Where to go to find a new fur baby for your family.

So, you have decided to find a fur baby and live in Geelong but unsure where to start looking?   There are a few simple questions to ask yourself before you begin your search.
Kitten or adult cat?
Specific breed or domestic?
Is price a factor?
Will travel outside of the Geelong area?
Male or female?
Able to afford Veterinary care and dietary requirements?

If you know the answers then you have some idea of what you are looking for. If you are looking to adopt, rescue centres do wonderful work in saving the lives of 100’s of cats, who through no fault of their own have found themselves homeless.

Our cattery works with Geelong Animal Rescue to rehome cats and there are also a other rescue centres in Geelong as well.

Some rescue centres have a physical address such as GAWS (Geelong Animal Welfare Society) and house both cats and dogs. The difference with GAR (Geelong Animal Rescue) is that they do not house cats and dogs but place them into foster homes with carers supplying temporary accommodation and lots of love in the comfort of their own homes instead of cages until a forever family is found.  Sometimes this can take a long time, from months to years, which is very sad.

Rescuing a fur baby gives so much pleasure knowing you have saved a precious life and you are rewarded with many years of love and affection.

If you are looking for a specific breed there are many breeders in and around the Geelong and Surfcoast area as well as Melbourne, if you don’t mind travelling so best do your googles.  Cat Breeders / Breeding Catteries / or type in the specific breed you are looking for.

Choosing either a rescue or specific breed fur baby, you will find the one that best suits your family just purrfectly!

The Corona Virus and how it has impacted catteries in Melbourne and Geelong.

We didn’t see it coming and no one could have predicted how fast and how much our lives and businesses would change.

Like other catteries, we have had to make changes in the way we operate our business.  From sanitizer stations and masks to changing policies and procedures, the personal experience that we strive to give our customers has changed due to the new Corona Virus restrictions we have had to put in place for everyone’s health and safety.  The one thing that hasn’t changed is the care we continue to give to our guests when they holiday with us, so in their eyes nothing has changed, practically purrfect in every way!

Catteries in general fully understand the importance of essential hygiene as a matter of everyday practice to ensure the health and safety of all guests, so not much has changed in this regard but how families are interacted with on check-in/outs has.  With strategic planning and implementation of new processes and procedures in place, you can be confident that catteries are one of the safer places during these unprecedented times due to low traffic and specific appointment times.

Your local cattery should have COVID19 procedures in place but may change at any time with increasing cases, so be sure to ask what they have in place if and when you are able to visit and let them know if you yourself are unwell or have had symptoms before arriving.

As catteries provide cat boarding mostly to those going on holidays, most Geelong catteries and Melbourne catteries are fairly quiet.  Some are in hibernation whilst others may need to close which is heartbreaking for owners and their customers.  Due to the very tight restrictions that have been enforced in Melbourne, visitors are unable to travel any distance and certainly not to Geelong and the surrounding areas for cat boarding and family holidays.

Torquay and the Surfcoast are very popular ‘Get Away’ destinations so once the restrictions lift we are sure to see a surge in cat boarding and families travelling and enjoying a change of scenery.

This may be the best time to enjoy planning that next well deserved holiday break. 

Stay safe, stay home if unwell, wash your hands often, wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

Short get away's to Geelong and boarding your cat

If you are looking to get out of Melbourne for a few days and Geelong or Surfcoast are on your radar, then there are so many things to do and see in Geelong and surrounding areas, all within a short drive from Melbourne. Purr-Central Cattery is just outside of Waurn Ponds and most convenient for cat boarding if you are having a short break.  There are many choices for accommodation with anything from B & B to 5 star hotels with something to fit your budget and requirements. 

Geelong has a beautiful waterfront and a stroll along the interweaving paths is a lovely way to spend an hour or two, there are bars and cafes and some fine eateries as well. The botanic gardens have an old worldly charm and is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.  Right in the heart of the city is the old National Wool Museum which is not only a lovely building but a very interesting experience as it transforms you back to the golden era of wool processing in Geelong, it has a nice souvenir shop and refreshments are available next door.

A short stroll through the city will get you to the Geelong Art Gallery which is constantly changing exhibitions and the beautifully designed new library is right next door which is worth a look by itself.

The Old Geelong Gaol is something different but check for tour times.

A great family fun day can be had at Adventure Park at the start of The Bellerine Peninsula but allow yourself a whole day as there is heaps to do.

Further down the Peninsula you can visit the old fort in Queenscliff which is a picturesque old seaside town. Queenscliff has a ferry that runs across the bay to Sorrento which is a lovely trip where dolphins frequently swim alongside the ferry.

Another great day trip from Geelong is Torquay and the Surfcoast where our cattery is located. If you love the seaside, Torquay has some of the best beaches in Australia and amazing surf shops and cafe’s.

The Narana Aboriginal Culture Centre is on the outskirts of Geelong and really is a fun experience for the whole family, try boomerang throwing and listen to the didgeridoo expert then treat yourself to the gift shop before leaving.

Buckley Falls is quite a beautiful spot and a nice walk down to the banks of the Barwon River.  On your way back stop in to Balliang sanctuary and see the wildlife living there enjoying the little city oasis.

If you are a car buff then a trip to the Geelong Museum of Motoring and Industry is a must, filled with so many greats of yesteryear it is sure to keep you interested.

So if indeed you need a few days away from the big city lights, hussle and bustle and you need a local cattery to care for your fur baby, keep Purr-Central cattery in mind. 

Where you and your cat live

Over the last 20 years, we are seeing more and more indoor only cats and the days of cats wondering around have changed considerably with curfews or restrictions being put in place depending on where you live.  Big cities like Melbourne and Geelong have dusk to dawn curfews and you can be fined by your local council for not adhering to this. There is also a large number of feral cats roaming around the shire.

A popular Estate in Torquay has banned residents owning cats because of the danger they represent to the wild life, particularly birds and whilst we can understand their point of view this wouldn’t be our choice. The Surfcoast also has rural areas where farm cats can roam free and are not subject to a curfew, this certainly helps to keep rodent numbers down but may come as a surprise to people living in Melbourne.

With the rise in popularity of high density living, more and more people are living in high-rise apartments with their fur babies. Cats are fairly good at adapting to their environment and as long as you provide regular stimulation and interaction there is no reason cats can’t be indoor only. Certain breeds are less active than others and may find a confined space less of an issue and would suit inner Melbourne or apartment living. 

Geelong is mostly residential blocks so if you want to keep your fur baby on your home turf only, building a ‘Catio’ in the back yard for indoor/outdoor fun is a fantastic idea, giving them the best of both worlds. Although Geelong is now starting to see more high rise living, it is far from the high density living of Melbourne and probably will be for some time to come.

Of course not everyone in Melbourne is living in a high rise and the suburbs stretch further than the eye can see, so life can be very different for a cat from one end of Melbourne to the other. Some great ideas we have come across for cats living in an apartment or high-rise living have been obstacle courses mounted on walls and huge climbing castles, tunnels, perches and even bridges stretching from one wall to another, boxes with hidy holes hanging from ceilings, it’s amazing! 

It really doesn’t matter where you live.  Geelong, Melbourne, Torquay or on a farm, cat lovers will still find a way to make the surroundings for their fur baby as comfortable, stimulating and interactive as possible to make life as happy, safe and as fulfilling as possible.

Possessed - Crazy Cat Play

Cats can be most entertaining to watch as they play. At the cattery we have found that evening time is usually when our fur guests play havoc and turn everything upside down in their room in about 20 minutes, then just as quickly fall asleep as if nothing happened. First there is a certain look in their eyes, big as saucers like they are possessed, making strange little sounds followed by short sprints of crazyness around the room.

Our own cats are the same and when they start, this is the time our dog gets very nervous and scurrys for his bed, he knows what’s about to happen. You can see the look on his face thinking ‘look out the crazy cat is being possessed again’. The wild streak is unleashed and any object is a potential target. heads, feet, dog whatever is in the way. It’s hilarious!!

Our cattery provides play toys as well as many levels for our guests to run up and down with plenty of floor space for play. Some cats that have stayed with us are so quiet during the day only to release their inner demon at night, spend their energy chasing their imagination to exhaustion before settling in for the night.

Cats do love to play and if you pick up on their cues you can make it a fun time for you and them, so have your fur baby’s favourite toys at the ready and a camera for when the 20 minute dash is off and running.. You might catch some very impressive footage and have a lot of fun as well.