Mince Pies At Marion’s
By Ruth aka Kattaddorra
Poster by Ruth aka Kattaddorra
Barbara and I were invited to a ‘Mince Pies at Marion’s’ drop in yesterday, so we went along as we had some cat food and bedding to go there too.
Steven (Marion’s husband) usually kindly calls for the stuff we have for Cats Protection cats so it was nice to go to their home and see all the cats.
For anyone who hasn’t ‘met’ Marion here on PoC before, she is the voluntary co-ordinator for our local Wear Valley & Darlington Cats Protection branch.
| Useful links |
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| Anxiety - reduce it |
| FULL Maine Coon guide - lots of pages |
| Children and cats - important |
Chester had written on his Facebook page yesterday morning:
’I am told people are coming this afternoon and as they scare me I am going in the cat house. I much prefer it here nice beds warm radiators and I have my scratch pole and friends so we going to have our own party’
So, when we arrived Steven asked us if we would like to go and see Chester in the cat house where some of the other rescue cats were kept too for their own safety while doors were opening and people coming and going.
Poster by Ruth aka Kattaddorra
The other day Chester escaped the house by accident and he wrote afterwards on his Facebook page:
‘Today I had a mini adventure, I shot out of the door when scary delivery man came, then I got all confused so went under the shed and howled and howled and of course I don’t trust people so wouldn’t come out even for food or even when they set cat trap with lovely tuna in, I made sure they paced the garden coaxing me while I ignored them then when I knew they weren’t looking I sneaked up to back door but kept running away soon as they got near. Eventually I got bored of that game and came into kitchen to give myself up, life on the run isn’t all it’s cracked up to be’
For anyone who hadn’t already heard about Chester, here is what happened to him as a tiny kitten and why he is so nervous around people:
A later article:
The Latest News and Pictures for the Chester Fan Club
Chester is a very famous boy now but who can blame him for being unable to trust humans!
He was unlucky enough to have a retained testicle when he went for neutering recently so it was a bigger op than it normally would be, but he is very happy at Marion’s and there he is staying and hopefully one day his traumas will fade from his memory.
So, we met him and also Prince, Sweetie and Cloud who were keeping him company in the cat house and then we met George, Flick and Dolly when we joined Marion and some of the volunteers there in the house.
Brock and Jacob the family dogs are very friendly and the cats keep them in their place lol
We had a very enjoyable time with a cup of tea and all the goodies to eat.
I hope our PoC family will enjoy the photos we took to share with you.
Just have to share this photo of Dolly and Jacob
What a great photo. A sweetie atop a mountain of dog fur.
Dolly will make someone a wonderful pet, she was born feral but Marion has tamed her well, she wants a loving home for her now.
I wish I could ‘LIKE’ all your comments. Some lovely stuff there. I love the pictures and the story both. Sounds like my kind of party. The type like the Youtube Party Michael went to. I would of left in 20 minutes as well.
Yes Dan, quite a contrast in parties. I much prefer Marion’s. Guess I am getting a little bit “old”.
I hate noisy parties, in fact I wouldn’t go to one, much prefer quiet afternoon gatherings like at Marions where there are always cats around. They are great ice breakers as cat lovers always like to talk about their cats.
I was down on the floor immediately lol playing with Dolly and Flick, George was watching a while then let me tickle him.
Pure bliss 🙂
Nice topic for an article: Cats As Icebreakers. When visiting strangers or even people you know a cat on the carpet is the perfect entertainment, conversation point and icebreaker.
Good one Michael, I’ll look forward to reading that
Hope you are having a nice day 🙂
Ho ho ho
Very genuine. If I was a child who believed in Father Christmas I’d believe you as long as you kept you voice as low as possible 😉
Lovely post, Ruth. In fact if I am transformed into a cat in my next lifetime and happen to land close to your area- I would be totally drawn to those cat house “digs”. Great photos of course!!
It is so refreshing to see folks who love our felines so greatly… and take such good care of them. Thanks for this wonderful story- so early in the morning for me- as I sip my coffee and drift over to England… in my mind..
Happy Happy, and Meowy Meowy.. Love ya
Hi Barbara and Ruth really enjoyed reading about your visit to Marions such kind dedicated people its hard work looking after rescues and finding homes. I love your community you all seem to muck in amd help each other out and its so nice to hear about it especially at this time of year 🙂
It was a happy little gathering, lots of cat chat and tea and nibbles, it was lovely to see the cats and make a fuss of them, and to meet up again with the dogs which we once looked after while Marion and Steven were on holiday some years ago now. It’s nice to be part of a smallish community, I’ve been into a few shops and the library today on my way home from work and in every one I was wished a Happy Christmas, there are bad things about living in the North East but there are many, more, good things. lovely pics and article, as always Ruth.
I told everyone in the photos they would be on PoC, hoping they come along and find out what a wonderful web site this is 🙂
I thought this story was pure Northern Charm! Beautiful, honest life. That is what comes across to me.
How well all these babies are cared for and how lucky Chester was to be rescued and brought here. Thank you for being so kind!
Chester received some luck after the abuse when he was saved and ended at Marion’s. Happy Christmas Linda.
Marion is amazing! She nurses many abused or neglected cats and kittens back to health and some such as Chester and George will stay with her forever, she’s a star and so is Steven her husband 🙂
Happy Christmas Linda, lovely to see you here x
Hi Michael. It’s mainly my white Angora male Kemal Kebab that is the big mess maker. He pees into adjacent cages but keeps his own cage pretty clean except for the netting. That’s not very considerate of him. Is he trying to impress the neighbours? My other toms living under the same circumstances are pretty clean. My big Kahraman looks amazingly white and clean despite being very messy when younger. He’s learned his lesson.
What a handsome boy! 🙂
Phew, what a beauty! Stunning cat. Massive presence. Is he the messy one? He is fully intact, right? A breeding cat.
I loved reading this and the added bonus of the 2 fantastic posters of photos.It looks so very friendly and cosy and the cats and dogs so happy and looked after.I admire Marion very much indeed and always like to read about the CP branch and all.
Poor Chester he’s had some misfortunes but he will know he’s safe and loved now and forever.
Merry Christmas to you all at the Wear Valley CP
Thanks Rose, we are just getting the hang of the new camera, think we need to enlarge the pictures a bit before taking them as some are a bit blurry when used on a poster.
Happy Christmas x
Hi Michael. Netting and the place where the netting is attached to the frame are ideal for collecting dirt which when mixed with fur and urine is a mess. Detaching the whole thing would make it much easier to clean and repair. Some of my cats make short work of the netting even though it is galvanized steel. I have now found plastic coated steel netting which is standing up better. The cats in cages are there because they spray but are too valuable to be let roam outside or as in the case of Arkos too foolish to look after himself outside. He is hyperactive and can’t even get from one place to another without falling over or into things.
Thanks Harvey. Unless you have kept a cat in a cage you don’t know how they can mess up the netting. They must rub against it and deposit fur on it and then pee onto it. Sure fire way of creating a mess.
And a great time was had by all. I got a super idea from the cat cages. If I see right I think they have detachable screen windows which can be removed intact for repair or cleaning. Presently I have to remove them bit by bit, change the netting and put it all back together again which is tedious and complicated.
In my case it will be rather difficult because they are quite big, but I can take a look. Thanks for the idea.
I think you are right Harvey. They have swivelling clips that keep them in place. Is the idea behind detachable windows to make them easier to clean or to change the netting? Why does the netting have to be changed?
I smiled all the way through. These are wonderful people, and you gals are the best.
I loved seeing Chester and knowing that his adventure wasn’t much to his liking. STAY WHERE YOU’RE SAFE, little Chester!
Mince pies are what we call mincemeat pies? Sinfully sweet, delicious, made mostly from raisins? I wish I could have been there.
Yes, mincemeat pies. The best mince pies in Britain are Heston Blumental’s mince tartlets! So I am told. Heston is a famous chef in England. His products are sold in a store called Waitrose.
I have a Christmas pudding of his in my kitchen with an orange in the middle of it. I’ve had it for at least 12 months. It is time to eat it.
Thanks Dee, yes I wish you could have been with us too, you’d have loved it.
I found this story very charming. Great bunch of people. As for the cat house, I am very impressed indeed. It looks very comfortable and functional. I suppose it is part and parcel of being a Cats Protection fosterer. High quality fostering.
I know things are different up north compared to London and I can feel that in the article. London is not England. It is cosmopolitan.
People up here are very friendly and cat lovers especially love getting together like at Marions with other cat lovers and taking about …guess what…yes cats of course lol
In the supermarket pet food aisle we often have conversations with other cat people looking for something different to tempt their cats and even at the check outs, if we have lots of extra cat food the assistant will say ‘By you must have a lot of cats’ ‘No this is for cats in local rescue shelters’ and that sets off another conversation.
I can’t imagine living in London Michael, do strangers not talk to each other? Do you have collection bins for pet food in supermarkets for rescue shelters like we do here?
There is a feeling of ‘We are all in this together’ here, especially at this time of year.
I’ve not seen collection bins in Switz for cat food – to go to rescues. What a nice idea. It just takes a little organisation.
It’s so nice that Chester is doing well. That’s the main thing really – it sounds like you had a nice time together – I’d love to be there too 🙂
You’d have been in your element Marc, we didn’t get to touch the cats in the cat house but we did George and Flick and little Dolly, you’d love her, she’s the last of a litter of feral kittens, waiting for a home.
My heart melts looking at Dolly.
She is absolutely gorgeous, no rehoming now until after Christmas and New Year festivities, but hopefully then someone will adopt her and love her forever.
You’ll love this pic taken by Marion too Marc
Oh lovely – so much orange! Look at that. It’s a little clan of orange cats 🙂 They are beautiful. Love the pics 🙂
Do I see some Champagne! Marion’s cats always look very healthy. Truly cared for and loved. It shows. I think we will have to celebrate with some Champagne…. 🙂
Probably wine ready for family gathering there today.
Babz won some champagne a few Christmases back, it was nice enough but I wouldn’t go overboard on it. I’m a proper Northern lass lol an ice cold lager for a long drink, a G and T for a treat 🙂 cheers