Background to the Freedom Project

You’ll already know a lot about the important work of Cats Protection. You’ll have heard about our neutering work, the education we provide and, no doubt, the number of cats we rehome every year. What you may not know is how we work in partnership with Dogs Trust Freedom Project to help the pets of families torn apart by domestic abuse. We know that for many victims, leaving violent relationships or home is made impossible simply because they cannot bear to lose their pets or to put them at risk.

Very few local authorities provide facilities for boarding pets and most refuges for those escaping such abuse are unable to accept pets.

We provide a free fostering service taking care of Freedom Project cats until their owners are in a position to reclaim them. Since becoming involved with the Freedom Project in 2004, we have helped more than 240 cats and 120 families. The service is currently available to people seeking refuge at emergency hostels in Greater London and Hertfordshire.

How the Freedom Project is run

The Freedom Project advertises its services throughout refuges and women’s projects across the Greater London area.  In addition posters and information cards are sent to various services in the area.

Referrals are dealt with by our colleagues at Dogs Trust who in turn contact Cats Protection’s Freedom Project Coordinator 

The cost of cat food, litter and veterinary expenses will be paid for by Cats Protection and all cats will be microchipped, vaccinated and neutered if necessary. We will also provide relevant equipment like litter trays, feeding bowls, bed, scratching post etc.  To help fund this, you can donate to the project here