Central Alberta Cattery - Feline Vacation Resort

12/07/2024

Before I drag this onto FB Marketplace, I'll give you guys first dibs.

15sq.ft. stand up freezer.

Selling for $350.

29/06/2024

Happy !

Clifton is a special kind of cat. Everything is VERY MUCH on his terms. So when I do little visits with him, this is the safest way!

20/06/2024

Thank you, friends of Red Deer and area... as usual, I'm honored. I really am...

18/06/2024

The latest room catification from my cat furniture side of the business, Purroducts Central.

How will you catify a room?

02/05/2024

Hi Cat friends,

Central Alberta Cattery has been serving the Red Deer area since 2016.

Are you planning to go away this Spring or Summer? Who will be taking care of your cats? The Cattery has very limited space after downsizing in 2022! Please don't wait too long to book their stay.

Meanwhile, we need your help to make sure all your cat friends know about MeowCheck! MeowCheck will allow your cats to stay home while you're away. We will visit them and ensure they are secure and your home is too.

Book today!

www.cacattery.com/bookings

Central Alberta Cattery - Your cat's #1 choice for cat boarding destinations, and the only kennel in the Red Deer area for cats only! See it to believe it!

20/03/2024

Hey Cat friends,

Wow, snow again hey? How original.

I bet some of you are already thinking about the May long weekend (remember when it would snow every year on that weekend?)

That weekend is almost fully booked already, so if you're pretty sure you need a spot, act soon!

Booking link is in the comments section.

16/03/2024

More local (Red Deer) custom options to save your couch from the tyranny of claws!

Tedward: sir, may I begin purroduct testing this?

The Corner Scratcher can be done in several different paint/carpet colours, and I may even offer a finished wood option.

Fully adjustable to prevent pulling away from the couch, and custom made sizes for your needs.

08/03/2024

Does a new couch or chair need saving before it's too late?

04/03/2024

If you have stumbled upon this page (and therefore, service) for the first time and you're thinking of booking, I have a request:

Please be kind to small businesses. Don't book and then not respond to the confirmation e-mails or texts. My time is best spent doing what I do. And space is limited, so if you don't make your cat a priority, you may lose that spot.

This never happens with my many existing clients, so keep that in mind.

If you found a cheaper and better option (good luck with that.. lol), great. Tell me you did so I can file the booking under G.

In the meantime, click here to book: www.cacattery.com/bookings

02/03/2024

Hi Cat friends,

I hope everyone is doing well, including their owners.

It’s important to note that the Cattery has limited capacity, so when you need to book a stay, do so as soon as possible.

But don’t panic. As most of you should know (I have a feeling some still do not, thanks to Facebook’s algorithm), MeowCheck is always there for you.

There are no minimum days to book, and you can choose to stagger your booking to be every other day, if you think your cat doesn’t need a daily visit. Scheduling is very customizable!

To book: www.cacattery.com/meowcheck

Central Alberta Cattery - Your cat's #1 choice for cat boarding destinations, and the only kennel in the Red Deer area for cats only! See it to believe it!

19/02/2024

Hi Cat friends,

Obviously I don't share as much on this page like when the Cattery was at a commercial location..

But it's a holiday Monday for some, so I figured I'd post something fun and relevant to me as well as the fact that the song title is relevant to the pet industry!

Released last month, this is the latest music video by Punch Drunk Cabaret. And no, I don't wear that suit out in public. Yet.

On their highly infectious 2024 release KITTEN, Punch Drunk Cabaret channels the neon nights of mid-80's David Bowie, the propulsive breakbeats of the 90's ...

05/02/2024

Ignore the person who claims I have a new merch page. It is a scam but Facebook will not take it down. Facebook probably somehow profits off of it.

In fact, if you have time, please report the people doing this as harassment or unauthorized sales. The more people who do this, the more chances we have to POSSIBLY take back this social media platform.

I don't have time for this.

15/01/2024

Hi Cat friends,

Last week I laid my cards out on the table. I did so because I didn't want anyone to believe the Cattery was thriving and all was well, meaning no one needed to tell their friends about it anymore, because it wasn't. However, while I really do appreciate all the kind words, there is an action that is super easy, that anyone reading this can do to help.

MeowCheck needs you more than ever.

From a business service standpoint, MeowCheck is 100% scalable. Unlike the Cattery, which of course requires space provided by me - and that space is limited - MeowCheck allows your cat to remain at home while I come and check on them in an agreed upon schedule. Whether it's one MeowCheck client per day or 15 (the record so far is 10 in one day), I can provide this service without issue. If enough bookings are scheduled that requires more than one person (me), I can activate people I have trained up to do this job. People who love cats and understand the importance of respecting a home that is not their own. And while I do have to pay them for their time, I still generate revenue of my own.

So what exactly is MeowCheck and why should you nurture this service into being bigger than the Cattery ever was?

MeowCheck is a fully insured/bonded at-home cat care service. When you go away for a few days or more (no reasonable limit), MeowCheck will ensure your cats are cared for in their own home. That includes, at your instruction, feeding/water, litter box detail, play time (if they want), hairball cleanups (if they are spotted), brushing (if need be), and insulin or medicine administration. On top of that, an overall check on the home is done to ensure all doors and windows are secure, refrigeration appliances are operating normally, no water is leaking where it shouldn't be, and no newspapers are stuck in your mailbox for days on end. This service can take place once or twice a day, depending on your needs. And of course, MeowCheck is flexible enough to work with you on special requests.

You can choose MeowChecks to be performed daily, or every other day, or even at odd daily intervals where a person might be away sporadically, as was one case last summer.

If MeowCheck can become busy enough, along with continued revenue support from Purroducts Central (cat furniture) and the Cattery (as limited as it is), there won't be a need for me to potentially end all services sometime later this year.

So my ask is that you share the MeowCheck page with as many local cat friends (as far north as Lacombe, as far west as Sylvan Lake, as far south as Penhold, as far east as Balmoral Heights) as you can. I will link it in the comments section below in case Facebook does the usual act-like-a-2-year-old and refuse to do the thing it's meant to do, which is allow page tags.

Let's make 2024 a good one for all of us.

Call now to connect with business.

10/12/2023

Hi Cat friends!

I posted this earlier, and I guess Facebook technology said no. Well, it’s not up to Facebook.

I’m signal boosting my friends at Occam's Razor (link in the comments, or just search for them on Facebook because this platform is incapable of cross posting, apparently) in downtown Red Deer. During all of December, if you bring at least two non-perishable items with you on each visit to their beautiful downtown lounge, they will add it to their pile for the food bank, and you will receive $5 off your bill! I have done so twice, so far.

So you’re doing something great for a family in need, you’re getting $5 off your bill, and you’re partaking in the best hand-crafted cocktails Red Deer has to offer.

We may not all be struggling, but we’re all in this together. Let’s make a difference.

26/11/2023

'Morning Clifton. What style of grumpy would you like to be today?

For the record, this has been one of the worst months for boarding since I formally opened the Cattery in July of 2016. It is not my hope that the economy is crushing everyone, but it IS my hope that the Cattery has not been forgotten simply because I downsized. Downsizing has allowed me to give your cats a way different boarding experience over traditional kennels. But sadly, the majority of potential first time clients who came for a tour didn't like the format and ghosted me. Oddly enough, 99.9% of existing clients absolutely love it. Weird.

I want to remind everyone that the current Cattery phone number is listed in many places controlled by me. If you find the old address or number in a Google search, definitely let me know, but also understand that if you have to keep scrolling past the first two results in a Google search for Cattery info, you've scrolled too far. I will note that the number on the official website contact page is currently wrong (waiting for the chance to fix it). I DID change it, but those who truly know me and my struggles, know how much technology hates me and tries to kill me every day.

While Christmas is all booked, MeowCheck is still available. Book soon!

14/11/2023

Hi Cat friends,

A very rare boarding space has opened up for around Christmas. If you still need a spot, book as soon as you can because this probably won't last more than a day or so before it gets snapped up.

www.cacattery.com/bookings

Central Alberta Cattery - Your cat's #1 choice for cat boarding destinations, and the only kennel in the Red Deer area for cats only! See it to believe it!

26/10/2023

*BREAKING NEWS*

Due to a couple sudden cancelations, there are now TWO spaces available for boarding around Christmas!

Book them while you can!

And if boarding isn't right for your cat, there's always MeowCheck.

www.cacattery.com/bookings

Central Alberta Cattery - Your cat's #1 choice for cat boarding destinations, and the only kennel in the Red Deer area for cats only! See it to believe it!

23/10/2023

Hi Cat friends,

Just a friendly note to say boarding over Christmas is now booked up starting December 24th. (Update: Two spots have opened up)

But while that might SEEM like a setback in your plans, remember, the MeowCheck service is always available!

Book today!

www.cacattery.com/meowcheck

Central Alberta Cattery - Your cat's #1 choice for cat boarding destinations, and the only kennel in the Red Deer area for cats only! See it to believe it!

12/09/2023

Hi Cat friends,

I hope everyone is doing well. I haven’t heard from some of you in a while! But then, you haven’t heard or seen much from me on here, so there’s that. Business as usual, but with some changes.

Ok, so I need to post this and pin it to the top of the page.

This is a housekeeping post, but also informational. There’s just a lot of little things slowly piling up that I want to address. It’s a bit of a long read, but for those immediately worried - NO - I’m not shutting down. Periodically I need to post these, otherwise my life becomes far too complicated to run this business… I can get very stressed out and even fall into pits of anxiety from too many things out of my control happening all at once. I’m sure many of you understand.

I’ll start with the “negative” stuff and then finish up with the positive stuff!

I appreciate that sometimes you fill out the online booking form (or call it in) for a stay at the Cattery, but before sending the deposit, you find other arrangements for your cats. Most of the time this happens with first time bookers. But please, if you make that decision, tell the kennel you’ve booked at (whether it’s the Cattery or any other kennel) that you have made other arrangements. I’ve turned away people thinking that I was just waiting for your deposit. I could easily fill that spot before you get a chance to send in the deposit, but I give people a chance. I don’t want to change my policy to enforce a small window of time before I fill the booking with the next person in line. It’s not a friendly business practice.

The Cattery business line has been down due to specific circumstances. But it will be up again, hopefully soon (the alternate number is currently listed in a Google search). It is and always has been a landline, not a cell number. In the past I’ve had a number of clients a bit upset with me that I didn’t respond to their texts. I’m going to be blunt here: Brick and mortar businesses generally have landlines. Landlines are not meant for texting! I have never indicated otherwise. Please ask for my cell number if you want a text update on your furry friends (I am going to add this to my booking e-mails). In 2023, you’d think technology would be better, but I feel it’s significantly worse on the telecom side. Over the past few years there were numerous instances where my telecom provider dropped the ball. I’ve seen posts from other businesses saying the same thing, so it’s not just me.

The “eyejest” e-mail address is not meant for communicating with the Cattery. It is strictly used for e-transfers. By e-mailing me there, you run the risk of ending up in the spam folder. Please use the one I contact you with for booking details. If I am contacted through the eyejest address, it may go unanswered because I might not see it come in. I don’t want to make your life difficult by not answering!

I have had some potential new clients call and feel turned off by the fact that their cats would be spending time in a whole room by themself (with me visiting them throughout the day, obviously - it’s literally my job). When the Cattery was in a commercial space, they were staying in condos that I described as oversized closets (or condos the size of an ensuite bathroom, if we’re talking about the family condos). They would get let out into a space about the size of a bedroom, but with no windows unless they could go upstairs. And in many cases they would still see all the other cats. This is how most cat kennels are laid out. But NOW, by default your cats are in a bedroom sized room for their whole stay. If you’d rather your cat spend most of their time in a much smaller space, there are alternatives to my service. I feel the cats who have stayed with me since downsizing have enjoyed their stay much more than ever before, because it feels like home. And my regulars haven’t indicated having an issue with this.

As for booking with the Cattery, I ask that you use the online booking form (there’s a shorter one for existing clients) if at all possible. With all of this accessible technology, I get booking requests by text, two different e-mail addresses (see above), Facebook messenger, Google messenger (which is atrocious but necessary), phone (which is cool), voicemail (not terrible, but we still need to touch base regardless) and the booking form (which is optimal). The reason I ask this is because if it’s texted to me, and I lose my phone (which DID happen earlier in 2023), I can’t retrieve that message. The reason I prefer the online booking form is the booking shows up directly to my Cattery e-mail inbox and I can easily process them from there. It’s practically fool proof. It also ensures you are giving me all the details I need, like whether it’s an AM or PM drop or pickup. Especially now, with such a limited number of spaces, I may have a cat going home in the morning and that is the only space available for the cat coming in later that afternoon. It’s quite the juggling act. I get a lot of text messages and so your request may get lost down the list of incoming texts. And given the reliability of Facebook, I simply don’t get notifications of new messages. I do have an arrangement with a couple of you for booking via Facebook (and that’s fine), so don’t feel like you’re being singled out..

On to the positives…

I am planning on upgrading some of my flatscreen TVs to ones modern enough to run Chromecast devices (or “smart” Bluray players), which will mean every room will have a TV capable of playing Youtube critter videos. If ever there was a reason to book with the Cattery, that’s gotta be up there.

I am also in the process of building an outdoor catio. You know, that feature I couldn’t offer before when the Cattery was at a commercial location. If your cat behaves (isn’t aggressive or angry at the world), and you wish for them to safely spend some time outside, this will be free of charge. This catio will be about 6 feet wide, 8 feet long, and 8-10 feet tall, facing south (lots of sun!). It will have a solid roof (a mild rain won’t be a problem, but your cats would definitely be brought in if a storm was coming). There will be a water fountain like what I had at the old location. It will have a lock on the door so that if I am not out there with them, no one else can creep in and let them out or any other terrible thing that would result in me hunting down the perp and changing their life. I would also not leave the property while they’re out there! This will be a prototype to prove I can build one. Once I’m happy with the build quality and the process, I will be offering custom catios through my cat furniture side of the business.

Speaking of cat FURniture, Purroducts Central has been developing a number of exciting new purroducts like various cat room wall features and of course there’s that prototype catio I’ll be showing off soon enough (I hope). And I have made improvements to some of my assembly processes, including the ability to make certain parts of a tree come apart using fasteners. You can find many of the new things I have built for clients on the Purroducts Central Instagram page.

And now for what’s probably the most exciting news for some of you. As some of you already know, I now offer an in-home service called MeowCheck. MeowChecks are performed twice a day (15 minutes each) or once a day (half hour). You can stagger your booking to be every other day, or every third day, or of course every day (or whatever combination you need). While there, I also check to ensure the doors and windows are secured. Checking for running water, if the refrigerator is running (I’ve caught ONE that wasn’t!), and other issues to report are all a part of my visits. But make no mistake, this is not a formal home watch service. As someone with YEARS of feline experience and pet first aid, I am there for your cats! The other stuff is simply a bonus, and it’s good for your homeowners/renters insurance. This insured and bonded service has proven to be quite popular. Some of the existing Cattery clients have switched over, as their cats hate car rides or other cats/cat smells/changes of scenery. This is also the more economical option if you have more than one cat, as I charge a flat rate regardless of how many cats you have! You can keep up to date with MeowCheck by searching that name on Facebook.

Lastly, I just want to thank everyone who has kept using the Cattery since downsizing, and I am super happy to welcome all the new clients who have since returned a number of times (awesome that there have been many!). I haven’t been sharing the Community Votes or Best Of Red Deer voting links because I am at a point where if the people vote, they vote. I don’t need to win a popularity contest at this point. But if you do find those pages, thank you for the votes!

Stay Calm And Meow On!

06/09/2023

Hey cat friends!

Hard to believe it will soon be a full year since I did my first MeowCheck! Of course, it had a different name at the time, but it was the same service.

As with any new business venture, adjustments are made after seeing how things go for a while.

Starting October 1st, Sylvan Lake and Lacombe visits will be $26.50 per day for one visit (1/2 hour) and $28 per day for two visits (15 mins each).

For Red Deer/Blackfalds, one half hour visit per day will be reduced to $22/day while two 15-minute visits per day will be $24.50 per day.

Hopefully these are only minor adjustments from your end!

As always, I will still offer 10% off after 14 days of consecutive visits.

This will not affect anyone who books between now and September 30. For those who have already booked for dates beyond September (and there are quite a few), you’ll be given the best deal of the two options.

Thank you again for making MeowCheck successful so quickly!

(pictured is my older cat Leeloo, doing Leeloo things on a Purroducts Central wall perch)