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Cats Protection

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Cats Protection
Founded16 May 1927; 97 years ago (1927-05-16)
FounderJessey Wade
TypeCharity
Registration no.203644
Legal statusCharity
FocusAnimal welfare
HeadquartersChelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England
Coordinates51°03′18″N 0°01′22″E / 51.055052°N 0.022852°E / 51.055052; 0.022852
Area served
 United Kingdom
CEO
John May
Websitecats.org.uk
Formerly called
Cats Protection League
[1]

Cats Protection, formerly the Cats Protection League, is a UK charity dedicated to rescuing and rehoming stray, unwanted or homeless cats and educating people about cats and cat welfare.[2][3] The organization was founded as the Cats Protection League by Jessey Wade and others in 1927.[4][5] The name was shortened in 1998.[6][7] The current Chief Executive is John May.[8]

History

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The Cats Protection League was formed at a meeting in Caxton Hall on the 16 May of 1927 under the chairmanship of Jessey Wade.[9][4] The League was launched under the auspices of the Animals' Friend Society and from the work of M. Dudley Ward.[9] Amongst those present at the formation meeting were M. Dudley Ward, Jessey Wade, Charles Forward and Mrs Avery.[9] Ernest Bell was made Treasurer and Mrs Avery Honorary Secretary.[10] The first headquarters of the Cats Protection League were located at the Animals' Friend's Office at York House, Portugal Street in London. The aims of the League were to prevent the suffering of strays and provide suitable homes for cats during the absence of their owners.[11]

In 1931 the League launched its magazine, The Cats’ Mews-Sheet. It was renamed The Cat in 1934.[12]

Aims

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  • To find good homes for cats in need
  • To support and encourage the neutering of cats
  • To improve people's understanding of cats and their care[13]

Operations

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Cats Protection charity shop in Horsforth, Leeds

In 2017, the charity helped nearly 193,000 cats (rehoming around 43,000 of these and neutering 153,000). Its network had 36 centres, 250+ volunteer-run branches, 121 charity shops and approximately 10,200 volunteers and staff located throughout the UK. The charity's income for 2017 was £62.9 million.[14]

In 2011, the charity announced that it had helped more than one million cats over the previous five years, 80% of this figure being neutering and 20% being rehoming.

Alongside rehoming cats and kittens, the charity runs a neutering scheme for owners on a limited income, and a National Information Line. In addition, they monitor (and feed) feral colonies in the area including trapping, neutering and re-releasing (where possible) feral cats back to where they came from. They also work to educate adults and children about cat welfare, and run talks and educational resource programmes across the UK.

Volunteer branches

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The charity operates in two ways: volunteer-run branches and centres. The main difference is that volunteer-run branches are people with a spare room or space in a garden for a pen (or two). Instead of visiting a dedicated centre, the person wishing to adopt a cat usually visits it in another person's home.

Adoption centres

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Two cats (Lady and Bella) sitting in a Cats Protection adoption centre in London. Both were subsequently adopted.
Two cats (Lady and Bella) sitting in a Cats Protection adoption centre in London. Both were subsequently adopted.

Dedicated centres are of varying size and have paid staff in addition to volunteers on their team. The vast majority of the public visit these places to adopt a cat or a kitten. Centres are funded centrally by the charity, though many also have "Friends of..." groups that raise funds locally. In addition, there is often the chance of cat sponsorship, where members of the public can sponsor a pen in return for a monthly or annual donation. Sponsors receive regular updates on the cats using their pens.

In 2002, Cats Protection acquired the Isle of Thorns estate from the University of Sussex.[15] The estate is now the National Cat Centre.

In 2008, the charity was affected by the financial markets crisis emanating from Iceland, losing £11.2 million of its financial reserves. In 2012, having suffered continuing financial losses, the charity was forced to make over 80 staff redundant, the majority of these being staff working on the operational front line in adoption centres or supporting branches.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Cats Protection - Charity 203644". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  2. ^ "What we do". Cats Protection. Archived from the original on 27 February 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Charity Performance". Charity Performance. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b "History of Cats Protection". Cats Protection. 2024. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024.
  5. ^ Edmundson, John (14 November 2013). "The Brown Linties by Jessey Wade". HappyCow. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Retirement health, care and lifestyle for over 50s". 50 Connect. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Cats Protection (UK) - July's Featured Charity » Pet advice, pet care community, dogs, cats, rabbits". Caringcreatures.com. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  8. ^ Buzzel, Rachael (21 October 2020). "CATS report launches to aid feline welfare". Vet Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "New Animals' Protection League". Bayswater Chronicle. 28 May 1927. p. 7. The League was launched under the auspices of the Animals' Friend Society, but we ought to add that its inception is entirely due to the efforts and enthusiasm of that devoted animal-lover in Bayswater, Mrs. M. Dudley Ward, whose name for long has been bracketed by Padddingtonians with all that relates to animal welfare. (subscription required)
  10. ^ "The Cats' Protection League". Bayswater Chronicle. 20 August 1927. p. 3. (subscription required)
  11. ^ "Cats Protection League". Hampstead and St. John's Wood Advertiser. 9 June 1927. p. 8. (subscription required)
  12. ^ "The Cat, Cats Protection's supporter magazine, is the oldest feline-themed magazine still in publication". Cats Protection. 2024. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Animal Welfare". Kesgrave Community Website. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Home". Charity Commission. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Bulletin - University of Sussex Newsletter Isle of Thorns sold Friday 22 February 2002". Sussex.ac.uk. 22 February 2002. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  16. ^ Youde, Kate (24 September 2012). "Cats Protection plans to make 80 employees redundant". Third Sector. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
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