About

Cheltenham Cat Rescue is a registered animal welfare charity organisation, with deductible gift recipient status. Our focus is on the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of cats across Melbourne.

Our History

Cheltenham Cat Rescue (CCR) commenced rescue operations in June 2015. After fostering for a number of years with other wonderful rescue organisations – and learning about the companion animal issues across Victoria and Australia – CCR founder Natasha thought she could add further value by setting up her own rescue organisation, the idea being to assist in the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of cats within the Melbourne community.

How we operate

Working collaboratively with other rescue groups, councils and pounds across Melbourne, Cheltenham Cat Rescue focuses on rescuing homeless cats and kittens in need. Homeless doesn’t always mean the pound though. Whilst it is true that many of our cats can come from the pound, we also receive calls from members of the community regarding homeless cats wandering onto their property as well as calls for help from people who can genuinely no longer care for their cats, for one reason or another.

We are an all-breed cat rescue organisation, staffed entirely by volunteers and funded only by public donations. All funds raised go straight back into helping the cats and kittens in our care. Our survival as an organisation relies on the network of our volunteer foster carers who assist in the provision of temporary homes whilst forever homes are found. Without these carers, rescue organisations like CCR would cease to exist. All cats/kittens rescued are fully vet worked before being rehomed. We are not a shelter and as such, we do not have a centralised location. All adoptions take place via an adoption application process, the aim being to find the purrfect match between human and feline.

Our vision

We believe that all breeds of cats deserve loving and caring homes and any medical care necessary to ensure the best possible quality of life, regardless of their age or condition. Through our work, we also seek to educate the community on responsible companion animal guardianship, holistic cat health care management and the dire situation of thousands of healthy cats and kittens being euthanised everyday in Australia…and what can be done to prevent this from happening.

Meet the committee

Dedicated and passionate about what they do, we are grateful to each and every person who joins the Cheltenham Cat Rescue (CCR) colony.

Sitting behind the volunteers is a small committee. Our team are on a mission to make sure that there is a cat in every home, and home for every cat.

Join us. Join the CCR colony.

Cats. Why do I love them so? Well, simply put – they are amazing creatures. I didn’t really befriend my first cat until 2004 and suffice to say, he changed my life. And as they say, the rest is history. CCR started as a solution to a problem – a big problem …that being the issue of the homeless cats and kittens across Victoria and the high euthanasia rates in pounds and shelters. I couldn’t sit back and pretend it didn’t exist. So I joined the ranks of other rescue groups across Victoria…all doing our bit to make a real difference to the lives of the animals (and the people) in the community. We rescue, rehabilitate, rehome and advocate for change. One kitty at a time.

Natasha

Director & Founder

I find it easy to relate to cats. I’m predisposed toward napping, staring out windows, and wandering aimlessly around the house. I also dislike loud noises and unexpected visitors. Some people think I’m aloof but I’m actually very affectionate when no one is looking. I’ve been involved with CCR almost since its inception in 2015, doing everything from fostering to baking to fundraising graphic design to social media to grant writing to administration over that time. I’m passionate not only about rescuing and rehoming animals but also advocating and educating the community about responsible, ethical pet ownership. In my spare time I work as a librarian and drink a lot of tea.

Hannah

President

Cats are amazing creatures with a massive range of different personalities, no two cats are the same. They provide an enjoyable challenge when working with them and are far from something textbook. Once you have their trust and love, the bond formed between the two of you is one you will never forget. This is what I love about cats the most.

Roslyn

Vice President

I got involved in Cat Rescue for selfish reasons – I wanted furry friends around the house! After caring for my first vulnerable rescue cat, I began to realise how important our work is. Harley transformed from being the first on the kill list, into a majestic and loving creature. Harley is now my close companion.

Today when I see the cats who need our help, they are all Harley to me. They all matter. This is compassion at its purest and has taught me better ways to conduct myself in the rest of my life.

I am passionate about getting a better deal for cats in Victoria. And bringing my data management and administrative skills to the Secretary role.

Pamela

Secretary

I never grew up with cats, never knew anyone with cats and was 100% a dog lady. This all changed when I moved out and adopted minty – A senior white cat with no ears, different colored eyes &the best death stare you’ll ever see. I was allergic to her for 6 months, but there was no looking back, she had stolen my heart. A few years later I foster failed Ivy whilst looking after her post surgery (another senior, white cat – this time with no ears, one eye and a multitude of health problems). Her journey was one of extreme ups and downs, that I would do all over again in a heartbeat. The time I had with them taught me so much and my passion for cats and their welfare blossomed. I took the plunge to join CCR after saying I’d never adopt again because losing them was too painful.

But when you realize how many cats are out there, all alone at no fault of their own. That thought goes out the window because all you want to do is help these gorgeous deserving creatures find their happily ever after. I don’t believe I’m 100% a crazy cat lady, yet.(although my Facebook tags would suggest otherwise) I balance our fostering and my own cat (CCR foster fail) with walking rescue dogs weekly, gotta get the best of both worlds!

Casey

Treasurer

Conor oversees the onboarding of all new kitties at CCR HQ. As the first foster fail in the family, he takes his role very seriously and does have the tendency to make new foster kitties jump through hoops as part of the initiation process. But he means well
He spends most of his time perched up on the scratching post in the outdoor enclosure, basking in the sun, or …surprise surprise, in a box.

Conor

VIP CCR Foster Inspector

There are plenty of ways you can get involved to support our vital rescue network.

Adopt

Cheltenham Cat Rescue is not a shelter so there is no centralised location for you to visit. To adopt one of our beautiful felines, the first step is to submit an adoption application form.

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Foster

There can be no more rewarding an experience, than that of providing a cat/kitten a temporary home whilst a permanent, loving and forever home is found.

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Volunteer

We know that fostering isn’t for everyone, but there are still loads of things you can do to help out our furry feline friends by becoming a Cheltenham Cat Rescue volunteer!

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