Sponsorship offers a precious lifeline to our most needy cats, some with long-term illnesses or medical problems, and others, like Timmie, who have been viciously abused and left permanently disabled. Because these cats need ongoing veterinary treatment, often for life, Croydon Cats Protection undertakes to cover the cost of their treatment/medication.
The branch is currently committed to fund veterinary treatment for just over 200 of these special needs cats. To help us to raise the money we need to pay for veterinary treatment and medication for our special needs cats we have set up a Sponsor Cat Scheme.
Members of the public are invited to sponsor a particular cat. In return they receive a certificate and updates twice a year. Alternatively donations can be made to the General Sponsor Fund, which enables them to be used for the benefit of any of our special needs cats. The Sponsor Cat Scheme is very flexible. We do not ask for specific amounts or intervals of payment. Some sponsors contribute monthly, quarterly or annually, whilst others make occasional payments by cheque.
To ensure that these special cats get the care they need to live life to the full, please consider joining our Sponsor Cat Scheme. It's really easy. Just contact our Sponsorship Co-ordinator for more details. Below is a selection of our special needs cats who are most in need of sponsorship.
When Timmie was a kitten, he was hit with an iron bar by the son of his previous owner. The son had been fighting with his younger brother when Timmie came along and he decided the cat was a better target. Timmie has been permanently crippled by his injuries and has lost some of the use of his back legs. Now around 11 years old, an age we never thought he would reach, Timmie still manages to move around quite well but needs plenty of physiotherapy. This involves his carer stretching each leg out about forty times daily. He is permanently on medication for pain relief. Timmie is still quite a nervous cat but he has such a sweet nature. His favourite pastime is sunbathing. Perhaps the warmth of the sun helps ease his bad back legs.
In 2003, Buster's malnourished mother was rescued from an alleyway. A day later, Buster and a dead sibling were born. Poor Buster was only four weeks old when his mum turned on him and they could only be left together when he was feeding from her. His five month old half sister, Twizzle, took to mothering him. It soon became apparent that Buster had problems with both back legs and he had three operations before he was a year old. He suffers from a condition called Luxating Patella and had further surgery on his knees in May 2006 and again in December 2006. The need for more surgery in the future cannot be ruled out. Buster also suffers from gingivitis, which is rare in such a young cat. In spite of all this, he is a very outgoing, active cat, who loves to play with his jingle-ball. He is on very good terms with the neighbours and loves all his companion cats.
Twizzle and Buster have the same mother, whose own problems of malnourishment have doubtless led to the health problems endured by her offspring. We rescued Twizzle at the age of about fifteen weeks. She has always had a chronic digestive disorder which, from time to time, gives her bouts of diarrhoea. An extensive allergy test revealed that she has an intolerance to beef, lamb and milk. Twizzle also gets bouts of eczema, and she suffers from frequently recurring respiratory infections, which can last for months at a time. Twizzle has always had a strange gait but her carer put this down to her tummy problems. In 2006, however, X-rays confirmed that Twizzle had the same knee condition as Buster, Luxating Patella. Thankfully knee surgery in August 2006 was very successful. Twizzle's carer says she is completely nutty but loves her to bits.
Hollie is very wobbly on her back legs. She contracted some form of virus while she was a kitten and this resulted in nerve end damage. She has no idea that she is handicapped and just gets on with life. Hollie has a very sweet and gentle nature and washes any hand that strokes her. She gets on very well with all her companion cats, who don't seem to mind that she sometimes falls on them. Hollie is a beautiful longhaired tortie and white cat , chocolate-box, gorgeous to look at and with an enchanting and endearing personality.