cats' · my pregnancy, pet cats and toxoplasmosis many women are worried that, when they...
TRANSCRIPT
Cats' Whispers
For the supporters of the
Malcolm Cat Protection Society
Issue 19 - Winter 2015
Keeping healthy around Keeping healthy around Keeping healthy around
pets when having a baby pets when having a baby pets when having a baby ---
Marianthy AvraamidesMarianthy AvraamidesMarianthy Avraamides---
Pospiech’s story on page 3Pospiech’s story on page 3Pospiech’s story on page 3
2
Cats' Whispers is published by
The Malcolm Cat Protection
Society
PO Box 53759
3314 Limassol
Cyprus
Website: www.malcolmcat.org
e-mail: [email protected]
Editors: David and Valerie Forster
The sanctuary is open every day
from 0900-1100 and 1400-1600.
© MCPS, 2015
Find us on our official
FB page, Malcolm's
Cat Protection Society
My Pregnancy, Pet Cats and Toxoplasmosis
3
Marianthy
Avraamides-
Pospiech
gives some
simple
precautions
you can take to keep healthy
around your pets when having
a baby
5 2015 A year in the Sanctuary
Caron
Meadley's
observations
on her visits to
the Sanctuary
Mowgli, a very special kitten
8 When Kate
Greenhow
arrived in
Cyprus, she
fell in love with
a very special
kitten from the
sanctuary and took him home.
9 Macduff: a case solved by a veterinary detective
It took a very
special
detective to
find the cause
of Macduff’s
very embarrassing problem.
Story by Duncan Peacock
In this issue Beware of Coffee Morning Invitations
10
Hilary Stafford
got more than
she bargained
for when she
accepted a
friend’s
invitation to
coffee.
11 Sadly missed
We report on the passing of
two much-loved cats at the
sanctuary
A warm welcome at the sanctuary
12 Valerie Forster
was thrilled to
meet the cats
and the
helpers on her
visit this year
13 Open day a big success
John Sage reports
Do cats believe in Christmas? (or do they hate it?)
14
A heartfelt
seasonal plea
from John
Sage
16 Sponsor a Cat Scheme
There are two new cats in the
scheme, Boston and Cassidy.
3
W hen I became pregnant,
many friends and relatives
were quick to jump onto the topic
of my two cats. For years, cats
have been assigned with a cruel
stigma when it comes to pregnan-
cy and toxoplasmosis. I recall rela-
tives warning me in the past that
my child would be more important
and heartlessly advising me that I
would have to get rid of my be-
loved cats if I ever decided to be-
come pregnant. I ignored them for
the most part as I did not see any
problem with my cats. I had lived
with felines most of my life; one of
my current cats I had for fourteen
years and getting rid of her was not
an option. I had also spent several
years as a volunteer at Malcolm’s
Cat Protection Society caring for
their sick and healthy cats. Without
too much research into the subject,
I was almost sure through my ex-
posure as a volunteer I had al-
ready contracted toxoplasmosis at
some point in my life and that my
immune system already had the
lifelong immunity which would pre-
vent me from ever passing it to my
unborn child.
Low immune systems
I have been pretty much healthy
for most of my life and therefore if I
ever did contract the disease I
probably would not have noticed I
had it or most likely I would have
developed symptoms in the form of
of blood tests. To my surprise, de-
spite my exposure to hundreds of
cats during my life time, I never
contracted toxoplasmosis and
therefore my system did not have
the antibodies to protect me. I ex-
plained to my doctor that I had two
cats at home and enquired if this
would be a problem. There was no
way I would ever get rid of my cats
the common cold. I
was aware that if a
person previously
had it they could no
longer contract it
again from any oth-
er cat infected with
the disease.
However it must be
noted that the case
is the opposite for a
person with a low
immune system
such as HIV/Aids,
is receiving chemo-
therapy treatment,
taking steroids or
other immunosup-
pressant drugs be-
cause the infection
can be reactivated.
Nevertheless, most
pregnant women
do not usually re-
ceive chemo or are
HIV/Aids positive
so such should not
really be much of a
worry in those circumstance. Re-
gardless, one who does have a low
immune system can still of course
continue to live with their pet cats
by adapting and implementing
basic hygiene procedures.
Blood tests
Upon confirmation of my pregnan-
cy, my doctor conducted a series
My Pregnancy, Pet Cats and Toxoplasmosis Many women are worried that, when they become pregnant, their pet cats might
pose a health risk to the unborn child. Marianthy Avraamides-Pospiech
discusses the problem and finds there is little to worry about if you take a few
simple health and hygiene precautions.
Marianthy with Stefan and baby AndreasMarianthy with Stefan and baby AndreasMarianthy with Stefan and baby Andreas
3
4
but I needed to know what kind, if any, protection I needed so we could
all co-habit happily together. His only reply was “Wear gloves when deal-
ing with the litter”. That was it; he showed little concern about my cats.
Just to give you a brief background of my doctor, he is one of Germany’s
top obstetric/gynaecological doctors and chief surgeon of my local hospi-
tal. I trusted him.
Indoor cats
Of course knowing my cats’ full medical history was an advantage. They
were strictly indoor cats with the occasional balcony visit; they never ate
raw meat nor killed and ate a wild animal. I knew exactly what entered
their bellies and had always been careful not to touch their poo when
cleaning their cat litters. Therefore even if I did not carry the antibody I
would still feel confident of being pregnant and living with my cats.
In the box on the right is an interesting list taken from www.mayoclinic.org
which explains how anyone, whether male, female or child, can catch
toxoplasmosis - a disease caused by the T-gondii parasite. It should be
brought to light that one can become infected with it from never even
coming into direct contact with cats. Every pregnant woman should take
safety measures whether they have a cat or not.
Don’t part with your pets
After a more in-depth study into this disease through online research, dis-
cussions with my general practitioner and my cats’ vet, I have come to the
conclusion that it is important to understand that pregnant women should
not have to part with their beloved pets just because they are afraid of
toxoplasmosis. They could become exposed to the disease even if they
do not have cats. The only way a pregnant woman could contract this
illness from her cat is if somehow, through some odd obscurity, she in-
gested her cat’s faeces.
Throughout my prenatal period I lived with my cats as before I became
pregnant. I petted them, groomed them, gave them their meds and they
slept as usual with me every night on my bed. Occasionally I cleaned
their litter box using disposable latex gloves and then washed my hands
immediately after, but for the most part my husband was assigned to this
chore. We continued our daily kitchen hygiene practices and it was busi-
ness as usual with no extreme precautions.
One can avoid contracting toxoplasmosis whether pregnant or not by un-
dertaking a simple procedure called Wash, Wash, Wash. Wash your
hands; wash your meats, veggies and fruits; wash your kitchen utensils
and avoid eating raw meats, raw fish, raw eggs and unpasteurized dairy
products. Mind you, having said such, postnatal I shall look forward to
eating after a nine-month abstinence, at my favourite Japanese-sushi
restaurant.
With just a bit of research, anyone can learn that having an indoor or out-
door cat as a pet and being pregnant is not as terrible as some people
make it out to be. If you love and adore your pets, then do what you can
to keep them. My babies are important, both feline and human, ‘till death
do us part.
Things to avoid to prevent infection with the parasite Coming into contact with cat
faeces that contain the parasite.
You may accidentally ingest the
parasites if you touch your mouth
after gardening, cleaning a litter
box or touching anything that has
come in contact with infected cat
faeces. Cats who hunt or who are
fed raw meat are most likely to
harbour T. gondii.
Eating or drinking contaminated
food or water. Lamb, pork and
venison are especially likely to be
infected with T. gondii. Occasional-
ly, unpasteurized dairy products
also may contain the parasite. Wa-
ter contaminated with T. gondii
isn't common in the United States.
Using contaminated knives, cut-
ting boards or other utensils.
Kitchen utensils that come into
contact with raw meat can harbour
the parasites unless the utensils
are washed thoroughly in hot,
soapy water.
Eating unwashed fruits and veg-
etables. The surface of fruits and
vegetables may contain the para-
site. To be safe, thoroughly wash
all produce, especially any you eat
raw.
Receiving an infected organ
transplant or transfused blood.
In rare cases, toxoplasmosis can
be transmitted through an organ
transplant or blood transfusion.”
(Extract above from
www.mayoclinic.org)
5
I have had two trips to the sanc-
tuary this year; my first being in
May of this year and the second
being in September. What a year
the sanctuary has had this year!
It’s been a year that has had some
very sad and tragic events. When I
arrived in May I was sadly in-
formed of the loss of poor Floss,
one of our sponsor cats, a couple
of days before I arrived. Floss had
been losing weight for quite some
time and blood tests revealed she
had liver failure and was sadly put
to sleep. Floss had seven happy
years at the sanctuary. She is now
at Rainbow Bridge with some of
our other beloved furry friends that
will live on in our hearts.
close to my heart. Open Day in
September was not the same with-
out her. Benny and Jinx never got
to wear their posh Open Day col-
lars that Sue always got for them
and I really missed putting the ga-
zebos up without her; she had a
real knack of knowing how to put
them up in an orderly and organ-
ised way. I am sure though that
Sue was watching over us all in
heaven especially on Open Day.
Sue maybe gone from this world
but she will never be forgotten at
the sanctuary, especially for all the
work she did caring for the sanctu-
ary cats.
Doreen and Rita leave for UK
I also learnt on my visit in May that
another couple of our valued sanc-
tuary team were planning to leave
Cyprus to return to the UK -
Doreen and Rita. They had both
been at the sanctuary for many
years and spent many of their free
hours there. Doreen organised the
feeders/helpers sanctuary rota for
many years and they both often
covered shifts at short notice when
people could not attend. Rita took
care of the shop and did various
other duties. As well as being a
committee member, Doreen was
also the site manager and took
care of organising various mainte-
nance projects around the site.
They both always helped out at
Sue Dobson
I also got to learn that my dear
friend Sue Dobson, or Sue D as
she was known at the sanctuary,
was terminally ill. Sue was a val-
ued helper for 10 years and a
member of the Health Team and
also helped out at various fundrais-
ing events. On June 21st 2015 Sue
lost her battle with cancer and sad-
ly died.
Sue loved all the sanctuary cats,
but Benny and Jinx were definitely
her favourites. Sue would take
them treats down on her shift and I
can still hear her voice calling them
today. They would both immediate-
ly come running to her. I will al-
ways hold that memory of Sue
2015 A year in the Sanctuary Caron Meadley has visited the sanctuary
twice this year and these are her
observations.
Gill with Sue D at the Open Day in 2010
Doreen and Rita
6
fundraising events and Doreen
was also part of the car boot team.
Sadly I never got to see them be-
fore they left the island in early
September, but I do know they are
missed dearly at the cat sanctuary
by friends and the cats. The valua-
ble work they did at the sanctuary
will live on and I do hope they will
not be strangers to the sanctuary.
Michael Michael
I was also very saddened and
shocked to hear of the sudden
death in September of another of
my friends and colleagues, Michael
Michael. He was such a lovely
gentleman, who wasn’t so much
hands on with the sanctuary cats,
but with his wife Tina helped raise
funds for the sanctuary with nu-
merous book sales and always
attended MCPS fundraising events
with the books and bric-a-brac;
another friend gone but never for-
gotten.
Improvements
On a lighter note, the sanctuary
continues to improve every time I
visit. In May improvements had
been made to the hospital area. All
and I know the cats are grateful
even though they don’t always
show it.
The cats always love to see visi-
tors and it’s a real pleasure watch-
ing them. I have always been a
people watcher, but watching cats
is something different, especially
when you have so many to look at.
You can never be bored. There is
always something different hap-
pening. Another character that you
may have seen before that did
nothing will come out of nowhere
wanting a fuss or pet. I have a per-
fect example of Georgina, a beauti-
ful grey, who has lived in the
scaredy cats’ area for years. This
year she was up front and wanted
personal attention. The new teen-
agers in the main area who play
together and try to interact with the
big boys sometimes have slight
disagreements but it never really
comes to much: an odd growl or
hissing fit can be heard every now
or then.
Kittens
The kittens are adorable but I have
never known so many as we have
had this year. It’s always a pleas-
ure to have a cuddle and fuss with
them and it can also be heart-
breaking to see the ones that are
dumped at the sanctuary having
been taken away from their mums
far too young and don’t make it. I
really do wish people would under-
stand how cruel they are doing
this.
Open Day
Open Day was a great success
despite the sadness of some of our
colleagues not being with us. As
always it was a pleasure meeting
the supporters, especially the ones
I have been writing to for many
years but never met. It’s also a
the cages have been modified to
make them so much cleaner and
the cats seem so much more com-
fortable in them. It’s like a 5-star
hotel now in the hospital pens.
They are tiled throughout, which
makes cleaning them so much
easier.
In September it was a real pleas-
ure to see the new sleeping area
that the cats have. I must say it’s
very posh and makes life so much
easier for the helpers to clean. The
cats seem to love looking out from
the beds in there; it is so much
better than the roundhouse they
used to sleep in. The roundhouse
is still one of the features at the
sanctuary. Its roof is still intact so
the cats can sleep in a shaded
area.
Helpers needed
The sanctuary is very short of help-
ers and it’s sad to see the regular
ones covering more and more
shifts. I really wish more people
were available to help out. We
seem to be appealing for helpers
all year round these days. I must
say the helpers do a sterling job
Tina and Michael at one of their many booksales
7
great day to meet the helpers: a
real MCPS Team effort for the spe-
cial day. We had a lovely surprise
this year: Sue P, Health Team and
committee member actually did a
Latin Dance with Jonathan, who
has been teaching her to dance.
She had kept it secret from every-
one. She was a real star and
looked amazing in her dress. The
Cyprus Morris Dancers were also
on site to entertain and they al-
ways amaze dancing something
different every year. As usual the
cats seemed to enjoy the day; they
love being among the stalls and
spending time with the visitors.
New website
We have a new re-vamped website
this year thanks to Mark Shelley,
our web designer. Mark launched
the new site on 3rd July. It is so
much more user-friendly and you
can share any of our pages on Fa-
cebook, Twitter and other social
media sites if you should wish to.
It’s much easier to navigate round
and you can search the site for
news old and new. None of the
previous information from the old
website was lost during the re-
vamp, so we will still be able to see
our favourite cats and stories on
the new site. A huge thanks must
go to Mark for doing this for the
MCPS.
The new sleeping area
Van Gogh Jackie Craig posted this update on Van Gogh on Facebook
in September – lucky cat!
Some of you may remember Little Van Gogh (now called Sammy), who
was rescued in 2005 with a burnt ear and homed by my mum. This pic-
ture was painted by my friend for a milestone birthday (I'm not saying
which one) which was a lovely surprise. Sammy is now 10 years old, still
enjoying life and his roast chicken dinners, and is still a kitten at heart.
Tracy Wadmore
Last time Tracy Wadmore was
featured in our newsletter was a
few years ago when Gill visited her
in New Zealand. She has now
moved back to Cyprus and often
makes visits to the sanctuary.
Unfortunately she lives too far
from the sanctuary to come back
as a helper but is still a loyal sup-
porter along with her mother Doris
Jobson in the UK.
Tony has a stall at Akrotiri
Many thanks to Tony Briggs who
once again had a stall for us at the
Akrotiri Open Day this year.
Gill and Tracy in August 2015
Tony and his stall
7
8
A s my family arrived in Cyprus
earlier this year we had bare-
ly even stepped a foot (or a paw in
the case of my English cat, Tilly)
on the island when we heard about
the Malcolm Cat Sanctuary. As a
cat lover myself I knew I would
have to visit. As we pulled up to
the Sanctuary site we were greet-
ed by many happy cats. We spent
almost two hours sitting, stroking
and playing with all the cats and
kittens. That was when I saw him:
a tiny little tabby kitten barely fitting
into his collar scampering towards
me. He looked at me almost prom-
ising he’d grow into his ears. I
picked him up and he fell asleep in
my arms purring. That’s when I
knew I’d have to take him home
with me, despite how much I
thought my cat Tilly would detest it.
The thing about kittens and cats
One of the volunteers, Dave, took
him home in the hope that he
would be given a chance at life
with some extra love and attention.
I thank Dave for giving him this
opportunity because look at him
now! He’s the most cheeky, lively
and loving little boy that quickly
became part of the family. Even as
I sit and type this article he is sit-
ting by my side. He’s like my little
shadow.
My very own experience inspired
me to join the volunteers at Mal-
colm Cat Sanctuary and help all
the stray cats and kittens live hap-
pily and in some cases find homes.
I initially visited the cat sanctuary
to see what it was all about. I left
with a kitten, a volunteer job and a
sense of achievement every time I
finish a shift. And, I must say I am
very happy with my purchase.
from Malcolm Cat Sanctuary is
that they are exposed to humans
and handled quite a lot by the
loving volunteers. My kitten set-
tled in straight away and he was
the most loving little kitten I have
ever met. Even my cat Tilly, who
usually hates other animals,
warmed to him eventually.
Scampering cheekily
We decided to call him Mowgli
after the little boy from ‘The Jun-
gle Book’ as he scampered
around in the same cheeky way.
Soon enough Tilly and Mowgli
were best friends, when she felt
like it.
However, we are very lucky to
have this special little kitten.
When he arrived at the Sanctu-
ary he was very poorly, as he was
too young to be without his mother.
Mowgli, a very special kitten When Kate Greenhow arrived in Cyprus, she fell in love with a very special
kitten from the sanctuary and took him home. This is their story.
Kate with Mowgli
Mowgli with Tilly
8
9
Y esterday, I took the lad to the
vet, and stood him the very
best in annual jabs (5 different ail-
ments to avoid.) The vet also cut
Macduff’s nails on the basis that it
was better that he took the blame
than I. I have to say that MacD is
much more patient than the Mighty
One was under such circumstanc-
es.
So the verdict is that the Lad has a
healthy appetite but is not being
over-fed. Even at over 14 lbs (6.3
kg), he is not overweight or fat
(there’s a lot of muscle there.) He
is a peculiar shape, but fit and
healthy with a heart like a trip ham-
mer.
feed him in your absence?” “Well
Holmes,” I responded, “maybe the
odd crisp at the Kafeneon, or from
the kids down the lane who like
him.” “Hmm ..” said Holmes,
“contributory at most, but is there a
real source of methane gas any-
where? Pasta with tomato sauce?
Greasy takeaways?”
And then the awful truth dawned
upon me: “My word, Holmes, there
is a dear old lady nearby who puts
out such dainties, and even cake,
for the stray cats!” However did
you deduce that?”
“Alimentary, my dear Watson!”
So for the rest of yesterday and up
to mid-day today, Macduff has
smelled as sweet as a rose, but it
does leave me with a problem:
how do I keep him away from this
dear old lady’s appalling feast?
Then we came to the delicate is-
sue. The vet listened carefully and
almost put on a deerstalker hat.
Then, like Sherlock Holmes, and
with me playing the part of Dr Wat-
son, he solved:
The case of the Flatulent
Feline.
“There is,” Holmes said, “nothing in
the food you give him that should
cause this phenomenon, but go
easy on the cat treats. Buy whatev-
er food he likes: there is no need to
waste money on high-faluting
stuff.”
Then he asked: “Is anyone likely to
Mowgli, a very special kitten When Kate Greenhow arrived in Cyprus, she fell in love with a very special
kitten from the sanctuary and took him home. This is their story.
Macduff: a case solved by a veterinary detective by Duncan Peacock
Macduff out on the tiles
Macduff with Duncan
It took a very special detective to find the cause of
Macduff’s very embarrassing problem.
9
10
I went along to an MCPS coffee
morning at a friend’s house,
expecting to have a lovely slice of
home-made cake, plenty of chat
and to make a donation to a worthy
cause. Wrong!
Within minutes I was washing up
cups and helping at the tea and
coffee serving area. I think it was
around that point that I realized I
was now officially an ‘MCPS volun-
teer’.
Wasting no time, my friend
whisked me off to the Cat Sanctu-
ary on her next shift there. She
introduced me to the cats by name.
of us almost half an hour to com-
plete the procedure and we were
battle-scarred, weary and in awe of
the above-mentioned feline. Glad
to say, he is now fully recovered
and is really quite an affectionate
old moggy. In general the inmates
of Unit 1 (sick bay for cats) are
very well behaved and accept their
treatments with equanimity, even
with greedy gratitude where ‘pill
poppers’ are proffered (magic,
tasty little inventions made to en-
case bitter tasting tablets).
Friday routine
Debs and I have settled into our
Friday afternoon routine at the Cat
Sanctuary and we both agree that
it is a great way to end our week –
especially if it has been a particu-
larly stressful one. Debs heads
straight to the Kitten Area to do her
‘mothering’ bit – cleaning little fac-
es and making sure they have sa-
line eye baths where needed. I get
re-acquainted with the more adult
cats and see if we have any urgent
things to do in ‘Sick Bay’. Thanks
to a very well organized and dedi-
cated team of volunteers, it is a
real pleasure to spend time caring
for our feline friends, and they do
so appreciate it. Even Smokey Joe
has been known to call ‘time’ and
come looking for a cuddle now and
again.
I was impressed to see that every
cat has been given a name as well
as an ID number. Needless to say I
was hooked and have made many
feline friends during my weekly
visits.
Treating Smokey Joe
I must confess to one ‘OMG’ mo-
ment when I wondered what an
earth I had let myself in for. It was
the first time that myself and fellow
‘new girl’, Debs, were left to do a
shift without supervision. Amongst
our usual duties we needed to ad-
minister a tablet and eye treatment
to Smokey Joe. I think it took both
Beware of Coffee Morning Invitations Hilary Stafford got more than she bargained for when she accepted a friend’s
invitation to coffee.
Smokey Joe
11
Benny
M any supporters will be
deeply saddened to hear
that the MCPS lost Benny to Rain-
bow Bridge in November this year.
It was discovered after tests at the
vets that Benny had nose cancer
and the only option the MCPS had
for our beloved Benny was eutha-
nasia. A heart-breaking day was
the 2nd November.
Benny lived at the sanctuary for 10
years and was one of the main
sanctuary mascots along with his
best mate Mr Jinx. Together they
caused mischief and mayhem to-
gether. Benny was much loved and
was one of the cats on the sponsor
Floss
F loss, another of our sponsor
cats, sadly died in May 2015.
Floss had lived at the sanctuary for
seven years. She was originally
brought in as a kitten in 2008.
Floss was a very loveable affec-
tionate cat who loved spending
time with visitors. She would often
be seen sunbathing and rolling
about on the paving slabs, such an
adorable little girl. Floss began
losing weight and lost interest in
her food. She was taken to the
vets where it was discovered she
had liver failure and had to be put
to sleep.
Run free sweet girl, we miss you.
All at the MCPS would like to say a
big thanks to everyone for their
heart felt messages after the sad
loss of Benny and Floss; they real-
ly are appreciated at such sad
times.
scheme. He was adored by many
visitors, helpers and supporters
from all over the world. He loved
drinking from the sanctuary foun-
tain, and whoever said cats didn’t
like water, Benny proved them
wrong. He was always getting him-
self wet under the fountain and
could often be seen by various
helpers who allowed him in the
kitchen sitting in the kitchen sink.
As for the baby cats’ biscuits, an-
other of his favourite pastimes was
taking the lid off them and helping
himself; quite a clever boy our
Benny was.
RIP Sweet Boy. You are already
sorely missed but we are sure you
are in good hands at Rainbow
Bridge.
Sadly missed We report on the passing of two much-loved cats at the sanctuary
A big Benny fan
Carmen Tam, a supporter from
Canada
12
T his year we went to see the
cats early at 2 p.m. as last
year, when trying to find the sanc-
tuary, we got lost in the woods.
When we arrived this time there
was Gill with her smiling face wait-
ing for us. We arrived to a warm
welcome from Warren and his
mother Ann. Warren had a cat sat
on his shoulder and they all made
us very welcome. We sat on the
swing and right away the cats
came to welcome us. We enjoyed
watching them going busily about
their home, chatting to each other
and having a nibble at the cat bis-
cuits that had been put on the trays
for them.
Gill had to go as she was taking a
cat to the vets, so left us in the ca-
pable hand of Warren, who was a
fountain of knowledge about the
cats. He also told us how to ap-
proach an Alsatian and what he
told children of how to keep their
hands closed so the dog could first
smell them and I will remember
this to pass onto others. This was
very good advice.
We couldn't believe how quickly
the time had gone by, and soon it
was time to go. Ann said “I love
being here and could stay longer. I
am always sorry to go. It has a
calming effect on me.” I knew just Warren and his mum, Ann
A warm welcome at the sanctuary Valerie Forster was thrilled to meet the cats and the helpers on her visit this year.
Warren and friend
A new baby for
Jonathan and
Hayley
Congratulations to our helpers
Jonathan & Hayley on the birth of
baby Hugo in June. A potential
new volunteer?
what she meant as cats are such
wonderful creatures - they know
everything that we need. If we
have problems they sit and wait
and keep us calm. They are also
very good at getting their own way,
and if anyone ever says to me they
don't like cats, I always know that I
will find something that is not good
about them.
Love to all, Valerie
David and Valerie enjoying the
attentions of the cats
13
W hen I volunteered to step
in and help with the fund-
raising functions for MCPS, little
did I realise the amount of organi-
sation and planning which went
into this, especially for the Open
Day event, which is the biggest
singular fundraising venue of the
year.
That having been said, the sheer
amount of dedication and effort put
into this by the whole team of vol-
unteers left me very impressed.
Grace has been organising and
planning the fundraising events for
MCPS almost single-handedly for
years, and we all now know how
much this demands of a person.
Well done Grace, and I am glad to
have joined the team. Thanks for
all your guidance.
Willing hands
As to the Open Day event itself,
the day started very early (in fact
the preparation of the site started a
week earlier) but with many willing
hands we put up the various per-
golas for the stalls, set up the
sound system for announcements
and moved the cats’ bedding and
other things to make room for the
tombola and the book stall. (The
cats were very laid back about this,
without the teams of volunteers,
from manning the stalls, to the la-
dies who produced gallons of tea,
coffee, soft drinks and other re-
freshments for the visitors.
Thanks to you all, although space
does not permit me to name you
all, you know who you are, and
thanks to all our friends and sup-
porters who gave generously and
we hope you all enjoyed it.
Finally, it was time to pull down the
pergolas, fold the tables, and put
all the cat houses and gear where
it will stay until next year. We all
sat down, a little exhausted but
pleased that we had once again
done our best to give these furry
friends the comforts and surround-
ings they deserve.
I might add).
As the time got closer to the 10.00
a.m. opening, we were getting a
little anxious as some of the pergo-
las refused to co-operate with the
team of people erecting them, and
we still hadn’t fully decided where
all the tables were going to be
placed. However, we did it, and
thanks to David for managing the
work and to Jonathan for his ster-
ling work on fixing the counter to
the kitchen, which threatened to tilt
at an alarming angle.
All right on the night
The first visitors to arrive had no
idea that only a few moments be-
fore it seemed like Bedlam, but just
like rehearsals for a play it was ‘all
right on the night’ so to speak.
Entertainment was put on by our
long standing friends the Cyprus
Morris Dancers and also Jona-
than and wife Hayley who put on
a very professional demonstra-
tion of Latin American dances,
with a surprise appearance by
our own Sue Parker. (We all
saw a very different side of
Sue.)
The weather was predictably
kind to us, and the whole day was
a resounding success,
thanks to the huge num-
ber of visitors who came
to see the event, and of
course the cats were
pleased to see so many
people.
Thanks to everyone
The success of the day
could not have happened
Open day a big success John Sage reports
Rosemary and Jan on the cake stall
Steph
The Open Day group relaxing
14
cats, with or without the gravy.
Everyone buys those Poinsettias
but they forget that these are poi-
sonous to us cats, as are ivy, hol-
ly, and mistletoe, but we are all
allowed unrestricted access to
them. We become sick and may
even die of we chew just a small
part of these plants.
A cat is for life, not just for
Christmas
And why do the humans keep us
in at this time of the year? Are
they afraid that we will disappear if
they let us out? Don’t they know
we just want to get back to some-
thing normal, away from all the
noisy parties and those children
A s many cat owners will con-
firm, their pet does not be-
have any differently at Christmas –
the owners do.
There are many new temptations
put in front of Kitty which are not
normally present during the year –
tinsel, Christmas trees, decora-
tions, colourful parcels, tempting
food, and plants which they don’t
see the rest of the year.
Christmas trees and turkeys
Just imagine, if you can, that you
are a cat. Suddenly, your normal
world and routine has become an
alien environment. There are
Christmas trees in the house that
you are not allowed to climb, doz-
ens of gift boxes under that same
tree, all sealed up so you are not
able to get into them, shiny round
balls hanging down that you are
not allowed to swing on, tinsel all
around and your owners get cross
if you play with it, sweaters made
of wool but you mustn’t chew on
them and socks by the fireplace
that you can’t get into.
And don’t forget the tempting smell
of roast turkey – why can’t you let
us get near it? Don’t you know
that meat is our prime source of
food? Remember ‘four calling
birds, three French hens, two turtle
doves and a partridge in a pear
tree’ constitutes a reasonable
Christmas dinner for most of us
that keep teasing us? We are used
to a routine and follow the same
daily activities that stop us from
becoming bored, so when the
Christmas season arrives, these
humans think that we should be-
have differently.
And don’t forget that cats are for
life, not just for Christmas – this
has been said many a time about
dogs, but I have not heard it said
about cats. Yet many people get a
kitten for Christmas for the chil-
dren, but when we cats show our
natural reaction to being teased,
tickled or generally annoyed by
scratching or biting their tormen-
tors, we cats get the blame and
often get abandoned. Here at the
Do cats believe in Do cats believe in Do cats believe in Christmas?Christmas?Christmas? (or do they hate it?)(or do they hate it?)(or do they hate it?) A heartfelt seasonal plea from John Sage
Can anyone spot the cat?
15
Malcolm Cat Sanctuary, we are
aware that cats need constant
feeding, care and love all year
round, and at Christmas time there
is no exception.
A safe environment
We provide a safe and secure en-
vironment to all those cats (and
unfortunately the kittens that are
the product of an uncontrolled cat
population) who are abandoned.
We try to re-home as many of them
as possible, and will never eu-
thanise a healthy cat, but this plac-
es an enormous strain on our re-
sources.
We always need helpers
We are constantly in need of car-
ers and helpers, even if you can
only spare a few hours a week. It is
rewarding work, and there is noth-
ing more soothing than to see, feel
and be near to these elegant,
beautiful, inscrutable creatures.
Each one is an individual character
and you will get to know them as
you work with them.
The Sanctuary is manned by vol-
unteers and does not receive any
government financial assistance,
so we are constantly seeking new
ideas to raise funds. This is
purring and brushing up against
everone. Yet at Christmas and the
New Year most people are too
busy with their festivities to think
about visiting the cat sanctuary,
and the cats feel very isolated and
let down. Even if you can’t find the
time to help, please spare a little
thought for the felines and pay
them a visit. We are open seven
days a week, 365 days a year
(except Christmas Day and New
Year’s Day), from 9.00 am till 11
am and again from 2.00 pm till 4.00
pm. You will never be turned away
and will be most welcome.
achieved by holding various fund-
raising events throughout the year,
ranging from lunches, quizzes, raf-
fles and bazaars to which we invite
the public at a modest price. Come
along if you can, and see what is
being done for the cats and kittens
that ask only to be fed and cared
for, something that we humans
take for granted.
The cats at the sanctuary are very
tame, and look forward to receiving
visits from the public all year round,
and they show their gratitude by
MCPS helpers celebrate Christmas 2014 in the Sanctuary.
Pat and Kim at the Christmas Craft Fair in December 2015
16
T he MCPS Sponsorship
Scheme (formerly Adopt-a-
cat) not only raises money for the
sanctuary but also keeps sponsors
updated every 6 months with infor-
mation on their chosen cat and a
chance to renew year after year
helping to continue the running of
the sanctuary. A sponsorship pack-
age can be purchased as an ideal
present for any cat lover and all
proceeds go towards the upkeep of
the sanctuary.
If you would like to sponsor a cat,
the cost is €15 in Cyprus or £12.50
sterling in the UK. We have made a
small price increase to cover the
cost of postage and photo paper.
PayPal is available but there is an
administration charge for using this
service. There are 9 cats to choose
from: Pippi, Pugh, Boris Amy, Mr
Jinx, Cassidy Hopscotch, Boston
and Sophie.
As a sponsor you will receive an A4
glossy print of your sponsored cat
with some information about the
cat, an official sponsor certificate,
and a 6-monthly update on the cat.
(Generally sent by email)
If you would like to sponsor a cat,
for further information please con-
tact [email protected],
call in at the sanctuary or write to
Caron Meadley, (UK Coordinator)
c/o 21 Brentwood Ave, Bamford,
Hope Valley, S33 OAF, UK.
MCPS Sponsor a Cat Scheme
PIPPI PUGH BORIS
AMY MR JINX CASSIDY
HOPSCOTCH BOSTON SOPHIE
17
STANDING ORDER MANDATE
TO……………………………………………………………………………..……… Bank
(address of your bank) ……………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….……
Please pay Bank of Cyprus UK, Account No. 52062511, sort code 30-00-42
for the credit of Malcolm Cat Protection Society
The sum of ……………………………………..…………………….…. (amount in figures)
………………………………………………………………..………….. (amount in words)
The first payment to be made on …………………………………… (date)
and thereafter ANNUALLY / MONTHLY (please delete as appropriate), until cancelled by me / us
in writing.
Name of account to be debited……………………………………………….…………...………
Account number ………………………….……………………………………..….……...
Signature(s) ……………………………………………………………….……….….
Name(s) ……………………………………………………………..…….……....
Address …………………………..……………………………………………….
……………..……………………………………………………..……...
…………..……………………………………………………....……….
Post Code ……..……………. E-mail ……………………………………………..
Date …………………………………
17