A MELKSHAM charity has launched an urgent appeal for ‘foster carers’ to provide temporary accommodation for cats and kittens in need of a new home.
Cats Action Trust North & West Wiltshire has a waiting list of animals in need of support, but a shortage of volunteers to look after them. The charity covers veterinary expenses and provides cat food, cat litter, bowls, bedding and other essentials, as well as a mileage allowance.
Trust volunteer Karine Chevalier-Watts said, “We want to find safe, secure and loving homes for all of the cats and kittens in our care, but we need to provide temporary accommodation while they are assessed and treated.
“They are brought to us for a wide variety of reasons. Sometimes they are abandoned or injured, or the previous owner has relocated, moved into a care home or passed away. Other families have been affected by unemployment or the rising cost of living and can’t afford to look after a pet any more.
“So we have a small team of foster carers who look after the animals while we try to find a new forever home.”
Fosterers need to have a purpose-built pen in their garden or a suitably adapted room in their home, and take responsibility for feeding, grooming and socialising the animals, as well as providing treatment and taking them to the vets if required.
Volunteers write descriptions and take photographs to advertise them on the Trust website and social media, and introduce them to potential adopters.
Applicants need previous experience of looking after cats and kittens, together with a full driving licence. Committee meetings are held every quarter.
Karine said, “Fostering is a wonderful and rewarding opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of cats and kittens.
“It’s also a great way to make friends with a small but friendly team of people who all care very deeply about animal welfare.”
A job description and application form are available at www.catsactiontrust.org. uk – where people can also view the animals available for adoption – or email catsactiontrust@ gmail.com
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