Our aim at C.A.T.S. is to help as many cats and kittens in need as possible. We operate a non-destruction policy. No cat or kitten in our care will ever be put to sleep unless on advice from a vet in a case of extreme illness. We endeavour to instil a trust of humans in those cats and kittens who have been mistreated. Wherever possible, we aim to rehome them into a safe and loving environment.
In 1983 our patron, Jackie Longley took in a cat abandoned on her doorstep. The cat was in a bad way and had to have its tail amputated. Thanks to Jackie's care, the cat made a full recovery and was successfully rehomed. The cat went on to live a long and happy life with its new owners.
From this one kind act evolved the charity Cat Abuse Treatment Society (C.A.T.S.).
C.A.T.S. gained charitable status in 1989. Since then it has been run entirely by volunteers whose only reward is to see the cats happy and healthy. The cats are cared for using donations from our generous supporters along with any money raised at fundraising events organised by the trustees and volunteers.
The charity currently operates from a purpose built sanctuary at the rear of Jackie's council property. This allows her to carry out the day to day running of the sanctuary and be on hand if required.
The sanctuary itself consists of a number of chalets where each cat can have its own personal space. Central to these chalets are communal areas where the cats can eat, play or just watch the world go by. During the day the cats are also allowed out in the garden where they are free to play and explore.
In addition there is a separate area of the sanctuary accessible from the garden area that provides food and shelter for any of the local stray and feral cats. Some of these have befriended those at the sanctuary and even gone on to be successfully rehomed.
Further to the important work done for the cats taken in by the sanctuary, the charity has done fantastic work in promoting cat welfare issues. C.A.T.S. has featured on television programmes such as ‘It’s a vets life’, ‘Pet Squad’, ‘Life of grime’ and the ‘Trisha Goddard Show’. In 1998, David Blunkett visited the sanctuary. Following this visit he wrote a letter describing how he found the sanctuary therapeutic and how strongly he believed this charity must continue.
