• Customer Comments

      “Dear Linda and Tracey Just a wee note to say a big thank you for looking after Poppy in February. Also for being so patient with me With Thanks” Scan_20150311 (6)    
    F. Campbell, February
  • Brighton Cats Holiday

    Training your kitten

    Forgiving and patient

    Kittens, not unlike our own children, need to be taught how to live in a home. Training a Kitten takes practice and patience. For a kitten to understand what is deemed good or bad, rewards and punishments need to be put in place to reinforce behaviours. You, as the owner, also have a responsibility to provide your pet with the necessary means to carry out desired behaviours. For example; if you don’t want your kitten to defecate in the house, you should provide a litter box.

    Setting the right example to your kitten

    young litter of kittens

    Kittens do not inherently know how to behave, therefore it’s important to set the right examples and standards as they develop their behavioural skills. Have a spray bottle full of water nearby and spray your cat when he or she displays an undesirable behaviour, for example; scratching anything other than the scratching post.

     

    Don’t declaw your kitten. Healthy kittens need their claws, however, if you are finding your kitten’s claws too sharp, you can ask the vet to cut the tips off. I wouldn’t recommend doing this yourself as kittens have tiny claws and it would be very easy to hurt your pet in an uncontrolled environment. Cats also have a need to scratch things. You can’t train scratching out of them, but you can discourage destructive scratching. You can do this by removing temptation. Cover any furniture your kitten is attractive to and provide an alternative such as a scratching post. Try to incorporate the scratching post into a game so that your cat can become familiar with scratching there.

     

    Kittens also have a tendency to bite while they are teething and playing. While it can be a difficult stage for owners, kittens will feel the need to bite during this time but it will pass. However while in the teething stage you can try to replace hands with toys while playing, or if your kitten gets too rough you can either spray them with a little water or simply walk away. This will show them they won’t get any attention when the game gets out of hand.

    While training your kitten to use the litter box, it’s imperative to keep the litter box very clean. The most common reason why kittens stop using litter boxes is due to litter box maintenance. If kittens have been raised with their mother, they will most likely be accustomed to using the litter box already and all you have to do is to re-enforce the habit. You can do this by placing your kitten in the litter box after feeding times, making sure they go to the toilet. You can also help by applying scent that’s attractive for cats if they are having a hard time learning this habit.

     

    Young cats love to jump, and they will jump up onto any and all surfaces. If this isn’t ideal for you it’s important to set boundaries. If your cat jumps up to somewhere you don’t want them to be, for example, a kitchen counter, simply scold them and remove them from the surface. If you repeat this your cat will learn that they are not allowed on that surface. If this bad habit persists, you can add other measures, like the spray bottle because your cat won’t like the feeling and will associate it with being on that surface.

    Top ten common household items that are dangerous to cats

    cat thinking about eating a flower

    Keeping your kitty out of danger when he/she is in your home shouldn’t be a problem for most of us, but occasionally special care is needed to ensure your home is 100% cat safe. Below we have listed our top ten household items that can cause a problem to your kitty!   

    1. Household plants – Especially if you have a kitten, make sure to keep any house plant away and out of reach. Not all houseplants are toxic to your cats, like bamboo or Christmas Cactus but others like the swiss cheese plant, aloe vera and lilies could seriously harm your cat if ingested.

    2. Yarn – This may be the most surprising dangerous item, considering propaganda would have you believe that all cats love playing with yarn! While this fact is true, if your cat eats the yarn, it could wreak havoc on the intestinal tract and could even kill your cat. So if you are a lover of knitting be sure to keep your yarns out of your cats reach.

    3. Some foods – While chocolate is the most know toxic human food to cats, there are a whole host of other pantry items that could make your cat seriously ill if they were to eat it. For example, raw fish carries pathogens that are no good for our cats; and yeast dough, for pizza or bread, if eaten the dough will expand in your cat’s tummy and cause pain and possibly internal bleeding! Please research a full list of foods that may be harmful to your cat before feeding them anything you are unsure of.

    4. Milk – As much as kittens like to drink milk and are depicted doing so, adult cats are actually lactose intolerant and ingesting it can cause massive pain and discomfort to them. If you would like to give your cat milk, it would be best to pick up some lactose-free milk from your local pet store.

    5. Insect repellents and traps – Whilst it is important to keep those pesky bugs away, a lot of these products contain ingredients that are toxic to most pets. Please do not spay your pets with insect repellant; instead use measures like, flea spot treatment and collars. Also, be sure to keep any insect traps out of your pet’s reach.

    6.Coins and other metals – Coins and metals containing zinc are extremely harmful to your cat. While swallowing a coin itself may not be, the zinc contained in coins dissolves and is absorbed into the bloodstream, causing kidney and heart failure in small mammals.  

    7. All household cleaning products – While this is pretty common knowledge, it is extremely important to keep these items out of your pet’s reach. Cats are very cunning and with practice are very good at opening cupboards, so make sure your cleaning supplies are kept under lock and key, for your pet’s sake.

    8. Exposed wires – Kittens especially like to chew on everything and anything, so make sure to keep all wires properly covered and well out of reach. Adult cats too are inquisitive and obviously don’t know of the danger of electricals. Don’t automatically assume your cat is ‘sensible enough’ not to be curious, so take the necessary precautions to keep your pets healthy and safe.

    9. Bones – As tempting as it is to feed your cat bones, they can be so dangerous for your cat to eat. When cooked most bones become fragile and can splinter, leaving sharp points that will cause internal bleeding. It is probably wise to keep your cat away from even uncooked bones as it isn’t worth the risk of them coming to harm.

    10. Mould – Don’t give your stale or mouldy leftovers to your cat. Any mould is toxic to cats, so even feeding them cheese is a no go! Especially as they are lactose intolerant anyway!

    Summer Holidays are just around the corner – Cattery Brighton

    Wow!! How are we nearly in June already??

    We say it every year but at Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel we feel like this year is just flying by, it won’t be long until we are closer to this Christmas than Christmas 2017.

    With that in mind we are preparing for a busy summer session at the cattery and are taking bookings for this Christmas period too. By far the busiest sessions we have are the school summer and Christmas holidays when many families take their annual vacations.

    So whilst your booking your trips away, whether abroad or closer to home, spend a few minutes thinking about who will look after your cat. Many people over look this and have a last minute rush to find the puurfect place for their kitty to spend their holidays

    At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel we are happy to accept bookings for as far in advance as you need. We are also happy to help you with those last minute bookings but cannot guarantee we will have availability during our busiest periods.

    Why send your cat on their holidays to us?

    • Clean, safe runs both indoors and out
    • Friendly, knowledgeable staff who love nothing more than spoiling your cat.
    • Easy access to our cattery, just outside of Brighton
    • Food, litter, toys and bedding supplied (or if you prefer you can bring your own)
    • Lots of cuddles and attention
    • Special diets, medications and needs looked after
    • Stays ranging from 1 night to 1 month or longer. We can have your cat for as long (or short) as you need.

    If you still need some convincing that our services are right for you and your cat/s then give us a call on 01273 857 539 or pop in for a free inspection, no appointment needed.

    Boarding Cats at Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel

     Taking your cat with you on holiday is, in most owners’ cases, simply not an option. Travelling overseas precludes this and the feline talent as escape artists makes it impractical. For many owners, kennelling their pets while they travel is the best solution. Your pet is safe and well looked after and you can relax.

    Many owners still worry about leaving their cats in catteries, however, as they are unsure how their cat will cope. Here are some tips on helping your cat have a great holiday too.

    Start young

    The best time to get your cat used to a cattery or kennel is while they are young. Kittens accept new situations readily and will cope well with change. Book your kitten in to your chosen boarding establishment for a night or two. This will ensure your cat accepts their holiday location in the future.

    If you haven’t done this and your cat is now an adult, don’t worry too much. Your cat can still accept their new holiday locations later in life. A test night or two, prior to leaving them for a longer vacation period, may help ease your pet into their holiday and may assure you too, that your pet is safe and comfortable.

    Cattery check

    Most owners relax when they know their pet is comfortable and well taken care of. This means being confident in the care that their chosen boarding establishment offers. It is essential that you do your research when choosing a kennel or cattery. Visit several and see what they have to offer. Ensure they are clean and that the cats in residence at the time look well and happy. Ask any questions you may have, however silly you think they may be. You can be sure the staff have heard the same question on numerous occasions.

    What your cat needs

    All cats are individuals and you, as an owner, are best at knowing your cat’s requirements – for comfort, diet, grooming and playtime. Check that the boarding facility provides the services your cat needs.

    Cats tend not to be too sociable with other cats. For this reason most boarding facilities keep cats separate. If you have more than one cat, you may like them to stay together. Remember, however, that in confined circumstances, they cannot get away from one another so ensure they truly are happy spending time together.

    Coming home

    Owners are often surprised to find that their cat does not jump for joy when they return home. In fact, quite the opposite and the cat often has a very quiet, watchful phase. This is perfectly normal and does not mean your cat loves you less or is paying you back for leaving. It is simply an animal’s way of integrating themselves back into their social circle. They will be back to normal before long.

    If only one animal has been boarding and is then reintroduced to others, keep a watchful eye on proceedings. Interactions are often intense at these times and may even result in short bursts of aggression. Give each pet space and life should return to normal soon.

    Come and visit us to find out more

    Out Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel, we encourage all prospective clients to come and visit us before they use our services. We are more than happy to show you around and answer any questions you may have. We are located 10 minutes outside of Brighton in beautiful countryside. No appointment necessary,

    To find out more or to make a booking please call us on 01273 857 539, we look forward to hearing from you

    RSPCA’s Top 10 Cat Facts

    Read the article below, taken from https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats to find out more about how the RSPCA recommend we look after our feline friends.

    Cats come in all sorts of different sizes, body shape and temperament. We have lots of advice for cat owners – including tips on understanding cat behaviour; when and why to neuter and specific advice on how to look after a kitten during those first few weeks and months.

    What makes cats great? Everything they do! They can be affectionate, playful, energetic and lazy. Just take a look at Ralph – how can you resist his handsome face?

    Check out our top ten cat facts!

    No two cats are the same, but insight into the biology and behaviour of cats can help you to understand your pet better.

    1. Cats have highly developed senses. Cats can detect higher frequencies of sound than dogs or humans. They have an excellent sense of smell, superior to humans and they can see better than us in dark and dim light!
    2. Cats are expert hunters. Cats hunt alone – in the wild they’ll spend 6-8 hours a day hunting. They can hear the high pitched frequencies used by small rodents and their whiskers or ‘vibrissae’, are highly sensitive to vibrations, helping them to detect prey.
    3. Cats are agile. Cats have powerful, tightly controlled muscles and fast reflexes that allow them to move quickly and gracefully. They are skilled at running, jumping, climbing, and stealthily stalking prey.
    4. Cats use a range of methods to communicate. Communication sounds include purrs, ‘meows’, trills, chirrups, growls, yowls, and hisses. They also communicate visually using different body postures as well as visual markers such as scratch marks or the deposition of faeces.
    5. Cats are independent. Survival is a solitary affair for cats; they are self-reliant for food, shelter, grooming and territory defence. They can be social but prefer to choose their own companions.
    6. Cats are territorial. A cat’s territory is an area that is defended, aggressively if required, against other cats. They use a range of methods to mark their territory, including scratching, spraying urine and depositing faeces. Help keep your cat safe outside.
    7. Cats are meat eaters. Meat is an important part of a cat’s diet. Eating meat is important for cats; they cannot survive without the nutrients found in animal-derived materials.
    8. Cats love cat naps! Domestic cats sleep for 12-18 hours a day! Sleep allows energy resources to be replenished so is vital for a predator that needs to be ready to hunt whenever it detects prey.
    9. Cats are playful. Cats are intelligent and need both mental and physical stimulation. Play is important as it improves motor skills, provides brain training and encourages social behaviour. Keep your cats entertained with our range of fun toys.
    10. Cats are clean animals. Tiny abrasive hooks, found on the centre of cats’ tongues, helps them to groom themselves efficiently. Grooming keeps a cat’s coat in good condition and also helps to remove fleas and other parasites. Read more about keeping cats in tip top condition.

    Why use a cattery for your cats next holiday? Cat Sitting in Brighton

    When going on holiday it is easy to get carried away and forget that your cat needs to be looked after too. Remember it may not just be you that is taking a holiday.

    There are a few options for cat care whilst you are away, such as home pet sitting or catteries. Both are brilliant ways of ensuring care for your cat.

    There are many catteries to choose from, cats can grow accustomed to their change of environment more quickly than we might at first think. Many boarding places are even equipping the living quarters of the cattery with home comforts such as televisions and sofas, so your cat will settle in and feel more at home with these familiar items around. Moving from a lively home with children, games and music may be missed by your cat if you take them to a very quiet cattery. Avoiding as much disruption as possible will help your cat greatly.

    It is wise when choosing a cattery to visit a few and get a feel for the accommodation, routine and staff. You need to be sure that your cat will be properly looked after and receive the food they like, have warm and comfortable living quarters and will get adequate exercise. If you are not happy with the cattery then do not send your cat there. The last thing you would want to be doing whilst on holiday is worrying about your cat and the care that you have left them in.

    Familiarity always assists a stay in a cattery. If you cat has a favourite blanket, toy or bed, make sure you take it with you to the cattery. Not only will it make your cat comfortable, but it will bring the scent from your home, instantly making your cat feel more at home.

    At Poynings Cat Boarding hotel, near Brighton your cats happiness and well being are paramount. Our staff ensure each cat gets individual care and attention and as much love and affection as they need. To us cats are like family and we want to make sure that your cat feels like one of our family when they stay with us, for however long or short.

    Why not pop in to checkout our facilities, we welcome visitors, no appointment necessary or you can call us on 01273 857 539 to find out more.