Poor "Wendy".

I had always assumed that she had a second home. Especially as she didn't turn up at the station when it snowed.

I'd offer to assist but ideally it needs to be someone who lives within a cat's walk of the station. Perhaps the pub?

Let me know if a collection is started.

We were so sorry to hear about Wendy, we have had many a cuddle with her and she's a truely gorgeous cat!

We would be more than happy to help Wendy, by having a collection pot for her at Wivenhoe Pets, I'm sure our customers would be more than happy to help her! Perhaps you could supply us with a photo of Wendy so that we could attach it to the collection pot?

Also perhaps other businesses in Wivenhoe would also collect for Wendy???

Let us know your thoughts so that we can start "Action Wendy" asap

http://twitpic.com/483qr9

Maybe the Forum should adopt the cat :)

But who will take on the foster carer role? Perhaps someone at the station already does look after her as her food and water bowls are replenished.

But we could have a Forum cat fund to help.

BTW, we've come a long way in two months, from "pictures of kittens? - not here my friend" to this :D

I had always assumed that Wendy was officially looked after by Network Rail? Any clarification? She seems quite happy anyway and is never short of a stroke from waiting commuters.

I admit that my own domestic situation has somewhat changed my view of cats since the forum was first set up...

That's fantastic, thank you for that lovely picture of Wendy! dito we really want to help her. Right all we need now is a collection tin, will have a hunt around then we can get started!

There is no issues feeding Wendy, plenty for her and our own cat to go round, the issue is her long term health, as in 'vets bills'.

Looking at her girth, she needs to lose a couple of kilo's !!!!!

We are taking our cat to the vets on Saturday, I shall ask them what we can do for Wendy, after all they may already have/had her on their books and she may have some service history !

I'm about to post her photo on my Facebook page and website. Station cat's are rare nowadays. I'd be happy to contribute but can't offer to do anything else.

We popped into the vets yesterday and we spoke about 'wendy'- from my description, the poor thing did'nt ring any bells with them, but they are happy to let 'us' bring her in for a check-over and to see if she has been micro chipped (which hopefully she is) and then we might learn a whole lot more about her.

The station staff said that they feed and water and give her shelter her but thats about it really.

I suppose the next step would be a co-ordinated round up of her, we do not mind sorting her out in the short term as I do think she needs abit of check-up and sooner rather than later, I will put a notice up above her 'bed' in the station to see if others can give any more information about her (will not be till next week end though).

 

Has anybody asked the cat how she feels about all the attention ...?

Most mornings I used to have a chat with her, y'know - how are you, give her a ear/chin rub - that sort of thing, I think she has a very strong and loyal customer base...

fan club?

Spoke to the railway clerk who knew nothing about this. She said Wendy is coughing and sneezing. She would b happy to have a tin on the counter for donations. I'll put in £5 - if a few of us do this we should soon have enough to pay Wendy's medical bills.

The lovely Pet Shop Girls (TM: me) at Wivenhoe Pets are very keen to get involved. Worth popping in for a chat.

Poor old Wendy, she has been sneezing for a year or so.

I will check her into our vets in a week or so to get things moving,we (Mrs FC) shall also pop down to see the Pet Shop Girls (TM) and sort out a contributions tin and introduce ourselves.

Wendy cat is about to be immortalised, as her image is to be worked into a community rag rug picture to embellish our station. Would anybody like to learn to rag rug or contribute to this rag rug project? By the way, Wendy was like a social worker down at the station during the snowy weather. I saw her climbing into the laps of freezing and hopeless travellers waiting for ghost trains, when so many were cancellered or late. She brought a purr and smile to some very frozen worried faces.

My eldest would like to learn to rag rug, where, when and how is it hapening?

Expressions of interest in the Rag Rug Project: contact Off the Rails martha.haversham@btinternet.com

Workshop may take place in Wivenhoe in June or later in the summer, all being well. PS: how old is your eldest, LeePugh10? 

Thanks. She is five but she thinks she is 18!

The rag rug workshop will be for adults, but the attendees may take the project into schools thereafter.

I like everyone else hope that Wendy is not suffering from any illness. But what does worry me is whether Network Rail/National Express management know about her? I am sure their Stalinist bureaucratic killjoys would love to ban her from the booking hall on 'health & safety' grounds. Can someone reassure me that Wendy's position is secure?

PS Off subject. Does anyone know what's going on with the scaffolding over the Engine Shed?

At a local level and I'm sure that our rather decent Network Rail staff are aware of Wendy - she has her cat rug out near the counter. I doubt if management higher up are aware, or indeed would approve.

The Engine Shed - Grrrr. It has been mentioned on this forum that the recent work around the Engine Shed was because of the theft of some of the structure, making it even less stable. The issue came up at both the WTC meeting on Monday, and the WivSoc meeting last night.

WTC asked Essex County Cllr Julie Young what the situation is. It was mentioned that the Shed is falling apart - no reference to theft.

WivSoc is trying to reach a conclusion with the whole mess. Sadly it seems that complete demolition is the only sensible option, now that funding is not available to save it. Contact is being made with Network Rail, CBC and English Heritage. It needs to be de-listed before anything can happen.

The question then turns to what next? More car parking space? Residential property?

What happened to the money that was raised for the Art project in the shed? My father, Jack Cross left about £250 to the fund. I'd hate to think it was frittered away.

The Wivenhoe Encyclopedia helpfully adds:

"It has been decided, with its supporters’ group and major contributors, to ensure that any funds that remain available will be used for Wivenhoe community arts / heritage related activities that meet the requirements of the terms the registered charity."

This is dated March, 2008...

My understanding is that a large proortion of the money raised was used to prepare a lottery application which necessitated paying lots of expensive consultants for various reports, plans, architectural drawings etc. The bid failed & thus most of the money went down the drain. This is not to imply mal-administration - it's sadly the way many failed lottery bids floundered in a similar way. I believe there are a few tho' still in the bank which will be used to support some other arts project when something worthy enough emerges, but I may be misinformed on that one.

Back on track and back to the cat (I do love a good hijack!)

We popped into Wivenhoe Pets Saturday and got the ball rolling with a donation, so anymore willing to make a donation, just pop down and drop off a few £1/£2 coins.

Make the station cat a happy and healthy cat.

Do the lovely Wivenhoe Pets people realise that they are in the process of constituting themselves trustees for the Wendy Wellbeing fund?

As my old prof used to say: if anyone asks you to be a trustee, run a mile ... it's a mug's game :D (just saying)

I think the Pet shop girls (TM) were just providing a focal point for the short term, when we sort out an appointment for Wendy then we (Mr & Mrs FC)  will then get her down to the vets for a check up.

Her long term health is another thing, the best thing all round is once we determine if she has been abandoned - someone may step into the breach and adopt her.

The Pet Shop Girls run a great reward scheme, where you get a £5 voucher after so many loyalty spends. I'll be down there later in the week, stocking up on cat stuff, cashing in the voucher I've got, and then sending it the way of Wendy.

Win Win :)

It would be good if someone would adopt her and give her a proper home. Although it's nice to see her in the station, where does she go when the station is locked up?

One of the station staff told me they put her out when they lock up, and when someone arrives in the morning she is always sitting on the step waiting to be let in.

Wivenhoe Pets now have a collection pot in place for Wendy the station cat. At present the station staff are feeding Wendy, but as far as they are aware she no longer has a home. Over the past month Wendy has become increasingly unwell and needs veterinary advice and treatment, which naturally could become costly. Wivenhoe Pets are not trustees of Wendy but are just helping Wendy on her way to recovery. So if you would like to contribute to Wendy's vet fund, then please pop down and see us.

The very fine Pet Shop Girls are just over the £70 mark in collecting money for Wendy to see a vet. There is a collection tin on the counter at the shop in the Business Centre.

The plan is to give Wendy a general check up, and then work with the station staff to come up with the best solution for all. One idea is to re-house her somewhere close to the station, so that she can carry on station cat meet 'n greet duties, yet have somewhere safe to sleep at night.

I went past the station at around 7:30 on Bank Holiday Monday. The place was locked up because of the public holiday. Wendy was sitting alone on the doorstep outside :(

Please do spare some change if you can.

We have just noticed that wendy the station cat has her own facebook page!

Just what my dog has been waiting for - it's probably the only medium for peaceful coexistence between her and cats. I'll tell her to make friends!

[I think she missed the slot: no 'making friends' button anymore ...]