As well as the many cats that are available for adoption, we also have some in our care who cannot, for various reasons, be adopted into new homes and must remain in foster care for the rest of their lives. Some are simply too old to adjust to another home; others have health problems. Sadly we also have cruelty cases where the cat is too traumatised and could not cope with a new home. BUT we do need money to keep these cats safe and well in our care.  We need to provide for their food and keep; many need regular medication and other veterinary care - and this all costs!  To pay for this, we operate The Sponsorship Scheme.

For a minimum of £20 a year you can sponsor a cat of your choice. When you sign up you receive a certificate and a photo of your chosen cat. You will also receive regular newsletters keeping you right up-to-date with their progress. The Sponsorship Scheme makes an excellent present, especially for someone who loves cats but who cannot own one. Here are our sponsor cats; if you are interested in sponsoring one (or more!) of them, then please e-mail Stephanie at stephanie.duffy1@btinternet.com and she can send you more information.

HUGHIE and his lifelong friend, Oscar, came into care when their original owner moved into a retirement home.  It was a very sad time for them all.  It took six months for them to find a new home together; Oscar settled happily but Hughie found yet another move traumatising and he became very ill with stress.  The sad decision was made to return Hughie to his foster pen where he felt safe.  Eventually he ventured out of his pen and into the house and he now has a permanent home with a fosterer and is a very happy and settled boy.


JENNY is about 10 years old, a pretty tabby and white lady.  She was found wandering near the reservoirs at Chingford in February 2011. She was very thin, disorientated and badly flea-ridden.  After much TLC, she gained strength and a thyroidectomy was performed, meaning she will need no more pills for her thyroid condition.  Jenny also had a dental, having five teeth removed, which were causing her a lot of pain.  Additionally, she is stone deaf and sometimes a little 'wobbly' on her feet, due to some arthritis.  Jenny now has a permanent foster home and Cats Protection will continue to fund her vet costs.





LINDI-LOU - was born in June 2011; she is a pretty, dark tortoiseshell with a white bib, who came into Yvonne’s care at two months old when, along with her Mum, she was thrown out by their owner following the birth of a baby.  (Unfortunately, Mum has turned feral, so all Yvonne has been able to do is get her neutered.  A kind neighbour was willing for her to be returned).  As Lindi-Lou was only 4 months old at the time, Yvonne decided to try and work with her, to give her a good chance in life.  She has been spayed, microchipped and had vaccinations to give her the best protection at the start of her young life.  After two months in a pen, Yvonne has managed to get her to a 'semi-feral' state.  She will play with her toys and sometimes allows Yvonne to stroke her.  She can return to her pen if she likes, or even venture through the cat flap into Yvonne’s house; the choice will be hers to make, just like Willow, with whom she is interacting very well.

MAX is about 6 years old, a beautiful grey/ginger tabby.  He was found straying and looking very unwell by a member of the public.  This lady took him to the vets and paid for all his immediate treatment.  This included virus testing, where he was found to be FIV positive.  Cats Protection has now found Max a wonderful new home where he is very happy.  He is a gorgeous, laid back, loving boy, who appears quite content with his indoor life and is a real ‘lap cat’.




PETAL is now 2 years old, a short-haired, black girl who is living very happily in the garden of one of our fosterers, Kay Moore.  She does, of course, have shelter too!  Petal was rescued by Kay at 4 months old from a pretty dismal life of foraging for survival.  She was reported to be part of a litter with a mother, but they were long gone when Kay stepped in.  Before spaying, Petal had to be trapped as she had become semi-feral because of the lack of human contact since birth, but she is now very happy in her new home.  Progress continues to be made with gaining her trust.

ROXIE - Cold, wet and thin, a black cat turned up in Maureen and Bernie Till’s garden in February 2011.  She was very nervous and would not be approached.  Eventually she made a home in the shed.  It took five months of coaxing and gentle persuasion before, suddenly, she decided within the space of a few days that Maureen and Bernie were no threat and allowed them to touch and pick her up.  She could then be popped into a basket and whisked off to the vet!  Her check-up revealed sore gums, bad teeth and an overactive thyroid, but no microchip.  The vet named her ‘Roxie’.  She received treatment for her thyroid condition at the Royal Veterinary College as in-patient and came ‘home’ in September.  Although quite elderly and very deaf, she is very content living in Maureen and Bernie’s kitchen, not wishing to venture further into the house.  The initial idea had been to rehome her but, because of her age and the fact that she is so settled, she will remain where she is and become a sponsored cat.  One cloud on the horizon for Roxie, she doesn’t know it but she is going for a dental operation shortly!

TABITHA is an 8 year old, tabby/white female who came into our care when her owner died.  Tabitha was found to have a heart murmur, which definitely was more pronounced each time she was under stress, namely, at the vets.  Unfortunately she had a broken tooth that was causing her considerable pain and had to be removed.  Thankfully, she came through the ordeal and was none-the-worse for wear.

The vet recommended that Tabitha lead a sedentary lifestyle that would cause less strain on her heart.  She has now been living in a flat with her foster family for some time and has settled in completely.  We will continue to pay her vet bills as she will require at least six-monthly check-ups.



WINNIE is a 5 year old, long-haired, tortoiseshell girl.  She came into our care after her owner could no longer look after her.  Winnie became unwell and would not eat for several weeks and, at the Royal Veterinary Hospital, she was diagnosed with having Key-Gaskell Syndrome.  This leaves the pupils of her eyes permanently dilated, which causes her discomfort in bright daylight; however she appears well otherwise.  She now lives in an indoor home which minimises her exposure to the light and, although she is well now, we will continue to meet the cost of any treatment she may need in the future.

ALL SPONSORED CATS ARE NEUTERED