Cat charity's plea for volunteers

A Staffordshire charity which offers much-needed love and attention for the area's unwanted moggies has celebrated its 20th anniversary by launching a bid to find more homes for the cats in its care.

Cannock and Burntwood branch of Cats Protection is marking 20 years of taking in cats and has volunteer fosterers who take on cats without a home. The branch covers Heath Hayes, Norton Canes, Hednesford, Rawnsley, Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay, Huntington, Bridgtown and Hammerwich.

It is now appealing for people to consider taking in a cat. Currently the nine fosterers have older moggies who are struggling to find new homes and the charity is hoping more local people will step forward.

The branch is particularly keen to find homes for cats with special health needs such as feline HIV as the cats can live long and healthy lives.

To help new owners the branch will underwrite all vets bills for life for older cats and those with special health needs. The branch also runs a neutering scheme, with help towards the cost of neutering and spaying for cats whose owners are on benefits.

At any one time as many as 25 cats can be in care in pens and there is a waiting list of cats to come in.

Branch co-ordinator Janet Lee, from Norton Canes, said: "Cats have been coming into care for a variety of reasons and behind each one there is usually a sad human story.

"Many have come into care because owners have been evicted, moved house and can't take them, have allergic children or their owner has died."

She added: "We have an extraordinary amount of support. There are a lot of kind people out there who more than offset the few difficult members of the public we sometimes deal with. We would like to thank anyone who supports us now or has helped our branch over the years."

To take in a cat or to find out more call 01543 685191 or 01543 252676.