Charlie Andersen
Managing Director
38 Years old and from Denmark

Area:
Stoke Newington, N16, and surrounding areas

Areas
Highbury and surrounding areas

I’ve been a cat carer with Cat Care London since 2005 when I gave up my 9-5 to go back to University and rediscover my brain and I haven’t looked back. I now work as a freelance writer and administrator with flexible hours so looking after cats in my area while their families are away is an ideal addition to my varied work portfolio.

My family always had cats and I’ve adored them as long as I can remember. When I moved to London to study I missed the moggies, so began volunteering at Cats Protection in Archway and eventually, became a foster carer. Over an 18 month period I cared for more than 35 cats and kittens in my own home, including mums with litters and the odd feral! The cats were often on medication, or needed special care and attention and I learned an enormous amount about feline behaviour and care through the experience. It was especially rewarding when the cats found their new, permanent homes. Inevitably, I fell head over heels in love with a pair of kittens in my care and adopted Stella and Cardigan in 2003 and that put an end to my fostering. These days they look a bit bemused when I come home covered in other cats’ fur but so far, they’ve always forgiven me.

Area:
Palmers Green, Southgate, Winchmore Hill, Muswell Hill and surrounding areas

Marianne Fretwell
35 years old and from Nottinhamshire

Area:
Islington and surrounding Areas

I have lived in London for 13 years moving here from a small village in nottinhamshire. Looking back I feel blessed that I was able to live so closely with nature.

Since ever I can remember we had cats in our family; whenever I return home I often sit for hours with our cat Roo who enjoys a good pampering while her brother Tigger is usually out a hunting and a fishing and a shooting! My grandmother used to tell us kids the 'Just so' stories by Rutyard Kipling and our favorite was and still is 'the cat that walked by himself' so apt!

I often look after my friends cats when I can and had I the space I would offer a home to a rescue myself. I work in fitness teaching the young and old to keep fit and healthy and while I find this work rewarding I have been feeling a yearning to get back to my roots, I recently joined 'A furry world' as I feel this offers me a perfect opportunity to bring my beloved cats back into my life...how I miss them!

Casie has spent the last year welcoming all sorts of animals into our home and it was only a matter of time before he joined the team. He grew up in the West Indies surrounded by a variety of farm animals and his beloved Husky cross ‘Stanford’. He spent a year working at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and dealt with reptiles, birds, Lemurs, cows, horses and many other exotic animals.

I have grown up with many cats and cannot imagine a home without a cat curled up in a cosy corner. Currently we have two cats, Winston a black and white moggy who is 13 and a rescue from the RSPCA and Bodecia a tiny tabby who came with Winston and is 11 years old. Both have completely different and complementary personalities and this is one of the things I love about cats. Working for CatCare means we get to spend time with a huge variety of cats with very individual personalities and quirks.

We are both looking forward to meeting many more cats in the future.

Rebecca and Ross Harvey
29 years and from Denmark & 27 Years and from England

Area:
Holborn, Hackney and Islington

We are both animal lovers – my best friends has a rescue cat who I speak to on the phone regularly – embarrassing when I’m on the bus ;-) Ross grew up with several cats at home and is always a big hit with all the cats he visits .

Living in a flat, we don’t feel we the space for a pet of our own right now but we have both enjoyed helping friends and family look after their pet and therefore got very excited about the opportunity to look after even more furries;-)

We generally cycle to visits, but also have a car so won’t be put off by pouring rain or thunderstorms!

Elizabeth Hughes
30 years old from London

Areas: Highbury and surrounding areas

I work in the field of counseling and psychotherapy.  I find my work incredibly rewarding but it can be difficult at times. I find being with animals an ideal antidote to the stress of city life. 

The first cat I grew up with was a tabby called Sweepy.  Since then I have shared houses with many others and been around them in my family's homes in rural Ireland. 

I have always had a strong affinity with animals and if I had the space and my housemates allowed it, I would love to a cat in my home regrettably however this is not possible at the moment.

As well as caring for animals I enjoy photography, art, film, reading, writing and running.

Catherine Jeffrey
42 years old and from London

Areas:
Crouch End, Highgate and surrounding areas

I grew up in London surrounded by pets; at various times we had guinea pigs, hamsters and budgies, but always we had at least one cat. While I love all animals, it is true to say that cats do have a special place in my heart. I have not been able to have cats at home for a few years, and really miss their presence, so whenever I get a chance, I take care of cats when my friends go away.

I enjoy finding out what makes cats tick, and creating a loving, peaceful atmosphere around them. I admire their elegance and acute intelligence; they are wonderful company in their uniquely fascinating ways. Above all, I have great respect cats – I understand why the Egyptians are said to have worshipped them!

My background is that I have an English degree and previously worked in a variety of fields, including as a support worker to a teenage boy with special needs.  Now I work mainly from home as a practitioner of The Metamorphic Technique. This complementary therapy is a wonderful healing resource that can be given to animals as well as humans. So this is always freely available if any cat in my care needs that kind of attention.

Murray Keig
39 Years old and from New Zealand

Area:
Stoke Newington, N16

Murray has been with A Furry World from day one helping in all aspects of the set up and running the business.

Murray came to England just over 4 years ago and has alongside of working as a Network Engineer been spending time traveling Europe; he has now settled down in Islington in a garden flat and loves having animals around.

Since his very first days animals have surrounded Murray. When he was born there was Sooty the black cat and Topper the charming corgi, both of which were his best mates until well into his teens. Since then there have been a variable chorus of animals in the house; Benji the rescue corgi and his sisters bull terror Trooper being the most notable.

Alongside these more traditional of pets have been his collections of small critters; his lizards and praying mantis’s kept his mother on her toes whenever she was tending her jungle of house plants... MURRAY!!!

Since coming to England Murray has missed the animal company and he is very happy to have them back in his life.

Asta Laukaityte
24 years old from Lithuania

Area:
Stoke Newington and surrounding areas

I grew up on a farm surrounded by pets as well as farm animals. From when I was a few years old until I turned 18 and moved out from home I had many different types of pets: from fish, canary birds and budges to rabbits, cats and dogs as well as looking after farm animals, such as chickens, cows and pigs. My pets are what I miss most since coming to London, which was almost 6 years ago, as I never got a chance to get a pet here due to my commitments to work and studies. Therefore I love helping out my brother and friends to look after their pets when I get a chance.

I have worked as a dental nurse for 4.5 years before commencing adult nursing studies in September 2007 at King’s College London. I have a caring personality, which I am sure your beloved pets will appreciate. I understand how difficult it is to go away leaving your pet behind, however with me caring for them you can put your mind at ease knowing that your pet will receive all the attention and love it deserves.

Helen Moreton
40 years and from Cheshire

Areas
Hackney and surrounding areas

Blog about Purdy & Kittens

Animals have always been important to me: my first word was zoo!  I’ve always spent lots of time watching wildlife, have learnt to ride, nursed sick and orphaned wild birds and of course socialized with as many dogs and cats as possible. As a kid we lived by a small lake and had lots of pets, including guinea pigs, gerbils and ducks, which I used to round up and bring in for the night using a canoe.

When I moved to London 18 years ago I adopted two gorgeous part Havana, part Persian kittens.  I had many happy years of stuff getting knocked over and ripped up, play chases across the bed at 3 am… all the usual oriental stuff!  Sadly Bea was pts due to kidney and thyroid disease last year at the age of 17.  I still miss her so much.  Lizzie (who was very patient posing for the picture) is still with me, aged 18, partially sighted and living well (more sedately, just as noisily) with heart, kidney and thyroid problems.  With all that I have a lot of practice giving medication!  I believe you have to be positive and flexible about it, try and make it enjoyable for them, and learn what works best for each individual.

I’ve worked as a volunteer in a children’s hospital play centre and as a domestic in old peoples homes.  At the moment I work from home writing for a website.  I keep fit training for and running marathons for charity.

I can’t have as many animals as I’d like right now.  I’d like loads!  So I spend as much time as possible with other peoples.  I would love to spend some time caring for yours, whether they are young tearaways or lovely oldies.

Angus Pelletier
45 years old and from Canada

Areas:
Islington and surrounding areas

I lie in Islington with my partner, 3 Dalmatians and my beautiful Persian cat named Missy.

Missy is the lady of the house and the dally's have great respect for her. I grew up in southern Ontario Canada where my summers where spent on my grandparents farm in Niagara on the Lake. There where many cat's on the farm to  catch mice and I have fond memories of playing with the kittens each summer. We had a cat growing up named Tiger and he lived to the ripe old age of 21.I have always loved animals and I am looking forward to this new venture in my life.

Renny
36 years old

Areas:
Hoxton and sourounding areas

I have cared for pets in 3 countries: Australia, the US and now the UK.

My first love was a long-haired ginger tabby named Ginseng, a real gentleman. I have house-sat for many dogs, cats and birds over the years.

I love getting to know each new personality who comes to visit and of course the cuddles too and I hope to one day settle down long enough to have several pets of my own.

Polly & Nick Scarlett
22 from France and 25 from Australia

Area:
Finsbury Park, Islington & Highbury

Since I was a little girl I have been around cats. I just can't picture a life without them. There has always been some kind of connection between them and me.

I never thought this passion could turn into a job! I guess that's the magic of London! It is such a pleasure to spend my days caring for these guys, making sure they are happy and safe.

My husband and I met a few years ago in London. We travelled around a bit but now were back. We share a flat with two gorgeous cats, Holly and Mellie, who are treated like princesses. Ask Nick! We even moved into a bigger place just for them!

All the signs showed that Nick would lead a successful yet dull career in accounting. That was before marrying me! When I started this job, we both had no idea how rewarding it would be, and how happy it would make me. Nick went on a few walks with me and started taking an interest in how the cats I visited were doing. It didn't take long before he was welcomed on board!

Nick and I believe that caring for cats while their owners are away is a real treat. Animals are special to us and we want to give the best of ourselves to them.

Susan Stowell
54 years old from London

Area:
North & West London, NW6

Back in London I became Homecare for the Elderly, and still do some Homecare work.

At the moment my immediate Family consist of my husband Chris a B.T engineer and my Cat Smudge who I’ve had since she was a kitten, she is now twenty years old and a real character, I swear she’s got half a dozen human expressions. She still plays with balls and I often hear them in the early hours being kicked about.

I have always had animals in my life since childhood, Dogs, Cats, Hamsters, Rabbits, Birds, Mice and even a Rat.
I feel so lucky to be able to have a job working with all these little characters and looking forward to looking after them.
If I look after your Pet, you can be sure that I will take as much care with them as if they were my own.

Sabina Webber
43 years old

Areas:
Stoke Newington, N16 Stamford Hill and surrounding areas

Cats have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; the first, an abandoned kitten, setting a pattern for the rest, who have all been rescued from one situation or another! So when my husband and I bought our first home together, I felt it wouldn’t be a real home without a cat and we adopted Cleo from the Cat Protection League (that’s her in the photo – she’s a bit camera-shy!). She now very kindly lets us share our home with her!

Working from home as a part-time, freelance desktop publisher means I have lots of free time and I look forward to making and caring for lots more furry friends.