I never ask readers for money for myself, as I have all that I need. But there are others who need it, and some of those others are cats. So this is an appeal for you to kick in a few bucks (or pounds, if you’re a Brit) to a charity of which I am a patron, Feline Friends London. (Facebook site here.) It’s been going six years and is run by the estimable Barbara Read, who runs a staff of all volunteers who rescue London felines. And their policy is never to euthanize cats so long as they are not terminally ill and suffering.
My cap is out because lately I’ve gotten some lovely emails from readers thanking me for this site and saying that it’s an integral part of their day. I thought, “Well, what if every subscriber (there are 60,000 of them) kicked in a dollar or three towards a cat-rescue agency that uses all the dosh for rescue, and whose helpers do it out of love? If every subscriber gave just 1 pound, that would be 60,000 pounds (nearly $80,000), and think how many cats that could rescue!” In other words, if you coughed up just $1 or $5 or whatever as a thank you to this site, it wouldn’t impoverish you but the total amount of money would be substantial.
Before I give you the donation page, I asked Barbara to tell me a bit about her organization. You can read about it on their webpage (links above), but here’s a more personal view:
A bit about us and myself. I began rescuing cats in 2008 after I adopted my late cat, Shola, then aged 12/13, from a friend, making a split second decision to take her on when my friend was going to return her to the shelter, where she had adopted her 9 years earlier. I have been an animal lover since a toddler but Shola made me keenly aware of the vulnerability of cats and how safe and protected she was compared to cats out on the street. She passed away aged 22/23, in December 2017 and in a very real sense changed my life – being indirectly responsible for every cat Feline Friends and myself have helped.
I began rescue work locally where I live in Stoke Newington and then across the borough of Hackney, organising and taking part in animal welfare events. I became Hackney Council’s volunteer Cat Protection Officer in 2013, and am still the only one in the UK attached to a local authority. I won the Council the RSPCA’s Innovators Award for local authorities in 2014 for my work helping the borough’s cats.
I set up Feline Friends in July 2013 but then put it on the back burner while I ran Cats Protection Central London branch for a couple of years. This was then closed down as CP criticised me for never bring able to say ‘no’ to cats needing help and because I wanted to do things my way and not theirs. I therefore resurrected Feline Friends in spring 2016 and we have become the most successful of the smaller cat rescue organisations, helping cats right across the London area. At the moment we are entirely volunteer-run and have no paid staff. We are one of Battersea Dogs and Cats Homes Animal Partners, and they recently awarded us funding to run a project “Trap, Neuter, Nourish and Sustain: Safeguarding London’s Cats”.
We are a ‘no kill’ rescue and only approve euthanasia on the grounds of quality of life when a cat is dying and their suffering cannot be relieved. We work on a foster basis and take in older cats, who need end of life care, cats with chronic conditions and those with behaviour problems, as well as strays and unwanted pets. We have successfully worked with aggressive cats who have learned to trust and overcome their issues while in our foster care. We also neuter and re-home feral and semi-feral cats to sanctuaries and rural locations, where they will be cared for.
Now for a personal story: readers Laurie and Gethyn recently adopted a pair of black siblings from Feline Friends after the sad demise of their coffee-drinking cat Theo. Here are the moggies they took and a bit about their story:
We were searching online for adult black rescue cats to adopt. When we found Feline Friends, we were interested in Maxie and Minnie, who were the mummy and daddy. They are a year and a half old. Feline Friends conducted a home visit, and as we live in a two bedroom flat, they suggested that we adopt the kittens, who — at seven months old — would be greater able to adjust to living indoors. Mummy and Daddy require access to a garden. Thus did Alcestis Jerry and Octavia Sadie relocate to Wimbledon Village!
Now for the touch: if you like this website or read it or benefit in any way from it, I’m asking you to make a donation to Feline Friends. You can do it by clicking on this link or on the screenshot below, which gives a form that, when you fill it in, takes you to the donation page. You donate using your credit card, choosing a specified amount or donating whatever you want. Donations start at £10 ($13.20), but you can donate as little as you want. Even one pound would help. We have so many readers and subscribers that if each of you found it in your heart to give a few pounds, it would be an enormous windfall for this organization. Please consider it.
As a bonus, if you make a donation of any size, just put your name below (no need to enumerate the donation). I’ll have a Secret Judge choose two winners, and each will get an autographed copy of the book of their choice: WEIT or Faith Versus Fact. I will sign it and also draw the cat of your choice in it.
Somebody told me that I should remind readers in case they miss this post, so forgive me if I put up a short reminder every few days for a while. And thank you for any donation you make.
Done and done. We benefit greatly from your work, PCC(E), and a tip for the moggs is but a pittance to pay.
Thanks; perhaps your example will inspire others.
Done and done. A pittance to pay for your fine work, PCC(E).
Contributed gladly and without hesitation.
It’s funny, I was just listening to Daniel Kahneman discuss framing of gains and losses, system one and system two….
Done, and will almost certainly make a second donation when I have my 10-year-old cat-loving grandson read this post. He reads your Caturday posts often, and was just telling me this morning his plan to live next to an old barn when he grows up so his cats will have lots of mice to catch.
Done and thrilled to help….and thank you for this post.
Done. After having breakfast with Hili nearly every morning, how could I not?
Done.
Only giving back.
Easily done. 😺
Thanks, Dr. Coyne! I appreciate your work with this website.
Done. I hope your efforts help to save many more cats to come, PCC(E).
Happily donated. It would be fun if you could raise a significant sum. I hope you will tell us how much you ultimately raise.
I’ve asked Barbara to give me a semi-running total in the hopes that if it’s good, others will be inspired to give. I already hear that “donations are pouring in”, which makes me happy!
Donations are “purring in”, surely?
Jerry, can you let us know how many donations came it today?
I’ll ask. There seem to be fewer comments than I expected, which is a bit disappointing. I hoped for 100 by the end of Wednesday.
It will follow the sun. A lot of the world were asleep or working when this got posted so probably will be more in the morning your time.
done!
Done. Only to happy to donate
A very good cause. Giving money for animals is the best thing you can do. My wife is fortunate that she receives gift money from her mother. It is a tax thing but anyway, all the money goes to animals. It is a great thing to do and after all, tax deductible. It will make you feel better and your government, whether they know it or not.
Done. Happy to.
You’re the best, Jerry!
When Prof. Ceiling Cats asks, I respond.
Done.
Done. I also suggested they name a foster cat “Cleitus the Black” – a general in Alexander’s army. I just always thought it would be a good name for a black pet.
I suggested WEIT (meaning to pronounce it ‘Wyatt’).
Me too, and happy to do this. Anxious to see how much all of us can pull in.
🐾🐾
Also Done.
Done!
Happy to donate in memory of my two boys, Pinot & Grigio
Donated
Done. Thank You.
Done (on behalf of my toothless rescue cat Marcus Clawrelius. “Pretentious, moi?”
Done with pleasure.
Donated. Happy to give back something as I enjoy reading your website!
Done, in honor of my newly adopted felid friend, Sir John Grey.
Done. I suggest Feline Friends set up more flexible donation options such as monthly & yearly standing order. They’d make more in the long run.
I will refer them to your comment or suggest it to them directly if they don’t read comments. Good idea.
Done
Done!
I also donate to another no-kill shelter by using Amazon Smile. For those who don’t know, instead of going to Amazon.com, simply go to smile.amazon.com to make all your purchases. The website is exactly the same, with the only difference being in the small logo up top including the word “Smile.” Go to your account and choose which charity you want to donate to (it can be literally any charity. You’ll be able to find it through the search function provided). Every time you make your purchase using smile instead of just regular Amazon, 0.5% of your purchase price is donated to the charity of your choice. It’s a very small amount, but it can add up quickly. I buy a lot of stuff through Amazon, and I’ve managed to make the shelter I chose nearly $40 in the past year. You don’t have to do anything but choose your charity and use the smile link instead of the regular link. There’s no work required on your part.
YES, good advice BJ. Our amazonsmile extras go to “Old Dog Haven”. A charity that places old and not-wanted (or the owner died) doggies. The monies add up.
£5 for the kittehs. Fair enough request considering all the great content shared here daily for free, although my own moggie, Magellan, suggested I spend the dosh on more treats for him as he is practically wasting away, or maybe some fresh catnip; he is a bit of a fiend. (Can a cat have a monkey on its back?)
Happy to help.
Done. My wife and daughter foster kittens for our local Humane Society, so happy to help. I also visit the UK regularly for work and hope to visit Feline Friends on my next trip!
Done. Happy to support a great cause.
Donated. Hell, I was stuck in the mall today while my car was being serviced and paid for a $90, 30 minute haircut. (Had no idea it would cost so much.) So it was easy to spend money for a better cause than a hair cut.
Name: Sparky (the name of the first cat I ever loved.)
Ouch! You got two haircuts that day.
Jesus! I’ve never heard of a man pay so much for a haircut. A woman, yes. A man, no!
And I gave a $40 tip. I’m a sucker. I did get two points in handsomeness, so perhaps worth it. (the only judge was my wife.) 😉
In remembrance of Buster.
Done, remembering Meely (Emelia!) and Shima.
Done!
Love cats and love your website.
Keep up the great work!
Done and done! Help for teh kittehs.
Done. I feel sorry for anyone who has to live in London, cats included…..
Just done so!
Best of luck to them!
Al Lee
Done.
Done.
We love them so much. Just last night I was musing, what would I give to have Gus in my lap again, just for an hour? (Gus died three years ago) I thought, I would give a year of my life.
The Feline Friends donation page lets you suggest a name for a foster kitty. I submitted “Abishag”, from 1 Kings 1.1-4:
* (At least, that’s what the palace spokesman said)
Three pounds is four dollars – done.
Donated to this good cause, winning the autographed book would be a bonus.
Done. I suggested the name Beckham for a future foster cat, in honor of my dearly departed boy, who was named after a Brit.
Rather later than intended, but done.
Thanks for the “heads up”.
Done, I suggested the name, Loki.
Your contribution of £10.00 to Adopt a cat or foster a cat in London – Feline Friends London has been confirmed. A confirmation has been sent to you at kjleslie21422@gmail.com.
Just caught up on the site’s posts- donation submitted!