Halstead care home resident fulfils wish for a paw-fect day out

A resident at a care home in Halstead was delighted when her wish to spend some quality time with one of her favourite animals was made a reality.

When the team at Care UK’s Colne View, on Dame Mary Walk, learned that 66-year-old Kathy Knopp was keen to get up close and personal with some of her favourite animals, they set out to arrange the purr-fect day.

Kathy’s love for cats started when she was a child, growing up with her family’s pet cat, Frisky. To this day, Kathy’s love for animals is unwavering, seeing her in charge of the home’s fish tank, as well as the proud owner of six pet stick insects.

To help make Kathy’s wish a reality, the team arranged for a trip to the newly opened Meow Cat Café Essex, where Kathy and some of her fellow residents were able to enjoy a tasty treat while meeting and playing with their new feline friends.

Commenting on the experience, Kathy said: “When I was younger we had a pet cat called Frisky. I always enjoyed having cats around, so when I moved out I got a kitten called Fizz – I loved her! She used to follow me everywhere and was so friendly – I loved when she used to sit on my lap for a cuddle and would start purring.

“The cats at the café were absolutely adorable – they came straight up to us and were so inquisitive! I fell in love with one cat in particular called Alfie, he has such a grumpy face but was so content being stroked by us.”

The visit was part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new – from flying a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small.

Monica Boldeata, Home Manager at Colne View, added: “Everyone here at Colne View knows Kathy is a huge animal lover. She’s always sharing fond memories of her time spent with family pets in her younger days – and of her pet stick insects now – so the team knew she’d be delighted to spend an afternoon surrounded by the cats.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their dreams and passions, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to make these a reality. Kathy and her friends had a wonderful time meeting Alfie and the rest of the cats and it provided a lovely opportunity to exchange treasured memories.

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to Meow Cat Café Essex for a lovely trip out and to the team here at Colne View for making it possible – we’re now considering getting our very own Colne View cat, much to Kathy’s delight!”

Colne View is a care home designed to deliver the very best standards of care, and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home offers a range of services including residential care, residential dementia care and respite care.