Who are Cats Protection?

Cats Protection (CP) is the UK's oldest and largest feline charity, actively helping and re-homing cats all the way from the Shetland Islands in Scotland to Falmouth in the South West of England.
 

What are the aims of Cats Protection?

Cats Protection has 3 main aims:

To rescue stray and unwanted cats and kittens, rehabilitate and re-home them where possible

To encourage the neutering of all cats and kittens not required for breeding

To inform the public on the care of cats and kittens.

Cats Protection maintains a strict non-euthanasia policy - cats are NEVER put to sleep, except very rarely on veterinary advice.
 

What does Lanarkshire Branch do?

Lanarkshire Branch is one of Cats Protections 275 UK voluntary Branches run by unpaid volunteers.  Our Branch is essentially self-sufficient, depending on funds raised locally to care for the cats we rescue.

We mainly cover postcode areas ML1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and
G71,72,74 and 75.
If you live in postcode area ML12 then please contact Peebles & Biggar Branch . 
For other Branches, see Cat Links

Our Branch carries out the aims of Cats Protection on a local basis. 
Some examples of this are:

• Rescuing unwanted cats and kittens in Lanarkshire

• Veterinary care and rehabilitation of the cats and kittens in our care

• Fostering and re-homing cats and kittens

• Providing neutering vouchers to pay towards the cost of neutering

• Neutering and care of feral and farm cats

• Distributing cat care information to the public - free on request

• Running a Branch telephone help-line 9am to 9pm and this website.

To fund our work our Branch holds a number of fundraising events throughout the year.  We publicise these through this web site, on posters and items in local newspapers.  

We also raise funds through Branch Membership costing £6 a year that includes 4 copies of our Branch Mewsletter.

LOOK OUT FOR LANARKSHIRE CATS PROTECTIONS FIRST VIEWING DAY.   The branch is busy trying to organise our first of what we hope will be regular cat viewing days. We are currently seeking out a suitable venue where we can allow people to come along and view our cats that are ready for homing. We feel that if people can see our cats then they will hopefully find what they are looking for, and will be able to interact with the cats. Only those cats that are not easily stressed will be involved. The branch will stick to strict guidelines as laid down by our veterinary department with regards to the time spent in cages and to the welfare and needs  of the cats involved.  The welfare of the cats is of the utmost importance and any cat showing any signs of stress will be removed and returned to its foster home immediately. In order to ensure that the cats are comfortable the branch aims to purchase large size dog pens that will be placed at a recommended distance apart with sneeze barriers on either side.  These will contain a cosy blanket, a large litter tray and  food and water. The maximum time the cats will be in the cages will be laid down by the veterinary department.   As with everything the branch requires to raise enough money to buy these pens. Two of our fosterers have already committed to donating to the cost of a pen each in memory of much loved cats that have died. Each pen will cost the branch in the region of £40. We thought  that if anyone would like to have a pen in memory of a loved one or a much loved pet then they could donate half of the cost of a pen. ie £20. This would be a great help to the branch. We intend to have the cats or the persons name and a small photo attached to the pen. If you are interested in donating in memory of someone or a pet then please send the following form with £20 cheque or postal order made out to: Lanarkshire Cats Protection, and send it to Memorial Pen, Cats Protection Lanarkshire Branch, P.O.Box 1927, Bellshill ML4 1YF.   Watch this space for details of a date and venue.   Name: Address: Tel: No: Email address:   Name of person/animal who pen is in memory of.   When did they die? Amount Donated: Photo attached:  Yes / No. send it to: Memorial Pen, Cats Protection Lanarkshire Branch, P.O.Box 1927, Bellshill ML4 1YF.

Winter Branch Newsletter
due out December 2009

Email your cat photos and stories for publication by clicking here
 

FEATURED STORY:  Taking a Feral Kitten in to your home.

On 1st April 2006 - yes, April Fool's Day - I adopted Paige and Piper who were 6 month old feral cats. They had been found behind Iceland shop in Bellshill and already been adopted - however they were returned as they weren't cuddly enough!

I understood exactly what I was getting into adopting wild feral cats and letting them into my home and had no perception that within a few weeks they would be cuddly and loving - just the opposite!

When the handler and the foster mum let them out of the basket in my flat they instantly hissed, spit and then hid - they remained hidden for a few days. I couldn't touch them as they weren't used to humans nor could I go near them as they hissed and spat at me. I had several scratches on days where I tried to pick them up......I learned to wait till they were more used to human contact!

I persevered by leaving them to get used to the house, tempting them with treats and locking them in a room with me for an hour a day so that they got used to me. After a month they were sleeping in the same room as me and moving round the flat making themselves at home however I still had no contact.

It took around 9 month's for me to be able to touch them, giving them claps and encouraging them to eat treats from my hand. After 1 year Paige (black and white) was happily letting me clap her, sitting beside me on the couch and no longer fearful if strangers came into their home.

Now I have 2 very different cats, they go in their basket to their Gran's house for their holidays and happily take over that house. I can cuddle them, clap and I even get kisses! I would say that it is difficult at first adopting feral cats however more rewarding in the end as you earn their love and affection and I would recommend it to anyone.

Just last night Paige and I cuddled on the couch whilst watching TV - I had to turn it up as her purr's were drowning out the sound of the TV - something I never thought would happen!

I have attached a photo of them and I hope that my story encourages others to adopt

Miss Margaret-Ann Nohar, Bellshill