What we do
From humble beginnings in 1927, Cats Protection has grown to become the UK's leading feline welfare charity. We help around 200,000 cats and kittens every year through our network of over 230 volunteer-run branches and 36 centres.
Our work doesn’t stop there, we also provide an array of cat care information via our publications, help and advice section and National Information Line; promote the benefits of neutering to prevent unwanted litters from being born and becoming the abandoned cats of tomorrow and seek to educate people of all ages about cats and their care. In short, Cats Protection has three simple and clear objectives:
- Homing: finding good homes for cats in need
- Neutering: supporting and encouraging the neutering of cats
- Information: improving people’s understanding of cats and their care
Holsworthy, Bideford & Okehampton Branch
Our branch was set up back in the Autumn of 2001 to cover an area of North West Devon covering the four postal districts EX20, EX21, EX22, EX38 and EX39.
Everyone at the branch is an unpaid volunteer working tirelessly because we have a passion for cats! Between us, we carry out rescue work and raise funds to support cats in our care. As well as the fosterers who look after the rescued cats in purpose built garden pens, there is a whole range of other tasks to be carried out; fund-raising, transporting cats, collecting bric-a-brac, home-checking, making items for sale, as well as organisational and administrative tasks necessary for the smooth running of any Branch.
As well as genuine strays whose owners can not be found, cats need homes for various reasons; owner's death or incapacity, divorce, redundancy, moving house, arrival of a new baby, allergy, emigration … the list is endless. Whatever the reason we do our utmost to help as many needy cats and kittens as is physically possible. And despite our success so far in rehoming cats and kittens we know there is so much more to do.
We also passionately promote the neutering of all cats and kittens to limit the expanding cat population. 95% of cats in the UK are non-pedigree cats, capable of producing large families. A female cat can, in just 5 years, be responsible for 20,000 descendants - all requiring good caring homes. We operate a Neutering Scheme to assist those in genuine need with the cost of the operation. In addition all cats rehomed by our branch are neutered and everyone adopting a kitten signs a declaration promising to have the cat neutered at the appropriate time. Also farmers can apply to have their feral cats neutered and Cats Protection will cover the cost of neutering in most circumstances.
We are always interested to hear from anyone who is interested in helping us continue to do this vital work - see our Volunteering page for some ideas on how you can get involved.