There have been a few changes at the Launceston & District Cats Protection branch in recent months — and they still need your help!

Following the retirement of Mary Chidley, Natalie Wilkerson took over as the branch co-ordinator.

Natalie said: “I have been a volunteer for the Launceston branch for about six years, initially helping Mary with a lot of the inevitable paperwork that goes with the running of the branch and I have been a committee member for the last three years.

“However my first interaction with Cats Protection was some 25-odd years ago when I adopted a cat from the Bracknell & Wokingham branch! Tiger was a ginger wildcat that became my constant companion for 18 years and what a good friend he was.”

She continued: “We have remained very busy as a branch accepting welfare cases with open arms. Our neutering scheme has had a high take up and this is key to managing feral cat populations and in general removing the risk of unwanted kittens. We continue to encourage microchipping so that lost cats are more easily found, and the hands free rehoming scheme has seen us successfully place many cats and kittens into their new homes.

“There are often sad stories of why people have to relinquish their cats, and sad stories of how some cats end up with us, but we do everything we can to ensure that every cat that comes to us finds a suitable home even if there is a challenge in doing that.”

A new initiative for the branch in 2021 is to post details of some of the more difficult to place cats on their Facebook page.

One such example is Elsa.

Elsa is a lovely girl, aged about six years. She was a stray that was fed and cared for by some wonderful people who were unable to keep her long term. She is very friendly and enjoys being stroked but this is completely on her own terms so will need an adopter who is confident with an independent and sometimes unpredictable cat.

She needs a rural home and would prefer to be the only pet in a household without children.

Elsa is now ready for her forever home.

A branch spokesperson said: “Sadly without the ability to fundraise this year we are spending much more than we can raise. We have been excellently supported by the Launceston Pets at Home store who work tirelessly to raise money for us but these are still difficult times and so we are very grateful to the Post Series to be offered the opportunity to appeal for help.”

Some of the ways you can help the branch now:

• You can become a member of Launceston & District Cats Protection for just £5 a year and you will receive a newsletter every six months.

• You can opt to make a one off or regular donation to the branch.

• You can ‘sponsor a pen’ at £4 a month.

• Sign up to ‘Kitty Club’ which costs £12 a year and enters you in a monthly draw with a chance to win small cash prizes.

• Could you be a volunteer?

“When restrictions lift we would love some new volunteers to join the excellent team we already have. There is always work to do and never enough hands to do it!”

If you are able to help in any of the above ways then please ring Natalie on 01566 786822 or email info@launces

ton.cats.org.uk