A VERY HAPPY 2010 TO OUR

READERS AND SUPPORTERS!!

Cat of the Edition - BELLA

Bella is a very pretty tabby who soon settled into her new home with a family in Harrogate who absolutely adore her.

SPRING BAZAAR

AT ST. PAUL’S CHURCH HALL

(opposite Harrogate Library)

11am-3pm Saturday 10^th April

Refreshments, cakes, marmalade, new gifts, books, accessories, and lots of other items on sale. Tombola too!! All welcome!

HOMING STORIES (Janet)

In the autumn newsletter, we featured photographs and stories about Sasha, Molly, Rupert, Mattie and a plea for a home for two lovely cats called Whiskey and Willow. I can report that we have found a wonderful new home for Whiskey and Willow in Harrogate with an artist called Tim Hill.

Whisky with Willow (behind) on Tim’s sofa at their new home

WHISKEY AND WILLOW UPDATE (from owner - Tim Hill – local artist)

Oh hello! Let us introduce ourselves. My name is Whiskey. I am black and white and about 19 months old. I am quite a stout cat who has a loving nature, but I show who is boss.

I love my home comforts and here I am seen relaxing on our settee. We live with a nice man called ‘Tim' who unfortunately had to have his cat put to sleep. It suffered a long illness which turned out a little more unpleasant than first thought. Anyway, he contacted our Cats Protection branch and asked if they had a black cat to replace his previous friend. Janet, who came to see him, showed some photographs of cats, and Tim actually chose
my sister "Willow", who is mainly black with a dash of white on her neck. She is also 19 months old with a loving nature.

Then Janet said. “Well, Willow has a brother called Whiskey and, if possible we would like them to live together as they have never been separated.” Tim said he would like to go and see us at our shelter home, and thank goodness! Our luck changed from that moment onwards! He fell in love with us and said he would take both of us. So, into a couple of cat carriers we were put - after a slight struggle, I might add, but we were not to know we where going to a nice new home with a big garden and a large area to run about in. Oh, and most importantly, we’re given loads of love and good food!

We love our new home and you can see from our photographs that we have our own settee to recline on with butler service etc.
I think it is better now to let my sister Willow have a word or two.

Hello everyone. My name is Willow. I am black with a little white dash on my neck and astonishingly gorgeous, 19 months old, with very bright but pleading eyes with which I look at my

Dad and he gives into my whims every time! Loving and equally demanding as my brother, I love my new home and spend a few hours a day asleep on our red settee, which we took over. We have recently started to venture out into the large grassed area behind our home and enjoyed it very much until I heard Dad sorting out our food for the evening. Well, as any sensible
cat would do, I came back in closely followed by my brother whiskey. Time for a nap now! With love - Whiskey and Willow

MILLIE

Beautiful Millie has settled well into family life and has been given the second chance she deserves.

PETRA

Pretty Petra now has a lovely home in the country and lots of places to explore.

WHISKY

Whisky was slightly portly when he arrived in our care, but his diet regime has paid off and he is now looking much slimmer and enjoys roaming in his new garden.  He has even been spotted scaling the odd wall or two.

LILY

Lily is a beautiful tabby girl who was homed as a kitten and is adored by her new family.

All of the cats on these pages were homed by Harrogate Branch of Cats Protection during the latter part of 2009.

LOIS AND BENTLEY

Lois and Bentley were abandoned in a shed and when they came into our care they were two scared little kittens, who enjoyed hissing and spitting, especially Bentley.  After lots of TLC they were snapped up by Jacqui and her wonderful family who absolutely adore these two gorgeous cats who have replaced spitting with cuddles and purrs.

LULU

 Lulu did not have a good start in life and came into our care with her kittens, hungry and not in the best of shape.  Once her kittens were homed, it was Lulu's time to find happiness and she soon went off to live with Chris and his family where she is very much loved.

POPPY

Gorgeous little Poppy came into our care with her feral mum and neither were in good condition.  Mum was cared for and returned to the life she knew.  Poppy stayed with Bette and Alan for a while until her adorable little face caught the attention of Victoria and her partner and this little girl now rules the roost at their home in Knaresborough.

WIL AND WIN

Win

Wil and her sister Win came into our care at just a few days old and were 'mothered' for many weeks by Hannah who made them strong and ready to make their way in the world.  They were real snuggly kittens and Wil went off to live with Mandy and her family and Win is now in charge of Liz and her other two cats.

Many thanks to Janet for supplying the super photographs and the short write-ups. (From the Editor – Jenny)

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Charlie’s ‘Guide to Relaxation’ – kindly sent in by branch member, Patsi Waite.

 As Tippex overindulged during the festive season, Roxy is giving her a break until spring!

ROXY’S DIARY (by Hannah)

I really felt that TIppex was not up to writing her diary this month. She does not really understand what is happening! I have always warned her that you should not be too friendly with these foster cats that come in, but she thinks that she can make friends with everyone. My advice is as follows: a quick hiss at a safe distance, a cuff round the ear (as in the photograph above) if they are small enough, and then keep out of the way. I keep telling TIppex that this is the way to behave, but she is so young and innocent that she thinks she knows better! She tried her usual techniques with Max, an attractive young black cat - decided that his cage needed checking out. Well, Max was very territorial. OK, he was friendly enough as long as nothing of his was being threatened, and very friendly to humans. Anyway, the next thing I heard was Max going for Tippex, so I had to open the door, and give Tippex a quick escape route. She then became wary of all the cats, even the tabby kittens who wouldn’t have hurt her at all. All she needed to do was to tell them who was boss – that’s what I do!

Hannah’s been away a lot recently, and while she was away all the cats were happily homed, but Tippex got very worried that none should have gone without Hannah checking them out. She has a lot to learn. I have had to keep an eye on her all the time – I knew everything would get back to normal given time. I have tried to teach her to open doors, to keep warm in the snow, to keep dry in the rain – but sometimes I despair of her. She expects Hannah to look after her, me to open the kitchen door at 5 o’clock in the morning so that she can go and sleep on Hannah’s bed for the end of the night, and everybody in the world to be her friend. When will she ever learn? Roxy 

LOCAL ARTIST – TIM HILL

One of our long-standing fosterers, Sue Hucknall, is in contact with local artist, Tim Hill. Tim kindly gave a home to the two cats (Willow and Whiskey), who appear on page 3 of this newsletter and he has become a branch member. He has very kindly offered to help us on the fundraising side. Shortly before Christmas, Tim wrote the following to me:

Just to let you know a little about how I intend to run the fundraising. I mentioned to Sue Hucknall that I would be painting to raise funds for charities. I have chosen the local branch of Cats Protection as my first charity to help raise funds for. I will be alternating between charities – by this I mean that I am painting to raise funds for Cats Protection  for a period of 12 months, and then I shall move on to help another charity. This, therefore, gives different charities an opportunity to have funds raised through my work.

I now go under the title of ART by Tim and all proceeds from my work are given to charity. This a major point to put across to people. In order that charities or other people may contact me, my details are as follows:

e-mail: timhg3@virginmedia.com

Mobile Number: 0782 7680515

I paint in acrylic paints on canvas and usually use colour pastel chalks and charcoals, pencils and water colour pencils for sketches. I am prepared to consider any commissions (cats/ kittens pictures included), but I do not do human portraits. I ask for a £20.00 non-refundable deposit at the start of any work. All proceeds from sales of my work will go to Cats Protection for a period of 12 months. After this period a different charity will be chosen. I work with my friend, Paul, who has a photography business which is called Paul McHugh Photography. To find out more contact Paul:

E-mail: maccer@ntlworld.com
Mobile 07883 074580

Tim will supply a website address and further details at a later date.

**FUTURE EVENTS**

REFRESHMENTS AT ST PETER’S CHURCH in Harrogate on Saturday 20^th February 10-4pm – all welcome!!

SPRING BAZAAR – 10^TH APRIL at St Paul’s Church Hall,

Harrogate – 11am - 3pm

KNARESBOROUGH PET DAY

MONDAY 3^RD MAY 2010

Cats Protection will have a stall. This is an annual event, held in the grounds of Knaresborough House, adjacent to the High Street, Knaresborough

Calcutt Gala – mid July (date still to be confirmed). We will have a stall.

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“No! I’m not going to the vet’s!”

TREASURER’S MESSAGES (Patty)

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to all who donate to our branch. All the money which comes directly to us stays with us and is spent on ‘Harrogate Cats’.

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I would very much like to thank everyone who has given money to our branch in 2009. The veterinary costs are very high these days, but due to the generosity of everyone, we were able to meet all the costs and all cats received the best treatment we could give.

It is very rewarding being in a position to help all these cats, but this is,

after all, why we are here!

Please excuse us for not being able to send individual acknowledgments to all who donate, but we do like to keep the costs down so it does all get spent on the cats. Thank you, everyone, for your generosity which never ceases

to overwhelm me.

POETRY CORNER

When God Created Kitty Cats (author unknown)

When God created kitty cats,

He had no recipe;

He knew He wanted something sweet,

As sweet as sweet could be.

He started out with sugar,

Adding just a trace of spice;

Then stirred in drops of morning dew,

To keep them fresh and nice.

He thought cats should be soft to pet,

Thus He gave them coats of fur;

So they could show they were content,

He taught them how to purr.

He made for them long tails to wave,

While strutting down the walk;

Then trained them in meow-ology,

So they could do cat-talk.

He made them into acrobats,

And gave them grace and poise;

Their wide-eyed curiosity,

He took from little boys.

He put whiskers on their faces,

Gave them tiny ears for caps;

Then shaped their little bodies,

To snugly fit on laps.

He gave them eyes as big as saucers,

To look into man's soul;

Then set a tolerance for mankind,

As their purpose and their goal.

Benevolent ... and ... generous,

He made so many of them;

Then charged, with Fatherly Concern,

The human race to love them.

When one jumped up upon His lap,

God gently stroked its head;

The cat gave Him a kitty kiss,

"What wondrous love," God said.

God smiled at His accomplishment,

So pleased with His creation;

And said, with pride, as He sat back,

"At last. . .I've reached purr-fection!"

(Author unknown and kindly sent in by Alan.)

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Hannah’s daughter sent me the following poem by Roger McGough

MIDNIGHT- Roger McGough

Midnight.  A knock at the door.

Open it? Better had.

Three heavy cats, mean and bad.

They offer protection.  I ask, 'What for?'

The boss-cat snarls, 'You know the score.

Listen man and listen good.

If you wanna stay in the neighbourhood,

Pay your dues or the toms will call

And wail each night on the backyard wall.

Mangle the flowers, and as for the lawn

A smelly minefield awaits you at dawn.'

These guys meant business without a doubt.

Three cans of tuna, I handed them out.

They disappeared like bats into hell.

Those bad, bad cats from the CPL.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.whispurrs.org.uk

RON ALWAYS APPRECIATES NEW MATERIAL FOR THE BRANCH CP WEBSITE – IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING, PLEASE E-MAIL HIM ON gallery@whispurrs.org.uk

INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER CATS IN OUR CARE CAN BE FOUND IN THE HOMING SECTION ON THE WHISPURRS WEBSITE

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NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS

I would like to thank all those lovely people who have contributed to our newsletters over the past year, and prior to that. I realise that many branch members do not have access to/use computers, so if you want to send me something to include in our quarterly newsletter, please post photographs, stories, poems and other items to Jenny (Whispurrs Editorial) at 38, Farfield Avenue, Knaresborough, HG5 8HB. Please make sure you include your name/postal address and I shall ensure that your photographs and other contributions are posted back to you. Alternatively, please e-mail me at the e-mail addresses on the Contacts Section. Many thanks.

TOMBOLA PRIZES AND CAKES

Has anyone got unwanted Christmas gifts and items suitable for our tombola at the Spring Bazaar in April? If so, please do let us know as we would be grateful to receive such items, as well as books in good condition and cakes/buns for our cakes stall and for our Refreshments Day at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate on Saturday 20^th February. Many thanks – from our Branch Committee.