When Kirsty Sturmey goes to work each morning, she walks across the yard into a space filled with purrs, whiskers and the unmistakable comfort of home.
‘I love what I do: I love cats. I just have an affinity with them. I seem to be able to care for them, spot things when they’re not quite right. I don’t know how, I just do it,’ she says.
‘I loved cats from the word go – there are pictures of me, really young, basically mauling random
cats … if there was a cat in the room, I’d be on it!’
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock
Now, having spent more than seven years running her own cattery and with 17 years of prior experience, Kirsty has built a place where pets – and their owners – can relax, knowing they’re in safe hands.
Kirsty’s journey began as a teenager when her family moved to Charminster, near a cattery called Home and Away.
‘I went to see if I could get a Saturday job. The lady was absolutely lovely, but said she didn’t have any vacancies.
Kirsty’s chance came later, during school work experience: ‘I hated it. Hated being told “find a work experience placement for a job you want to do” when I didn’t KNOW what job I wanted to do! So I was just looking through the school’s folder of all the job placements they had, and Home and Away cattery was in there. I didn’t hang about!’
That work experience placement led to a job offer – and a passion that has lasted. ‘I was so happy there, I absolutely loved it. I stayed until I was pregnant with my son, 17 years later.’
Dreaming into reality
The idea of running her own cattery started early: ‘I was only about 18 or 19 when I knew I really wanted my own cattery. But it was never the right time. We didn’t want strangers on the farm, and it was always “maybe later, maybe when we’re older.” … Years passed, I’d finished working at Home and Away, I was pregnant, and my husband was putting up a new barn at the top of the farm. We hadn’t talked about the cattery for ages – years probably – and he just came home one day and said “I’ve put the footings in for the new barn. There’s space down the side for your cattery, if you still want to do it.”
‘Well, that was it! I was immediately in to planning, working it around the new baby – and my old boss really helped me get started. She basically handed me her business. It was lovely: customers would call her, asking to book their cat in, and she’d say: “Sorry, I’m closing. But do you remember Kirsty?…”
The personal touches that matter
For Kirsty, it’s all about creating a home-from-home experience. ‘Each pen is fully heated with its own indoor and outdoor space,’ she says. ‘All have multi-levels, so the cats have places to hide, to be cosy and places to see what’s going on. The barn is light and airy, with a massive open central area. So I can let the cats come out of their pen – one family at a time, obviously – for a big wander and a play. I make sure they’re not cooped in a pen the whole time with us: unless they want to be, of course. Cats will be cats, you get some that don’t want to come out. But for the sociable and active ones, particularly the younger ones, it’s really nice for them to explore.’
Kirsty also sends updates while owners are away.
‘I have all the contact details, obviously, and I’ll send a little update here or there. The cats all get fresh roast turkey at Christmas – or a bit of fish if they’re not turkey fans. On Christmas Day every owner gets a photo: “Christmas greeting from the cattery, Merry Christmas from …” It takes me hours! And everyone gets a party bag when they go home, full of dreamies and treats and things.’
Industry Changes
Running a cattery means staying ahead of the changing regulations that have closed others down.
‘When we were building I checked with the council whether there were any statutory measurements, and they assured me that there weren’t, they would just inspect when it was ready. Six months later, new regulations came in …
‘Luckily, most things were fine, because I’d followed some suggestions online. They weren’t actually these new rules, but they just happened to be close enough. That was really lucky.’
Despite the challenges, Kirsty has adapted, and Dorset Cattery has grown from the original 28 pens to 42, with space for 56 cats.
With 75 per cent repeat customers, Kirsty has built strong bonds with both cats and owners.
‘You start to see the same cats again and again – you really got to know the cats, and you get really attached to them.’
Kirsty’s even had long-term guests: ‘I had a pair of cats in, two ginger tabbies, completely gorgeous. They were booked in for roughly six weeks while their owners moved house … and it took them 14 months to go through the whole process!
‘We love all the characters. It’s the quiet period at the moment and I’ve only got 15 in – it’s too quiet. We need more cats to chat to!
‘I love what I do. It’s all about making them feel at home – that’s what we try to do every single day.’
• thedorsetcattery.co.uk
• 01300 341881
• enquiries@thedorsetcattery.co.uk
