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Post by Catnip on Jul 4, 2002 20:03:44 GMT
Crikey Ann! You really started something here, didn't you? Surely this thread has had more replies than any other on the board?!!! ;D
I was heartened to see so many readers have got their priorities right and make sure their feline families are well provided for during their shopping trips!
I am also guilty of over spending at cat shows, even though I go with the intention of only buying absolute necessities. (It's just lucky that the actual 'exhibits' are not up for sale or I'd come away with a few of those, too!)
Pet shops are also difficult to pass by, and the best one in my area is one I used to work in. Pleased to say I got a really good discount on a huge floor-to-ceiling aerobic centre for the Delinquents in there - and best of all, they USE it!!!
Now I'm working at the local vets I can't help browsing the pet merchandise section.........!!! ho hum!
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Post by Xinzerella on Jul 4, 2002 23:24:24 GMT
I'm one who can't resist teddy bears of any type, both new and second hand. Mum has been known to say that I shouldn't buy so many bears in case I can't afford to keep a roof over their heads. They have overflowed into the living room; gas inspectors and similar usually find themselves surrounded not just by Siamese/Oriental cats but also by bears. I suppose someone has to keep an eye (or hundreds of beady eyes) on what these people get up to....
My latest bear was a pretty white one from a charity shop; she was only £2. Mum stared at her hard and said she's sure that's the very bear she gave to a raffle stall! One bear who's done a lot for charity - but now she's found a permanent home.
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Post by Daisy on Jul 5, 2002 15:06:01 GMT
:-*Well I'm sorry people, but my husband popped round to the small corner shop for some tomatoes for a ploughman's lunch, was gone quite a while and announced when he returned that he'd bought a boat. Not a rowing boat but a dayboat for use on the upper reaches of the Thames (from Marlow where we used to live).
By the time he returned we'd had lunch without the tomatoes which he forgot anyway!
Daisy's Ladyperson
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Post by Ann on Jul 6, 2002 23:15:00 GMT
:-*Well I'm sorry people, but my husband popped round to the small corner shop for some tomatoes for a ploughman's lunch, was gone quite a while and announced when he returned that he'd bought a boat. Not a rowing boat but a dayboat for use on the upper reaches of the Thames (from Marlow where we used to live). By the time he returned we'd had lunch without the tomatoes which he forgot anyway! Daisy's Ladyperson I feel SO much better after reading that! Ann |
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Post by tutsmom on Jul 7, 2002 2:28:21 GMT
Since I live with 12 cats, I think it's rather obvious I have no will power.
Of course, tomorrow will be the test. I'm working a cat show for Siamese Rescue Metro and need new cat furniture (you can always find the best furniture at the cat shows). And since my daughter won't be there to nag me...it's a dangerous situation. (What's really sad is that I'm thinking about cat furniture rather than a treat for myself--they also have lots of nice cat related things like pictures, tee shirts, accessories, etc.)
Sharon
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Post by Ann on Jul 7, 2002 13:03:35 GMT
Sharon,
I hope you have a successful day.
Jen and I took the Catsup stall to PDSA's Gateshead Fundraising Day at a local park yesterday. I never make a lot of money at those kind of events, but it's still enjoyable as I know a lot of the members of the group who organise it, so it's a chance to catch up with them. Some of PDSA's Newcastle Fundraising Group, who I also know came along and PAWS, a tiny local veterinary charity with whom I'm friendly were also there, so it was good to have a chat with everyone and also to meet some of the other animal charities who were there.
(I took the digital camera along and will be putting the pictures I took on the next Ann's Page, which should go online in the next few days.)
I managed to come home without spending too much money this time, although I couldn't resist some books on a stall raising funds for Cats Protection. Titles like:
Fight Feline Flab - Essential Fitness for Cats
How to be a Happy Cat
Purr-fect Shiatsu - Tender Touches for the 90s Cat
were too tempting to miss. But my favourite has to be
Pussyfooting - Essential Dance Procedures for Cats.
Some of the illustrations and comments are hilarious.
Ann
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Post by tutsmom on Jul 8, 2002 2:49:47 GMT
I wish I could find those books here! They sound like just the thing to round out one's library.
I survived the cat show. Forutnately, this one had few vendors and I wasn't impressed with the furniture. I did buy from my own group, however, a Siamese stuffed animal, a Siamese head shaped blackboard, a cat puzzle for a Christmas present for a friend of mine, and something called a bobbin head (?) It's a Siamese with a head that bobs that for some reason people put in the back windows or dashboards of their cars.
But there's another cat show--a larger one in Somerset, NJ (I think)--in a couple of weeks. Last year when I worked the show, I asked the cat food people for free samples and they gave us two vans full! It was great--so I'm looking forward to begging for cat supplies at this one rather than spending my own money. (This show last year was just before I managed to get Purina to donate 17,000 pounds of scoopable litter to the rescue. We still have quite a bit of it. They even delivered! (I wish I had gotten pictures of that--I still can't quite piciture all that litter in one spot!
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Post by Ann on Jul 8, 2002 10:14:33 GMT
Sharon,
I'm not sure if my arithmetic is right, but isn't that 7½ TONS of cat litter??!!
Don't know about you, but I find I have a lot more "cheek" when I'm asking for something for charity than I'd ever dare have normally. Since the Catsup project began, I'm discovering a whole new side to my character!
Ann
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Post by tutsmom on Jul 9, 2002 3:22:11 GMT
If Buster will let me answer--he's rubbing his head very hard against my hands--you'd think he never gets petted! (Earlier, he somehow managed to erase a lengthy email that I'd written one of my rescue buddies--that one I'll try again tomorrow.) Anyway...
If I recall from elementary school (40+ years ago), a ton is 2000 pounds, so it would be 8.5 tons. It was delivered to one of our volunteers who had a two car garage that she was willing to donate. Unfortunately, she didn't take pictures, so I've never been able to completely visualize that much litter in one place. Fortunately, it came in 20 lb. boxes, I think (I've forgotten how many boxes, but it filled the garage and only left room for a riding grass mower). At least it wasn't like a dump truck full of litter. I guessed the litter would have lasted me for at least 10 years, so it was greatly appreciated. Since our fosters pay for food, litter, and the like out of their own pockets, anything that helps keep their costs down is appreciated. (We do reimburse for pre-approved vet bills when we have the funds.)
I only beg for the good of cats--and I really like doing it. I figure the worse that will happen is that someone will say No, but if I don't ask I'll never know what I can get. And one of my mottos is: Free is Good!
Ah well, I'm hearing all sorts of strange kitty leaping and thumping noises and I haven't the slightest idea where and on what they are doing the leaping. And someone is making little meowy noises, so I'd best investigate...
Sharon
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Post by Ann on Jul 9, 2002 10:29:08 GMT
Don't you find too that it restores your faith in human nature? I've found there are far more generous people around than mean spirited ones.
Ann
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Heather
Territorial Ruler
Muffin
Posts: 225
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Post by Heather on Jul 9, 2002 14:55:43 GMT
I guess everyone is like that most times, I went to the store to buy special cat toys (mice) and came out with a new collar for Chico, a 2 dog leash, pet food, pair cotton slacks and sandals for myself. Everyone had something new except the person that paid for it all!!  |
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Post by tutsmom on Jul 10, 2002 2:11:36 GMT
Ann,
Yes, begging for cats definitely restores one's faith in humans--and corporations. A lot of the larger companies here have programs for contributing to non-profit causes. What was amazing about the litter, is that I emailed Purina and just asked if they had any programs for donating food or litter to rescues. Within a couple of days I got two emails back--one about food, the other about the litter.
Two weeks later I got a phone call at work asking if I could use 17,000 pounds of litter--and the best part was they delivered it--at no cost to us--in a tractor trailer--from their warehouse south of Washington, DC, to the volunteer's house north of DC. We had priced transport before we realized they would deliver and it was prohibitively expensive--so that alone was a fantastic contribution.
And at one of the cat shows last year, the Friskies people gave us two vans full of cat food samples--dry and canned (the same show that I'm going to in a couple of weeks). Macromedia has a program that lets non-profits buy their software, such as Dreamweaver and Flash, at next to nothing. Adobe and Microsoft have similar programs.
There's also a web site, IGive.com, where non-profits can register and if people select your charity, whenever they buy something at one of the listed stores (and there are lots), the charity gets part of the money. You might want to see if it is available there for the Veterinary and the rescues you work with. The amounts really add up quickly. (Other web sites do the same thing, but I can't recall their urls or names.)
So, yes, in spite of some of the negatives that one encounters in rescue work, there are far more positives. But I'm definitely very glad I kept my kittens--at least I know where they are and that they are well cared for (as am I by them).
Sharon
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Post by Ann on Jul 10, 2002 20:41:57 GMT
Ann, Macromedia has a program that lets non-profits buy their software, such as Dreamweaver and Flash, at next to nothing. Adobe and Microsoft have similar programs. Sharon Sharon, That's REALLY interesting. I wonder if it's the case in the UK too. There are one or two Board Members who could be very interested as well as some local friends of mine. I think I've heard of IGive.com, but will check it out again. Ann |
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Post by Silk on Jul 10, 2002 23:49:50 GMT
Ann, Yes, begging for cats definitely restores one's faith in humans--Sharon I am realy sorry to bring a sensible conversation down to my level (roughly two floors below the gutter) But when I read this I got an image of someone standing on a street corner saying: 'Aw go on guvnor, spare us a kitten. Just a small moggie, nothing fancy, anything will do.' and I couldn't shake it! (the image that is) ;D ;D ;D Mark |
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Post by tutsmom on Jul 11, 2002 0:51:46 GMT
If Mumbles will let me reply--I must confess to a similar "vision." Only on this side of the pond, it was translated as standing on the street corner and holding a sign that reads, "Will Work for Cats" (instead of Will Work for Food). Of course that is also delightfully ambiguous--as my cats remind me, I'm already working for them!
Ann, you might also check out Petfinder.org--it's affiliated with the SPCA over here and is a nationwide database of animals looking for homes. Shelters register with them and post their animals there. We get several hundreds of looks at our cats since we registered with them. If you don't already have something similar there, I would think they would help you start one. They are a great organization and offer shelters and rescues a lot of support (not in money, but other ways).
But back to the other, although I am usually a quiet person, when it comes to cats, I will gladly ask anybody or any organization for contributions. Actually I would ask for any animal or other good cause; I'm just surrounded by cats right now.
Sharon
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