Putting on the Kits News at purr-fect retreat
New luxury cat hotel has its guests feline pampered
A LUXURY cat hotel has opened its doors in Manchester - complete with supersized rooms, pampering sessions and afternoon tea.
Precious pets can now check in for relaxing stays at The Cat’s Other Mother hotel in Radcliffe when their loving owners go on holiday or work trips.
The spa-like experience was created by Helen Owen, who has dreamt of building her own cat hotel for more than 20 years.
Helen lives on a farm with husband Chris, as well as rescue goats, geese and an aviary full of birds.
They spent 12 months turning old stables into palatial suites designed to make moggies feel right at home during their stay.
“We’re cat owners ourselves and, although we’re on a farm, we have house cats as well,” Helen told the Manchester Evening News.
“We felt there were a lot of options if you have a cat that plays out in the street. A farm cattery with a heated bed area was fine but a lot of cats are now house cats and have never even been outside.
“Those cats could find it really scary and it could make them upset when they get back home.
“And now, people treat their pets like their children. The cats don’t go outside as much, they’re in watching TV with them.
“Owners themselves also don’t want their pets to just go somewhere where they will be left on their own, because pets become such a part of the family.
“The environment of a cat hotel has to be like it is at home.”
Helen says that, at her hotel, ‘each cat’s emotional needs in a new place’ will be taken care of to make sure owners feel comfortable leaving their beloved pets.
“Being a real home bird I love design and decorating,” she said.
“When planning the rooms I wanted them to be a good mix of luxury and home comforts but also focusing on a cats’ natural behaviour requirements.
“Our own cats have been a great source of inspiration, I know how they love to sit in the window on a rainy day and watch the droplets run down the glass.
“They prefer our old armchair rather than the expensive designer cat tower we bought them for Christmas, with their help we have created the perfect rustic hideaway.”
But, despite the years of planning, the hotel did not have the smoothest launch. Due to open up the cat flaps in March 2020, the business was hit by lockdown and stood closed for much of the year.
“It got off to a really bad start because of Covid,” said Helen. “We completely stripped down the stables and built the place ourselves. It’s purpose-built, all designed with cats in mind. “But the business is almost completely reliant on travel, it’s been really difficult because cat owners obviously haven’t been going away.” The hotel was finally able to welcome its first fourlegged guests in November. All rooms are ‘supersized,’ with 60 square feet of living space and double glazed bay ‘catio’ windows, big enough for a ‘cat family’ to roam around. Regular room packages include three meals per day from the ‘pantry menu,’ ‘lots of chatting and cuddles,’ a ‘mini pampering session if
your pet enjoys being groomed,’ ‘a fresh pot of home-grown cat grass,’ an ‘evening turndown service with milky treats’ and ‘electric flickering candles.’ If owners want to splash out on their kitties, they can book in a special menu featuring ‘Lucky Cat’ hand-shredded chicken and ‘The Little Purrmaid’ prawns on scallop shells. There are also ‘secret suites’ available, including two full-sized rooms with a secret, cat-sized interconnecting door.
For extra-special treatment, cats can even get a session with the hotel’s own ‘Purry Grandmother’ Helen’s cat-loving mum.
The Purry Grandmother will serve cats afternoon tea, cake and snacks on bone china, ‘offer plenty of conversation’ at a ‘beautifully dressed table and chair,’ a ‘special tipple’ and ‘handmade toy,’ as well as photo updates.
Among the Purry Grandmother’s favourite things to do is ‘watch Columbo with the cats,’ jokes Helen.
“The cats are really loving it,” added Helen. “It’s a home away from home.”
Owners don’t want their pets to just go somewhere where they will be left on their own
Helen Owen