Purr-fect pen for needy cats
A GOSPORT cat charity is celebrating 40 years of support with a brand new Rainbow Pen for needy cats.
After 40 years of cat care, Cats Protection’s Gosport TownBranchiscelebratingin style with a commemorative home for its feline residents.
The volunteer-run branch, which opened in 1982, will honour its volunteers with an afternoon tea at Alverstoke Parish Hall in July anditseemedonlyfittingthat its cats and former cat carers were celebrated first – with the opening of a brand new cat pen.
Kate Stapleford, co-ordinator for Cats Protection’s Gosport Town Branch, said: ‘We decided we needed to celebrate our milestone 40th year with something for the cats and something for us.
‘The 40th anniversary cat pen has been built in my garden and fitted out with everythingcatsneedtoensurethey feel safe and are able to relax and also have fun while we findthebesthomesforthem.’
The memorial pen is particularly poignant for Kate whose husband Ian died in 2019.
Ian was the branch’s quizmaster at their bi-annual quizzes and, despite not considering himself a volunteer, supported Kate with fosteringandvariousbranchduties since 2009.
‘There is a bittersweet quality to the installation, we’re calling it The Rainbow Pen to also honour our volunteers who are no longer with us. We wanted to acknowledge that it’s not just our current volunteers who have made our branch everything it is today,’ added Kate.
The pen also commemorates David Lloyd, a transport volunteer, Geoff Marshall, husbandofoneofthebranch’s originalfounders,DavidPearson, who ran weekend fundraising garage sales, Colin Gobart, who supported his wife Sandy – the branch’s Bookworm Volunteer – and Carol Lewis, who ran a jewellery stand at the branch’s seasonal fairs.
The Rainbow Pen has just welcomed its first guest, nine-year-old Pippa looking for a home with a garden and 10-year-old Kira who has recentlydevelopedsomestressrelatedbehaviouralproblems, looking for an experienced owner.
‘It’s been a joy to watch them enjoying their dedicated space,’ added Kate.
To find out more visit cats. org.uk/Gosport or call 07825 592 921.