DERBY TWIN SISTERS SWAP TEACHING FOR LOOKING AFTER CATS

Twin sisters Clare Smith and Joanne Campbell have rung the bell on their teaching careers to launch a cat care business together. The Derby pair were primary teachers for 22 years when they decided to quit and start The Cat Butler.

The idea is to provide an alternative option to catteries with Clare and Joanne visiting cats in their own homes up to three times a day while their owners are away. Their patch will include most of Derby, including the city centre, Mickleover, Chaddesden, Oakwood, Spondon, Breadsall, Horsley, Little Eaton, Allestree, Darley Abbey, Mackworth (estate), Kedleston, Mackworth (village), Quarndon, Heatherton Village, Littleover, Normanton, Pear Tree, Sunny Hill and Highfields suburb.

For the last 13 years, whilst Clare remained in Derby, Joanne has lived with her family in Dubai. When her sons wanted to return to the UK to do their A-levels and attend university she knew it was time to pack up the family and move back to Derby to be near her sister Clare.

Joanne said: “Clare and I are 52 now and although we thought we would be teachers forever, when we saw the Cat Butler, we knew it was our destiny and we are both super excited to be starting this brand-new business venture together. As someone who has had to leave my cat multiple times when I returned to the UK, I know just how hard it is to leave your cat when you go away. Clare and I are thrilled that we will now be able to help keep cats happy and healthy in their own homes.

Clare said that she knows some cats are happy in a cattery and added: “Most owners would probably agree that their cats are happiest at home, following their usual routine, lying in their favourite sunny spot and walking around their own garden.

“We visit our client’s house up to three times a day, to feed, clean out the litter tray and most importantly, to have lots of cuddles and play time with the cat. For poorly cats, we are qualified to administer medication including insulin injections and can offer daily grooming if required -all the services one would expect of one’s own butler.”

Alongside the cat care duties, the pair will also be offering a light touch security service, checking over the home, making sure there are no signs of leaks or break-ins, watering plants, putting the bins in and out and opening and closing windows to give the house an occupied feel while the owners are away.

The twins are well versed in pampering cats, as they own three between them, Molly the Ragdoll, Bluebell a Maine Coon and Pearl a Russian Blue. Pearl was flown back to the UK from Dubai and driven, like royalty, by taxi to her new home in Derby. “The taxi turned up and it was empty except Pearl, in her carrier, looking like the queen that she is,” said Joanne.

The sisters have yet to decide how to divide up the labours on their daily visits. Clare said: “One of us will be on litter trays and the other will be on cuddles and playtime but we’ll swap around regularly, and the great thing is, if one of us is sick there’s always the other one to carry on, so owners have the added insurance of knowing somebody will always be there.

“Although we won’t actually be serving our clients their dinner on silver trays, we will most certainly be ‘cat’ering to their every whim.”