I was talking to a customer about Paws for Thought cattery recently, telling her that we’d been really busy this year – even at times that are usually quiet. I think the rest of you might be interested in hearing what we do up on the hill above Sible Hedingham, so this month’s blog is all about us.
Cats on Holiday
Most of our cats are here while their humans are on holiday, and most of them live in and near Braintree district – Halstead, Sudbury, the Maplesteads, Yeldham. But we also have cats that come in from much further away, with regular customers turning up from north and central London, from Ipswich and Norwich. We do try our best to give our cat guests a happy holiday, and it’s heartening to hear that we’re doing this well enough to bring us customers from far away.
The record distance for a holiday stay is held by a cat from the Netherlands. Her owners came to England to visit relatives in Castle Hedingham and went on to tour Britain – and the cat came to stay with us! She seemed completely unbothered by the journey here, and settled down quite happily to wait for her humans to return.
Cats Moving Home
But we’re not just here to cover holidays. We’ve hosted cats whose owners are facing a lengthy stay in hospital, or (like Fluffy) come to us for the time between their owner going into a care home and their new family being able to take them in. On a happier note, we’re currently getting a lot of cats taking refuge here while their humans move home.
Well, picture the scene. You’re moving to your new home on Friday. You’ve been packing for weeks and your cat has certainly noticed. Her favourite chair has been moved – the bed is piled high with clothing evicted from drawers and wardrobe – the humans are always anxious and busy. Then the cat basket comes down from the attic and that’s the last straw. The moment the removal men fling the door open to get the furniture and boxes out to the van, Cat is likely to take her chance; out and gone, heading for her most secret hiding place at top speed.
Much calmer if the cat stays with us while the disruption is at its worst. There’s a little righteous indignation at being Transported; then they’re in the pen with a bowl full of treats as a bribe. A few days later the cat can go to the family’s new home and find that their favourite chair and their favourite humans are already installed.
Long Distance Runs
Just as is the case for holidays, we’re usually hosting cats whose owners are moving into or out of a home near to Sible Hedingham – but not always. We can sometimes help by transporting the cat from its old home, to its new home or both ways; at a reasonable cost, depending on distance. We have driven cats from Norfolk and to Norfolk, and on two occasions all the way to Devon and to Wiltshire.
Before I finish, I have to tell you about the ultimate long-distance house-move prize. I checked the emails one morning and found an enquiry about boarding a cat with us during a house move. That’s not unusual, but this was the only time we’d had that kind of enquiry from Australia. The family was moving back to England and would be sending their cat on ahead, and could we offer him a temporary home until they could follow him?
Of course we could. I drove down to Heathrow on the designated day, picked up the cat and drove him carefully back to Paws For Thought. When I put his carrier down in the pen and released him, he walked onto my lap and relaxed there for thirty minutes before going off to explore his temporary home. When his family turned up weeks later to collect him, he had a very smug air of “What took you lot so long? I got here AGES ago.”
With all these reasons to board your cat with us, we’re busier than we’ve ever been. If you’re planning a holiday or a house move, contact us to book your stay as soon as you can.
