ZOE WALKER checks out a North Yorkshire cattery offering five-star treatment to its furry guests.

"WE take anything really, as long as it's not swimming or got eight legs," says Sue Brooks, owner of Stillington-based Leatham Cottage boarding kennels and cattery. "And at Christmas all the animals get a present each - goodie bags, choc drops, a toy or a stocking. We also decorate the kennels and cattery - but we draw the line at singing Christmas carols to the animals."

From the outside Leatham Cottage may look like an unassuming, mild-mannered hostel for animals, but on the inside this is no ordinary cattery - it's a veritable temple of feline luxury, providing five star accommodation for some of North Yorkshire's most pampered pets.

The business has been completely overhauled by Sue, who took over the running of the place 18 months ago.

She has spent around £50,000 on improvements to the premises - including £30,000 on building a new cattery, capable of accommodating families of cats as well as single animals, complete with its own purpose-built kitchen, scratching posts, UPVC double glazing and heated blankets for the fussy felines to languish upon to their heart's content.

Every whim is catered for at Leatham Cottage - fussy eaters will be fed cooked chicken by either Sue or her kennel assistant, Jo Pratt, and for owners' peace of mind there is a vet on call 24 hours a day.

There's even a water feature bubbling away outside the cattery. "I think it makes the place seem peaceful, don't you?" asks Sue. I certainly do, but a water feature for goodness sake - I've lived in flats and houses with fewer mod cons than this. In fact I've probably lived in flats and houses worth less than the £30,000 Sue has spent on the plush new buildings that are now being occupied by some of North Yorkshire's luckiest moggies.

No wonder the cats in residence look so pleased with themselves - if I lived here I should look pleased with myself too.

Sue, a former social worker, moved to Stillington from Essex to take over Leatham Cottage. "I bought this business having 'escaped' from a nine-to-five job and career and I am one of those middle-aged people who have decided that quality of life is better than the rat race. I am throwing my all into this business," she says matter-of-factly.

She says she became disillusioned with her job and decided to devote her life to looking after animals instead.

"I had no intention of coming up here," she says. "But I was doing my planning and I got details of kennels from various agencies and I set out a list of criteria. This place was above my price range and the only one I came to see."

She fell in love with the place and moved in. Kennel assistant Jo Pratt, who has worked at the kennels for 11 years, helped Sue to settle in, as did the villagers in Stillington.

"They've been so nice to me," Sue explains. "They've been really inclusive. It's taken me ages to orientate myself but I really love the area and the people here."

Sue has a lifetime of experience with animals behind her and breeds and shows Cavalier spaniels and whippets. Within an emphasis on creature comforts, she designed her fancy new cattery with Huby-based builder Adrian Taylor, who she got chatting to when he brought his dog into the kennels.

"We designed the place together," says Sue. "And it's in an environmentally sensitive conservation area so it had to blend in with the surroundings - all the farm buildings and agricultural buildings have to be clad in green - and it only took Adrian around five weeks to build.

"I wanted something purpose-built that was going to be easy to maintain and easy to clean. Adrian has done a marvellous job."

Generations of cats look set to purr in contentment with that statement.

All animals staying at Leatham Cottage must have been inoculated and neutered.

The cattery is able to accommodate families of cats and single cats. It can hold up to 28 dogs and up to 20 cats. Boarding prices for cats are from £4.50 a day, and for dogs between £6.40 and £7. Other animals can be accommodated by arrangement.

For more information on Leatham Cottage visit www.leathamcottagekennels.co.uk or call Sue Brooks on 01347 810539.

Updated: 11:26 Saturday, May 31, 2003