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Cuddles Mewsletter 2017-2018

4th July 2017 By Cuddles 2 Comments

Happy 12th Birthday to us!

Mewsflash – We are 12 years in business today, Tuesday 4th July. As usual to celebrate our birthday we’re having a customer competition. This year’s competition is very simple. Just wish us Happy Birthday (preferably from your cat) in the comments below or on our Facebook page. There’ll be a 12% off booking voucher for three lucky customers, selected from those who comment. Feel free to add a photo of your cat(s) to the Facebook page greeting! The winners will be announced next week.

Happy Updates…

KitKat’s New Life

Some of you may remember KitKat who stayed with us for quite some time earlier this year while he looked for a new home? If you aren’t aware of his story or wish to read it again, please click on the following link KitKat’s story

Here is KitKat pictured with his new family Oisin and Tracey when they called to Cuddles to pick him up. It was a very exciting moment when they met and we all kept our fingers and paws crossed that this would work out for KitKat and his new family. To quote Tracey a couple of weeks later, “he’s a keeper!”. KitKat certainly landed on all four paws in his new home. He is king of the castle and it didn’t take him long to train his new human family! He is pictured here (right) helping out with Neighbourhood Watch and below he is curled up in the shady part of his new garden for a nap.

Felix’s Big Adventure

Felix is another cat who spent quite a while as one of our guests this year. Felix has a very interesting story… His feline mum and human family moved to the UK a few years ago but Felix refused to go… Seems he liked the Galway summers…. Despite humongous efforts from his human family Felix went AWOL shortly before he was due to move to the UK. His humans even engaged someone to stay in their old house for a couple of weeks after they moved to look after Felix and get him to catch a later ferry, but Felix had completely disappeared.

Two years later he turned up straying close to his previous home. Felix was health-checked by the vet and it was discovered that he had been microchipped and had an owner! Unfortunately the Microchip register hadn’t been updated so the hunt was on for Felix’s family! It was such a happy piece of news to find out that Felix had a home and family in the UK who had thought they would never see him again….

After much organising through Galway Cat Rescue Felix is now living happily in the UK. It took a while but he is now very happy to be reunited with his feline mum and human family. It also took time for his feline mum to accept him back into the fold… After all, she thought he had moved on to make a life for himself and taking an adult son back in after such a time is difficult for the best of us! Here is Felix with his mum giving him a lick on the face. Lovely to see…

Cuddles is taking a holiday

Much as I love caring for all your precious puddies, I need to take a proper break this winter. I also have to carry out some maintenance work on the cattery and surrounding trees and to do this I will need the cattery buildings to be empty. I have therefore decided to close Cuddles from 1st November 2017 and will reopen on Thursday 7th December 2017. The cattery will also be closed from 10th January 2018 until 28th February 2018. I truly hope this doesn’t discommode anybody too much and that you will have sufficient time to organise alternative accommodation for your cat(s) should you need to board them during either of those periods.

Christmas 2017/Mew Year 2018

Bookings for Christmas are brisk so far and I would urge any customers who wish to be sure of a place for their cat to book as soon as possible As previously stated we will be closing for a break from 10th January 2018 and Cuddles will reopen for business on 1st March 2018. We need to carry out some maintenance work in the cattery and require the buildings to empty for a time in order to safely complete this work. We also need to cut the trees behind the cattery and we know that many cats would find the noise of a chainsaw disturbing to say the least!

Thank You All

As always we would like to thank all our feline customers and their humans for your continuous support. We love having your cats here and watching them as they mature (kittens are such a handful – but such fun!). Mind you, some older cats can have their own challenges (not mentioning any names but you know who you are!). It has been a privilege to be entrusted to take care of your cats for the past 12 years and hopefully we’ll still be doing the same thing 12 years from now!

Suggestions Please?

Finally, we are looking for suggestions of topics you’d like us to write about. In the pipeline we have a piece about introducing kitty to a new (human) baby, and some tips how to (hopefully!) stop your cat from jumping onto your kitchen counters and how to (hopefully!) stop your cat from using your furniture as a scratching post. Let us know what would interest you! Thanks.

Nine New Lives for Nine Cats!

22nd January 2017 By Cuddles 4 Comments

Here at last is the promised update on the nine cats who became homeless last summer when their owner Tricia passed away very suddenly and prematurely. It took some time to find purr-fect homes for these adult cats and we are delighted to report that fabulous homes have now been found for all nine of them.

The first cat to go to a new home was Zoe. She moved in with another feline called Fleur. According to her new human it took a lot of time and patience but eventually Zoe bonded with Fleur and they are now the best of pals. See them here cuddled up together!

The next cat to find a home was Mr No Name. His new humans felt it may be confusing for him to change his name so Mr. No Name he continues to be. He has a lovely home with large garden in the countryside and another feline for company. Here he is in one of his favourite spots, able to watch what is happening outside, and ready to spot a snack in the kitchen! You can read more about Mr No Name here more about Mr No Name

Steve (formerly Buddy) was next to go and Sally joined him a few weeks later. They have both settled into the home of another feline called Figaro. Naturally Steve gets on well with Sally as they lived together in their previous lives. Steve gets on well with Figaro too. Figaro is so far a little wary of Sally but my guess is that they will get along with each other better and better as time goes on. Pictured above are Steve on the arm of the couch and Sally curled up beside him. Another happy outcome. Steve was rehomed very early on and Sally’s early story is here more about Sally

Molly’s new humans fell in love with her as soon as they met her. Molly made herself at home immediately when she moved in with two humans, three dogs and two other cats. Her home is very near Cuddles Cattery so I often meet her. It is fair to say Molly rules the roost in her new home and she commands prime position on the couch! Doesn’t she look content? Here’s Molly’s early story more about Molly

Millie didn’t really like the other eight cats she shared a home with, as she was Tricia’s first cat. She considered herself to be a little above the others and often told them off. She was offered a great home by a lady who didn’t already have a cat. Millie is now very happy and comfortable in her new home. Here she is kneading her favourite sheepskin rug.

Sammy (Sad Eyes) was next to move on. After meeting him when their cat Hunter was on holidays at Cuddles, Hunter’s owners decided to offer him a home. It took a little while for Hunter to accept him but they are getting along with each other better as each week goes by. Here they are sharing the couch. It is clear that Sammy is well settled and happy in his new life. He doesn’t go out much, but prefers to lounge around the house! Isn’t he right? Here is Sammy’s early story more about Sammy

Heidi was the last cat to find a new home. She moved in with older feline called Scamp, whose sister Lily passed away at the time Heidi became homeless. Scamp was very lonely without Lily. As with Hunter, Scamp met Heidi on a holiday at Cuddles and the two cats were introduced to each other here. Scamp is displaying more kitten-like behaviour since Heidi moved in with her. Her new humans are delighted she has joined their family and treasure her. Heidi’s big sister Scamp is now 15 years old and Heidi helped celebrate her birthday in style recently! Here’s Heidi’s earlier story more about Heidi

Finally, there’s Dolly-Doyle. Many of you will know Dolly-Doyle is now a permanent member of our family here at Cuddles. She’s our little angel and although she can be a little monkey at times we are delighted that she has joined our family. Here is Dolly-Doyle looking up to her hero, Ted. Dougal has been known to share a chair with her on several occasions too. Anyone who has visited Cuddles recently will have met her and some have been tempted to steal her from us. She really is adorable. Here is her early story more about Dolly-Doyle

So that’s all nine cats happily rehomed. We are so pleased that we were able to assist these lovely cats. We will always remember Tricia fondly. She was a regular customer of Cuddles and she dearly loved all her cats and devoted much of her life to rescuing and raising funds for needy cats. A total of €380 was raised at Cuddles in memory of Tricia, who had originally given a home to these cats, all of whom had been rescued by her in conjunction with Galway Cat Rescue. After veterinary expenses of €35 we passed the remainder on to Galway Cat Rescue in Tricia’s name.

Thank you to all the customers and friends of Cuddles who made all of this possible.

Winning Limericks

8th February 2016 By Cuddles Leave a Comment

Here are the winning limericks in our 10th Birthday Competition:

First Prize of €100 Boarding Voucher goes to Giz H for this limerick:

A right royal lady I is

Call me Majesty, Princess or Giz

For me there’s no muddles

The bestest is Cuddles

For pampering & hols it’s the biz

2 Scratching Posts go to Jack G and Lulu K for these entries:

There was a one eyed cat called Jack

And at holiday time he never looked back

With Aunt Muriel in Athenry

It’s as easy as pie

Heated bed, room with a view and a snack

When my cat wants a comfortable bed,

She thinks as she scratches her head,

“To Cuddles I’ll go

And I’ll say hello,

To Muriel, Dougal and Ted.

Three vet beds go to Loki M, Jasper de M, and Bemo and Suki P

The reason my cat chooses cuddles

Is because he really hates puddles

In suites warm and neat

With happy dry feet

He lives for Muriel’s snuggles

Near the fields of Athenry

Cuddles Cattery does lie,

Ireland’s 5 Star Cat Hotel

Pampered Pusses know it well

Feline heaven, can’t you tell?

The best place for kitties to be

Is Cuddles 5 star Cattery, you see

There’s Muriel, Dougal and Ted

A nice warm cosy bed

And where all of the cuddles are free!

10th Birthday Competition Winners

6th February 2016 By Cuddles Leave a Comment

Details of Cuddles 10th Birthday Competition winners are as follows:

1st Prize – €100 boarding voucher for Cuddles goes to Giz H

2 x Scratching posts go to Jack G. and Lulu K.

3 x Vet beds to to Jasper deM; Bemo & Suki P and Loki M.

All other entrants win a catnip growing kit (which will be available for collection at Cuddles in spring!)

Congratulations to one and all!

We’ll be publishing the limericks soon.