Dave's Christmas Holiday | Just Add Ginger

Dave the Cat has been with us for eight whole months now, and he is well and truly part of the family. He is probably the craziest (and strangest) cat I've ever met, but he is our little weirdo and I love him to absolute pieces. 

So - as you can guess - knowing that we had to leave him whilst we went away on our Christmas holidays was really difficult. I felt so guilty that we had to leave him behind and couldn't take him with us. Finding a fantastic place for him to go on his own holiday was priority number one. 

It was MG who discovered The Pets Country Manor online. With lots of really positive reviews, I knew it was a place that we had to check out. So, one Autumn afternoon, MG and I set off to see it for ourselves. 

I was not disappointed by what I saw. The Pets Country Manor has got to be the most spacious cattery I've ever seen. The grounds are absolutely huge, with beautiful views over the surrounding countryside. The owners were absolutely lovely, and put my mind completely at ease. I honestly was an emotional wreck at the thought of leaving my furry baby with complete strangers, but you could just tell that the owners live and breathe their job. There was so much passion and love behind all the information I was being told, that any fears I had were instantly quashed. 

The morning I had to drop off Dave was really difficult emotionally I felt really sad that I had to leave Dave, and was worried that he was going to be a little menace. He is still coming out of being a kitten and still has mad half hours where he tears around like a loon. I dropped him off with his favourite toys - just in case he got lonely - and waited for him to protest at me abandoning him. But quite honestly I didn't have to worry. No sooner had I unclipped the hatches of his cat box he was off exploring his suite without so much as a glance back at me to say goodbye. I on the other hand, was holding back the tears.

What I loved so much about The Pets Country Manor is that whilst you are away, their Facebook page is regularly updated with photo and video updates of how your cat is getting on. This is a great comfort for those of us who may be leaving our cats for the first time because you can see how they are getting on. In all of Dave's updates he looked contented and happy as can be, playing away happily without a care in the world and nosing into his neighbours' suites to see what was going on.

It was pretty clear that whilst we were away, Dave got bucket-loads of attention. The suites are heated so there was no chance of him getting cold (he does feel the cold quite a lot, choosing to sit with me underneath a blanket if it's bitter outside.) And with his own dining area, he could still maintain the routine we have got him in of having a completely separate eating and play area. It was an all-inclusive holiday, with Dave's food, litter, and toys for his stay provided. He had been one pampered puss on his holidays!

When we returned the ten days after leaving Dave, it was as if we had only left him for five seconds. He could not have been less fazed at being on his own little holiday, and was happy and content. He got a stellar report from the owners, and we were told that on Christmas Day he had received his own little cat-friendly turkey dinner, and that a little Christmas present was coming home with him for him to enjoy. He had been absolutely a spoilt! And we could not have been happier. 

The Pets Country Manor does not just provide a cattery service. It also has accommodation for smaller pets too, with hay, fruit & veg, bedding etc. provided.

I would have absolutely no hesitation in booking Dave in to The Pets Country Manor again. It is an outstanding facility, and to have owners with so much passion and drive looking after your furry baby is such a comfort. "The Manor" and owners have won a number of awards, and in 2014, The Pets Country Manor was awarded The UK's Number 1 Cattery title. 

If you live in or around Liverpool and you are looking for somewhere for your cat or smaller pet to spend their holidays whilst you are away, please check out The Pets Country Manor. It really is an amazing place, and it deserves every praise for providing such a dedicated and loving service for its guests. Come future holidays, I can only imagine Dave will be only too happy to return and spend some time sunning himself in his suite. And he won't miss us one bit. 

For more information about The Pets Country Manor, please visit: 

http://www.petscountrymanor.com/

#Blogtember Day One: Dave Update

It has been just over two months since we took in Dave, and now that he is fully settled, he is well and truly part of the family. (Watch Dave's debut YouTube video here.) So, because Dave is our little baby, I wanted to give you a bit of an update on his progress so far. 

Personality 

As soon as Dave came to us, it was like he was already a part of the family. He was very good-natured, and - aside from a few mad half hours - he was hardly any trouble. Now that he has settled in, he has developed even more of a sweeter personality. He is more playful with me, but I think that is because I am in the house so much more. When he wants breakfast he will come and nibble my toes until I fill his cat bowl. He will wrestle with me when I am on the sofa, and will actively come and ask me to play by bringing me his favourite toy mouse. Dave has also taken to trying to get the post as it pops through the letterbox. It is the cutest thing ever, and, even though he is too small to reach, every time he hears the flap he will bound towards the door desperately trying to get the mail. 

Dave is my shadow. He will follow me anywhere and everywhere. He will insist on sitting with me when I watch TV, guard the window when I am in the house alone,  and bathroom privacy for me is completely out the window. Yes...even when I want to actually be left alone, Dave will do his utmost to join me in the bathroom. And this morning he was inches away from falling in the bath after deciding it would be a great adventure to try and walk around the edge. 

With Boyfriend he is more affectionate. Boyfriend is the one Dave will actively seek out if he wants a cuddle, curling up on his lap of an evening and going to sleep. I think he definitely has more respect for Boyfriend because he has the stronger presence. 

Behaviour 

Dave's behaviour hasn't really changed since we got him. I'd say that since his little *whispers* operation,  Dave has calmed down, and I guess, acts older. The mad moments have become less and less, and he is much more placid. He will still try and do quirky things - climbing the curtains is a great adventure - but we are quick to make sure that we praise all his good behaviour, and give a quick and stern-sounding "no" when he does something he shouldn't. 

We have trained Dave to know that he will only be fed by his food bowl, which means he doesn't really ever go for any food that we may have. He will occasionally try and snip cups, mugs, bowl and plates, but he doesn't go for food. Timing his tea time to coincide with ours means that he is usually distracted anyway.

Dave has also been extremely good at socialising with other animals. Boyfriend's family own a large dog, and, when we have taken Dave on holiday to stay at the family home, Dave has got along fine with the dog, playing with him, and trying to steal food from his bowl. Dog is very accepting of Dave, and Boyfriend's mum has no hesitation leaving the two together. The family cat however, is another story, and will not go near Dave in any which way. Which is understandable I think. The two are kept apart, but I think Dave would really like to become friends with the family cat. Said cat probably thinks "Jog on Dave. Not in this lifetime." 

(Main) Dave's favourite high place to sit, (Top to bottom left) In the sun, Nap buddy, Dreaming cat, Getting the post, After a bath near-miss

Development 

Dave is right on track with his weight, and has gained about 1.5kg since we got him. He has a hearty appetite, and is really regular and good at knowing where his toilet is, and when he should visit it. He has only had two mishaps where he went outside his box, but that was our fault entirely. Cats are very good at letting you know when their toilet is unclean and Dave was no exception. But we have made sure that we always have clumping cat litter which makes Dave deposits easier to find and means his box is always nice and clean.

I will probably do another update in a few months to let you know how our little baby bear is getting on. For all other new pet owners out there, how are your little guys doing? 

My Must-Have Starter Kitten Kit

Getting a pet is something that Boyfriend & I have talked about for a while. We both knew that we wanted a pet. That was never in doubt. But ideally, we both wanted a dog, and in a fantasy world, I think we would already have one. But our house is far too small for a dog in reality. It'd be unfair to keep one cooped up in such a humble-sized house while we are out at work.

So we decided to wait a few years until we move.

And then, a few weeks ago, we got a call from destiny. There was a kitten in desperate need of rescuing. There was no hesitation or doubts in our minds. We knew we had to take him on.

And name him Dave....of course!

We've had cats in our family pretty much all throughout my adolescent life. But I never really knew a lot about caring for them. They were family cats, and as far as I was concerned, my parents were in charge. So when it came to trying to buy supplies for our new furry arrival, I was completely at a loose end.

Which is why I thought I'd compile a selection of things that I think are a must-have for those of you out there thinking of or who will be bringing a new kitten home.

The most important thing I'd say is to invest in a good litter tray and cat litter. Space in our house is limited, so a hooded tray was essential - for the comfort of our noses, and to ensure that Dave has enough privacy. So far, we've only had one cat poo-related disaster. Dave was pretty quick at mastering how to use the tray, and conquering his fear of the cat-flap entrance. We also bought a kitten-friendly disinfectant for cleaning out his litter tray, which comes in handy when you have to clean the floor surrounding his little box too because you know it won't harm them. And that is a big worry of mine at the moment.

We always opt for clumping cat litter because for us it's easier to manage. The choice however, is up to you/ And it's always best to have a few poop-scoops in stock just in case one needs to go out for a deep-clean. I've had a few times where I've left myself without a clean scoop, and let me tell you...those have been the scariest moments of my life as a pet owner! Dave also has his own dedicated poop bin which we line. Any waste goes in scented bin liners to eliminate odour, and we change the bin bag regularly to keep it hygienic.

Top of your priorities list should be getting your kitten to the vet to register ASAP. When we rescued Dave, we knew pretty much next to nothing about him, so taking him to the vet made sure that he had had his jabs, we knew how old he was....and had it confirmed that Dave was actually a boy! Make sure you do your research when looking for a vet, and ask lots of questions. We were quite lucky in that Boyfriend knew where he wanted Dave to go based on experience that he had with his family's dogs. But if you're not sure, ask around get some advice and find our if any vets offer kitten packages to help towards the costs of jabs/neutering/all things medical.

To make Dave comfortable, we have invested in a lot of toys for him. He is a very intelligent cat, and needs bucket-loads of mental stimulation or else he just gets bored. Catnip mice are his favourite, so we have bought lots for him because, well, they just go missing. He will hide all his mice, you won't see therm for a week and then BOOM, four turn up as if by magic. It is bizarre, but we really have no idea what he does with them all. So, moral of the story? Overstock!!

Part of  making your kitten comfortable is also investing in a decent scratching post. When Dave came to us, he had death-claws, that, when he stuck them in to you, hurt like an absolute biatch! Having a scratching post has really help file his claws down and means that he isn't using the back of our sofas instead. He does have an invested interested in our rug though. But I think that's because it's just so soft.

When it came to buying a bed, we pretty much needn't have bothered. Dave rarely sleeps in his bed. He's usually up with us. (And I know, I know, that's bad kitten-mama practice, but when you have a kitten who knows how to open doors when they are firmly shut, what else can you do?) He's really well-behaved at night, and during the day, he sleeps on a blanket that my parents donated to us for him.

And lastly, on to food. To be honest, this is still something we're figuring out. A few weeks ago, Dave was mega hungry, and getting through loads of cat food a day (the standard RDA for a kitten his age, plus a bit more.) But now he has really calmed down. We start off in the morning giving him fresh water and about 60g of the IAMS Kitten food (he was eating this prior to coming to us.) That 60g lasts him until the evening. where he gets one quarter of a bottle of kitten milk. This isn't a necessary part of feeding him, we just do it as am accompaniment at the moment (although I want to start weaning him off it.) We have trained Dave to know that the only place he will get food is by his food bowls. To get food, he needs to stand there and wait. This males sure that we are left in peace eating our dinner, and so that Dave knows he won't get very far scrounging.

There are other things that we know we should get for Dave (a cat tree being one,) but this selection is for the absolute basics. Once you get to know your kitten, you'll know what he/she likes or doesn't like, and how best to care for them. They are quite picky creatures, and don't hesitate to let you know what they want!