Almora Cattery

13/07/2024

UPDATE: Phone line is back!

Hi everyone. We are experiencing some problems with our landline phone and are not able to receive calls right now. We have contacted our phone supplier who are "looking into it".......... If you urgently need to contact us, please drop us a message here or email [email protected]

18/06/2024

We are very proud to announce that we won the "Best Luxury Cattery in Derbyshire 2024" Award in the recent LUXLife Magazine Awards. What a wonderful first anniversary present! Our first year in the cattery has been hard work but incredibly fulfilling and great fun, and we have met some wonderful people and amazing cats. We would like to thank everyone for their support over the past year, and special thanks to whoever nominated us for the award.

Our award announcement is here:
https://www.lux-review.com/winners/almora-cattery/

In the meantime, here is Jake celebrating the award with me 😂

10/06/2024

Hi all. Just wanted to let everyone know that we will be closed for our annual holiday and maintenance from Monday 4th November until Sunday 1st December inclusive. During this time, the cattery will be closed for any boarding as we will be upgrading a couple of the pens (well....hopefully....weather dependent!) as well as getting on with those jobs that we cannot do when cats are present. We will also be taking a much-needed break.

In the meantime, here are Colin, Arthur and Mabel playing a game of "who can get possession of the shelf"! 😂

10/06/2024

😺 Today, in England, it is a compulsory requirement to microchip your cat before it reaches the age of 20 weeks.

If your cat is older than 20 weeks and is not microchipped, book an appointment to have one implanted.

If your cat is already microchipped, the law also requires that the details associated with the chip be up to date, so please check that your pet's microchip details are up to date.

For more information on the requirements, click here >>
https://ow.ly/eWB750Scn5q

01/06/2024

Hi everyone. Dog found wandering on the road by the cattery. Anyone know whose it is?
UPDATE: owner found 😀👍

25/04/2024

Hi everyone. It has been a busy couple of months here at Almora as we have been trying to get ahead with cattery and pen maintenance while dodging the rather hefty amount of water that has been pouring from the skies! We have managed to achieve one of our biggest aims as we are now able to compost all of our cat waste rather than have it collected and sent to landfill. We're hopeful that this sustainability project will prove to be......sustainable. 😁

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of our first visitor of the day waiting to check in to the cattery this morning. No, it isn't an escapee - it is our cat Chloe! 😂

20/02/2024

💊 We know how difficult it can be to get your pet to take their medication if they require it. That's why our team has created an easy-to-use guide to help make the process smoother for both you and your pet.

Administering pet medication doesn't have to be a stressful experience. With some creativity, patience, and positive reinforcement, you'll master the art of medicating them should they require medication.

👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ If you are unsure or need help administering medication to your pet, our nurses are happy to teach and support you with your pet to ensure you find the best method.

Take a read of our top tips and guide here >> https://ow.ly/pkQ850QFiMh

16/02/2024

😺🐶🐰

Losing a pet or discovering a stray can be a distressing experience for anyone. To help you navigate through these situations, our team has put together a guide that covers everything you need to know.

Learn what you should do if you've lost a pet, discover ways to help if you've found a lost pet, and explore some steps you can take to prevent these circumstances from happening in the future.

To learn more, visit our website >> https://ow.ly/FaUL50QCwp3

09/02/2024

Hi everyone. We are pleased to announce that our prices for 2024 will remain the same as last year (£12 for one cat, £18 for two sharing a pen, £23 for three sharing and £27 for four sharing, all prices per day). This includes insurance, cold weather heating, litter, beds and bedding and “regular” foods, such as Whiskas, Sheba, Felix and Go-Cat. We also do not charge any extra for administering medication, including for diabetic cats. We will also continue to offer a pick-up or drop-off service at £10 per trip within 10 miles of the cattery, or £20 within 10-20 miles. Further information can be found at https://www.almoracattery.com/prices/ . Oh, and here are Mog and Meg! 😀

07/02/2024

🐶😺 It's no secret that our pets love to indulge in human treats, but not all foods and drinks are safe for them. In fact, some everyday items can be quite dangerous to our beloved pets.

To keep your pet healthy and happy, it's important to know which foods to avoid. Don't be tempted by their adorable 'puppy dog' and 'cat eyes'. 😻

Here are some of the most hazardous foods to watch out for, but keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list.

⚠️If you suspect or know that your pet has consumed any of these foods, please contact us immediately.

Please share this post to help raise awareness of the various poisonous foods that can be detrimental to our pet's health.

08/01/2024

⚠️ Do you know the dangers of antifreeze for both our pets and wildlife?

When maintaining your vehicle, it is important to remember that some liquids can be hazardous to your pet and wildlife, such as spilt car wash liquid and antifreeze.

🐶😺🐦Antifreeze is a common ingredient in many de-icing products and is highly poisonous if consumed by dogs, cats and birds. To make matters worse, animals can find the taste of antifreeze enjoyable, so they can lick areas that have been treated and poison themselves.

Signs of poisoning can include being quiet or lethargic, vomiting, instability, and muscle twitching through to seizures and collapse. Urgent attention is very important as the results can often be fatal.

Top tips to keep your pet and wildlife safe:
✔️ Do not add antifreeze to outdoor water sources like bird baths, water features and fountains
✔️ Always remember to keep bottles sealed and out of reach of your pet
✔️ Ensure any spillages are cleaned up immediately and thoroughly, and keep your pet away from the soiled area
✔️ Dispose of used containers correctly
✔️ Do not leave your pet unattended in areas which contain chemicals.
✔️ During walks, your pet's feet, legs, or belly may pick up salt and grit, irritating their skin. Wash your pet's paws and undercarriage if they come into contact with salt and grit.
✔️Always check in and under your car before departing. Cats shelter under cars when it is cold and sit or even climb inside the bonnet to keep warm.

If you suspect your pet has ingested something they shouldn’t have, please get in touch with us immediately.

08/01/2024

Hi everyone. We've had such a busy Christmas and New Year that we haven't had time to introduce you to the newest member of our family! This is Chloe, who joined us in November. She is a 7-year old black and white long haired cat who came to us when her owner was no longer able to take care of her. She has settled in nicely and already rules the house! She loves to play, especially chasing things around the living room, and she even tolerates Darryl's terrible jokes (well, I like to think she does anyway....). She hasn't yet ventured outside so you won't see her around the cattery yet, but we're sure she will get out there once it is warmer. 😀

01/01/2024

Happy new year 2024! Thank you so much to everyone for making us so welcome in our new venture here at Almora. Jenny and I are loving every minute of it, especially meeting so many lovely cats and owners! We look forward to seeing many of you again this year. 😀

25/12/2023

Santa has come visiting Almora Cattery! We got up this morning to find stockings and treats left for all the cats who are staying over Christmas (and a few for us too 😀). Reggie was especially pleased to see that he hadn't been missed!

Merry Christmas from Darryl and Jenny at Almora Cattery. We hope that you and your furry friends have a fantastic festive season.

07/12/2023

DECK THE HALLS… 🎄🏘️

As we begin decking our halls and adorning our humble abodes with all things festive, it's important to remember the potential hazards to our cats and dogs. 🐶😺

As we sit around the Christmas tree, admiring the beautiful decorations, please be aware that glass baubles, edible decorations, tinsel, and fairy lights can prove problematic if played with, eaten, or smashed.

While your Christmas tree and decorations are up in the house, keep a close eye on your pet to ensure they are not chewing or swallowing any of these enticing objects.

🐱 Also, it's important to remember that pets, especially curious cats, can often climb into the tree and get tangled up in these decorations.

08/11/2023

Hi everyone. We have had a fabulous first summer season here at the cattery. We've enjoyed every minute of it! A reminder that we are now closed for annual maintenance - all those noisy and smelly jobs that we can't do when we have cats in residence. We re-open on November 24th. In the meantime, we will still be taking bookings and messages by telephone, email and here on FB. Please note that we are already almost completely full for Xmas and New Year so if you need a booking, let us know asap. Finally, enjoy this photo from earlier this year when Tonks came to stay! 😂

28/10/2023

Wondering how to cope with your cat during fireworks season? We offer help and advice on how to care for cats stressed by fireworks on Bonfire Night.

27/10/2023

Today is National Black Cat Day, a day created by Cats Protection to celebrate the virtues of black cats and to encourage people to adopt these lovely felines, as they are often the last to be chosen. 🐕 🐾

To commemorate the day, we have collected a selection of our favourite black cat facts together:
📽️ Black cats are popular in films
🐱 Black cats were gods in ancient Egypt
⚓ Sailors associate black cats with good luck
⚫ There are more black cats than any other colour

📷 If you’ve got a black cat, share a photo of them in the comments below!

25/10/2023

KEEP YOUR PET SAFE THIS HALLOWEEN 👻🎃👹

Halloween can be a ‘spooktacular’ time of year for many, but it can be a stressful experience for pets. Here are some helpful tips to keep your pets safe and happy during the Halloween season:

🐶 Spend time reassuring your pets if you plan to dress up for Halloween. Masks and makeup may be enjoyable for you, but your pets may find them scary if they don't recognise you.

🚪 With the constant opening and closing of doors for trick-or-treaters, ensure your pets are kept from potential escape routes. It's also important to have your pets micro-chipped in case the unexpected happens.

🎆 If bright lights or loud noises are anticipated, provide a safe and comfortable space for your pets to retreat to.

🍬 Keep sweet treats out of reach, including chocolate, sweets, and anything containing xylitol.

🎃 Decorations have become a big part of Halloween; however, curious pets can sometimes get into trouble with them. To ensure your pets stay safe, keep open flames, small decorative lights, and decorations out of their reach.

We hope you have a safe and 'fang-tactic' Halloween, but should you need us, we will be here for you and your pet.

21/10/2023

Hi everyone. Lots of rain in the last 24 hours but all the cats are doing well. Our pens are raised up and the drainage is good, and our current residents have been staying snug and warm inside; well except for one or two who seem to like the rain! Thanks to everyone who has asked but we, and the cats, are doing great. A bit wet, but great!

17/10/2023

UPDATE: Polly and Cybil have a new home. :)

Hi everyone. Unfortunately, we have to find a new home for our 2 chickens, Polly and Cybil (think Fawlty Towers). If you know of anyone who would like to re-home them for us, please get in touch, either here or on our email address [email protected] . Thank you.

11/10/2023

Hi everyone. A reminder that we will be closed from Monday 6th November until Friday 24th November for maintenance and holiday. We will still be taking bookings by email, Facebook and through our website but note that we may not respond immediately. We will reopen on Saturday 25th November.

11/10/2023

09/10/2023

Hi everyone. We have been updating our database systems this weekend. Hopefully this is now (almost!) complete and we should be back to normal in terms of sending booking confirmations, reminders and invoices. If you have a booking with us in the next few weeks and do not receive a reminder 14 days beforehand or an invoice 7 days beforehand, please do let us know so that we can fix any glitches. Thanks!

07/09/2023

Hi everyone. It's very hot at the moment so we've implemented some temporary measures to help keep our guests cool. We've started feeding earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon, when it is cooler. We're checking the water 3 times a day to make sure that they have enough (and haven't knocked it over...... mentioning no cats in particular.... Moon!). We have tarpaulins that we're using to keep the sun off at various times of the day (in particular, the South-facing pens), and we're closing the pens up later than normal. Our guests are lucky that the insides of the pens are staying quite cool, while the outdoor spaces are great in the early morning and late afternoon/evening. For tomorrow and Saturday's higher forecasted temperatures, we have ice water bottles ready (plus a little bit of ice cream for Jenny and I). Of course, some cats still just want some fuss despite the temperatures!

08/07/2023

Hi everybody. We are very busy for the rest of July, August and September and have quite a lot of people on our waiting list. If you have a booking and know that you will not need it after all, please do let us know as early as you can so that we can offer the place to someone else. Thank you!

21/06/2023

Hi everyone. We'd like to give advance notice that the cattery will be closed from Monday 6 November until Friday 24th November 2023. We currently have no bookings for this time so we will be taking a short holiday as well as completing some of the maintenance work that is difficult to do when cats are boarding. We will reopen on Saturday 25th November.

20/06/2023

Hi everyone. We have been here at the cattery for a little over a month now and just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful cats and owners that it has been our pleasure to meet. Everyone has been very supportive and we hope that all have enjoyed their visits to Almora. We look forward to meeting many more of you over the coming summer months, and remember that we are open to anyone who would like to drop by and have a tour, or just to say hello! Thanks again everyone. Darryl and Jenny.

26/03/2023

Hi everyone, for those of you bringing cats in on Good Friday just a quick note to say that we are going to be very busy with lots of arrivals. We are going to open an hour early at 9am if you need to get away before 10.

30/01/2023

Hi everyone, as is the way these days we have had to change our holiday plans. The good news is that we will be back open sooner than expected. We will now re-open on 13th March.