100,000 cats and kittens at risk from decline in legacy giving

The UK’s leading feline welfare charity is encouraging people to leave them a much-needed gift in their will during Remember A Charity Week (17 - 23 September 2012).  

The Stourbridge, Dudley and Wyre Forest Branch is part of a national network which helps over 235,000 cats and kittens every year, with half of those felines benefiting from funds raised by gifts in wills. Cats Protection says that the recession has meant the value of the legacies they receive has gradually declined over the last few years. By joining forces with Remember A Charity, the largest consortium of its kind in the UK, Cats Protection hopes to raise awareness of how easy it is for people to leave a vital gift in their will.  

Rob Hall, Volunteer Branch Co-ordinator, said: “We are incredibly grateful for every gift we receive, no matter what the size, but considering how valuable legacies are to us, the decline is of great concern. Like many charities, gifts in wills represent a huge proportion of our funds – we simply cannot continue our services without them.Even the smallest gifts help us to provide cats with food, a warm bed, veterinary attention and most importantly of all, find them a loving home – I would encourage anyone who supports us to continue doing so by leaving a gift in their will.” Remember A Charity states that although around three quarters of Britons regularly give to charity in their lifetimes, only 7 per cent currently include a charity in their will. Nevertheless, gifts in wills are still the foundation of many of Britain’s charities, creating nearly £2 billion each year, the equivalent of 20 Comic Reliefs. Here is what a gift in a will to Cats Protection can do:

 -  Find cats loving homes – Cats Protection is dedicated to finding every cat and kitten in their care a loving new home – and they do not put healthy cats to sleep. This commitment takes time and money and a gift from a will can help pay for food, shelter and veterinary attention. 

-  Neutering – Cats Protection champions neutering as the single most effective way to address the unfortunate problem of unwanted cats and kittens. Funds are used to spread the message and help owners on low incomes neuter their cats. 

-  Educating future generations – Cats Protection believes that raising awareness of feline welfare can help avoid some of the terrible circumstances that many cats and kittens have to endure. A gift in a will can help fund the charity’s education work.