Voluntary work

[cathyd]

Wanting to get into voluntary work with cat rescue. Not quite sure what I can do though.... for the reason of having kids and a dog plus my two cats. I am finding it hard to get anything because people are put off by the kids mainly (which is understandable). There must be something out there, maybe driving for instance. Anybody knows of anything please do contact me.

Also concerned for my friend's kittens, (long story but bear with me) She had a female cat who she didn't get fixed - the cat went on to have a litter of kittens which I helped home. Then she went on to have another litter, again we managed to home them, I took one and homed two more with my mother in law. Now all her friends have taken a kitten and homed it, very successfully thankfully. Anyway I recently discovered when I visited her last week that the mother has gone (RSPCA), and a kitten my friend kept from the 1st litter has now had kittens as she obviously didn't get her fixed either. She had two babies who are now 3 weeks old. I have no idea what she is going to do with them as everyone we know has one of her kittens. This is one of my best friends but the situation angers me and I have nagged her constantly to take her cats to the vet, without success. I even offered to take the mother myself and keep her and sort her out, This was refused. Now the poor thing is in a rescue centre somewhere. I am dismayed at her lack of responsibility and not sure what to do about it...

[yola]

Firstly Cathy, I'm shocked at your friend's behaviour (being brutally frank). It's irresponsible and downright cruel. I would struggle maintaining a friendship with an individual like that!

Anyway - that mini-rant over, and onto voluntary 'stuff'. I do work for my local branch of Cats Protection. Because my background is in marketing and advertising I carry out activities centred around these skills. I put together ads, write and distribute press releases and help to raise awareness on local and national issues.

If you have the space, you can foster cats that are waiting for rehoming. Otherwise, you can do admin work, take calls (and messages), look after accounts, or you can do stuff like driving cats to vets for checks, you can do home checks on people who are interested in adopting . . . basically LOADS of stuff!!! Use any skills you've accumulated in your day to day life and put them to good use at your local Cats Protection!! You may have other, more specialist local cat rescues that might also desperately need your help!

Hope that gives you some idea of where to start. Best bet is just to call them and see if they need any assistance and in what areas!

[smudgley]

Can't really add anything to Yolas excellent post, other than get in contact with your local cats protection.
I also have kids, a dog, I work & I look after the lost & found for my local CP & am a fosterer ~ currently looking after 15 kittens & 4 adults. Contact them & if your local branch is anything like ours - they will be glad of ANY offer of help.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[cathyd]

Thanks for the advice Yola, I'm pretty sure there is a CP nr Aylesbury where I live. I'm taking the kittens myself to look after them - will get the dog cage out and settle them in. There are only two this time, which is a blessing. As for the mother I will approach that in another way and try and get her sorted.

[smudgley]

http://www.buckscats.org.uk/

I think this would be your local branch

[cathyd]

Smudgley you sound like a saint. Thanks for the link