The trend for open-plan living can have an impact on our pets that many of us may not be aware of - large and airy rooms make it harder for cats to follow their natural behaviour, which includes being solitary when they wish to be and having their own, undisturbed, space.

The problem is made worse when there are several cats in one house and other pets, especially dogs.

Giving cats free access to the outdoors helps to minimise the problem, but most cat owners want their pets to share their living space and be sociable and affectionate and they are disappointed if a cat votes with its feet and disappears outside.

This mismatch between human and animal needs can cause a cat to be anxious and vets report that stress is one of the most common causes of ill health in our pet felines.

The long-awaited Isle of Man Animal Welfare Act is due to be put before Tynwald this year.

The Act will be similar to the English Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it a legal requirement that keepers of animals should ensure their ’five freedoms’ - the need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour; the need to be housed in suitable accommodation; the need to be adequately fed and watered; the need to be with, or apart, from other animals; and the need to be protected from pain and disease.

So, please make sure that your ’grand designs’ include a cat flap, cat quarters (ie. a floor or room a cat can escape to) and as many cat-friendly ledges and hiding places as possible!

Kitten season is well and truly upon us. We have the most delightful assortment of kittens who have either been born here because their mothers came in as strays or who have been found by the public and brought to Ard Jerkyll. Jacob was found, on his own, in the far south of the island at about two weeks of age.

He spent the next couple of weeks being bottle-fed by staff around the clock, and now he’s eating ’mush’ (mashed up kitten food).

He’ll be ready to go to a new home after he has had his first vaccination in another couple of weeks’ time.

If you are interested in adopting a kitten please complete an adoption form, called a ’home finder questionnaire’, either by picking up one from the cattery or printing one via the adoption page of our website.

There is a waiting list for young kittens, but we do need people to help us rehome slightly older, semi-feral ones who will need a bit more time and patience before they settle in to family life.

We also have some amazing mature cats who shouldn’t be overlooked just because kittens ’steal the limelight’. Katy and Perry (we didn’t name them!) are eight-year-old females who came to us because their owner was moving house and couldn’t take them with her.

Katy is tabby and Perry is a tortoiseshell, and they are both very pretty.

They are incredibly affectionate and easy-going, if a little shy, and would make wonderful companions.

We’re delighted that one of our very mature cattery residents, 16-year-old Vincent, has been adopted by a family who wish him to have a happy and peaceful retirement; but we have another 16-year-old, handsome tabby Tom, who came to us because he didn’t get on with his previous owner’s new dog.

He has lived with other pets and children before and he’s fit and healthy, and so we hope his retirement home won’t be too difficult to find.

Have you booked your dog into our boarding kennels?

The kennels have had some computer problems and need to be able to double-check bookings this year. Please call the kennels team (851672, option one) or e-mail them on [email protected] with your dates.