Catster Magazine - July/August 2015

Jock VI, the current feline resident, lives in the top-floor flat at Chartwell with Katherine Barnett, the house and collections manager. He took office in March 2014, when his predecessor, Jock V, retired from public life and went to live with a former house and collections manager in the Scottish countryside.

“It’s a modern day rags-to-
riches story,” Barnett said of the
current Jock, who was adopted
from a local animal rescue. “Jock
VI has had a difficult start to his
life. He was found trying to get
into a shed to escape the cold
winter weather. But as the saying
goes, ‘A cat will always land on its
feet.’ I’m delighted with Jock; he’s
a very caring, loving cat, and vis-
itors get lots of enjoyment from
seeing him.”
With free rein within the home
(well, a couple of state rooms are
off-limits in case he gets over-
enthusiastic about the treasured
furnishings), he loves mingling with
visitors, especially the cat lovers
who come specially to visit him.

Some of Jock’s favorite places to hang out for tummy rubs are by the ponds on the 80-acre estate. He loves “giving tours” of the garden (aka being followed) and is often found on the croquet lawn chasing butterflies or strolling across the driveway in front of the house.

“He gives visitors a glimpse into
the private life behind the public
statesman,” Barnett said. “The
rooms at Chartwell remain much
as they were when Sir Winston was
in residence, with pictures, books,
and personal mementos evoking the
career and wide-ranging interests
of a great statesman, writer, painter,
and family man.
“Also, Churchill was very fond
of all animals, and, along with his
request for a marmalade cat to be
in residence, we also have many
other animals that are a part of his
animal-loving legacy, including two
black swans on our lake and his
golden orfe in the pond.”
This year has been a very busy
one for Jock VI, as it marks the
50th anniversary of Sir Winston’s
death. Lots of special exhibitions
showcase Sir Winston’s “finest
hours,” and the marmalade tabby
is proving to be a fabulous feline
ambassador and docent.
Apart from an inherent skill at
being able to spot a good suntrap,
he’s also skilled in media relations,
and has turned out to be a real
pro when it comes to posing for
dozens of photographs on a daily
basis. In between, he loves to
snooze in the office under the pre-
text of ensuring that all his social
media accounts are kept up-to-
date. Check out his Facebook page
at /chartwellnt.
For visitors to Chartwell, no
tour is complete without stopping
by the gift shop, where there are
shortbread biscuits, fudge, and, of
course, marmalade with Jock’s face
on the packaging.
You can also find a range of
jewelry, including a necklace,
cuff links, and a key ring that are
unique to Chartwell, as they fea-
ture Jock’s face and are made from
wood from the estate.
“New for this year is a lovely
mug and coaster featuring Jock
and Churchill, and to commem-
orate the 50th anniversary of
Churchill’s death, Royal Crown
Derby have created a limited edi-
tion statue of Jock,” Barnett said.
With only 750 statues pro-
duced, they are the ultimate col-
lector’s treasure.
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Ziggy (pictured) and Fudge “work” as feline muses for Sandy Robins, an award-winning multimedia pet lifestyle expert and pet industry personality. They have helped “write” three books, including The Original Cat Bible (I- 5 Press, 2014). When he is not lying on her desk blocking the computer screen, Ziggy likes to play fetch with his wand toys and direct food operations in the kitchen to ensure the kibble is always topped up. Learn more about Sandy at sandyrobinsonline.com.