Martlets Mini Messenger No. 2

September 2004

Dear Feline Friends and their human staff:

This is just a little newsletter to tell you some important news before the Christmas Edition. Some of you

may have noticed that the cattery has been extra hectic this year. March and April were totally full, July,

August and September were silly. I have since discovered that as well as new kittens and pussies moving

into the area, some of you cats have had the misfortune of having your usual holiday home close down.

We warmly welcome all our new friends and their staffwho care for them so well, as well as our existing

dear friends who visit regularly.

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We have found that due to sheer volume of work and human tiredness, we need to make changes to our

business arrangements. This will allow Lisa more time with the cats and more time out shopping for their

food etc. Talking, playing and grooming are very important to all you cats long and shorthairs and even

our more mature friends enjoy the hairdressing and chat sessions. Kittens and young cats love to play and

these things really add to the quality of life enjoyed by cats during their stay. With the pressure of

numbers and being open so many hours it is becoming impossible to provide this quality. Similarly

shopping and essential trips to the vet are difficult. As soon as Lisa leaves she finds that she is needed to

let a cat out or accept a cat into the cattery. The following arrangements have been made for the benefit

of all.

Opening Times

The new opening times are as follows: Monday - Saturday - 2.30 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.

Closed: Sundays and Bank Holidays.

- Cats may be collected and delivered by appointment during these hours.

- Out of hours collection or delivery charge £ 15.

- If you have booked for later in the year please ring for an appointment and your cat can then have

a leisurely settling in/leaving without a wait.

Holding

It is always our aim for your cat to go immediately into his newly disinfected pen and settle in. With

close cross over times and various delays at the airports and on the roads, which we appreciate are beyond

our client's control, it may be necessary to "hold" either incoming or outgoing cats in the holding pen.

This is a small two storey pen in reception. It is only pressed into service when absolutely necessary and

for the shortest time possible. It is clean and comfortable and infinitely preferable to being kept in a

basket or being taken home just to be returned to the basket an hour later and brought .back to the cattery.

We would appreciate your understanding in this matter and wish to make the following points:-

- Fewer bookings with Friday and Saturday changeovers could be accepted without the use of the

holding pen.

- Our local government inspector has been informed that it is in use has inspected it and has

approved it for short term use.

- A new cat cannot be put directly into a newly emptied pen. A comprehensive disinfection

procedure must be carried out to minimise the chance of cross infection.