Animal lovers are being encouraged to find it in their heart to help some homeless cats find a new place to live and join a re-homing event this weekend.
Hornchurch Cats Protection, a local branch of the biggest feline charity in the UK, is making a desperate call for anyone willing to welcome a new four-legged friend into their home to step forward.
The branch which covers Hornchurch, Emerson Park, Elm Park, Rainham, Upminster and Cranham, currently has around 30 cats living in temporary foster homes throughout the borough who desperately need to find new homes – and we have pictured some of them here.
Tomorrow (Saturday, July 9) anyone interested in providing a home for a cat can pop along to the charity’s re-homing event at HOPWA House, in Inskip Drive, Hornchurch, between 11am and 1pm to meet some of the little creatures and put their names forward to be considered as a new owner.
Maureen Bashford, from Hornchurch Cats Protection, said: “We’re having a nightmare situation with stray cats at the moment.
“We have around 30 in care and in need of homes and no-one is coming forward.
“Never have we been in such demand to help re-home cats in the Hornchurch and Upminster areas. We have another 80 on our waiting list to come in with desperate calls for help every day.”
Some go into care after being neglected, some because their owner has died and some because their owner’s circumstances mean they simply can no longer care for them.
All the cats ready for re-homing will be at the event for people to meet on Saturday. They have all been health-checked by a vet, had flea treatments and been wormed, vaccinated and neutered (if old enough).
Anyone interested in becoming an owner can complete a form and state which cat they would prefer.
The forms will then be assessed by the branch and owners for the cats selected.
Maureen said: “We want people who are genuinely interested to come along and spend time with the cats. Some people think they can take a cat away on the day but it doesn’t work like that.”
n For more information contact visit http://hornchurch.cats.org.uk or call 01708 755211
All Photos Copyright Hornchurch Cats Protection.
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