Abby the ‘self-referral’ cat remarkably showed up on the doorstep of The Sheffield Cats Shelter back in April, soaked from the rain and heavily pregnant. Following 11 weeks of devoted care from the shelter and even an appearance on ITV Calendar, Abby has finally been adopted.
The Meow-velous Arrival
Since the charity’s foundation in 1897, The Sheffield Cats Shelter have helped thousands of kitties, a litter of squirrels, a lion and even a monkey. This was the first time, however, that a cat had self-referred to their sanctuary.
Abby was found meowing outside their door, wet from the rain, pregnant and with no microchip.
Following a medical examination, she was placed in one of their open cat rooms and the shelter’s dedicated Cat Welfare Team cared for her. Just six days later, Abby gave birth to five kittens. Sadly, one kitten didn’t survive and Abby fell seriously ill not long after giving birth. This didn’t demotivate the staff and the Cat Welfare Manager, Becki Hollingworth, stepped up to give the kittens ‘regular feeds around the clock at all hours, day and night,’ for a week until Abby was back in good health.
Abby was then reunited with her kittens and raised them as a loving mum. The staff are thankful that she came to the right place for help.
On the 3rd July, The Sheffield Cats Shelter announced the wonderful news that Abby has found a home. The staff were ‘thrilled’, saying that she ‘deserved a happily ever after to her story and [they]believe she has that now’, and that they won’t forget her any time soon. Abby also won’t forget the exceptional care the shelter provided during her stay – and continues to provide for her kittens – that’s for sure. Four of her kittens are among the near-40 cats in their care and are looking for their own homes.
However, giving these kitties dedicated around-the-clock care comes with a cost. ‘We couldn’t do it without the support of cat lovers across Sheffield and beyond, so any donation would be very gratefully received!’ says Becki. The shelter is also proud to supply plenty of beds, cat trees, treats and fun toys to keep them stimulated and fulfilled.
More Paw-some Work
Abby is just one of the nearly 300 cats The Sheffield Cats Shelter has helped so far this year, not to mention the advice and assistance they provide over the phone. They are currently caring for around 40 cats, of which Dougal has another heartwarming story.
At two years old, Dougal was found with his front leg through his collar, which had led to a deep, badly infected armpit wound. He underwent a pricey operation, then the shelter fought to nurse him to recovery, even spending 4 months searching for his previous owner. The search was unsuccessful, but Dougal was adopted into a loving home once fully recovered. The daughter now fundraises for the shelter at her school.
Although The Sheffield Cats Shelter offers this outstanding care, they also believe in helping cats stay in their homes wherever possible. When approached by people who have painfully decided they can no longer care for their kitty, the shelter offers alternative support, which has been a success and is an initiative they seek to continue; it is best for the cats, their owners and for the many over-capacity cat shelters.
The charity recently achieved the Cat Friendly Homing Centre accreditation by completing a 20-week training course from International Cat Care to go above and beyond with their dedication to our feline friends. The shelter also neuters, vaccinates and microchips all arriving cats, and some members of staff are now qualified to implant microchips, meaning families looking to adopt can do so with trust.
