Winner of FAB Cattery of the Year 2005 announced Breighton Cats' Lodge, near Selby, North Yorkshire, has won the Feline Advisory Bureau Cattery of the Year Competition 2005.

Sponsored by Your Cat magazine and Purina Pro Plan, the national competition celebrates excellence in cat care. The £1000 prize will be presented to owners Elaine and John Culf on Saturday 19 November 2005 at The Supreme Cat Show, at the NEC, Birmingham.

Elaine Cuff

The Pinewood Cattery, Woking, Surrey and Catz Cattery, Solihull, West Midlands were joint runners-up.

‘Breighton Cats' Lodge is an outstanding cattery and a worthy winner of the 2005 award for Cattery of the Year. Elaine and John are constantly looking for ways to improve their cattery, with their main concern being the safety and comfort of the cats. Elaine's attention to detail is outstanding. She makes sure that she knows everything about the cats in her care - any change in diet or behaviour is noted so that every cat is treated with individual love and attention,’ said Chief Executive of FAB Claire Bessant.

Sue Parslow of editor of Your Cat magazine said, ‘At Breighton Cats’ Lodge every aspect of the cats’ welfare is considered and as individuals they are treated like guests in a five-star hotel. This award was richly deserved.’

In addition to the £1000 prize, the overall winner of the Cattery of the Year receives a supply of Pro Plan cat food (4 x 15kg bags), a Pro Plan polo shirt and a commemorative plaque. The seven other finalists will each receive a certificate, Pro Plan cat 15kg and a polo shirt. One of the people (drawn from a hat) who nominated the Breighton Cats' Lodge will receive a six month’s supply of Pro Plan (4 x 3kg bags). There will also be prizes for nominators of the seven finalists.

Loretta McCudden, Group Product Manager, Pro Plan said ‘We’re delighted that Breighton Cats’ Lodge has won the Cattery of the Year accolade. This competition is all about celebrating excellence in cat care and helping to raise the standards of boarding catteries around the country. Breighton clearly epitomises a truly brilliant cattery and we hope will show others just what can be achieved.’

FAB is a charity dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of cats and is the recognised leading authority on cattery standards in the UK. As well as producing the authoritative Boarding Cattery Manual and organising conferences on cattery management and inspection of catteries, FAB runs a Listing Scheme for catteries reaching a high standard of care. The full list of FAB Listed catteries can be found on www.fabcats.org or is available from the FAB office, telephone 0870 742 2278.