Support for cat shelter gives owners strength

A cat rescue centre faced with closure because of sky rocketing vet bills said an influx of support gave it "the strength to carry on".

Friends of Felines, based in Halstead, Essex, cares for and helps rehome cats from across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Following publicity about the possible closure, people rallied round and helped cover the £7,000 vet bills. Support has continued to come in, by way of donations of money and food.

Co-owner Penelope White said: "We're now very positive and very hopeful about our future, knowing we have such a wonderful support network."

Ms White said running a rescue centre was "very expensive and is even more difficult in these hard times".

The centre can be looking after as many as 50 cats and kittens at a time, which typically costs between £4,000 and £6,000 a month.

Mounting vet bills at Christmas, caused mainly by a large number of older cats arriving with a viral disease, almost caused the service to close.

However, earlier this year it announced enough donations had come in to enable the bills to be paid and the centre to continue.

"This financing is so important - knowing we can take on more cats, which is what we are here to do," said Ms White.

One of its success stories was the adoption of the centre's longest-staying resident, Nala, whose previous injuries had left the cat with intermittent incontinence.

Adopters came and went, but for four years no-one felt able to take on the tinkly tortoiseshell.

However, when the BBC wrote about Nala's plight, it was spotted by a couple from Northampton, who instantly fell in love with the six-year-old.

Britt and Matt, who did not want to use their last names, said they "couldn't resist her bushbaby eyes".

"We have had disabled cats in the past so I knew we would be able to love her the way she deserved," said Britt.

"We have overcome her issues with asthma and she is now learning how to use a litterbox - she's learned a lot from our other cat by watching and copying him.

"Nala is such a little love bug. All she wants is to be close. She will climb on to your chest for a snuggle and has no concept of personal space and loves to spend time on the PC gaming with Matt."

She added: "We can't imagine her not being here now and she is never, ever going back to the rescue centre."

Ms White said Nala's adoption was "definitely a success story" and the cat's plight had helped raise awareness of the centre.

"It's very frustrating that big national charities can advertise what they do and campaign on the TV and they get millions," she said.

"But it's often left to the little local rescues to actually pick up the pieces.

"We try to keep a high profile on social media and attend local events but it's not like being able to advertise on national TV.

"But we have learned a lot of lessons going forward and with our support network we can continue helping and rehoming cats in need of us."

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