OKEHAMPTON and District Cats’ Protection is among nine branches of the charity in Devon desperately looking for supporters to ensure their good work can continue. 

Each year Cats’ Protection helps over 205,000 cats through a nationwide network of over 250 branches and 32 centres.

The charity has three clear objectives — finding good homes for cats in need, supporting and encouraging the neutering of cats to reduce the number of unwanted cats and improving people’s understanding of cats and their care.

The Okehampton and district branch is one of nine appealing for people to give just a few hours a month to help carry out their work in Devon. Supporter roles range from hands-on work fostering cats and carrying out home visits, to administrative roles and team leaders.

Okehampton and District co-ordinator Pat Sawyer said running the branch can prove difficult with the busy nature of people’s lives making it difficult to find people to help.

She said: ‘The situation has always been dire. As fast as people say they want to help they drop off. We would dearly love to have a fosterer or two in Okehampton, but this would mean that you would have to have pens in your garden. We are also looking for people to help at various fund raisers and help us to do more in that line.’

Cats’ Protection’s regional development manager for the South West, Esther Ardagh-Ptolomey, said: ‘Our nine Devon branches help hundreds of cats every year. Without the dedication of our supporters we simply would not be able to help so many unwanted and abandoned cats. 

‘However, we always welcome more help, so that we can assist more cats in need. We’d love to hear from people from all walks of life who can spare anything from a few hours to a few days a month.

‘Volunteering has lots of benefits — many people find it a great way to learn or enhance new skills or just do something completely different from their day job. We have all sorts of people helping run our branches, from students and busy mums to professionals and retired couples.

‘Many people really enjoy the social side of it, getting to know new people and helping organise fundraising and other events. And then there’s the ultimate perk of supporting Cats’ Protection — meeting and helping some of the wonderful cats in our care.’ 

Supporters do not need to have any previous experience as training and on-going support will be provided. To find out more about giving your time to Cats’ Protection, please call 01837 55409 and leave your name and number.

The charity champions neutering as the only effective way to reduce the number of unwanted cats in the UK and make it easier for owners on low incomes to get their cats neutered. Throughout October the Okehampton branch is running a free neutering campaign for those in the EX20 postcode. For information on the neutering vouchers call Pat on 01837 55409.