North East Cat Cafe! (Sue P?!)

[emmmy_lou]

I agree its good for people who love cats, but aren't in a position to have them. There are a lot of landlords that arent cat friendly 

There is a couple that comes into the Ark now and again with their little girl. They are from (I think) malaysia and are only living here for a few years and miss their own cat back home  A few of the helpers I have known have been students who are living away from their cats too. The novelty seems to wear off after a couple of weeks getting up on a sat morning to clean a dozen dirty litter trays 

I luckily caught the Ark mentioned on BBC Breakfast before I left for work 

The bit I saw was only on for about a minute basically saying the rescue needed kitten cuddlers to socialise the kittens, no interviews, just footage of cats being stroked!!!

I looked on their website today and they had an article in the chronicle and have been inundated with enquiries and people turning up. Looks like I'm in for a busy day on Saturday!!!

Heres the article http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/kitten-cuddlers-needed-newcastle-animal-8036416

And what they have posted on the website http://www.westgateark.org.uk/events/

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

Wooohooo!  They did?    That's just brilliant.  Am so chuffed for them.  I hope that this will give them a very real boost.  They work very hard on an absolute shoestring.    and of course I'm biased - Moray is a little darling, and he came from them.   

[LouiseJ]

Westgate Ark made the early morning BBC News today Sue!

[Purdy Bear]

I think this a great idea for a few reasons:

a)  For those like me, who don't have cat allergies but do have Asthma so in two minds whether to have a kitty or not.  They could go down and test out their illness to see without having the problem of adopting the little mite first.

b)  For those in sheltered or rental accommodation where pets aren't allowed can go down and get the kitty fix.

I bet their adoption rate goes up, because I know the felines will just put that look in the eyes of complete innocence  and get their paws into the person heart and whammy the next thing their home and adopted.

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

Thanks Ems.  I saw this on the local news last night too.  As you say, not quite the same concept as the other Cat Cafes we've seen springing up, but a lovely idea.  I only know of Willows through the Cat Chat site, but great to see any rescue doing well.  I also see that Westgate Ark have had some coverage in the newspaper, and were on our local news with their drive to encourage people t volunteer for cat cuddling and help at the centre.  They've had a very good response.  I know a lot of that may drop off, but hoping they do well - they've come so far, and it's not been easy for them (when is it ever for rescues?)

[maryas]

Looks and sounds great.  Hope it continues to go well for her.

Mary

[LouiseJ]

Have you read about Lady Dinahs Cat Emporium??
It's in East London and as it's not that far from work I'm going to buy us vouchers for afternoon tea. It all looks very safe and controlled for the cats.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Looks great and great way of socializing the kittens too, hope it continues to do well for them 

[emmmy_lou]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2814062/Newcastle-animal-shelter-opens-cat-cafe-raise-funds-homeless-moggies-popular-introduce-booking-service.html

Well, the press are calling it a Cat Cafe, but it seems more like a rescue offering tea and cakes for a few hours on a monday 

Its local-ish to me and had heard the name but didn't know where the rescue was or anything about it.

A good idea for rescues I think if you have the time and space. Much better than the cat cafe's with free roaming kittys inside. It looks like they are only let out individually. And has generated plenty of interest for this little rescue