WOMEN IN BUSINESS - Kathy Griffiths

If you've ever worried about sending your cat to oblivion while you go away on holiday, think again, because when it comes to catteries, Top Katz Boarding Cattery is all about five-star service.
The Te Puna cattery is all about quality, with emphasis placed on the finishing touches. From warm bedding and nutritious food to specialised living spaces, the cats who stay at Top Katz get treated like royalty.
Kathy Griffiths opened the cattery in 2004 after a 22-year career at Racing Tauranga as the office manager.
"I thought it was time I did something for myself before it was too late - something I find most people want to do but never actually do," she said.
Mrs Griffiths said she always loved animals so approached her husband Les, who built her a cattery on their 1.6ha Te Puna property.
"It took him a year to build and I gave my boss one year's notice but I wasn't sure if he believed me so I kept reminding him ever few months," Mrs Griffiths said.
The business was supposed to be run as a hobby. However seven years later, it's a fulltime job for Mr and Mrs Griffiths.
The cattery can cater for up to 50 cats at one time and also cater for animals with specific needs.
Owners with multiple cats can house them in one of the cattery's log cabins, which Mrs Griffiths described as "a big area where the cats can stay together".
Making sure the cats were well cared for was a very important aspect of the business and Mrs Griffiths said she often went over and above the call of duty.
"One cold winter's night I had two siamese in the cattery, Mei Mei and Milah. I was so worried about them being cold so at 2am I rushed out with a duvet and covered them up," Mrs Griffiths said. "Les wasn't impressed and it wasn't long after that I bought Snugglesafe heatpads and cosy igloos for all the runs and now every cat has its own run and cosy warm bedding."
Top Katz boarding cattery also offers long-term arrangements, with some cats staying up to six months.
On average, the cattery has 35 cats at any one time.
Christmas is always busy and last year the cattery housed about 50 cats, with an average spend of about $1000 on food a month.
Mrs Griffiths said the job did not allow any spare time for holidays but somehow she and her husband managed to find time for their favourite hobbies.
"I can take time off to fly up to my daughter in Auckland, when it's quieter, and Les can take time off and go bowling." she said.
"In the first few years we wouldn't go off the property and we had to buy a kayak to get out but this is a lifestyle and we're never going to be rich with it but we get by quite nicely," Mrs Griffiths said.
As well as looking after the cats in the cattery, Mr and Mrs Griffiths have four cats and one dog.
"Our dog Max is a labrador-ridgeback cross and is perfect for the cats," Mrs Griffiths said.
"He's a darling and everyone loves him. If the cats are having a drink and he's thirsty, he'll wait in line until after the cats are finished, he won't push in."
As for the future, Mrs Griffiths said she enjoyed looking after the cats and meeting their owners and would continue living her dream.
"This job is a 9 out of 10. I love what I do but the only drawback is if we ever wanted to go away, we're kind of stuck here."
5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT KATHY

1. Her favourite television shows are Border Security and Survivor.
2. She loves eating pizza and Indian food.
3. Her favourite singers are Karen Carpenter and John Denver.
4. In her spare time she enjoys kayaking, swimming and walking.
5. She has four cats and a dog.