The Christmas Miracle
In nearly five years working together staging show homes and occupied properties and even service accommodation we’ve often encountered the unexpected. However, the recent 'purr-sistence' of a charming visitor to our furniture storage unit unfolded into quite the cat-alogue of drama.
A charming stray cat had been frequenting the premises, weaving her way seamlessly through our collection of rugs, furniture, lamps and accessories with a feline grace reminiscent of T.S Eliot's magical cat, Miss Mistoffolees. We had made a fuss of her and fed her a bit. We tried to put her out of the front door and she kept reappearing from the back moments later, just like magic, so we thought this name was fitting.
As you know from our Instagram stories, our weeks are filled with on-site visits, client calls, and property installation and transformations. So we hadn’t been to our storage unit for a couple of weeks. Upon our return, we could hear faint mewling sounds. The source? None other than Mama Mistoffolees who had made our storage facility the maternity ward and nursery for her litter of five kittens! Our surprise matched only by our immediate concern for the wellbeing of our new feline residents, we reached out to several local cat charities to no avail.
Here are the first 4 kittens when we first found them. Fern the naughty one had escaped to a nearby unit and was hiding on a shelf, where we had quite a time recovering her (understatement).
The unit, albeit perfect for storing our award-winning selection of furniture, didn't exactly offer the homely warmth a litter of newborn kittens would need. Cue a trip to Pets at Home for something that could provide a warm, safe haven - we bought a guinea pig run. However, getting them into Amanda's house turned into a scene from Friends - we had quite the "Ross moment “pivoting” this enormous cage up the landing! It was a hairy, yet hilarious moment that, much like our installations, required patience and teamwork.
Mama Mistoffolees eating something after her ordeal. The feline equivalent of tea and toast!
It’s not just the NHS that is struggling, it turns out animal hospitals are too and the strain on local animal charities became evident as we were unable to find help. But we were determined to keep the cats safe if we could. We were eventually able to transfer Mama Mistoffolees and her kittens to a local vets whose veterinary care ensured the litter was treated and the five cats are the road to recovery. They’ve been named: - Seb, Arby, Dusty, Frankie and Fern and all been rehomed. The mother is scheduled for neutering, then she too will be ready for adoption, preferably in a house where she can rule the roost alone.
Frankie
Seb and Arby enjoying their new home already.
Although it has been quite time consuming (we’ve spent hours watching the cats) we hope our own Christmas 'furry-tale' rescue will lead to their 'purr-fect’ forever homes.
Fern who chose her own mini adventure.
Dusty - starting to feel very at home thank you very much!
Given how much of the year we spend planning, thinking and designing living spaces, we know that we all want somewhere we can call home .