Cat comes 'back from the dead'

Dug this out from the Daily Mail: Alfie the ginger tom came back to life nine months after apparently being killed by a car.

Owner Angelo Petrillo buried what he believed to be his pet's battered body after a friend spotted it on the side of a road near his home.

Soon afterwards Mr Petrillo, 39, and his wife Katy moved house, along with their other cat Freddie, also a ginger tom.

But a few days ago, they received a phone call from their former neighbour.

'They said a ginger cat had been trying to get into our old home, going up to the front and back doors, and they thought it was ours. But we said Freddie was asleep with us so there must have been a mistake.

'Then they said the cat was climbing on to the conservatory and trying to get in the bedroom window, which is exactly what our two did.

'My wife and I looked at each other, and she said "Are you totally sure it was Alfie that you buried?", and I said "Yes, 100 per cent".'

The next day, however, the neighbours said the cat had remained outside all night, meowing pitifully.

Mrs Petrillo, 35, a manager for a wine company, returned to the couple's old home a mile away - and immediately recognised the cat as Alfie.

The three-year-old had lost the collar he used to wear and had put on weight, suggesting someone else had been looking after him while he was being mistakenly mourned.

Mr Petrillo said: 'It was just unbelievable - the cat I had buried nine months earlier, the cat we spent about a month grieving over, was back, and my wife just couldn't believe what she was seeing.'

Mr Petrillo had examined the body of the cat found beside a sliproad on the M62 near their home in Milnrow, Greater Manchester, last June and was convinced it was Alfie.

But nine months on, the family are overjoyed that he was wrong - everyone, that is, apart from their other cat, five-year-old Freddie.

'They're not getting on very well at the moment, but hopefully he'll settle in again,' said Mr Petrillo. The couple are having both cats microchipped to ensure there is no confusion if either goes missing again.

Funny cat video of the week: 'Meerkittens at play'

I'm starting a new feature for my blog and by the title you've guessed it - each week it will feature cute cats getting up to feline fun. Check this out!
 

Woodlands Animal Sanctuary will close without your help!

 Last October, Charlie and I visited Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Holmeswood and Charlie had the chance to stay in their cat hotel.

But now the Sanctuary have announced they only have enough funding to remain open for the next three weeks, before the situation becomes desperate.

The charity, which was formerly known as Southport Cats Protection, is currentyl home to scores of rabbits, birds, goats and of course cats, but money is running out and the centre could soon be forced to close its doors to new admissions.

Woodlands is staffed entirely by volunteers and owner Jaqui McDerby has promised that no animals will be put to sleep.

Daughter Vickie added: "We are asking people to a) donate money or set up a direct debit or b) come forward for new homes.

"If just 300 people were to set up a standing order of £3 a month that would give us some security.

"We have people that give us a monthly allowance at the moment, but that doesn't cover half our costs. "There are no full time staff - we are all volunteers."

Vickie added that any money donated would be spent entirely on the animals. "Feeding, neutering, general vets costs that's all the money is spent on, that and the up keep of the sanctuary.

"For example, the hedgehogs costs £200 each through the Winter.

"They come in cold, they have to be hand reared and given medication, anti-biotics and vitamin injections, all the food.

"And we've 30 hedgehogs in at the moment."

And it's not just Woodlands who are feeling the strain, other animal charities are in need of help.

"The RSPCA brought cats to us last week because they are so busy," Vickie said.

A recent Winter Ball raised £1,600 for the sanctuary and a barn dance is planned for April to raise further funds.

Vicky added: "You feel like you are back to the same people saying you want more money - there's only so much you can ask of the same people and so we need people that have never helped us before to come forward."

To find out more about helping the registered charity log on to www.animalsanctuary.org.uk, call 01704 823293 or buy a ticket for the barn dance at Rufford Village Hall on April 17 for £12.

Cat survives for a month in a chilled food warehouse...by eating frozen peas

Just spotted this on the Daily Mail website.

A cat has survived after being trapped for four weeks in a chilled food warehouse - by eating frozen peas.

The feline managed to survive temperatures of -2C (-28F) for a month in the warehouse before it was finally rescued by the RSPCA. 

The 12-month-old black and white tabby cat, who has been nicknamed 'Frosty' by RSPCA staff, is believed to have survived by eating frozen peas and licking moisture off icy food packets.

Frosty, who is believed to have been trapped in the warehouse after entering in the back of a lorry, was spotted by staff in the warehouse early last month but escaped numerous attempts to catch him.

The large warehouse is maintained at a constant temperature with its main doors closed except when large articulated lorries arrive to deliver or remove palletised cargo.

Staff believe Frosty may have been too frightened to leave when he had the opportunity because of the noise and activity around the main doors.

The RSPCA caught Frosty in a humane trap after leaving it overnight baited with cat treats, milk and water. The poor cat had to have parts of his ears and tail amputated after the ordeal because of frostbite.

I'm so happy he's okay - if anything like that happened to Charlie I'd be devastated!

RSPCA inspector calls for cat owners to be more responsible

RSPCA inspector Ian Robertson is calling for cat owners to be more responsible after the 'worst week of his career' for dealing with abandoned cats.

Ian said the problems have been caused by people moving out of their homes and leaving their cat behind.

In some cases new tenants have been forced to look after cats abandoned by the previous occupants as the RSPCA shelter in Birkdale is full to capcity.

Ian told Cat Chat: "This has been the worst week of my career for having to deal with abandoned cats.

"In one case the family had moved to a foreign country which must have taken some time to plan, so they could have contacted us and given us time to find a home for the cat.

"Abandoning a household pet is an offence which can lead to imprisonment of up to 51 weeks and a fine of £20,000.

"If people want to give up their cat they should contact us and we can help rehome it."

If you need help rehoming a cat call 0300-1234-999. People who want to give a new home to an abandoned cat can call the RSPCA kennels on 01704-567624.

Cat has over 1.5 million followers on Twitter

A cat from Massachusetts in America has over 1.5 million people following him on Twitter (Well, that means Charlie's got a long way to go!)

The cat's owner Jason Scott said he opened the Twitter account to post catlike musings from his feline's point of view.

Jason 37, said he started the "inner monologue" micro-blog for his cat, Sockington, in 2007 and the Twitter feed now has 1.5 million followers and has even inspired a rap song.

Scott said his goals include "breaking up the self-important and bland Twittering" and sharing Sockington's "life of boredom" with the world.

"If you have a cat," he said, "you realise their life is mostly food and sleep."

He said the posts are mostly centered around those themes. "HMM YOU ARE VERY INTERESTING TO ME oh it looks like you're finished eating NOT QUITE AS INTERESTING ANYMORE," one post reads.