at least in Cora‟s eyes, semi-intelligent, humans did not adopt foolish animals. When Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson had decided to invest in the warmth and company of a kitten from the cat shelter, they‟d picked the one with the most personality. Their first meeting with Cora had involved her playfully tapping away at the toys provided by her temporary home, eyeing the cat
food as it was brought out and gracefully, before any of the other 5 kittens in the house had smelt it open, bounded up for the ideal place next to the food bowls, rubbing sweetly along the feeder
arm. „She‟s Miss. Thing!‟ The owner had told Mrs. Sanderson giggling. „Because she thinks she‟s
„something‟!‟ Cora had deftly ignored that comment and made her pick off the offerings. Little had she known then, that line had been her selling point and within the hour she was being taken
home to the comfy cottage with the old stone hearth she now lay next to.
Cora dosed peacefully by the fireplace, watching the flames flicker and dance with interest. Mr. Sanderson was a history lecturer, and he had settled down on Cora‟s sofa – wherever she slept
was hers – to watch the afternoon news. Mrs. Sanderson had been out doing something probably unimportant, and so Cora found herself being fussed. „Well.‟ She thought heavily rolling onto her back. „If he must…‟ It had been a nice belly-rub though. And ear scratch. And he‟d told her a very
interesting story.
According to Mr. Sanderson, the ancient Egyptians had worshipped cats. Originally they were vermin hunters – not unlike what Cora was now, she thought personally – who became
domesticated (Unfamiliar with this word, Cora imagined it to mean „bored‟) and started to co-exist with the humans. Praised as killers of harmful vermin that attacked crops, and of cobra‟s that
attacked people, the humans created a lion headed goddess called Mafdet who was a symbol of justice and execution. Eventually, the cat goddess Bastet replaced the Mafdet cult, as a fierce
protector. However time passed, and Bastet softened the image of felines into symbols of grace, poise, fertility and motherhood.
Apparently, so sacred were cats in ancient Egypt they were buried as humans were (or rather, humans were buried as they were according to Cora. Mr. Sanderson got his sentences muddled at times.) and were treated as followers, or living memories of Bastet. Some were even buried with gold. Apparently, according to Mr Sanderson, one man had found a tomb with over eighty
thousand cats buried there. They made jewellery from cat images, made statues of them, and if a cat was ever harmed by a human the penalty could be severe, even death! Mr. Sanderson had
told her a story of a Roman soldier who had run over a cat in his chariot and who had been executed by a mob of Egyptians despite pleas from the pharaoh. Well that‟s what happened
when you hurt one of the „Eyes of Ra‟.
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It was at this point that Mrs. Sanderson came home, and the story stopped. Mr. Sanderson gave
her a final scratch behind the ears, and wondered off to help unload some shopping, leaving Cora to think. And think hard she did, all evening. So hard, that she didn‟t run directly to the
kitchen when she was called for her warm special milk that Mrs. Sanderson got her from the vets so she didn‟t get a bad tummy. She‟d been thinking so hard, she hadn‟t wanted to go out and
chase voles that evening. Instead she‟d just curled up by the fire and thought until finally, about five minutes ago, she reached a conclusion.
It must have been nice, being worshipped by all those humans. But think of the effort! All that
time having to be fussed and loved and watched over, a poor cat couldn‟t get any peace! Sure, it would be envious for a time. She quite liked the idea of Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson bringing her
shiny things and toys and cat nip, goodness knows she brought them enough half eaten mice! Yes it would be nice to get to sleep on the comfy chair when they were home, or need the
blanket all she liked. However she just didn‟t think she could cope with the constant attention day in day out! It was nice perhaps, every other day. But every day?! No. No, that was no life for a
cat.
So Cora settled down on her rug and yawned widely, closing her eyes. Thinking hard like that made her very sleepy. The only way to fix sleepy was a nap, and she didn‟t imagine she‟d be
allowed much of those if she was being worshipped all the time. No. The quiet university life suited her just fine. Within a few minutes she was fast asleep.
Mrs. Sanderson looked at their cat worriedly. She‟d been very lethargic today. She still
remembered that black bouncy kitten who‟d out smarted all the others to the food bowl. Miss. Thing…
“Do you think she‟s alright Jonathon?” She asked looking at her husband, who pushed his laptop lid down. He glanced across as well.
“Oh I should think so Gail.‟ He said, moving his glasses to rub his eyes slightly. „She was
probably just thinking about Bastet.” “Who?” Jonathon Sanderson chuckled.
“Nothing important dear, I was just telling Cora about my lecture earlier.” Mrs. Sanderson didn‟t
look too sure.
“Well we‟ll keep an eye on her tomorrow, and if she doesn‟t perk up then…” Mr. Sanderson
chuckled.
“Yes dear. I know dear.”
They did both love their Cora.
Written by Lex.
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Do your Christmas cards feature your cat sitting on
Santa's lap?
Does your cat sign the card?
Do you give your cat Christmas presents and stuff a
stocking full of toys?
Do you spend more for your cat than you do for your
spouse?
Do you cook a special turkey for your cat on holidays?
On any day!?
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1.
Foods that should not be given to cats include onions,
garlic, green tomatoes, raw potatoes, chocolate,
grapes, and raisins. Though milk is not toxic, it can
cause an upset stomach and gas. Tylenol and aspirin
are extremely toxic to cats, as are many common
houseplants. Feeding cats dog food or canned tuna
that's for human consumption can cause
malnutrition.g
2. Unlike dogs, cats do not have a sweet tooth.
Scientists believe this is due to a mutation in a key
taste receptor
3. On average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping.
That means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for
only three years of its life.
4. In just seven years, a single pair of cats and their
offspring could produce a staggering total of 420,000
kittens.
5. A cat lover is called an Ailurophilia (Greek: cat+lover).
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1. Plastic bottle tops are fun for cats to bat at and chase around. There‟s nothing
elaborate you need to do; just put the plastic bottle top on the floor and pretend like you‟re not watching.
2. Cardboard boxes are kitty favorites. Cats can keep themselves entertained for a long time with a cardboard box. Just set it in the middle of the floor or on a favorite piece of furniture. If you have more than one cat, it can be very entertaining to watch them cram together into the box or chase each other in and out of it.
3. Old socks that you want to get rid of can be filled with catnip and tied shut.
Catnip is pretty magical stuff to cats. The catnip sock is sure to be a favorite.
4. Take all that nice, crinkly junk mail and make cat toys from it. You can simply ball the waste paper into little balls, or you can tie a piece of crinkled-up paper to the end of a string.
5. Gift ribbons, especially bunches of curly ribbon, make fun cat toys.
6. Toilet paper tubes can be fun, too. Some cats like them as they are; others prefer them with ribbons attached to either end. Still another way a toilet paper tube can be a cat toy is to put some beans into the tube, cover both ends with wax paper and rubber band them in place. The beans will make an enticing rattle when your
cat bats at the tube.
7. Use the cork from your wine bottle. Corks are porous and light, the perfect thing
for cats to swipe and chase. You can also attach the cork to a string and dangle it.
Making your own cat toys is easy and fun. Here are some tips that
help you to save some money and at the same time have a perfect
toy for your feline friend.
8. Paper bags of all sorts make interesting cat toys. Cats can‟t stay away from an open bag lying on its side. If you sprinkle some catnip in the bag, it‟s even more enticing.
9. Make a tunnel with tall cardboard boxes, open-end-
down. Lay them end-to-end, cutting the short sides out
to make them open. Cats enjoy tunnels, but you can
make them even more fun by adding a dangling toy
(made from recycled materials of course!) at either end.
Adapted from Green Life.
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C G S C R A T C H A
F Q N C L O W D E R
U U K I T T E N T P
R E N I L E F S P A
B E R O T W E C T P
A N G N I W O E M I
L W H I S K E R S L
L G N I R R U P G L
T A C E S U O H I A
G N I S S I H O N E
CLOWDER
GROWLING
KITTEN
PURRING
WHISKERS
FELINE
HISSING
MEOWING
QUEEN
FURBALL
HOUSECAT
PAPILLAE
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
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