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MannCat Sanctuary 2020

Crunchie Welcome..... Dear Supporter Another year, another newsletter and so much to talk about! Many people suggest we do an online newsletter but as we have the long-standing sponsorship from the Kaiser Trust to produce this newsletter, we prefer to continue with pen and paper! I hope you enjoy this year’s edition and if so please pass it on to your friends. Beauty Marigold Violet MCS was created back in 1996 with the photos to our Mann Chatters help of Dr. Edgar Mann and his wife Joan, Facebook group. Mann Cat’s Guiding Principle who are both now sadly deceased and Around Christmas time we had a new “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to also with a great friend of mine, Carole website built by a company named Pixus Corlett, who is also sadly no longer with in Liverpool which was very necessary all living things, man will not himself find peace.” us and whom was taken away far too as the old one was very outdated and Albert Schweitzer early and she is always sorely missed. needed modernising. The new one has All of the work that is carried out here is been well received and is very speedy in memory of all three of them. and user friendly. Thanks to all at In this issue..... The sanctuary was setup to care for feral Pixus for their help and efficiency, if 4-5 Willow and her 11 Gizmo and kittens, sick and disabled cats you haven’t yet seen it please do take a Rescuing a feral family. Gizmo the goose joins our flock. and cats that generally weren’t suitable look after you’ve read this newsletter. 6 All in a volunteer’s day 12-13 Sponsor Cat Stories to be homed. The sanctuary has evolved Due to increasing pressure of cats in Jo tells us how she found Introducing Lola & Aurora, Luke, and as the years progressed we have need of finding sanctuary here, from the volunteering so rewarding. Walter and Zulu. taken in ponies, donkeys, sheep, turkeys, very elderly to the blind and disabled, we 7 NEAT Electrical work at the 14 A message from Ukraine geese and ducks. It is not possible to turn have moved what was our old aviary and Mann Cat Sanctuary 15 Lola Our epileptic cat. any bird or animal away when you know made extra living space to meet these Neil Harrison describes working 16 Kerry the kitten you can help them. We have very strict demands. I must thank Enid from at the sanctuary. Read about Kerry’s dramatic guidelines here that we operate under America and once again the Kaiser Trust 8-9 Karen’s rescue mission roadside rescue. in that we never put an animal to sleep for their financial assistance towards from Abu Dhabi 19 Poppy Enjoying her new home. unless it is suffering from a terminal How Karen imported her cats this. Friends of the sanctuary have also Judy’s story illness or has injuries beyond to the . 20 bought the blinds and the furniture for 21 Webcams Introducing veterinary help. 10 Albus, Betty and Isla the interior and thank you to Barbara The Willows. The summer season was our busiest on Barker who painted a beautiful mural A warm welcome to our 22 Take a look at our Gift Shop record as we welcomed lots of visitors around the walls. This area has been new sheep. from all over the world who enjoyed their called ‘The Willows’ and it has its own time here, meeting all the residents. One webcam on our website. of our volunteers, Judith, helped here on Finally, as always, a big thank you to our all of our open days and took photos of vet Dr. Ruth and to our dedicated and all the visitors and with the help of social selfless volunteers. media she was able to spread their happiness by uploading and sharing the Sue Critchley

2 3 Willow and her kittens The summer of 2019 brought us one the room! He really liked it in there and so there was maybe an issue with the under- be reunited with her kittens, who were of our most worrying and distressing with it being a spacious room we thought neath of Willow from where the kittens still being taken care of by Blue. On her cases, involving a feral mother cat it would be ok to leave him in there and the were feeding from her and she was so return to the sanctuary, Willow was and her kittens. This is the full story feral mother, whom we named Willow, was flat that we were able to handle her and instantly more relaxed and tolerant happy to occupy an open cupboard with roll her over. To our horror, it looked to of us than she was during her initial of Willow. her kittens. Willow was very feral and we us that she had suffered a massive burst few days here. were quite concerned that there may be abscess and it had completely opened her Now as it approaches one year since something wrong with her as she was in a abdomen up! Obviously the next step was what was a traumatic time for every- very poor state. She generally looked dirty, to rush her to Dr. Ruth who was waiting one involved with this, Willow and her and her coat was very tatty and unkept and for her and operated on her immediately. kittens are now out roaming around the she just didn’t look right. This is common We were concerned that we would sanctuary and Willow now spends most with ferals and unfortunately it does often possibly never see Willow again but of her time in the main lounge. She isn’t mean the kittens may have problems thanks to Blue, we decided to leave the tame enough to be stroked and handled as well but we thought it could be just kittens with him as sometimes in the past but does enjoy sitting in high up places Willow worms with Willow so we wormed and it has been necessary to take the kittens observing everything that goes on, as de-fleaed her. with their mothers to the vets. On this you can see from the first photo taken After a couple of days when we entered occasion Blue did a very good job of by Ann as Willow was watching her one It all started at the end of May last year, the room, we were shocked to see Willow taking care of them and luckily the kittens morning! We are so pleased that this story when we received a worrying message on and her kittens sharing the cupboard with were just at the stage where they were has a happy outcome and that Willow is our Facebook site from a lady who was grumpy Blue who had moved himself in to eating for themselves. Willow had the now well and has fully recovered from concerned that there was a feral mother sit with them!! Willow seemed happy with operation and Dr. Ruth advised us that this ordeal. As with most of our stories, cat with kittens, in a hedge just beyond the arrangement and the kittens were she would need to stay at the vets for a we are to be thankful to the lady who was her garden. Her main concern was that the especially happy as they had a very soft while to be monitored as the operation concerned enough about her being near hedge was situated on a popular public pillow and bed! that she had undergone was a major one. her garden to speak to us and help bring footpath commonly used for walks. A few days had passed and Willow’s Two weeks went by and finally we were her to a better life. Had she not, then it is The lady said she would try to catch them condition was slowly deteriorating and advised that Willow was in a good enough almost certain that Willow and her kittens all and we said if that was possible, then one morning when we went into the room, condition to return to the sanctuary and would not have survived much longer. they could come here and we gave her a she was in a collapsed state and the kittens trap to aid the rescue. had blood around their mouth and nose. Willow, the Kittens & Blue Surprisingly, the very first time the lady Putting two and two together we realised set the trap, the mother went straight into it and she was duly brought here to the The Kittens sanctuary. We were then anxious that the kittens were left on their own. However, they were quite young and so with the mother absent, the lady was able to quickly and easily catch the kittens and bring them to join the mother. The usual room we use for feral mothers and kittens was at the time occupied by a grumpy, awkward called Blue, who wasn’t prepared to amicably give up

4 5 All in a volunteer’s day... NEAT Electrical Work at the Mann Cat Sanctuary I first visited Mann Cat Sanctuary like Sammy, our blond boy who will jump in July 2018 when I was entertaining up from the floor to my shoulder and Hi! I’m Neil and some of you will have More recently, the new aviary has been seen me on the webcams doing the replaced with a new modern residence guests who were staying with me cling on like a baby, nuzzling into my neck electrical work through my business “The Willows” for the growing number for a week. I have lived on the Island and stays there no matter where I move to for a good ten minutes of cuddle time. – Neil Electrical and Testing – NEAT. of cats. As always, I was pleased to be since 1994 and had never been before. Or Lucky who likes to wait until the crowd I have worked at many places over the able to be part of the upgrade and it is We were thoroughly welcomed by has gone and then lays right on me and years but nowhere quite like the Mann Cat very satisfying when you see how happy cats and humans alike. gazes into my eyes whilst getting his chin Sanctuary. As an animal lover, it is always these little cats are when they move in The peace and calm of the place struck rubbed. Miss T likes the ear she can’t get a pleasure to go to work and be greeted by to their new comfy and warm home. me straight away and soon I had a little to scratched (due to her missing leg) and so many happy faces and that’s not just Sue, John and their staff do whisper in my ear from a sweet will spin round in circles for more if she’s the cats! Sue, John and their staff are a wonderful job caring for called Lottie. She sat on my shoulders and not done! There is a joy in getting to always friendly and helpful, they are like and looking after the cats gave me kitty kisses until I suddenly found know them all and a fulfilment from one big family. and other rescue animals at myself blurting out to Eva, ‘Do you take spending time with them, whether that I started working with Sue and John the Sanctuary and the cups volunteers?’ I always say Lottie recruited be encouraging a shy, scared feral and over 10 years ago and have worked with of tea aren’t so bad either. me. She was persistent and irresistible and seeing them coming to greet you one day, them independently since being asked showed me the same amount of affection eventually. Or sitting with a wise old cat to continue to look after their electrics Neil Wonky every time I arrived at the Sanctuary such as Humphrey, Nico or Fluffy and just when I became self-employed about 5 after that. comforting them in their twilight years. years ago. There is always something that I surprised myself with my question for Eva Although the Sanctuary can sometimes needs doing at the Sanctuary, whether as for the last five years I have been mainly be a place of sadness as some sick or it be a small job such as installing extra housebound, unable to work due to chronic elderly cats do pass, Sue, John and the power sockets, repairing one of the illnesses and suffering somewhat from staff do an amazing job in keeping all of many heaters or upgrading electrical depression and anxiety. I was nervous the animals (there’s donkeys, turkeys, installations, always making sure that to even commit to one afternoon a week geese and talking sheep too) safe, warm, they have warm, safe and happy cats. but soon found that if I took it easy and fed and happy in such a beautiful and I have also installed data cables, which just spent time with the cats and enjoyed peaceful environment and I am proud enables people from around the world their company then I relaxed more and my and thankful to play my small part in that. to tune in to see their sponsored cats and other furry friends. worries melted away. I can now do two Neil & Angel afternoons a week and even though Jo I have also worked with Sue and John I’m exhausted afterwards the enjoyment on some bigger projects over the years, of each day there has made my life a Jo & Ruby I remember my first big project was Neil with much happier and fulfilled one. stripping out the electrics from the Angel, The webcam watchers amongst you will old aviary and carrying out the new Tigger electrical installation for the transformation know I spend a lot of my time sat on the & Dillon floor with the cats so they can use me as in to “Thie Noa”. Shortly afterwards, a human climbing frame! It means I can the installation of the lights, power and interact with more of them at once, I talk heating took place in the new aviary, a lot of rubbish with them – be glad those which opened in 2012. It was during this webcams don’t have sound! Over time you installation that Wonky the rescue cat get to know each cat and their quirks and (she was unsteady on her feet due to personalities; some like to be right on you, being poorly treated) started to follow me around and would sit on my cable drum and for attention. 6 7 with cats. And so it began, I spent garden in the South of the island. I don’t Karen’s rescue mission in Abu Dhabi Sundays with Sue and helping out when think the number was mentioned at this the sanctuary was open to visitors. point and I popped down to see them and immediately fell in love with them. I’ve always been a cat person. As a too many strays in Abu Dhabi so she was December came and Loki & Baldur were child I remember Nanny opening up neutered, had her vaccinations & became ready to come home. Annoyingly, 6 The kittens her house for a stray (Mummy Puss) part of the family. That week a friend weeks previously DEFRA announced that who arrived one day with 3 kittens. came round to our apartment to use our they were allowing the UAE into the Mummy Puss was friendly but the computer to send some emails home. He Passport scheme! We were lucky the boat kittens were quite feral so whilst typed the equivalent of a couple of pages sailed and the weather wasn’t too bad but Mummy Puss came into the house, of A4 when the kitten walked over the key- they meowed the whole way. They settled the kittens stayed in the garden. board and in 2 paw strokes she highlighted in well and acclimatised to the colder And then Mummy Puss went away all the text and deleted it! And so Loki was weather. They were in their element when & came back with 5 kittens! named, after the Norse god of mischief. it was sunny and warm, Loki in particular liked to walk with us to the beach and How can you possibly separate siblings? I can remember trying to catch them all became well known to locals and tourists My husband & children, expecting 2 to take them to the vets – I’d never seen alike. I continued to help out at MCS kittens, weren’t too surprised when I a cat go vertical up a wall before. All the right up until 2 days before I gave birth to came home and said we would be taking cats were neutered, we found homes for my first son. It was difficult to find time 4 kittens who were just over 6 weeks old. the second litter of 5 and we kept Mummy to help out as much as previously with a There then followed discussion on names Puss & Nanny bought a summer house type Loki small baby but I popped in when I could for them and we agreed on Rhubarb & shed and put it in the back garden for the and had a monthly standing order set up Custard who are boys, and Cookie & Oreo original litter of 3 to live in. The vets in Abu Dhabi had unwanted to make a regular donation. Two years who are girls. And what a delight they cats that they would try to home so the After university & working in London, my later I had my second son and when they have been, now just over 6 months old. following year we took in a second cat. husband & I went to Abu Dhabi to work were both a bit older I would take them Don’t get me wrong, they have been hard She was younger than Loki but bigger, and for a few years. There is a large stray cat to MCS for an afternoon to see Sue and work and a solemn reminder that babies Loki took a while to accept her so we called population in Abu Dhabi, many of whom all the animals. are easier….. nothing is sacred where the new arrival Baldur. Over the months were until their expat owners returned kittens are concerned, but I wouldn’t they started to tolerate each other more Many happy years passed until December home, leaving their cats on the street. have it any other way. and in 2004 we started planning for our 2013 when Loki developed idiopathic I used to feed about 12 strays that lived return to the Isle of Man. Because the UAE epilepsy and sadly had to be put to around our accommodation and I had Karen is connected by land mass to Africa, DEFRA sleep, aged 13. names for all of them. insisted on 6 months quarantine because of A couple of years later Baldur developed One day, whilst I was working a night shift the potential of . The local vets had chronic kidney disease but with careful in 2001, I sat outside the ambulance bay been campaigning to allow the UAE into management she kept well for 4 years having a break and this kitten came up to the Pet Passport scheme on the basis that until she developed an inoperable tumour me weaving herself around my legs. She expats were responsible pet owners and and was sadly put to sleep in June 2019, was small, quite thin but friendly. It was we all had vaccination records and blood aged 18. obvious she had been a pet at some point test results proving our pets were rabies and just abandoned as she came back over free. But it was not to be, so Loki & Baldur I dropped off my excess renal the next few nights. Or maybe she knew flew with Emirates to Manchester & were to Sue who said to let her know when I I would rescue her. So in my break on my taken to quarantine in Lancashire. was ready for 2 kittens. Sue knows I’m a last night shift I took her home, set her up cat person and a sucker for a stray and as Feeling lost without my cats, I went to in the bathroom and went back to work. heartbreaking as it is when you lose a pet, the Mann Cat Sanctuary one weekend and The following day we took her to the vet to I knew there would be more cats in our spoke to Sue. I explained my situation and be checked out – she was less than a year family. At the end of August Sue messaged asked if she would like a volunteer to help Cookie & Oreo old & pregnant with 3 kittens. There are me to say she had had a litter of kittens Rhubarb & Custard out and in return I would get some time brought to her, they had been born in a 8 9 Albus, Betty and Isla Gizmo

In September 2019 we had a Albus, Betty & Isla At the beginning of September, we At first, Gizmo did miss Rachel. It was no message from a lady called Laura had a phone call from a lady called different to when cats come here and miss Rachel with a rather strange request. their owners but there is always something with a very unusual request, She explained how she had a fully going on here and always plenty of people asking if we could take in a lamb! grown goose living in her flat that walking around so we were constantly watching him and talking to him. When The mother of this lamb had died and she had been hand rearing from Gizmo is spoken to he replies and has his Laura asked the farmer if she could We arranged for Laura to sit in the back of when it was a few days old. own version of a conversation!! After a few hand rear this lamb, which she did very Warren’s car as she said Albus would be Rachel had been made aware of the plight days, he seemed more relaxed and then successfully. The problem Laura had was quite happy to come here on the back seat, of this little goose, who was alone with we finally spotted him paddling himself that she was moving out of the area and as long as he had a packet of cornflakes!! no sign of a mother around and was in an around the pond with the ducks! into a flat and realised she had no means This was the case and indeed Warren area where were frequently being of keeping the lamb. arrived at the sanctuary and drove into walked, making him very vulnerable. He During the winter, Gizmo never ventured the field and Albus hopped straight out probably wouldn’t have lasted a full night near the field and spends his nights still We agreed that the lamb whom she had of the back door! He had a few days on on his own. Rachel thought the best and by or on the pond but during the daytime called Albus, could be brought here, she did his own and then the farmer’s daughter only way to help him was to remove him he does wander around the stable area, want to bring his sofa here but we thought brought Betty and Isla, who are mother from the area and take him home with particularly keeping an eye on the he would be better with grass and a straw and daughter, to join Albus. her as she did have prior experience in volunteers carrying out the morning jobs! bed! However he did have a quilt whilst he rearing birds. He likes to be hand fed with his corn and got used to the straw. Our concern with They have a small stable in the field with then enjoys undoing your bootlaces once Rachel called the goose Gizmo and raised bringing a single lamb here was that he a straw bed that they can lie down on if he’s eaten!! We had some workmen here him very successfully in her flat where she wouldn’t know what he was and so we they wish and as well as the grass in the doing some jobs and they had a lot of fun housed him for a couple of months. During asked Laura if she could ask the farmer if we field they enjoy a treat of Rich Tea biscuits chatting to Gizmo and he enjoyed coming this time, as he grew in size she did try to could have another two sheep to keep him every day! Laura has now moved house out to meet them every morning. company. The farmer agreed and Betty and but she does come and visit Albus every integrate him with other geese but it was We commend what Rachel did with Gizmo Isla also came to the sanctuary to join Albus. Wednesday and he looks forward to it. clear that Gizmo didn’t see himself as a goose and the geese didn’t much like the in his early days and we are pleased that we look of him! The actions of Gizmo were have been able to offer him a life beyond more like that of a dog where he would sit that and Rachel often comes to visit him. with Rachel and enjoy fuss and company There is a video of Gizmo on our YouTube with her. As difficult as it was for her, she channel which is a diary of him from when realised that it would be impossible for Rachel had him to when he came here. Gizmo to live permanently in her flat and Gizmo he was now becoming a full sized goose. Knowing that we already had several geese living here at the sanctuary in our field, we agreed with Rachel that Gizmo could come here and see if he could enjoy a life here. At first we didn’t put Gizmo in the field with the other geese as they are quite bolshy so he went down to our pond area where our ducks and hens live. There is plenty of greenery and it’s sheltered Albus, Betty & Isla with a small pond so we thought that was a good place to start him. 10 11

There are many cats at the Sanctuary in need of a kind sponsor. You can visit the Sanctuary, fill out the form on page 18 or visit our Please sponsor one of us... website www.manncat.com for more cats awaiting sponsorship.

Lola & Aurora Luke Walter Zulu

Lola and Aurora are a beautiful pair of cats Luke who is a grey , came to the Walter’s story is one you will all be familiar Zulu’s story is a very sad but an all too and are mother and daughter. They are so sanctuary with his sister, Evie, as they were with, as he was one of the five cats that, common one on the Isle of Man. inseparable that we have decided that they living in a very dirty, small flat and were unusually for us, came here from overseas. Zulu’s owners were a young family and can’t even be separated for sponsorship quite wild making it difficult for their We were put in a situation where we really as many people do at the moment, they so we’re giving you the chance to sponsor owners to manage them. couldn’t refuse accepting the cats and were living in rented accommodation. both of them! Lola is the mother and is Luke and Evie are brother and sister believe it or not, they came here all the way The family did everything they could to four years old and Aurora is three. Lola and and we had the greatest of difficulties from Doha, Qatar! All of the cats had some- secure somewhere new that would Aurora’s owners had several small children putting them into baskets to bring them thing wrong with them and they all had eye accept Zulu and they were in contact and were expecting another. At this stage to the sanctuary, they were also both issues. Walter and another cat from there, with us for quite some time whilst trying they had decided that they couldn’t keep not neutered. As soon as we saw Evie, Timothy, were the worst two for eye trouble, to negotiate somewhere, but the only the cats, they couldn’t afford the upkeep we realised that she was heavily pregnant with the pair of them being completely place available to them which they had of them or to have them spayed. It was and the only possibility was that Luke was blind and Walter has had one eye removed. to take, wouldn’t allow Zulu to remain agreed after speaking to them, that they the father! Due to this Evie would go on with them. could be brought here to the sanctuary. All of the cats settled remarkably well in to abort her kittens which were badly the Thie Noa building and they have never We agreed that Zulu could come here They were housed in our new room, ‘The deformed and as they weren’t that close moved out of there! Walter is certainly in and obviously this was then a distressing Willows’ and didn’t find it difficult to settle Evie, who tamed very well, is now in a charge of that building now and despite time for both Zulu and the owners. Zulu at all as they had each other. It was clear lovely home. having no sight, he is very playful and arrived and we put him in the Thie Noa from the start how close they are and even manages to chase balls around the room building and he did settle remarkably Luke hasn’t tamed as well as Evie he now they are inseparable and somewhat and likes trying to catch flies – how he well and quickly. As you can see from seems to want attention but doesn’t dependant on each other. They were does that is beyond us!! Unfortunately he the photos he is a very large, attractive know how to interact and will still run spayed, vaccinated and chipped as soon as doesn’t seem to appreciate the cleanliness fluffy cat and his main pastime is eating! away once approached. He lives in the they arrived and were an instant hit with of the room and the smell of the room He will eat as many sachets as you are main area mainly the conservatory and everyone here and they love the attention! being clean and quickly likes to make prepared to open! can be easily spotted on the webcams Due to their colours they can be seen very his mark on the clean room by spraying due to him being very dark grey and He is a loveable character and is very clearly on the webcam for that room and everywhere he can, just after the cleaning Manx. He is also very playful and likes popular here with all the volunteers. our followers regularly enjoy watching them. has finished! to run around the conservatory and He was quickly noticed on the webcam They will be out and about just in time for lounge chasing and hitting balls! Walter has made himself into quite a and has become a popular figure with the summer opening and so we are expecting character since arriving here! With his clear the regular viewers. We are sure the them to be very popular with visitors and He would like a sponsor or two but will colours, he can easily be watched getting visitors will have plenty of fun getting we think this is a good opportunity for you probably not come and sit on your knee just up to his antics on the webcams and he to know him! Zulu would love you to become a sponsor to a pair of residents! yet, although that is work in progress! would love to be sponsored. to sponsor him.

12 13 A message from Ukraine Lola – our epileptic cat Are you one of the thousands who keep in contact via Facebook? Here is Lola came to us in what were We of course agreed with the family to take a lovely story from one of our most enthusiastic followers from Ukraine. rather sad circumstances. She Lola in and she moved into the Thie Noa building where she is on daily medication. I live in Ukraine thousands of events. I have a dream to visit the sanctuary was a very much loved cat but Fortunately for Lola the family used Dr. Ruth kilometers from the Isle of and hug all cats, feel them on my lap on suffers from a serious ongoing and so they were familiar with each other Man but I am happy that I my shoulders, pet them and enjoy chatting form of epilepsy. and also Dr. Ruth has a lot of experience learned about such a beautiful place like with them. I want to get acquainted with with cats that have epilepsy. She advised Mann Cat Sanctuary. Everything happened other residents of the sanctuary such as Lola was one of three cats living with a couple that with Lola, we will never eradicate her 5 years ago, I searched on the Internet the horses, donkeys, turkeys, chickens, and due to Lola having this condition, fits but we will be able to control them with information about the Isle of Man. I like ducks and geese. she could not be allowed outside and her the medication. Indeed once here, Lola did your little but such a beautiful island with have occasional fits and one occasion we I have two cats and they are two girls. owners had managed the difficult situation amazing nature, unique modes of transport did have an incident with her that meant Their names are Sonya and Lynx. I took very well with them both being in full time for our time, houses for fairies, museums she had to be hospitalised with Dr. Ruth and them otherwise they would have died, one work. The couple then had a baby and this is a fantastic place. Once I saw the we had to reassess her prescription. Lola from the cold and the other from disease. this just meant that with Lola’s condition headline – a cat shelter for webcams, I wasn’t there long and soon returned and “There are two shelters from life’s adversity it was just too much for the household to was interested in it, and what I saw since then the occasional fits have continued – it’s music and cats” Albert Schweitzer. manage. When they would go to work, in pleasantly struck me, a cozy, homely, order to leave the cat flap open and allow but they are not often and not serious when relaxed atmosphere and these cats are their two other cats access outside, this they occur. All the volunteers that see her NOT IN Cages, they freely enter and exit, Вера Бейкер (Vera Bejker) meant Lola had to be kept somewhere know what signs to look for so we can sit and lie where they like. Ukraine separate for this period and they decided it prepare when we know a fit is coming. When someone speaks negatively about wasn’t fair on her. For anyone who has not With her being in Thie Noa she has built cats I tell people about your nice home, we Sonya & Lynx had any experience with an epileptic cat, up a following from our webcam watchers have a huge number of homeless cats in as well as it being very distressing to see, and she is regularly seen lying on the big Ukraine and many people just ignore them. especially when the condition is a serious bed often cuddling up with one of the Then I joined the Mann Cat Sanctuary page as Lola’s where she can have up to one fit Doha cats, Timothy, who enjoys her and the Mann Cat Chatters group and now per day without the medication she has to company. Lola is a very friendly and I can follow all the events in the sanctuary, have, whilst the fit is coming on the cats affectionate girl and quite plump as she here you can also see a lot wonderful run around uncontrollably and can do a enjoys her food! We think she has eventually photos. At home I watch webcams, and lot of damage to themselves and the found the best arrangement for her to sometimes even at work, when I have free surroundings. live comfortably with her condition. time, you can often see very funny scenes with cats. And it’s so nice to see a lot of Lola friendly happy cats who know that they are safe and receive kindness care and have enjoyment of life. This absolutely amazing place is really a sanctuary and I will be a fan of MCS forever and ever. I want to express my gratitude to John and Sue Critchley, Dr Ruth and the whole team of volunteers for their work, time, effort, a piece of soul that they give to cats. You are all wonderful! I wish MCS prosperity and many pleasant

14 15 Kerry’s dramatic rescue Standing Order Mandate

Last November we received a call This standing order cancels any previous instructions to make payments at about 7pm in the evening, to say quoting the Isle of Man Bank Account number shown. that there was a kitten in the road outside the sanctuary. TO (BANK) It was a very stormy night, a gale was blowing and there was driving sleet! Our ADDRESS (OF YOUR BANK) immediate thought was that one of our kittens had somehow got out and managed to venture all the way out to the road but fortunately, after checking them, all of our kittens were safe and accounted for. Kerry The scene on the road outside was nothing less Please pay to Isle of Man Bank, South Region Isle of Man, than scary and very dangerous. A young lady Sort Code: 55-91-04 for the credit of ‘MANN CAT SANCTUARY’, then could we start to see what injuries she had stopped her vehicle in the middle of the Account Number: 13066633 busy road and unbelievably she stopped all of had sustained and that they could be serious the traffic around her and lifted the kitten to ones. The main injury and concern was to her safety. The kitten, which only looked about face and particularly her mouth and nose as THE SUM OF* (IN FIGURES) four or five weeks old, was very wet, covered she was bleeding around her nose and had in gravel and blood and was shaking more than almost no skin between her mouth and nose (AMOUNT IN WORDS) we have ever seen a kitten shake before. We over her teeth causing us to suspect a broken brought her inside and warmed her up and only jaw. Despite all of this she did try to eat once THE FIRST PAYMENT TO BE MADE ON ** (DATE) she had warmed up so we were happy to leave Kerry her quiet over night, on a warm pad. At this and thereafter ANNUALLY/MONTHLY (please delete as appropriate) point we wanted to give the kitten an identity until cancelled by me/us in writing. so we instantly decided to name her Kerry, after the brave actions of the lady that rescued her. NAME OF ACCOUNT TO BE DEBITED The following morning Dr. Ruth visited Kerry and said her jaw wasn’t broken and the injuries ACCOUNT NO. SORT CODE although unpleasant, were superficial. She advised that everything would heal over time SIGNATURE(S) and that she thought she would make a full recovery. ADDRESS In the time that followed, Kerry demonstrated to us that she was a strong wilful kitten and very quickly overcame her injuries and has never looked back since. You can see the difference in her before and after photos and several months POSTCODE down the line, Kerry is now a strong, healthy young cat. We are just so thankful to DATED the young lady called Kerry who the kitten owes her life to. She was so brave and managed to rescue her from what could *Minimum payments – Monthly £5/Annually £50 or become a Friend of the Sanctuary for £75 a year. have been an unimaginable tragedy. We ** This date should be at least ten days from the date of sending this form. still have no idea how she reached the centre Please return the completed form to: of the road and where she came from. We will leave that to people’s imaginations! MANN CAT SANCTUARY, ASH VILLA, MAIN ROAD, SANTON, ISLE OF MAN IM4 1EE 16 17 Sponsorship Scheme Poppy’s new home There are many permanent residents at the Sanctuary and Always having had both cats we operate a sponsorship scheme with 12 monthly payments and dogs, we lost our last cat of a minimum £5 per month or an annual payment of £50. in November and after three If you would like to help these animals, please fill in the form below or become weeks our house was no longer a Friend of the Sanctuary for an annual payment of £75 (or more if you wish!) by a home, despite us having a cash, cheque or standing order (see form on the previous page). You will receive much loved Labrador. a sponsorship package. For even more cats to choose from please visit us online at www.manncat.com or look through the sponsor book if visiting the Sanctuary. I phoned Sue to see if she had a cat in need of a family home. We met ‘Evie’ now renamed The Sanctuary welcomes visitors during the summer (1st May – 30th September) ‘Poppy’, a small, very pretty long haired ball Wednesday and Sunday 2-5pm. of fluff who was 11 months old and had had Poppy Thank you. a difficult start in life. We brought her home PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS to see if she approved of us! She was very ANIMAL’S NAME apprehensive and frightened so we let her have her own space and come to us when SPONSOR’S NAME she was ready. After a few days she soon learned when she came to us there were ADDRESS always ‘Dreamies’ on tap, and after four days she had the full run of the house and after six weeks, she was allowed outside. Luckily we POSTCODE have a garden and live in a quiet area. Poppy loves to play and especially to be TEL MOBILE Poppy & Judy played with, we think she will make a good AMOUNT £ mouser! She has assorted toys and likes unexpected moves she makes a bolt for nothing better than being stroked when the cat flap, but gets her confidence back, CHEQUE POSTAL ORDER STANDING ORDER feeding, she has become quite vocal, letting and then she’s off again. us know what she wants, and as like all cats Looking back over the past couple of she is in control of both us and the dog. months she has come on in leaps and SIGNED DATE Unfortunately she is still very wary of bounds – and we love her to bits. strangers and will hide away until she feels there is no threat. When outside, if anything Judy

18 19 Judy’s story Webcams I am now in my seventh year as a volunteer at the Mann Cat Sanctuary We were pleased at the start of this and I love it more and more with the passing of time and the changes year to introduce a fifth live webcam, which shows our new area ‘The which are constantly happening. It’s not just a few cats coming in but Willows’. You can see all five feeds at Lounge sometimes turkeys, geese, dogs, ponies, in fact, any animal who is www.manncat.com/live-webcams without a home is made welcome in our sanctuary. and join in with the webcam chat on our Mann Cat Chatters Facebook page. Since the sanctuary closed to visitors at enjoying life to the full, even though the end of the summer season last year, Dr. Ruth had to take some teeth out 1. Lounge There is always plenty of activity to be seen and the usual winter maintenance work has last year but he is still eating three enjoyed on the lounge webcam. The lounge, joined been taking place. One of the biggest jobs sachets at a time, plus, so I’ve been told, to the conservatory, houses the majority of the carried out this winter was the dismantling eating neighbour’s cat food as well! residents and on open days is the main entrance and removal of the old rotten aviary and Naughty Khoona cat!! to the sanctuary. it has been replaced with a gorgeous new 2. Feral House Feral House room which we have named ‘The Willows’. Judy This webcam has proved very watchable to our Those of you with internet can watch what followers as regular sanctuary visitors are not goes on in The Willows, as you can with permitted to see the feral house – it is an exclusive the main cattery, feral house and the to the webcams! much loved Thie Noa. 3. Conservatory Many of you who follow our ‘Mann Cat The conservatory adjoins the lounge and again, Chatters’ page on Facebook will be used there is always plenty to be seen. At the far end to reading my odd little messages of of the room is our tree of life, where leaves are bought either online, or while visiting the sanctuary Conservatory nonsense. I also post photos of various and placed on the tree. These are often done in cats taken whilst I am at the sanctuary. memory of a sponsored resident, or a supporter’s This started last summer when I posted own cat that has passed away. photos of our visitors and added a few comments. It proved to be very popular 4. Thie Noa Thie Noa is Manx for new house. This building was and I carried this on after the summer our aviary for some years and we had to convert season closed as our ‘Chatters’ do it due to our ever increasing numbers. Some new seem to like the photos we all post at residents are initially put in here and also a few various times, however, I am one awful oldies like to live in here as well, as it is quiet for chatterbox! I do tend to waffle on a them. The useful factor with Thie Noa is that it lot more than my fellow volunteers but has a cat flap to an enclosed outdoor area, allowing the cats free access to fresh air. Thie Noa no one seems to mind as they can skip past the written words and go straight 5. The Willows to the important bit…. The Cats!! The Willows is a new area that has replaced our ancient aviary, we were desperate for more Some of you may know my lovely peaceful space to keep our cats that are blind, Khoona cat from when you have very elderly, take fits, or have medical problems visited the sanctuary whilst Khoona that make them unsuitable for an outside life, has been on his holidays. So just to let this area is perfect, and the answer to our prayers. you know he is still wonderful and Thank you to Enid from America for all her help and also for naming the new room after her precious cat Willow, who she lost recently, and also The Willows thanks to the Kaiser Trust for all their help. 20 21 Our Online Gift Shop Mann Cat Official Clothing, Diamanté Hoodies & T-shirts – from £17.99

Below is a selection of the gifts available on our website, to view all our products and to order online, go to: manncat.com and look for Gift Shop.

Mann Cat Official Clothing – from £17.99

MCS Cap – £12.99 Leather Purse – £19.99

Smart navy blue cap with pale blue MCS Small leather purse with cat and paw official logo embroidered. print design, beautifully finished inside with flower design. Comes with two separate openers, both with zips. Available in pink, purple or black. ‘Cozy Cat Rug’ – £5.00 MCS Pin Badge – £2.99

Hand crochet, each with a unique design.

Purr-fectly Manx China Mug – Soft Cat Toy With MCS T-Shirt – £8.99 £4.99

China mug featuring Manx cats with Very appealing ‘-fectly Manx’ written across the top. soft cuddly cat with t-shirt and shorts. T-shirt Lavender Bags – £5.00 has Mann Cat Hand-made cat shaped bags filled Sanctuary logo with dried Lavender. 2 with each on the front. order. Designs and colours may vary.

22 23 Visitor’s information

Mann Cat Sanctuary Main Road Santon Isle of Man IM4 1EE steam-packet.com

Douglas

britishairways.com easyjet.com aerarran.com

Throughout the summer, we welcome visitors every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon between 2pm and 5pm. Entrance into the Sanctuary is free, however we do expect visitors to bring a six pack of Whiskas for the cat’s tea. During your visit, you are able to sit with our many cats who will want to make friends with you and say hello to our pony and donkey, sponsor a resident and maybe take a souvenir or two back to wherever you visit from! We look forward to meeting you one day...

SPONSORED BY THE KAISER TRUST This edition of the newsletter is supported by The Kaiser Trust as an acknowledgement of the important and excellent work of the Mann Cat Sanctuary. “Supporting the Community” – Charity Reg in England 1097171

At Mann Cat Sanctuary, we ensure that all the cats in our care receive compassion, understanding and the ability to roam free.

How to contact Mann Cat Sanctuary Sanctuary 01624 824195 Mobile 07624 496440 Fax 01624 827990 www.manncat.com email [email protected]