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FRAMLINGHAM & SAXMUNDHAM BRANCH.


ABOUT US.

We began as a branch of Cats Protection in 1990 and now number some 234 members, 6 fosters and a compliment of “officers”.  These are led by our co-ordinator Gillian Clark who somehow manages to organise us and well as a mountain of paperwork.  We have a Membership Secretary, Publicity Officer, Treasurer & Sponsorship Secretary, Newsletter & Website Editor and Homing Officer.   All necessary duties but we would be lost without our ‘Fosterers’.   These kind people take into their own homes unwanted cats and kittens so that the animals are not further stressed by having to travel some distance to a purpose-built shelter.  The fosterers have specially designed cat-pens which includes an enclosed cabin with heater, and a cat-flap leading to a small outside run.  One of our fosterers recently took in two black sisters, both pregnant, and now there are nine kittens.  Such is the affection between these sisters that they happily feed each others off-spring.  Last but by no means least we must salute the brave souls, who donning thick gauntlets and carrying a humane trap go out in all hours and weathers to catch feral cats, many being from large colonies which have got out of control. The majority we neuter and return as they do useful rodent control and a few we rehome to farms, stables and garden centres but these are in short supply.

The other constant factor in our work, as with any charity, is the inevitable FUND-RAISING.
If anyone had told me a few years ago that I would get involved in such a thing I would have laughed.  Well, we do laugh, because running stalls at the local country shows, from the large Suffolk Show to the Charity Stalls in Framlingham are great fun.   It is so rewarding when people come and say they adopted their cat/kitten from us, sometimes as much as fifteen plus years ago.   It helps to compensate for some of the sad or cruel cases we have to deal with.   Another of our big events is the Annual Yard Sale at Fairfield Road, Saxmundham.  Watch for adverts for this year.
We had a most successful day in 2004 at the delightful Aldeburgh Cinema when we held a joint day with the wildlife artist David Shepherd. He displayed and sold his amazing work upstairs in the Gallery whilst we had our stall in the Foyer.  In the evening David entertained a full cinema with stories and film of his charity’s rescue work with endangered species.

                                                                
Our slogan had to be:                           Big Cats Help Small Cats”.        


           
All cats and kittens coming into our care have an Acceptance Form and a Homing Form. This is so we can give as much information as possible to Adopters about their new pet.   I have the joy of collating all these and also sending out Neutering Certificates when any kitten is 6 months old in the hope of controlling the numbers of unwanted kittens.   Often these kittens are feral and terrified but with a lot of patience and love they can be turned from a spitting clawing furry ‘two pennuth of nothing’ into affectionate and happy pets.   This is definitely one of the most rewarding aspects of our work 

There are of course many other ‘jobs’ to be done.  Transporting cats to the vets or new homes.
Home visits to ensure cats are going to safe, suitable homes etc.  We cover an area from Woodbridge to Halesworth and Aldeburgh to Stowmarket.   If you think you would like to help in anyway, big or small, ring Gillian on the contact number on the CONTACT  US Page.
And finally, my grateful thanks to all of you who donate food into our boxes in Solar at Framlingham and Leiston and Budgens in Woodbridge and of course to the stores for giving us the collecting space.