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I’ve Been Cat Sitting for 20 Years!

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Rachel and Lola the cat (both CEO’s)

I had to let you all know that I can’t quite believe it, but Portsmouth Cat Sitting has been in business for 20 years! I was thinking the other day, how things have changed in those years and thought it would make a fun blog to write. So here goes……..

  • When I first set up the business mobile phones were very rare and I didn’t have one for quite a while and all my calls were done via my land line, it’s so much nicer and quicker using a mobile for texting and calls, clients can also get a quick response..
  • The internet has changed so much and I used to have to use dial-up to go on my website!! Imagine trying to sort out your website while a client is trying to call you on the landline but it’s engaged……
  • Before meeting a new client, I remember having to look up addresses with my faithful paper street map! Remember those wonderful A-Z maps from Smith’s? Now I just use Google Maps or Sat Nav.
  • Social Media! Well Facebook didn’t exist and my mobile definitely didn’t take photos for many years and my texting was very iffy…..
  • If people wanted to get hold of me they had to call me on my landline or write me a letter (remember those?) and email was just becoming popular…..
  • Apart from a few months I have always had a Smart Car for work, the perfect car for nipping around Portsmouth and parking in very tight places. I have had as far as I can remember 7 Smart cars, I love them. Working as a cat sitter I’m often up early in the summer months and Christmas to feed cats and parking can be a nightmare, so a small car is a must……love my Smartie
  • Talking of Smart Cars, my first one was a left hand drive, it was all you could get. I remember having my Mum’s dog to stay and the dog would sit in the car with me and of course she looked like she was driving to people. People used to stare at me in the tiny car anyway as Smart cars were rare then and seeing a dog driving one was even odder, especially with cat sitting signage written on the car!
  • There’s lots of cat sitters in Portsmouth now, when I set up there was just me and another person who did dogs as well..
  • People can sit on a plane and pay me now! No waiting days for a cheque to clear…
  • Some people are slowly coming around to learning more about cat welfare and understanding that cats are not an easy option, I believe social media is helping with this but it’s a slow process, I hope to do more blogs and social media posts when I finally finish my Feline Behaviour studies.
  • I wonder how many cats I have fed and litter trays I have cleaned over 20 years?
  • In the 20 years in business 4 cats have shared our home,Tam, (RIP) Gizmo (RIP), Mr Ringo (RIP) and now Lola, it’s always tempting to have more but cats can become very stressed in multi cat households and Lola is so settled.
  • Have a giggle at a very young Rachel, with dark hair! See photo below as featured in the Portsmouth News in 2002! With the very special Gizzy who lived with us until she was 23!
This is a copy I found of a newspaper feature in Portsmouth News (local paper)

Cats and Fireworks

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Fireworks photo courtesy ihavecat.com

If like me you live with a cat who is terrified of fireworks, here are some tips to help with the stress of it all.

  • On the run up to firework night it’s worth investing in a plug- in that will help to calm your cat, I use Feliway and also Pet Remedy plug-ins both are available online and from most vets. Feliway is just for cats and gives off a pheromone which helps calm and make your cat feel happier. Pet Remedy is for all pets, so useful if you have other pets in the house, it gives off scents of natural calming herbs and plants. I have used both and can’t really decide which one I prefer, Feliway is more expensive and doesn’t seem to last as long but as it’s just for cats I feel it maybe better, but Pet Remedy smells more interesting and lasts about 10 days longer, so I have one of each in different areas of my home.
  • As the fireworks normally start when it gets dark you may think about feeding your cat in daylight if that’s possible. Cats can be so stressed by the noise they won’t eat.
  • If possible stay in with your cats, they will feel better with you nearby.
  • Draw curtains and turn the TV up to hide the noise and lights of the fireworks, especially if you have to go out and leave them alone.
  • If your cat goes off and hides in the house, leave them be, us fussying over them will only make things worse.
  • Make sure the catflap is locked and you have a litter tray to hand, make sure this tray is not near windows if possible.
  • Always invest in a microchip for your cat even if your cat never goes out, imagine if they got out and panicked and got lost!
  • Lastly chat to your vet about medication for cats with serious firework anxiety problems.

Here’s to a purrfect firework event for the whole family. x

Today is National Black Cat Day!

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Today the 27th October is National Black Cat Day, why may you ask do black cats need a special day?

Did you know that black cats are the hardest to rehome in rescue centres?
According to Cats Protection in 2017 black cats took 13% longer to find new homes than other coloured cats.

Many people walk pass them in the rescue cages as their colour makes them hard to stand out.

Some people think the colour is boring and won’t look as beautiful in their photos (especially on social media).  Some people even still think they are devilish and a bit creepy or unlucky!

To be honest in Britain they are now thought of as lucky!   So National Black Cat Day was created to highlight their beauty and personalities to find them homes.

In my cat sitting experience I have looked after many black cats with the most amazing character and beauty. So next time you think about giving a cat a home please consider a black cat, you never know your luck!

Itchy RIP 21.10.17 xxx

Fast and Furriness!!

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  • Penny
  • Cherry

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of meeting a cat lady called Penelope, who has been fostering cats for the Cats Protection locally for many years. It was wonderful to meet up and talk cats and be introduced to her foster cats and later her own cats.

At the moment Penelope is fostering two feral kittens, Cherry and Penny, they are 9 weeks old and need to be handled as much as possible by different people to get used to human company for when they eventually find their new homes.

Sounds easy doesn’t it? Well first you have to catch them!

This blog post isn’t called fast and furriness for nothing! Talk about fast!!

Eventually I caught Cherry the cute tiny tabby and she let me hold her and stroke her and give kisses, she relaxed for a while and was better when she saw Ava another foster cat who she has bonded with and her sister, black and white cutie Penny.

I only did this a few times for a couple of minutes so not to cause stress. Penny was much more feisty and had more cattitude but I managed to get a cuddle and some strokes.

They were both happy to approach me for games and treats so they are getting there but it takes a long time.

Penelope would ideally love them to go to a new home together, to a person or family that have the time and patience to really devote to them as they need lots of handling and playtime to get to really trust and bond with humans.

I wish them all the love and luck in the world and it was a delightful experience to meet them all. xx