Welcome to the inaugural Cheltenham Cat Rescue blog – especially if you’ve been directed here from our new monthly newsletter, Cat Tails!
Where to start? It has been a whirlwind six months. I feel like we’ve not had the opportunity to come up for air, let alone update our many wonderful supporters and followers of our progress. But here we are in 2016 and it is high time to let you know how things are going.
Since we started rescuing cats midway through 2015, quite unprepared and organised mind you for what lay ahead, we have saved approximately 170 beautiful, all uniquely different souls – with around 100 cats currently in care and 70 that have found their forever home! And whilst it’s fair to say I love all animals, I know now that I truly do love cats! Not that that was ever in question, of course, but through fostering and rescue, such sentiments are cemented. They live in the moment, they are curious, playful, comical, independent, adventurous and affectionate…the list goes on. Oh and they purr…without doubt one of the most relaxing and contented sounds in the world. It is no surprise then, that I had a giggle when I found the below picture – yup, all boxes ticked!
Integral to our rescue program of course, are our volunteers. An 80 strong team and growing, they represent a dedicated group of animal lovers who have come together to form a community that embodies the finer qualities of humanity. Already in our short time in operation, we have experienced many ups and downs. Not all of our rescues have made it and we have sadly said goodbye to some along the way. But for every foster that hasn’t made it, so many more do. We’ve watched them learn to trust, to accept love and to forgive. Such remarkable progress makes it all the worthwhile – it is the essence of why we do what we do.
That then leaves you, our supporters. As a small not for profit, we rely purely on the support from the community, financial and otherwise to survive. We are grateful to those who have been with us since our inception. To those who have adopted from us and now have in your guardianship one (or two) of our rescues, thank you. To those who are just finding out about us and who we are, welcome! Whoever you are and however you stumbled upon us, we hope you will stay with us!
Cheltenham Cat Rescue started as a means of further assisting the rescue community to address the unprecedented number of cats and kittens needing help. Whilst we have accomplished much in a small period of time, we are but a drop in the ocean with respect to our impact in addressing the high euthanasia rates across the community. But, and I thank Mother Theresa for this quote… “the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
…and so we will persevere.
So, sit back and enjoy our new online content, filled with stories of foster care updates, successful adoptions, up and coming events and of course, oodles of cat pictures!
And here is to a positively purrfect year ahead.
Warm regards,
Natasha
Founder/Director – Cheltenham Cat Rescue