Kats & Kits

February Draw

2012-02-06T20:52:00.001Z

The February Draw of the"100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

D Barcham of Marston

J Powell of Frome

M Jordan of Mkt Lavington

Jumble Sale

2012-02-02T12:27:00.001Z

We hope that spring is not far away, Kats and Kits first Jumble Sale of the year certainly isn't. Join us on Saturday 11th Feb. at Devizes Scout Hall , Southbroom Rd. Devizes at 10am.

January Draw

2012-01-14T22:44:00.001Z

The January Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

P Hinton of Marston

S Cott of Devizes

I Macqueen of Mkt. Lavington

Two Young Cats need a foster home

2011-12-29T17:14:00.001Z

Kats and Kits are looking for a foster home for 2 young cats whose owner has to go into hospital. They are insured and their food will be paid for.

They are gentle cats and must stay together.

They need a quiet home for maybe up to a year.

Please contact us on;

Devizes Kats and Kits in Care

PO Box 5097 Trowbridge BA14 4EE

Phone;

07976624770

Email;

kats&kits@btinternet,com

Dodger, Bridport's Easy Bus Rider

2011-12-23T18:44:00.005Z

Christmas and New Year Wishes

2011-12-23T17:25:00.001Z

Kats and Kits would like to thank helpers and supporters alike at the end of an another eventful year.Rescues have been overflowing this year due to the financial crisis. The only solution that would ease the problem is for every responsible cat owner to make sure their cats and kittens are neuered, so make neutering your mantra for 2012 and spread the word.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

December Draw

2011-12-12T18:59:00.001Z

The December draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

M Bolwell of Potterne

I Crucifix of Steeple Ashton

J Goundry of Devizes

Helpers needed

2011-11-30T10:16:00.001Z

Another year has nearly passed. The severe weather at the beginning of the year meant a big heating bill, while the mild autumn has been very welcome for cats and helpers. We have lost 15 of our elderly cats this year which leaves a total of 76 living at Kats&Kits permanently, many needing expensive veterinary care as well as food and litter all of which have increased in price.

Several of our very valuable long term helpers have had to leave this year and Lorraine is very grateful for all the help they have given Kats&Kits, but we need to recruit more cat carers and fund raisers.

If you want to contact us with an offer of voluntary help or a donation please write to ;

Devizes Kats and Kits in Care.

PO Box 5097 Trowbridge.BA14 4EE

or Phone 07976624770

Email katsandkits@btinternet.com

Christmas Jumble Sale

2011-11-11T09:39:00.001Z

Our last Jumble Sale of the Year takes place on ;

Saturday 19th November at Devizes Scout Hall, Southbroom Rd, at 10am

Be early to bag the bargains!

November Draw

2011-11-11T09:33:00.001Z

The November Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

R Kennedy of London

T Crouch of Rowde

D Oaten of Trowbridge

October Draw

2011-10-15T11:27:00.001+01:00

The October Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

S Purves of Melksham

P Hale of Market Lavington

K Hall of Limpley Stoke

September Draw

2011-09-16T16:56:00.001+01:00

The September Draw of the"100 Club" has taken place and here are the winners;

H Cross of Bath

T Johnston of Bristol

H Thompson of Rowde

JUMBLE SALE

2011-09-03T16:18:00.001+01:00

Many thanks to everyone who supported us last Saturday at our Brittox sale. After horrendous storms on Friday the sun came out on Saturday and so did the customers and we had a very good morning.

Next Saturday, September the 10th there will be a Jumble Sale in the Scout Hall , Southbroom Rd., Devizes at 10 am. Anything you regret not buying last week might still be for sale on the10th plus a lot more.

So make sure you are there early and be first in the queue!

Seventeen Birthdays

2011-08-15T17:17:00.001+01:00

Seventeen years ago on Monday 15th of August Kats & Kits had its very first meeting. The aim was to raise a modest sum of money to convert the goat house into pens for the homeless cats Lorraine was caring for at her home at Market Lavington.

Since then many hundreds of cats, stray, abandoned and neglected have been cared for and found new homes ,both in the early days at Drove Lane and at Wick Farm where Kats & Kits is now based.

Kats & Kits is still working hard mainly as a sanctuary giving a permanent home to eighty plus cats that have come to us over the years but have not been suitable for rehoming.

If you would like to join our loyal band of helpers and fundraisers please ring 01380 828850 and leave a message and your telephone number and someone will call you back.

August Draw

2011-08-14T18:50:00.001+01:00

The August Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

D Poole of Market Lavington

P Hilder of Hereford

M Brazil of Trowbridge

2011-08-14T09:45:00.005+01:00

Lorna's Willow gets protective over her jar of Marmite!

Brittox Sale

2011-08-11T21:48:00.001+01:00

Come and meet us on August 27th when we have our annual sale in the Brittox , Devizes.

As usual lots of bargains to be snapped up , from 9am till 1pm.

July Draw

2011-07-15T17:45:00.001+01:00

The July draw of the "100" club has taken place and these are the winners;

J Cook of Ross on Wye

P Gridler of Westbury

E Broomfield of Devizes

June Draw

2011-06-09T17:26:00.001+01:00

The June Draw of the"100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

D. Marsden of Cyprus

M. Wallace of Devizes

K Hall of Limpley Stoke

Jumble Sale

2011-06-09T12:36:00.001+01:00

Jumble Sale time again;

Jumble Sale June 25th 10 am

Devizes Scout Hall

Southbroom Rd

Devizes

Times Change

2011-06-08T12:01:00.001+01:00

In the early days of Ks&Ks many a coffee break was spent trying to decide what we should call the latest members of our cat community. At that time we were re-homing up to three hundred cats a year many of them coming to us as sad little scraps wanting a plate of food and a warm bed very few of them bringing a name from a previous home.

How to choose? Ebony,Midnight, Liquorice, Panther not hard to guess their colour.. Where they were found ? Mini and her sisters Martha and Muppet tiny kittens found in a mini car in a skip, Rum and Raisin, Moses and Luke, Spice, Domino, Bob, Omo, Teddie, Tinkerbell and Tuppence, Tansy and Treacle, Sam and Sally and how could we forget Tabs and Tabitha and of course Basil the list is endless.

When visiting a friend I was impressed by the exotic name she called her cat. I told her the story of the cat naming coffee breaks and she said " its easy now ,there lists of names on the Internet it only takes a minute to find a name." She is right I looked and there are, Another of life's simple pleasures gone.

New Draw

2011-05-17T17:16:00.001+01:00

The first draw of the new "100 Club" year has taken place and these are the winners;

K Hall of Bath

T Johnson of Bristol

R Purdam of Easterton

April Draw

2011-04-11T22:56:00.001+01:00

The April Draw of the"100 Club"has taken place and these are the winners;

D Billett of Devizes

J Spiller of Warminster

G Hall of Keevil

The April Draw is the last one in the "100 Club" year and everyone will soon be receiving renewal forms. We hope that you will be able to support us again in the coming year, there is always the chance that you will be one of the monthly winners.Our thanks to everyone who participated.

Jumble Sale

2011-03-21T10:34:00.001Z

Kats and Kits are holding a Jumble Sale on Saturday March 26th, at Devizes Scout Hall at 10am

We look forward to seeing our regular supporters and hope to welcome some new ones.

Lots of bargains as usual.

March Draw

2011-03-15T09:56:00.001Z

The March Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

I Snook of Easterton

L Cowen of Urchfont

I Baggs of Keevilk

On His Best Behaviour

2011-02-27T20:41:00.016Z

Many of you will have seen Larry the four year old rescue cat being installed as chief mouser at No 10 Downing St. He is very handsome but is he a hunter much less a ratter, I have my doubts. Some cats are hunters some are not, some chase birds, some bring the odd mouse home as a present but very few domestic cats are rat catchers, even at Kats & Kits where we have 80 plus permanent cats with the freedom of the countryside put a rat in front of many of them and they would look at you with amazement,

“What am I suppose to do with this? I’m going back to bed; call me when the food is ready.”

Many years of cat owning has shown me that cats that do hunt have preferences; Thomas who has been the subject of many posts is the classic lean mean hunting machine. He was a farm kitten, ginger tabby with temperament to match. We have a railway embankment nearby and every morning the rats would be lined up on my neighbours’ patio. Unfortunately for them they are nearer the hunting ground and fortunately for Thomas they are cat lovers. I am sure they are relieved that now he is eighteen he has slowed down a little and they have fewer bodies to dispose of.

Fred on the other hand, (sadly he is no longer with us) would bring home live prey, squeezing his ample frame through the cat flap with a large toad in his mouth legs dangling, or maybe a mouse squeaking and very much alive, even on occasion a young rabbit. Several hours of curtain shaking and furniture moving would ensue before with Fred’s help we would find the frightened creature and put it outside, probably to be caught again the next night. Birds however did not fare so well and we learnt to keep him in at night so he was not outside when the birds were feeding in the early morning.

Larry however I think is a charmer and will smooth the difficulties of diplomatic discussion. Who could resist him? I think some practise with the catnip mouse might still be a good idea so he can at least pretend he knows how to hunt. I am sure the good folk at Battersea hope he will ingratiate himself with his new family before anybody calls his hunting abilities into question. It will be interesting to see how much white fur is clinging to those dark suits as they come out of No10.

February Draw

2011-02-10T13:19:00.001Z

The February Draw of the "100Club" has taken place and here are the winners:

J Hermon of Christchurch

L Young of Cardiff

T & L Johnston of Bristol

The Danger of Snares

2011-02-05T18:46:00.004Z

We recently received this email; it's a timely and important warning for all pet owners in the countryside..

To: katsandkits@btinternet.com
Sent: Monday, 31 January, 2011 8:42:37
Subject: The danger of snares

I would like to tell our tale of the weekend which happily seems to have had a happy outcome.

Tilly is one of 4 kittens, hand reared since 2 weeks old, she and her brother and sisters have become part of our family along with her grandmother LouLou who arrived uninvited on our doorstep about two years ago and decided to stay.

Our four youngsters Thomas, Crackle, Gergie and the unfortunate Tilly have the run of our large garden and fields and live a happy and somewhat sheltered life. Free of worries about cars, tractors and most dogs, apart from their foster mother Holly a very large hairy GSD.

This Saturday gone, Tilly went missing!! Used only to being in the big outside for two or three hours at a time we knew something was wrong when she didn’t appear with her siblings in the early afternoon. Having searched and searched, called and called we decided she must have wandered off and would be back when she was really hungry.

Taking Holly for a walk before dark Tilly had still not appeared and as I approached home I decided to call her again. Imagine my relief when I heard her crying in response – and horror when I found her well and truly tangled in a rabbit snare!! With the help of neighbours with wire cutters it took over 15 minutes to extract her. I can only imagine she had been trapped for hours and we all know how cold it was at the weekend.

It was a miracle I found her, she would not have survived the night and a miracle I was walking where I was. Happily, there appear to be no lasting injuries, very very shocked, very very cold, and very very sore – the wire was wrapped tightly around her stomach and hips. She is now back in the bosom of her loving family, Holly is over the moon and won’t stop licking her given half a chance, and after two days of almost constant sleep and chicken morsels on tap is almost back to normal.

While I accept that rabbits are a nuisance, indeed we are overrun in the Kings Road area, I cannot imagine a more horrific, barbaric way of killing any animal. The thought of what could have happened and undoubtedly has happened to numerous wild animals and loved pets does not bear thinking about.

Does anyone know if this practise is in fact still legal?

Linda

January Draw

2011-01-09T18:15:00.001Z

The January draw of "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

J Chambers of Bromham

R Jefferys of Devon

S Badger of Langford

Lost and hopefully found

2011-01-07T17:54:00.001Z

I spoke to someone this week who had been looking after a stray cat for six months. Due to her ill health she knew she would have to find it a new home but it was not until she got in touch with a rescue that anyone suggested that it might be microchipped.

The first thing the rescue did was to scan the cat and of course it was chipped, and they discovered that it had been away from home for three years. We know it was a lucky cat when it found the house of our friend who nursed it back to good health but where had it been in the previous two and half years certainly not with anyone who knew about microchipping.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that microchipping is a very good idea but only if the general public know that a cat they suspect might be stray can be scanned by vet or animal charities and with luck returned to its owners. So cat lovers spread the word.

December Draw

2010-12-06T17:16:00.001Z

The December draw of the "One Hundred Club" has taken place and these are the winners:

L & M Waters of Devizes

J Marsland of Cyprus

J Barnett of Eastcott

November Draw

2010-11-14T12:55:00.001Z

The November Draw of the "100" club has taken place and these are the winners;

P Wood of Seend

J Mander of Chirton

S McCutcheon of Devizes

No new cats at Christmas

2010-11-13T13:03:00.001Z

To give a good home to a needy cat is a wonderful thing to do but the Christmas holiday is not the time to do it especially if you have busy house full of visitors and children. At best it will probably be sick from rich food it is not used to and at worst someone will let it out by mistake and it will be lost again. When you have chosen your cat arrange to bring it home when you have got time to spend with it and you can make a quiet place for it to have its bed ,food and litter tray.

We are told the rescue centres are bursting at the seams with unwanted cats so do not become part of the statistics make sure new cats and kittens are neutered, straight away for adults and between five and six months for kittens. Many of the large charities will provide financial help and your vet will be pleased to advise you.

JUMBLE SALE

2010-11-13T12:11:00.001Z

Christmas is coming and so is our last sale of the year. We hope you have saved a few pence to buy some bargains and help our cats keep fed and warm over the winter.

JUMBLE SALE

December 4 th, 10 am

Devizes Scout Hall

Southbroom Rd

Devizes

October Draw

2010-10-13T10:07:00.001+01:00

The October Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and the winners are;

P Hawkins of Devizes

E Burt of Easterton

R Hunt Devizes

September Draw

2010-09-16T18:59:00.001+01:00

The September Draw of the"100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

L Cowan of Urchfont

J Manders of Devizes

P Wood of Seend

Goodbye Basil

2010-09-01T23:39:00.003+01:00

Many of the cats that come to Kats and Kits have had some sort of trauma in their lives and Basil was no exception. As a young cat Basil had to share his home with an exotic Havana cat whose highly strung temperament proved to be too much for our gentle ginger and white boy to cope with. Poor Basil was bitten and his leg became infected and had to be amputated.

His family felt unable to cope with a three legged cat and consequently through no fault of his own he was without a home. He had a very appealing personality and it was agreed that every effort should be made to find him a new family who would appreciate him and with whom he would be happy.

Luckily one of the vets treating him knew a friend of Lorraine ’s and when she was approached she did not hesitate to offer him a home. How could she refuse this smiley ginger and white cat with the Walt Disney face and wonderful friendly nature. He endeared himself to us all in a very special way and soon we had all fallen under his spell.

That was fifteen years ago and during all those years he made us laugh launching himself over fences on his three legs, gratefully accepting some help when scratching was difficult and sunbathing on his back in the vegetable patch. Visitors were greeted with great enthusiasm and we could have rehomed Basil a hundred times over, not that Lorraine would ever have parted with him.

Over the years Basil became very attached to Tansy and Tammy and the three pals spent most of their time together.

Sadly Basil’s health began to deteriorate and last week with much heartache it was decided it would be kinder to put him to sleep. It was very hard to say goodbye to a much loved old friend. How lucky we have been to have had Basil with us all these years and we like to think that he has been happy too.

August Draw

2010-08-14T20:36:00.001+01:00

The August Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

Mrs Philips of Devizes

K Summer of Devizes

S Hodgetts of Devizes

Two Dates for the Bargain Hunters

2010-08-12T16:32:00.001+01:00

Kats & Kits annual sale in The Brittox Devizes,

Saturday 28th August, 9am-1pm.

As usual lots of bargains and we hope to see friends and supporters old and new.

Saturday 4th Sept.

Jumble Sale 10 am

Devizes Scout Hall

Southbroom Rd.

Devizes

Thank-you John and Julie

2010-07-31T12:48:00.008+01:00

Lorriane and Nita (right, centre) of Kats and Kits are presented with a cheque by Julie Leighton.

Almost exactly a year ago we were very pleased to announce that our new Devizes mayor Councillor John Leighton had made Kats&Kits one of his charities for his mayoral year along with Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Dorothy House Hospice. Councillor Leighton and his wife Julie were great cat lovers and visited us several times.

Sadly eight months into his mayoral year Councillor Leighton died and it was a very emotional occasion when the three beneficiaries of his fund were presented with their cheques by Julie Leighton at Devizes Town Hall this week.

Raising money for animal welfare is very difficult in the present economic crisis, so we are very grateful for the generous gesture made by John and Julie when they chose us to benefit from the mayoral appeal.

July Draw

2010-07-09T12:35:00.001+01:00

The July Draw of the"100 club" has taken place and these are the winners;

H Lovelock of Devizes

P Spencer of East Grinstead

J Spencer of Devizes

June Draw

2010-06-08T10:16:00.001+01:00

The June Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

S Davinett of Market Lavington

P Hawkins of Devizes

E Duck of Worton

JUMBLE SALE

2010-05-21T12:32:00.001+01:00

KATS & KITS summer Jumble Sale will take place on ;

Saturday 5th June, 10am

Devizes Scout Hall

Southbroom rd.

Devizes

We are very happy to receive goods until 10 am on Sat. 5th but please no large items or electrical goods.

Please support us and take home some bargains.

May Draw

2010-05-07T22:13:00.001+01:00

The first draw of the new year of the "100 Club"has taken place and the winners are;

D Haigh of Devizes

M & L Waters of Devizes

R Jeffery of Tiverton

Missing in Devizes

2010-05-01T12:10:00.001+01:00

If you live in or near Charter Close , Devizes, please check your garages and sheds for a ginger and white tom cat who has been missing since the 20th April. If you have any news of him please ring Zena on 01380 729263. His family are very worried about him.

A Poignant Reminder

2010-04-17T22:55:00.001+01:00

A Lonely Cat

I wish someone would tell me what is it that I've done wrong.
Why do I have to stay outside in the rain and be left alone so long?
They seemed so glad to have me when I came here as a kitten.
There were so many things we'd do while I was growing up.

The Master said he'd love me as a companion and a friend.
The Mistress said she'd never fear to be left alone again.
The children said they'd feed me and brush me every day.
They'd play with me and walk me if I would only stay.

But now the Master hasn't time, the Mistress says I shed.
She doesn't want me in the house, not even to be fed.
The Children never pet me; they always say, "Not now"
I wish that I could please them. Won't someone tell me how?

All I had, you see, was love.
I wish they would explain
Why they said they wanted mine,
And then left it outside in the rain.

Author: Jodi Riker Yap

""100 Club" Renewal Forms

2010-04-08T16:36:00.001+01:00

An apology to all our supporters who are patiently waiting for the renewal forms for the new year of the "100 Club". Due to unforseen circumstances, not least Lorriane having to go into hospital for a new knee joint, the start of the new draw has been put forward for one month. The renewal forms will be with you soon and we hope that you will support us for another year starting on the 1st May.

March Draw

2010-03-09T10:49:00.001Z

The March Draw of the "100" Club has taken place and these are the winners;

M Lovelock of Devizes

L Robson of Keevil

E Broomfield of Devizes

Amber on the Isle of Wight

2010-03-08T01:16:00.006Z

Our recent posting about the widely traveled Alfie who was re-homed by Kats and Kits and is now living happily in Strathmore Valley near Dundee prompted Clare Gallagher to email us from the Isle of Wight to tell us about Amber.

Amber was adopted from Kats and Kits in 2001 and lived locally in Coate Devizes until about 18 months ago when the family moved to a rural part of the picturesque Isle of Wight off the Hampshire coast. Clare tells us that Amber hates the cold weather we've had this winter and has taken to sleeping on her computer. She's also very vocal and provide's the family's wake up call every morning.

February Jumble Sale

2010-03-07T17:34:00.005Z

The Kats and Kits Winter Jumber Sale was once again a winner, drawing large crowds to Devizes Scout Hall.

February Draw

2010-02-09T11:32:00.001Z

The February Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

S Badger of Wrington

L Young of Cardiff

C Krebs of Devizes

Jumble Sale

2010-02-07T18:11:00.001Z

We have had our first spring like day, mild sunny weather, no rain, frost ,wind or snow. It seems an appropriate moment to announce what you have all been waiting for, our first sale of the New Year.

If the sun is shining or the snow is falling please support us and go home as you always do with some great bargains.

Devizes Kats&Kits
Jumble Sale
Saturday 20th February 10 am
Devizes Scout Hall
Southbroom Rd
Devizes

Missing in Devizes

2010-01-21T17:25:00.001Z

Missing since the 16th January, "Sevie", a black and white cat.He is 11 years old and is microchipped.

Will everyone in the Windsor Drive area of Devizes please look out for him. His owner says he is timid so please check your garages and sheds to make sure he is not shut in.

If you see him please ring 01380 724019

Sad news

2010-01-18T10:54:00.001Z

It is with great sadness that we have to report that one of our great supporters Coun. John Leighton has died. Coun. Leighton was this years' Mayor of Devizes and made Kats&Kits one of his mayoral year charities along with Dorothy House and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Being true cat lovers, sharing their home with twelve lovely cats, we were very pleased when Coun Leighton and his wife Julie visited us last year to see our large family.

Everyone at Kats&Kits would like to express their sympathy to Julie and her family at this sad time and hope that she will visit us again soon.

Let it snow, let it snow....

2010-01-09T23:27:00.008Z

Kats and Kits is on the edge of Salisbury Plain in the UK and very vulnerable to the worst of the weather that sweeps across the Wiltshire countryside from all points of the compass. As we're about to enter the second week of drifting snow and record breaking low temperatures, -11 degrees centigrade has been recorded 2 nights running, it's testing the ingenuity of the volunteers to keep the place running and the cats safe and well.

To help keep track of the weather conditions in the Devizes area, see the widget below that displays the latest forecasts from the Met Office. It updates every time the page is loaded so bookmark us and keep checking back to see the latest official information and weather warnings.

First Draw of the year

2010-01-08T17:29:00.001Z

The January Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and these are the winners;

D Oaten of Trowbridge

R Hunt of Potterne

J & I Macqueen of Lavington

Hope for a better year ahead

2009-12-27T17:58:00.001Z

Seasons greetings to all our helpers and supporters. Once again Kats&Kits says thank you for your help and donations in what has been a very difficult year for animal rescues everywhere. We are a completely voluntary group and any money donated or raised is spent entirely on the cats welfare. If you would like to work at Kats&Kits we are always looking for voluntary help. We are based between Bulkington and Keevil and transport would be needed.

If you are interested ring Lorraine on 01380 828850 and leave a message and she will get back to you.

What's it all about Alfie?

2009-12-20T23:32:00.004Z

Here we have Alfie who was re-homed by Kats and Kits with Melissa and David in 2001 before moving north with the family to the beautiful countryside of the Strathmore Valley near Dundee.

Despite being 19 years old we hear he still rules his territory, and the household, as energetically as he did from the first day and personally contributes to many family emails.

Swine not welcome at Kats&Kits

2009-12-20T19:30:00.003Z

Your blogger became a statistic and succumbed to a dose of swine flu,not to be recommended! I had excellent care from my husband who was supervised by Thomas my 17 year old ginger tom who has a slightly unpredictable temperament that goes with the colour of his coat. Apart from essential quick trips through the cat flap he did not leave my bed for four days, regularly checking my temperature by sitting on my chest with his nose so close to mine that I would be cross eyed and breathing the aroma of Whiskas over me to stimulate a quick recovery. When in the night it got chilly he would lay very close and I am not sure who was keeping who warm. He did not approve of clean sheets and would disappear with a hiss and a flick of his tail while the sheets were changed and then make a lot of fuss when he came back getting his nest comfortable again.

I am now recovered and he has gone back to his old routine checking and marking his hunting grounds and heaven help any intruders who have tried to muscle in while he has been away.

December Draw

2009-12-11T16:55:00.001Z

The December Draw of the "100 club" has taken place and these are the winners;

M Hunt of Devizes

H Bewley of Chirton

K Smith of Calne

November Draw

2009-11-10T22:34:00.001Z

The November draw of the"100" Club has taken place and the winners are;

L Spencer of Keevil

J Lake of Devizes

Mr & Mrs L Waters of Devizes

Last Sale of the Year

2009-11-02T11:09:00.001Z

Despite other animal charities stripping off for Christmas calenders we at Ks&Ks have decided to stick to Jumble Sales as a way of boosting our Christmas funds. The last one of the year will be this month. Hope to see you there.

JUMBLE SALE

Saturday 21st November 10am

Devizes Scout Hall

Southbroom Rd

Devizes

Good news for Tarn

2009-11-02T10:55:00.001Z

We are very pleased to report that Tarn (see the posting of 2nd August) has found a very good new home with experienced cat owners where he will be the only cat and will get a lot of attention. We hope they will all be happy together.

No Pussyfootin'

2009-10-10T17:24:00.003+01:00

We are lucky kittens that have spent time with our two sisters being cared for at Ks&Ks before going to our new homes.

October Draw

2009-10-04T14:14:00.001+01:00

The October draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and the winners are;

J Marsland of Cyprus

I Snook of Easterton

J & S Wylam of Market Lavington

Still no news

2009-09-30T21:35:00.001+01:00

Sadly we have had no news of Ginny. Not knowing what has happened to your much loved pet if it goes missing is very hard to bear. Her owners are still hoping that someone will find her and realise she is micro chipped and of course that is what we hope too.

Cats are the last domestic animal to have their freedom and they are very vulnerable in our busy hectic world. Dogs are now controlled by law and must have a collar and identification, though the system does not always work it is very unusual to see dogs wandering loose as was quite normal in my childhood.

Cats can be stray for some time before they look in poor condition and then they will rely on an animal lover to help. Vets and rescue organisations have scanners to check if an animal is micro chipped. A note with a telephone number on a collar will sometimes identify whether it has a home or not and perhaps prick a conscience if the poor animal is not getting the care it deserves. Ringing vets and rescues, putting out flyers and posters are all things we have written about in previous postings. The more people who know the cat is missing the better. If the cat is too timid for you to catch, you will need to borrow a trap from a rescue or animal charity

The Story of Milk

When a cat goes missing even if it is reunited with its owners, we very rarely know the full story of what has happened to it while it has been away. Kats&Kits have taken in many strays and only a small proportion of these timid, hungry and frightened animals have been claimed by their owners, maybe because they didn't know where to look or they just assume they have had an accident and don't bother. Hopefully micro chipping will improve this and there will more happy endings.

In the early days of Kats&Kits a large black cat turned up at our gate accompanied by a very sad lady who asked us if we would take him in and find him a new home. She lived in a mobile home park and the rules said no animals. He had apparently wandered in a couple of months earlier and between them the residents had cared for him and of course had hoped they could keep him but it was not to be and reluctantly they brought him to us.

If this story does not contain every detail I apologise and will happily be corrected by anyone who was involved, but it was a long time ago and there have been a lot of cats, but in general I think it is true as I remember it and illustrates one of the few times that we were able to piece together the whole story of a cat's adventure.

Our new resident soon settled in, he was such a lovely natured cat that we could understand why his temporary carers had been so attached to him. The phone rang frequently with enquiries after his health.

We were so sure that he must have had a home that we put up some posters locally and to our surprise we had a phone call from a lady who said her friend had seen a poster and could it possibly be her cat that we were looking after. Well you know the answer of course, it was, she was thrilled to see him, he wasn't that bothered but that's cats for you.

We knew the end of the story so she told us the beginning. A few months before she had workmen at her house and while they were there she had gone shopping, on her way home she noticed their van in a lay bye on the opposite side of the road, they opened the door and out jumped, yes you have guessed it, a large black cat. Why they didn't take him home we don't know but he was lost. Luckily for him he found the mobile home park and you know the rest of the story. Things turned out well for Milk, yes that was his name, we wish that it could be the same for every missing cat. Keep your eyes open, that little cat hanging around your garden taking food from the bird table might be somebody's lost cat, it is worth finding out.

September Draw

2009-09-06T22:56:00.001+01:00

The September Draw of the "100 Club" has taken place and the winners are;

Mrs. D Gibb of Littleton Panell

Mr & Mrs. P Couch of Northallerton

Mr & Mrs. L Waters of Devizes

Brittox Sale

2009-08-31T11:43:00.001+01:00

Many thanks to helpers and customers alike for making last Saturday's sale in The Brittox, Devizes such a success. As it is an outside event we very much rely on good weather and once again it was dry and bright. We had a huge selection of goods and selling started as the first box was being unpacked before nine o'clock and continued non stop until one. Books, china, jewellery, bags and bric-a-brac disapeared quickly, snapped up by our discerning customers who seemed delighted with their purchases.

We were very pleased to see many of our regulars and to hear the latest news of their Kats& Kits cats. It gives us great pleasure to know that some of the first cats we rescued are still hale and hearty even though they are getting elderly, but this applies to some of the helpers too!

We must also thank everyone who donated goods for us to sell, and hope they will start collecting again for the next round of jumble sale starting on Sept.19th at the Scout Hall, Southbroom Rd. Devizes. 10am.

Happy Birthday!

2009-08-15T21:48:00.001+01:00

Devizes Kats & Kits started exactly fifteen years ago to-day, We have cared for thousands of cats, loved and cherished each one, and that is how we hope to continue. There have been many happy times and some sad, laughter and tears but always joy seeing the cats every day.

August Draw

2009-08-03T09:57:00.001+01:00

The August draw of the "100 club" has taken place and the winners are;

J Crouch of Rowde

O&C Heffernon of Worton

J Crawford of Conock

August Sale

2009-08-02T18:22:00.001+01:00

Don't miss our bigest sale of the year, bric a brac, books, plants and surprise items that even we don't see until the morning of the sale.

Sat. 22nd August 9am - 1pm

The Brittox, Devizes Wilts.

A New Home for Tarn

2009-08-02T18:14:00.003+01:00

Tarn came to the sanctuary a few months ago. He had been found injured by a passer bye and taken to the vet. There he had surgery which resulted in him having his tail amputated.
He is a handsome neutered Tabby about two years old with an engaging personality. He loves human company, calling for your attention, taking every opportunity to rub against your legs, sit on your lap or go walking with you, a real companion cat.
After giving him time to recover and to get used to his surroundings Lorraine decided to let him out of his pen and give him the freedom that the other sanctuary cats enjoy. However the strong character that makes him a delightful human companion proved to be too much for many of the other cats to cope with, especially those that are timid or elderly, because of this Tarn now has to spend most of his time in his pen, though this is large with a garden area it is not ideal for a young energetic cat who likes company.
So we are looking for a new home for Tarn. He needs to be the sole cat with experienced cat owners who are around for a good part of the day. Ideally a rural situation would be best or a large garden with no cats near bye.
If you think you could give this lovely cat a good home please ring Lorraine on 01380 828850 and leave a message, she will come back to you.

July Draw

2009-07-06T19:03:00.001+01:00

The winners of the July "100 Club Draw are;

J. Davies of Codford

D Barcham of Marston

S McCutcheon of Devizes

Worth every penny

2009-07-01T16:18:00.001+01:00

During spring and early summer every year we make a plea for everyone to have neutered, kittens by six months at the latest and any full grown cats that have yet to be done. We always explain that males and females are much happier more affectionate and settled when they have been neutered, but most of all they cannot add to the increasing numbers of stray cats that animal charities and rescues are desperately trying to cope with.

The economic crisis which is affecting us all is a double problem for animal charities, not only are there more animals being abandoned but less money is being donated from the public because many people think that money for animals should be bottom of the list of priorities..

All the big charities, RSPCA, Cats Protection and the PDSA have funds to help with neutering as this is one of their prime objectives. If responsible ownership is not improved we fear that many healthy cats will be put to sleep because there are not enough new homes for them and not enough money or room to keep them in rescues or sanctuaries permanently. Here at Kats&Kits we have always given every cat a chance and though we are only a small organisation we are full to overflowing looking after approximately ninety cats at any one time. We have over the years rehomed many hundreds but now care for those with permanent problems. Read some of the earlier postings for their stories.

This brings us back to neutering, Kats&Kits is full and so are many rescues, most the of the cats have been through unnecessary suffering which could have been avoided if neutering was automatically carried out. Please have your cat neutered and urge your family and friends to do the same. Ask your vet to promote neutering vigorously, they don't always. Ignore all the old wives tales about not neutering toms and letting females have one litter, they are all rubbish. Think twice before you buy an expensive pedigree, go and look at all the rescue cats who are longing for a good home.

Help is always needed at Kats&Kits. Please ring if you are fit and well and would like to help one morning a week. 01380 828850 Leave a message and we will ring you back.

June Draw

2009-06-08T19:30:00.001+01:00

The winners of the June "100 Club" draw are;

T. Duck of Worton

R. Jeffery of Tiverton

J. Barnett of Escott, Devizes

Good News for Kats&Kits

2009-05-27T19:22:00.001+01:00

Devizes has a new mayor Coun John Leighton and we are pleased to hear he is a cat lover, he and his wife care for twelve rescue cats at their home in Devizes. Coun Leighton visited Kats&Kats and we are delighted that he has chosen us as one of his charities for his mayoral year along with the Dorothy House Hospice and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Our best wishes to him for a successful year and we hope he will find time to visit us again.

Jumble sale

2009-05-25T16:27:00.000+01:00

Sat. 30th May Jumble Sale 10 am.

Devizes Scout Hall

Southbroom Rd.

Devizes

May Draw

2009-05-05T19:52:00.001+01:00

The winners of the May "100 club" draw are;

E Baggs of Keevil

Mr& Mrs Chambers of Bromham

S Copp of Devizes

Loved and cherished

2009-05-05T19:42:00.001+01:00

This is Marilyn with some of our senior residents, most of them hale and hearty , some getting a little frail, but all of them cared for and in the best condition possible. Regular checks are a must, bad teeth , thyroid irregularities, infections are just some of the problems seen in older cats that nowadays can be treated relatively easily by the vet. Left untreated your elderly cat who has been your companion and friend for many years can become seriously ill and suffer unnecessarily.

We have many cats in their teens and some in their twenties all still enjoying life. I share my house with Thomas, sixteen years old, on one tablet a day to control a chronic mouth condition and still hunting and I am ashamed to say fighting over his territory. Without this treatment he would be a very unhappy cat unable to eat and in poor condition.

Please take care of your old cat, make sure he is able to get into the house, hours sitting in the cold will do him no good, give him a nice warm bed some where quiet and put off getting that puppy for a while.

Marylin with Friends

2009-05-02T18:26:00.002+01:00

First draw of the new season

2009-04-06T16:51:00.001+01:00

The winners of the March "100 club" draw are;

E. Broomfield of Devizes

P Hawkins of Devizes

J Marsland from Cyprus

Jumble Sales

2009-03-27T18:21:00.001Z

Two weeks of beautiful spring weather lifted our spirits, cats and helpers alike. Carpets of snow drops everywhere, patches of purple and yellow crocus and daffodils giving a cheerful welcome to all who visit Kats&Kits. Mother Nature is playing her usual tricks and now we are back to winter with bitter winds and rain. Helpers at Kats&Kits have working wardrobes to suit all weathers usually liberally decorated with bleach, which brings us to the Jumble Sales.

We have had many enquiries about the next Jumble Sale and we are sorting the mountain of jumble in the barn. Problems with booking the hall has meant a late start this year, however we have two dates booked so there will be two sales close together.

Dates to remember;

APRIL 25th and MAY 30th. Jumble Sales at Devizes Scout Hall, Southbroom Rd. Devizes.

10 am start, don't forget the early comers get the bargains!

Beth and Tabs

2009-03-11T23:14:00.001Z

Join the club

2009-03-07T18:21:00.001Z

We have now come to the end of a successful first year of the "100 club"draw. Those of you who joined last year should now have had a renewal form to complete for this year. We hope that you will support us once again and have the chance to win one of the three monthly prizes while helping us to care for the large number of cats living at the Kats&Kits sanctuary.

If you would like to join for the first time please e mail us with your name and address or leave a message on 01380 828850 and we will send you the details.

March Winners

2009-03-03T18:14:00.001Z

The winners of the March "100 Club Draw" are;

Mary Cosker of Potterne

Linda Robinson of Newark

Clive & Karen Dabinett of Market Lavington

Snow shoes needed

2009-02-09T16:02:00.001Z

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!

February Winners

2009-02-03T10:36:00.001Z

Winners of the February "100 club" draw are;

Ian and Jacky Macqueen of Mkt. Lavington

Scott Dabinett of Mkt. Lavington

Trevor Johnson of Bristol

A sad goodbye

2009-02-01T10:44:00.003Z

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 at Kats and Kits

2009-02-01T10:36:00.003Z

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.

New Year Draw winners

2009-01-07T11:30:00.001Z

The winners of the January "100 club draw" are ;

Jason Spiller of Warminster

Tony Duck of Worton

Kate Smith of Calne

Thanks to all

2008-12-26T21:05:00.001Z

Seasons greetings to all our helpers and supporters. Whatever your contribution this year it has been much appreciated. Our thanks and best wishes to you all and every one of our feline friends.

December Winners

2008-12-03T16:21:00.001Z

The winners of the December 100 club draw are;

Linda Ogilvie of Bulkington

William Finch of Erlestoke

Ann Johnson of Marlborough

Make Christmas a peaceful time for cats!

2008-11-29T11:22:00.001Z

If Christmas is a busy time in your household spare a thought for your cat. If you don't want it to be sick on grandma or need an expensive out of hours visits to the vet try to keep to its regular routine.

If you are having a lot of visitors, try in the weeks leading up to the celebrations to get your feline friend used to a nice quiet out of the way spot that it can call its own. Provide its normal food and a litter tray and hopefully the stress will be kept to a minimum.

All pets need to be kept away from Christmas decorations, cats are fascinated by the tinsel and baubles so are best not left unsupervised with the tree, but I suppose that applies to the children as well. Rich unfamiliar food can cause problems and please don't give them poultry bones that splinter and get stuck in throats or gut.

Flowers are a lovely gift at Christmas but avoid lilies at all costs, the pollen is very poisonous and if gets on the cat's coat and they groom themselves it is often fatal.

Lastly how about the poor cat that was let out by granddad three nights running but everyone was so inebriated no one thought to let him back in. Surprisingly he forgave them, and didn't find a more welcoming cat flap down the road. Make sure your best friend and companion gets a little extra care and attention this Christmas.

November Draw

2008-11-03T17:22:00.001Z

Winners of the November 100 club draw are;

Amy Hall from Keevil

E. Broomfield from Devizes

Ann Bailey from Hilcott

last sale of the year

2008-11-02T08:56:00.001Z

Make sure you don't miss the bargains at our last sale of the year.

It will take place on ;

SAT. 8th November, 10 am

DEVIZES SCOUT HALL

SOUTHBROOM RD.

DEVIZES

October Draw

2008-10-03T18:48:00.001+01:00

The winners of the October 100 club draw are;

Elizabeth Duck of Worton

Lindsey Johnson of Bristol

David Marsland of Cyprus

GLORIA HELPS OUT

2008-09-29T18:54:00.008+01:00

We are always pleading for help at Kats & Kits and as a result Gloria our goat offered her assistance. You can see in the pictures that she is expert at several tasks, getting the washing off the line is a favourite, gardening, she is an expert at pruning and when her best friend and constant companion Pudding is giving riding lessons she is always there to supervise.

Give us a ring on 01380 828850 if you have some time to spare.

Jumble Sale

2008-09-22T18:54:00.001+01:00

Kats&Kits have a jumble sale on:

SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 10 am

DEVIZES SCOUT HALL

SOUTHBROOM ROAD

DEVIZES

September Draw

2008-09-03T17:47:00.001+01:00

The winners of the September 100 club draw are:

Ron Hunt of Potterne

Maggie Wallace of Devizes

Jonathan Miller of Market Lavington

TIMOTHY'S TALE

2008-08-04T21:01:00.001+01:00

In a week when the RSPCA reports that cruelty to animals has gone up by 25% I want to tell you the story of Timothy, because he is typical of many of the cats at Kat&Kits, unable to care for himself but not acceptable to many rescues because they would not be able to re-home him.

Timothy appeared suddenly, a small bedraggled tabby running nervously close to the ground scavenging for food put out for the birds. It was impossible to see him clearly as at the slightest sound or movement he would disappear, it looked as if he had never had a home or certainly not for a very long time. Amongst the sleek local domestic cats he stood out a mile but they ignored him and he was certainly not aggressive towards them.

We would see him every few days and after about two weeks he was noticed asleep in the adjacent playing field. Creeping closer we could see that he had a large sore on his shoulder which looked like an abscess. As soon as he realised we were near he was gone, leaving us to worry about what we could do to help him. Food was left in the same place and he came regularly over the next few days and the sore place seemed to have improved. When he arrived a day or two later however he was very lame and could hardly walk, it was obvious that he needed help urgently if he was to survive. After a few phone calls we borrowed a trap and discovered from a neighbour that he was going through a hole in her fence nearly every day so this seemed an ideal place to set the trap, this is the only way to catch a timid, frightened or wild cat in safety for cat and catcher alike.

As soon as the trap was set the heavens opened and we had torrential rain for two days. Nothing was seen of the little tabby and we were frightened we were too late. On the third morning the call came through that he was caught. He was very small, had raw sore places on his legs but was protesting at being caught every time we came near. He was taken straight to the vets in the trap because it would have been impossible to transfer him safely. Once there the vet had the unenviable task of trying to anaesthetise him, which she did through the bars of the cage. While asleep he was neutered, had a long lasting antibiotic, his legs were treated also his skin which had a flea allergy and because we did not know how easily we could do this again his ears and teeth were examined. He was also given the name Timothy so that he could be registered.

After a couple of days he came to the sanctuary. He has a good size pen with an outside run front and back so that he can get used to his surroundings and see the other cats coming and going. Of course we worried how he would react. For a short while he hid behind his bed , but if you are a cat who has never had enough to eat you cannot resist a generous plate of food for long even if it is liberally laced with wormer. We are not convinced he is feral, though he hisses and grumbles if you get too close , he loves his bed and armchair, uses his litter tray and enjoys his food. Everyone talks to him but take care not to get too close.

What will happen to him? The plan at the moment is that he will stay for some time in his pen and when the time is right and he realises he can come and go as he pleases and that food will always be available Lorraine will lift the cat flap and we will hold our breaths while we wait to see if he likes us enough to stay. Kats&Kits has thirteen acres in which cats like Timothy can have their freedom but also food, shelter and company, feline and human. We have many cats from farms and factories, all living how they choose, some after several years coming into the house others still keeping their distance but well fed and cared for.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION TO KATS & KITS PLEASE RING : 01380 828850

or send to:

DEVIZES KATS & KITS IN CARE

KEEVIL

TROWBRIDGE

WILTS BA14 6NH

The Winners of the August 100 Club Draw are:-

Jackie Davies from Codford

Linda Boulter from Devizes

Valerie Northway from Devizes