Kats & Kits: February 2009

Mother Nature evidently did not think our last weather report dramatic enough This week has brought heavy falls of snow and more is forecast for tonight. We are told it is eighteen years since we have experienced such deep and lasting snow,especially in this part of the country. Some of the cats venture out and some even play but a lot of them would rather watch from the windows and hope it soon goes away. No one has had time yet to build them a snow cat!

Winners of the February "100 club" draw are;

Ian and Jacky Macqueen of Mkt. Lavington

Scott Dabinett of Mkt. Lavington

Trevor Johnson of Bristol

In August of 2006 we told the story of Sam and his mother Sally, two very timid cats who came to us in 1997 after they had been caught living wild. Sally came first with a litter of kittens and it was some time before Sam, from a previous litter was trapped and brought in. We were amazed that though they had not been together for some months they were delighted to see one another and were inseparable from that day. Sally was a very pretty little tortoiseshell and Sam a very handsome white and tabby boy. The young kittens were tamed and successfully homed, but Sam and Sally never lost their timidness and so it was decided that they should stay at Kats&Kits.

Sam would acknowledge us and the other cats when he passed and occasionally Lorraine was able to stroke Sally. Every day when Sam came in from hunting or inspecting his territory he would chirrup for his mother and they would sit together tails entwined and she would wash him. They have lived very happily at the sanctuary for eleven years amongst our family of cats but really only needing each other. We knew they were special and loved them dearly.

Suddenly this week Sally was taken very ill and the vet could do nothing to save her. With great sadness and many tears the decision was taken to put her to sleep. We had always dreaded that something would happen to separate them. Sally was brought back to the sanctuary in the hope that Sam would accept that she had gone, but he is bereft and we are all heartbroken that when he still calls for his mother we can do nothing to console him. They say time heals, we only hope it is true.

Winter so far has been a difficult one for this part of south west England. We have experienced extremes of weather unusual for what is considered a mild if wet part of the country. It started with torrential rain which caused extensive flooding and then came three weeks of intense frost, during which the night time temperature fell to a record ten degrees below freezing. Gales and rain are with us again and the forecast cannot promise any respite.

At Kats&Kits life must go on as usual, animals must be fed and cared for, and the helpers struggle in whatever the weather. Freezing fog, icy roads, floods do not deter them, Lorraine and the cats are very grateful. Heating bills are always huge in the winter but this year will be doubly so. There have been few things to lift the spirits during this never ending winter weather but at the end of the intensely cold but sunny days we have had the most spectacular sunsets.

Kats & Kits

The Diary of a Rural Cat Sanctuary

Character Cats

09 February 2009

Snow shoes needed

03 February 2009

February Winners

01 February 2009

A sad goodbye

Winter at Kats and Kits

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