The Martlets Messenger

Edition Number Five: Christmas 2007

To: All Our Feline Guests and their, Human Staff

Apologies for there being no newsletter last Christmas, I have been suffering it turns out for years with hypothyroidism, which finally came to a head at Christmas last year.  It became so serious that I had to spend the majority of my time in bed – this has made caring for my felines and canines very challenging. 

However, I am returned to much better health now and can start to take a much bigger role in running the cattery.  Natalie, who comes in to help with the cats and to clean in the mornings has been a tower of strength in this difficult year and my family have also been excellent with the tea time feeds and just general support.  Thank you everyone.

This summer was madly busy from about June to October and I think you will agree we suffered a dreadful summer but glorious Autumn – not much good when the kids are back at school is it?  We also found that the security checks at the airports caused us problems – people found that they were needed at the airport much earlier than usual and needed pussies to be in cattery a day early and at the other end of things, were taking longer to get back through the airports and needed to pick pussy up later. I hope that things will have settled down for next summer or that the arrangements will be better documented and will allow plans to be in place earlier!

                                                                        Multiplication

As planned in Summer 2006 Tess our chocolate Labrador presented us with a litter of fabulous brown puppies.  I like small litters and hoped nature would be kind to a novice – not a bit of it! – We were blessed with nine puppies – three little girls and six little boys.

They were the hardest work – dirty little things – not a bit like kittens, but strong and heavy and healthy.  They were bold and we loved to play – we took them up the garden and brought them back in the wheelbarrow when they fell asleep.  They all found terrific homes apart from the little girl that I decided to keep.  I managed to pick the wildest, bounciest and naughtiest in the litter.  Her name is Molly and we love her to pieces.

In addition we have had three litters of Oriental/Siamese kittens.

Green Cattery

For the past two years Martlets has been tinged green around the edges!  We are trying to reduce our impact on the environment, without compromising the comfort and safety of the cats.

We used to have two Council bins which were filled to the brim with fourteen black sacks each week!!!!  With thought and aggressive recycling we have managed to send one black bin back - most weeks we manage with two black bags from the house and one from the cattery.  We do break the rules when we are having a “turn out”.

We re cycle: tins, paper, newspapers, magazines, carrier bags, cat food foils, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, old clothes and shoes.  Unfortunately we don’t have a re-cycling collection scheme, so have to take most items into Hailsham, but plastics and cardboard have to be taken to Eastbourne.  We are careful to do this when we would be going anyway or it is self defeating!

We have always used sweetcorn grit cat litter, which is grown each year and is naturally biodegradable rather than being dug from the earth.   We are not allowed to compost our litter down – the Council require us to allow them to collect it – disappointingly it is landfilled.

There are limitations however; we can’t recycle the newer foil lined pouches because they are “welded” to the plastic on the outside.  We choose to use disposable kitchen paper to clean the PVCU surfaces in the cattery to avoid the possibility of cross infection between cats.

We use “Trigene” cleaner/disinfectant which is the industry standard and well known as the best in the business.  Fortunately it is biodegradable.  We also use friendlier washing powder and conditioner to wash the vet bed in.

We are also trying in the house – I could do with my grannie’s advice on the use of white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice etc.  Trevor thinks that a composing loo is going too far!!!!!!!!!!   He may well be right.

And Finally

Good news, prices at the cattery are to remain the same this year. We thank you for your custom and look forward to serving you again next year.  

It just remains for us to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.