Cats Protection

Infobox Company
company_name = Cats Protection
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company_type = Charity
foundation = May 16, 1927
location = flag|United Kingdom
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homepage = [http://www.cats.org.uk/ www.cats.org.uk]
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Cats Protection, formerly The Cats Protection League, is a UK charity dedicated to rescuing and re-homing stray, unwanted or homeless cats. The organisation was founded as "The Cats Protection League" on May 16 1927 at a meeting in Caxton Hall, London. The name was shortened in 1998.

Cats Protection currently heads the list of charities exposed to possible losses after the collapse of the Icelandic Banks. Deposits of 11.2 million pounds are at risk. With a 2007 turnover of 35 million pounds, such a loss would impact future rather than current activiites.

Aims

* 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

Operations

In 2006 the charity helped 142,000 cats and its network had 29 adoption centres (formerly shelters), 252 voluntary-run branches, 59 charity shops and approximately 7,000 volunteers located throughout the UK. The charity's income for 2006 was £30.5 million. Alongside re-homing cats and kittens, the charity runs a neutering scheme for owners on a limited income, and a national helpline. 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.

Volunteer branches

The charity operates in two ways: volunteer-run branches and adoption centres (formerly shelters). 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 adoption centre, the person wishing to adopt a cat usually visits it in another person's home. Anyone picking up a cat or kitten from a fosterer's home is still subject to the same home checks (pre and post homing) and the same terms and conditions as someone picking up a cat or kitten from an adoption centre. Volunteer-run branches do receive a small amount of funding from the charity's headquarters but are required to raise most of their funds from their local areas. They do not usually have any paid members of staff.

Adoption Centres

Dedicated adoption 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. Adoption 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 cabin sponsorship where members of the public are offered the chance to have their name on a plaque attached to the pen in return for a monthly or annual donation. Most pen sponsorships are done by individuals, although in some cases companies may sponsor a cat cabin. As well as a plaque, the person sponsoring it usually receives a regular update.

External links

* [http://www.cats.org.uk Official website]