Charlotte Evans, Customer Service Executive at SureFlap

Hello! I’m Charlotte Evans and I’m the Customer Service Executive at SureFlap. It’s my job to deliver great customer service to our customers around the world and liaise with our English speaking customer service centres. I started working for SureFlap in February 2011 but had over a years’ experience with the product before joining the SureFlap team.

I have three beautiful kittens, Snoop, Missy and Jessie and they are all completely crazy and love to swing off my curtain poles! They certainly keep me on my toes.

I’m really excited because I’m just about to buy my very own house for the first time – so I can be free to let out my inner crazy cat lady! I can’t wait to move in and install my very own SureFlap!

In my spare time I like watching TV, shopping, swimming, and I enjoy a leisurely bike ride at weekends (weather permitting!) I love a good rom-com, such as The Holiday, but if you put me in front of a horror film I’ll half watch it from behind a pillow!

My favourite holiday spot is South Africa where I spent two weeks with my Mum two years ago. I would go back in a heartbeat.

If I were to describe myself in three words I’d say I am inquisitive, clumsy and gregarious!

Say Hello to Charlotte!

If you would like to send a special message to Charlotte, please leave a comment below!

Training your cat to use a cat flap can be tricky if your cat has never used a cat flap before, but with a little time and understanding of your cat’s needs, most cats can successfully learn to use a cat flap.

Learn how to train a cat to use a cat flap with the following handy tips.

Use tempting treats

Cats love treats, so what better way to tempt your kitty through their new cat flap than with a tasty tit bit! Place your cat’s favourite treat on the opposite side of the cat flap. If they want it enough, they should come through no problem!

Add your cats smell

This might seem like a strange one, but adding your cat’s smell to the cat flap could make it more inviting to your pet. A new cat flap will smell alien to your cat which can make them reluctant to use it. Add your cat’s smell to the cat flap by wiping your cat’s face with a cloth and then wiping the cloth around the cat flap.

Prop open the flap

If your cat has never used a cat flap before, try propping the flap open to create a more inviting hole for your cat to pass through. This can be easily achieved with a peg or a piece of tape. Give your cat time to get used to going in and out of the cat flap before removing the prop.

Have patience!

Whether your cat takes days or weeks to get used to his new cat flap, you will need to be patient. Not all cats will take to a cat flap straight away, but given time, most cats will understand the concept of the cat flap sooner or later.

What do you think?

Do you have any tips on how to train a cat to use a cat flap? Share your ideas by commenting on this blog post!

Brooke Phillips - European Customer Services Executive at SureFlap

Hi, my name is Brooke Phillips and I am the European Customer Services Executive for SureFlap. I am new to the business, as I have only been working for SureFlap for a couple of months. I am getting stuck into connecting with English, German and Dutch speaking SureFlap customers. I’m looking forward to attending Interzoo in Nuremburg on 17-20 May, so if you are attending the event, why not drop by stand 9-118 and say hi!

I sadly don’t have any pets as my house is too small! But if I could have a pet I would have a Maine Coon cat because they have beautiful marking and fine features. They’re such lovely cats!

In my spare time, I love to paint, and I have had the pleasure of taking part in some international art exhibitions. I like watching films and I struggle to pick a favourite, but I do like The Fifth Element – it’s quirky like me!

If I had to pick one object that I could not live without, I would say my kettle. A good cup of tea or coffee is an essential part of the day!

If I were to describe myself in four words, I would say I am patient, fun, cheeky and smiley! One of my favourite sayings is “Smile and the world will smile with you”.

If I were a famous person, I would like to be Diane Keaton, because in spite of being very famous, she knows how to keep the balance right and stay grounded.

If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to Hawaii. I would love to stay in one of those huts by the beach, sipping cocktails and trying to surf. One of my most memorable holidays to date was a family holiday in Mexico. , It was so hot and so much fun. That is what life is all about!

Say Hello to Brooke!

If you would like to send a special message to Brooke, please leave a comment below!

Image courtesy of Niklas on Flickr

Several cats in Scotland have suffered from a disease that stiffens their back legs and tail, which makes them walk like a robotic cat. Experts do not know what causes this curious disease, but it’s thought that the illness could have been picked up whilst the cats were out hunting.

Around fifty Scottish cats have been affected by the robotic cat disease over the last 10 years and most have been located in a rural area between Inverness and Aberdeen. There has also been one reported case in Liverpool, though there could be other unreported cases elsewhere in the UK.

Robotic cats can find it difficult to get around as they are no longer as agile as they used to be. They can become distressed as they can get themselves getting into sticky situations that they find difficult to get out of.

The strange robotic cat disease not only affects a cat physically, it can also affect them in a behavioural way. Many cats in Scotland that suffered from the disease became more affectionate, while a select few became more aggressive.

There is no cure for the disease at the moment, and sadly, most robotic cats are put to sleep within a year of contracting the illness. However, there is one couple that are dedicating their time to caring for their robotic cat, and have done so for the last two years.

The Sims live in Aberdeenshire with Tinkers, a robotic cat that can’t be left alone for any length of time or he becomes terribly frightened. Tinkers knows that he is vulnerable, and if left alone, he becomes afraid of being attacked.

The disease has also affected Tinkers memory; sometimes he even forgets to eat. Mr Sim has become very dedicated to caring for Tinkers and is determined to care for him for as long as possible so that he doesn’t have to be put to sleep. Mr Sim said: “Really, I can’t go anywhere because I’ve got to be with him all the time. I always believe if you take on a pet you’ve got to give it 100%, you can’t just forget about it whenever it suits you.”

Are you caring for a disabled cat?

Why not tell us about your disabled cat by commenting on this blog post.

Each Wednesday, we will be introducing you to a member of the SureFlap team, giving you the opportunity to see the faces behind SureFlap!

Sarah Metcalfe - Customer Service Manager at SureFlap

Hello, I’m Sarah Metcalfe, the Customer Service Manager at SureFlap! I’m in charge of Delivering Happiness to all our customers (and their owners!) and I have been with SureFlap for just over two years. I have a cat and three kittens – two of the kittens will soon be going to new homes, but mummy Calypso and baby Yoda are here to stay!

In my spare time I love reading (when I have the time), playing make believe with my kids, organising events and fundraising. I also enjoy exercise and cooking (but not at the same time). I love all types of food and like trying out new recipes; at the moment I’m particularly interested in Paleo eating. The Paleo diet consists of eating fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, fruit, vegetables, roots and nuts.

I also love watching films and couldn’t really pick a favourite, but the Shawshank Redemption, The Goonies, Disney films, Life is Beautiful and A Fish Called Wanda would all be high on my list.

Many years ago, I spent 6 weeks in the Middle East on an archaeological dig and it was the most amazing learning experience ever! It is a beautiful part of the world that I feel very connected to. If I could go anywhere in the world, I’d go to Egypt, as I’ve always wanted to see the Nile and the pyramids.

If I were to describe myself in three words, I’d say I am happy, crazy and optimistic! And I live by the saying “always look on the bright side of life”. (You’ve seen Monty Python’s Life of Brian, right?)

Say Hello to Sarah!

If you would like to send a special message to Sarah, please leave a comment below!

A SureFlap customer sent us this fabulous picture of her cat Ralph and we thought it would make a great subject for our May Caption Contest! Our May Caption Contest is now live on our Facebook page.

To enter, all you need to do is come up with a cute, funny or wacky caption that you think would fit this picture perfectly and enter your details into the entry form on our Facebook Contest Tab.

The winner of our May Caption Contest will get to choose their prize; either a SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap or a £50/$75 Amazon Gift Card! (or a gift card of equivalent value for those that live outside of the UK or USA).

Closing date for entries is 3pm GMT on Friday 25^th May 2012. The winner will be announced on our Facebook page.

Good luck everyone!

by Vicki Cook

Vicki & Zelda

I love cats. I have always loved cats. I am not one of those people who discovered cats later in life. No – I was born with the cat lady gene. Or as Lady Gaga would say: “I’m on the right track, Baby, I was born this way.”

I was the kid who always brought home stray cats  - and some not so stray cats – basically any cat that walked up to me. In elementary school, one of my first essays was called “The Care and Feeding of the Domestic House Cat.” And of course, I drew pictures of cats – lots and lots of cats.

When I had graduated from high school, my boyfriend at the time wanted a kitten, so of course I got him one, without checking with his parents first… Let me just say his mother was NOT a cat lady, so the kitten went home with me.

This cat, who was later named Jasmine (a.k.a. Jazz), became an extremely important part of my life. Any cat lady will tell you that there’s one cat that truly changes your life, and for me that was Jazz. She was with me from the time I was eighteen years old and still living at my mother’s house. She moved with me to my first apartment and kept me company while I adjusted to living by myself. And she went with me again when I moved in with my future husband (love me, love my cat).

Jazz adjusted to living with the two of us and even accepted the puppy I had the gall to bring home.  She had a series of health issues over the years and a couple of close calls, but she always bounced back. Several years later, she moved with us when we relocated from our hometown to a city about four hours away.

Jazz had the ability to adjust to anything that was thrown at her. A new human, a puppy, several moves, and on-going health issues were no problem for her. She just kept going, and going, and going. We eventually adopted another cat, moved again, and adopted yet another dog. She was queen of the household and everyone knew it, but she was a gracious queen.

Jazz lived with me for sixteen years. She was with me throughout my early adulthood and all the important changes that happened during that time. And she touched me in a way that no other pet ever had before. But eventually her little heart wound down.

I remember that day very well. We had gone away for the weekend and had just come home. She was sitting on the arm of the sofa looking so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open. She came over and sat with me, and all she wanted was to be held. Suspecting what was happening, I held her as much as I could, but when it came time to go to bed, I put her in the bathroom and closed the door. I didn’t want her crawling off somewhere during the night – crawling into the floor space in the basement or getting outside.

When I woke up in the morning, she had already passed away.I wrapped her in a towel and held her and cried. I called my vet to let her know that Jazz was gone. Eventually we took her to be cremated, and when we got her ashes back, we buried her in the backyard and planted a rosebush on top.

That was twenty years ago, and I have had many cats since then. But there will only be one Jasmine.

About the Author

Vicki Cook is a passionate pet blogger and full-time crazy cat lady. She currently shares her home with four indoor cats (KC, Zelda, Boyzie and Sugar) and one outdoor cat (Breckin). Her blog is called Bunny’s Blog, and it focuses on animals and animal-related causes. You can visit her at http://bunnyjeancook.blogspot.com/.

by Deborah Barnes – Author of The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey – A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary

One, two, three or more cats – there are just some things to which any cat guardian can relate. Case in point: I know for a fact that I have seven cats. I have a beautiful photo to prove it; I even know all of their names and can recognize them properly about 90% of the time without getting them mixed up. So, why does it seem like there are dozens of cats living in the house?

Several months ago, during the Christmas holidays when my kids came to visit, it seemed like everywhere I turned there were cats. I’m making cookies and am surrounded by them, their fur, and their dander (my secret ingredient). When I was wrapping presents, they were all over the place – some of them sitting on wrapping paper, some chewing on ribbon and some hiding inside empty gift bags. When we sat on the couch to watch Christmas movies, it was like a conveyor belt of cats as we saw them randomly walking to and fro with an air of confidence and urgency past the TV. And why is it that for no apparent reason, a cat just feels the need to get up and walk from one point to another? I could understand it if they were going to the litter box or the food dish, but no, they just get up and walk a few feet away from where they were previously standing.

Even the simplest of activities becomes a cat convention for me. A quick trip to the bathroom has at least one cat on my lap. Obviously I don’t want to be sitting on the toilet all day while my cat decides this is the ideal opportunity to get acquainted and bond with me. When I am sitting on a regular chair with all the time in the world, the cats won’t come near me. Well, unless it is my office chair and I have important work to get done. Then, there is always a cat sitting smack in the center of it without any hint of moving on my behalf. So, yes, I do perch precariously on the edge of the chair so as not to wake the darling. The remaining throng of cats will be on top of the keyboard and blocking the monitor. I could have sworn the office was empty when I walked into the room…

At night, before I go to bed, I always get my clothes ready for work for the next day. I think I am completely alone, but as soon as I open the closet door, it is literally instantly filled with cats. How do they do that? And how is it that they are already on the top shelf? When I finally get to bed and try to get some sleep, there seems to be an endless changing of the guards as one cat after another tries to find that perfect “snuggle spot” on the bed (or my head). When I wake up in the morning to get ready for work, stumbling to get out of bed, I feel like I have tripped over at least a dozen cats before I make it to the bathroom. The last thing I do before I leave for work is scoop litter boxes. No sooner am I done scooping one box when a cat appears to use it again. I move on to the next litter box to find another cat waiting. Sigh…

It’s like those little sponge capsules we got as kids – just add water and watch the creatures grow!! The only time I feel like we don’t have any cats at all is when the cat carrier comes out. Oddly enough, all the cats then vanish without a trace of evidence.

About the Author

Deborah Barnes currently resides in South Florida and after an unexpected life-changing event she decided to follow her dreams of becoming an author, using the relationship of her cats as inspiration for her first book. She is also the author of the popular blog, Zee & Zoey’s Chronicle Connection. Visit Deborah at: http://www.zeezoey.com

We’re exhibiting our award-winning SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap at the BSAVA Congress until Sunday. We attended the event last year, and this year we expect the BSAVA Congress to be even busier! This year, the congress takes the name of BSAVA World Congress and is set to be the biggest international veterinary event that’s ever been held in the UK. The BSAVA Congress 2012 is taking place in the ICC/NIA in Birmingham.

We are showcasing the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap on stand 423 and we’d like to welcome all delegates to drop by for a chat. If you are interested in becoming a SureFlap veterinary stockist, we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you visit our stand, you also have the chance of winning a pet portrait worth £450!

Over the last year, we have continued to build our base of veterinary stockists. Events such as the BSAVA Congress allow us to introduce the SureFlap to vets and veterinary nurses that may not have heard of us before.

The SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap is an ideal product to stock in a veterinary practice, as it uses microchip technology to keep unwanted cats out of the home, reducing stress in resident cats. The SureFlap can be introduced to your customers that report problems with intruder cats or those that bring their cats into the practice to be microchipped.

To help you promote the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap in your practice, we supply a free demonstration unit with your first order. This demo unit consists of a SureFlap mounted in a wooden frame on a glass stand and a microchipped toy cat so that you can demonstrate the product to your customers.

For more information about becoming a SureFlap veterinary stockist, visit the Veterinary Members Area of our website or contact us for more information.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!

We’re hosting an Easter Egg Hunt Contest on the sureflap.co.uk! Win a SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap or a £50/$75 Amazon Gift Card!

Find 5 eggs hidden on our website (not including the egg on the advert on our homepage!) and tell us where you found found them. Then, answer the following 5 questions:

1. Who developed the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap?
2. What’s the name of the cat that inspired SureFlap?
3. How many testimonials are on our website?
4. What size hole can the SureFlap Mounting Adaptor cover?
5. What number do UK customers need to call to place an order?

Each egg is hidden inside photographs on a different page on the website – it’s just like a real Easter Egg Hunt but without the chocolate! We’re running the Easter Egg Hunt Contest on our UK website, but people in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can also enter.

Submit your answers to the questions and the locations of the eggs to enquiries@sureflap.co.uk. Closing date for entries is 3pm GMT Thursday 12 April 2012. Good luck everyone and have a fantastic Easter!

Terms & Conditions

• The Easter Egg Hunt Contest is open to residents in the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
• Entries must be received by 3pm GMT Thursday 12 April 2012.
• Completed entries will be entered into a sweepstake to win a SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap or a £50/$75 Amazon Gift Card.
• Only completed entries will be counted – completed entries must include the locations of the 5 hidden eggs and the correct answers to the 5 questions above.
• The winner of the sweepstake will get to choose their prize, either a SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap or a £50/$75 Amazon Gift Card.