SCUNTHORPE & DISTRICT BRANCH

Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SCO37711 (Scotland)

MEWS LETTER
WINTER 2013

Branch Contacts Branch website:

www.scunthorpe.cats.org.uk
Branch phone: 01652 651001 Mon-Fri 7pm-9pm. In case of emergency please contact your local vet. Membership Secretary: for membership enquiries, newsletter subscriptions and newsletter articles Wykeham House, Cadney Road, Brigg, North Lincolnshire, DN20 9HW. Branch Treasurer: for donations, 'in memoriam' donations, funds raised. Please make cheques payable to 'Scunthorpe & District Cat's Protection' 94 Station Rd, Gunness, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 8TH.

Brigg Christmas Market Friday 29th November Barton Christmas Market Saturday 30th November Winter CATalogue of Crafts Arties Mill, Brigg Monday 2nd December 44-9pm

Hi Folks Ding dong merrily on high, its that time of year again where everything sparkles and the excitement begins, party season, good food and drink, spending time with loved ones, giving and receiving which makes us think of those less fortunate and for most of us we feel we want to help in some way or other. There are so many very needy causes in todays world which genuinely need our support but please spare a thought for the not so well known charities, like us here at Cats Protection who in these difficult economic times often get overlooked. If the weather reports are to be believed this year apparently we are in for the coldest Winter of modern times! We are seeing more and more abandoned cats and kittens, possibly due to the economic crisis and our pens are always full to bursting with long waiting lists. These cats and kittens just cannot survive in these temperatures and desperately need shelter. One way in which you can really help us is to become a member of Scunthorpe & District Cats Protection. For those of you who are already members its renewal time and for the very small amount of 5 per annum (4 senior citizens and under 16s) you can really make a difference. Our adoption fee is only 40 (effective 01.01.14) and this barely covers the cost of food, litter, heating, vaccinations, flea/worming treatments and micro-chipping, let alone any possible other medical expenses which may be incurred. We rely very heavily on the kindness and generosity of our cat loving friends to help maintain our Branch, without which we would not be able to do the work that we do. Please see our Membership Form on Page 10 if you would like to become a member. For the first time we are holding a Winter CATalogue of Crafts at Arties Mill, Castlethorpe, Brigg on Monday 2nd December from 4pm 9pm which we are very excited about. We will be having many wonderful stalls where you can do some Christmas shopping or even treat yourself. Please see enclosed leaflet for more details. Wed love to see you there! We also have stalls at the Brigg and Barton Christmas markets where you can purchase our lovely 2014 calendars and many other Cats Protection goodies. Another way in which you can help the cats in our care is by entering our Fill A Dish competition (see form at the back of the Mewsletter). Write your name against the cat whose dish you would like to fill this Christmas (1 per cat) and feed as many as you would like, even up to all 10 if you can! You will then be entered into our competition for a chance to win a fantastic prize. Draw to be held on Monday 6th January 2014. Wishing you and all your furry friends a wonderful, safe and warm Merry Christmas from all of us here at Scunthorpe & District Branch of Cats Protection. Angie Roberts Newsletter Editor

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A Tribute to the late Margaret Phillipson

single and double cat pens all heated 4.50 per night meals the same as at home pet plan insurance animal first aid trained staff all our pussycat guests are cared for individually and all their needs met. able to accommodate long term stays medical need covered several cats from the same family and kittens and elderly cats.

Opening Times (NB. Wednesdays and Bank holidays we close at noon.) November 1st - March 31st 9.00am-12.00pm and 2.00pm- 4.30pm April 1st-October 31st 9.00am-12.00pm and 2.00pm-6.00pm Burton kennels are situated in the village of Burton-on-Stather , which is approx. 4 miles from Scunthorpe on the B1430 and approx. 3 miles from Winterton on the B1430. The kennels can be found by leaving the main road at The Sheffield Arms and following the signs for The Wharf. The entrance is on the right and limited parking is available at the end of the drive. For more information:68 Stather Road, Burton-upon-Stather, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire Tel: 01724 720238 Webmaster: Webvale

Margaret ran a cattery at Hibaldstow and also took in stray cats for Hibaldstow Cat Rescue. She was a good friend to me we rang each other about cats and kittens to come in, and would help each other if possible. Her care and love for all cats and kittens was paramount getting up early and carrying on until well into the evening. She was also a good friend to the owners of the cats in the cattery, accommodating them at any time. I know I will miss her greatly and will never forget the love in her face for cats. The amount of people who attended her funeral represents the love and respect they had for Margaret. She requested donations to Cats Protection instead of flowers and I speak for the committee of our branch, thanks for such a welcome cheque. I am sure we will think of a suitable memoriam to remember her by. I have received a cheque from Madge Radley at the closure of Hibaldstow Cat Rescue. It is with sadness that they have closed down as they were a very caring rescue. With Madge and Margaret and all the other members at the helm cats when rescued by them were very lucky. Thank you Madge for the cheque and have a very happy Christmas.

Jenny Williams Welfare Officer

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Christmas Plants That Are Poisonous (toxic) to Pets and Small Children

Christmas time is almost upon us again. Many of us like to decorate our homes for the Christmas season with traditional plants and flowers. The poinsettia is always a big favourite; its bright red leaves just scream Christmas. We hang mistletoe so we can kiss our beloved. We like to decorate window sills and banisters with holly and ivy. And last, but certainly not least, many of us like to put a large real Christmas tree in the middle of our living rooms.

Poinsettias There is some controversy, mostly from those who sell flowers, whether or not poinsettias are poisonous. Actually, the flower itself is not poisonous but the sap that comes out of the leaves can cause skin and mouth irritation and vomiting. If a pet or child ingests any of the plant, it can be treated by washing with soap and water.

Mistletoe The berries of the mistletoe plant are extremely poisonous. It is recommended that you remove the berries if you plan to have the plant around your house. The berries can cause excessive salivating, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive urination, heavy breathing and a fast heart rate.

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Holly Like mistletoe, the berries on the holly plant are poisonous. They are not as poisonous as mistletoe berries and many birds do live on them but they can cause gastric intestinal distress, vomiting and diarrhoea in small children and pets. If you think a pet or child has ingested the berries, contact your doctor or vet immediately.

Pine trees If you bring a real Christmas tree into your home you must be aware of the dangers, to pets especially. It is inevitable that the needles will fall off a pine tree. If your pet ingests the pine needles there is a danger of their internal organs being pierced by the needles. Its probably safest to buy an artificial tree. They dont drop needles, they dont dry out, and they are not a fire hazard.

By Chris Longcake

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Take a look at Milton who was one of a litter of 5 kittens found wandering the streets at only about 5 weeks old. They were brought into care, vaccinated, micro-chipped, de-flead and wormed and lovely new homes were eventually found for all five. Milton seems very happy in his new home with his new Bengal brother and sister, Morris and Maisie.

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CATNIP PRODUCTS
Catnip cushions are filled with organic catnip and wadding for comfort. 3.50 plus 80p p&p per bag Please make your cheque payable to Scunthorpe and District Cats Protection and please remember to include your postage. All our products are handmade and have been tried and tested on cats in our care, of which they have given their approval. Please send your request along with payment to: Secretary, Cats Protection, Wykeham House, Cadney Road, Brigg, North Lincolnshire, DN20 9HW.

SPACEYS FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

A percentage of the proceeds of sales will go directly to Scunthorpe & District Branch of Cats Protection For further enquiries please visit Spaceys Friendship Bracelets on Facebook or contact Spacey on 07977 741950 E-mail: comablack29@aol.com

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20 Cat Trivia Questions

1. A cat has how many whiskers, on average? A) 8 B) 12 C) 16 D) 24 Do cats have fewer teeth than dogs, or more? A) Fewer B) More C) Same People have about 650 skeletal muscles. How many do cats have? A) 500 B) 650 C) 800 Which brain is the cats brain most similar to? A) Dogs B) Humans Outdoor-only cats live, on average, about: A) 3-5 years B) 7-10 years C) 12-15 years A term for a group of cats is: A) caggle B) covey C) clutch D) clowder A term for a group of kittens is: A) kaggle B) kindle C) nook D) kaboodle True or False: A cat, standing in a still position, can jump up to six times its own length. True or False: Tabby is the name of a cat breed. All of the following are the names of cat breeds, EXCEPT: A) Balinese B) Beauceron C) Birman D) Burmilla The thick hair around the face of some cats (such as Persians) is called: A) Mane B) Ruff C) Pelt D) Shock True or False: Just like female cats, male cats have five or six pairs of teats. 20. 13. 14. True or False: Like dogs, cats sniff one anothers butts. How much of their waking hours do cats spend grooming themselves? A) 11% B) 33% C) 66% Whats it called when a cat rubs the side of its head on you or on furniture? A) Beaning B) Bunting C) Brocking D) Tagging A cat named Towser was an expert mouser. (True story!) How many mice did this famous cat reportedly catch in her lifetime? A) 899 B) 8,899 C) 18,899 D) 28,899 Cats cant taste this: A) Sour B) Sweet C) Bitter D) Salt Whats the total number of claws that most house cats have? A) 16 B) 18 C) 20 D) None of the above Cats stay pregnant for about how long? A) 2 months B) 4 months C) 9 months Which of the following statements about body language is FALSE: A) A cats tail held high means Im happy. B) A twitching tail means Im getting irritated. C) A thumping tail means Im totally frustrated! D) A tail tucked underneath the body means Im hungry.

2.

15.

3.

16.

4.

5.

17.

6.

18.

7.

19.

8.

9. 10.

11.

Answers
1. C, 24 whiskers; 2. A, cats have 30 teeth, but dogs have 42; 3. A, 500 skeletal muscles; 4. B, more similar to a humans brain than a dogs brain; 5. A, 3-5 years (contrast this with around 15 years for indoor cats!); 6. D, clowder; 7. B, kindle; 8. True; 9. False; 10. B, Beauceron is the name of a dog breed, not a cat breed; 11. B, ruff; 12. True; 13. True; 14. B, 33%; 15. B, bunting; 16. D, 28,899 (wow!); 17. B, sweet; 18. B, 18 (five in the front paws and four in the rear = 18); 19. A, just over 2 months; 20. D is false. A tail tucked underneath the body actually means I am scared.

12.

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BEN STACEY

JERRY

GEORGE

JESSIE TIMMY

ERIC MILLY

FAYE & TOM

If you feel you can give any one of these cats a home please give us a call on 01652 651001

OR VISIT

www.scunthorpe.cats.org.uk
If there are any stories or poems, anything you would like to share with us and would like them printed in our newsletter please write to us at Editor, Cats Protection, Wykeham House, Cadney Road, Brigg, North Lincolnshire, DN20 9HW.

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SCUNTHORPE & DISTRICT BRANCH MEMBERSHIP

If you have adopted a cat/kitten or donated within the last year you are entitled to a years free subscription to Scunthorpe & District Branch of Cats Protection, following which we would greatly appreciate your continued annual membership at the nominal costs set out below. Your donations and membership dues are very important to us and go a long way in helping the cats and kittens we have in our care with costs such as food, litter and veterinary bills. Our dedicated team of volunteers wouldnt be able to do the fantastic work they do without your help and support. Rest assured all your donations and membership fees go directly to the Scunthorpe & District Branch. If you have been receiving our newsletter and enjoy keeping up with our activities and events and would like to continue to receive next years editions, please complete the form below and send your remittance to the Membership Secretary at the address on the front page of this newsletter.

THANK YOU
Membership runs from January to January every year, but should you wish to join now or simply make a donation please use the form below. You could also help us by doing your bit and sending us a stamped addressed envelope so we can send you your membership card and receipt. We would be very grateful also if anyone would like to help us by donating a few stamps as every little helps.

Thank you so much for supporting Scunthorpe & District Cats Protection for another year. THE MORE WE SAVE MEANS THAT WE CAN HELP MORE AND MORE CATS/KITTENS.

Becoming a Member/Renewing Membership Please fill in the form below and send to the address on the front page of the newsletter *NEW MEMBER / EXISTING MEMBER MEMBERSHIP NO: (if known): __________________
(* delete where applicable)

NAME____________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________POST CODE____________________ EMAIL: ___________________________________________________________________ TEL:____________________________ CHILDREN/STUDENTS & SENIOR CITIZENS 4.00 Please tick if gift aid applies YES/NO For your donations to be eligible for Gift Aid you must pay an amount in income tax and/or capital gains tax for each tax year that is at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donation. Gift Aid can only be reclaimed by the Charity on money donated by UK Taxpayers.
(For those of us who are blonde, like me, if you are employed, in receipt of benefits or pension you pay tax and therefore are eligible for gift aid)

ADULTS 5.00

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