U3A members learn about Cats ...
07 January 2018
Members of the Shirley branch of U3A – University of the Third Age – had the ‘purrfect surprise’ of a Cats Protection presentation at their first meeting of 2018.
Originally, education speakers Pam Wood and Sheila Pennell were booked for March, but with the speaker for the 4th January unfortunately taken ill, Sheila received a call to ask ‘could CP come along in January instead?’ - ‘and’ says Sheila, ‘we were happy to oblige’.
“Around sixty U3A members came along to their regular meeting place – the Methodist church on the Stratford Road. When we asked how many of them had cats, more than half put their hands up. So we had an audience who were with us all the way. Pam asked the cat-quiz questions and from the answers given we soon realised our audience already knew a lot about cats – from how many hours they sleep a day to the dangers of anti-freeze, air guns and lilies.”
Pam covered how our domestic cats still have the instincts of their ‘wild/big cat’ forebears and why they are often so very territorial.
Says Pam: “We explained that cats adopted from CP are always neutered, vaccinated, blood tested and flea and worm treated. And how we ‘trap, neuter, return’ cats reported to us in feral colonies. Lots of interesting questions were asked, and we could answer most of them. But one - ‘why does my cat like to sniff and nuzzle the wrappings around bread and flowers?’ - was a bit tough. We will try to find out and get back to the U3A chair to pass on the answer!”
Sue Marks, one of the U3A organisers, sat with her university student grand-daughter, Olivia, and commented that ‘young and older members alike really enjoyed it – the afternoon presentation was informative and entertaining too.’
** North Birmingham Branch would like to thank U3A members for their generous donation of £50, which will swell funds for needy cats and kittens in care. Any friendship group or school that would like a CP talk or workshop can leave a message on the CP helpline or apply via the website.