Over the winter we had over a dozen hedgehogs brought to us that were either ill or injured and needed treatment, or they were young and too small to survive hibernation. (more…)

Hazel is a 1 year old ginger and white female, Harry a 1 year black male, they are neutered, fully vaccinated, Hazel is chipped and I’m still attempting to chip Harry but he’s proving difficult.

Hazel and Harry were trapped and handed in by a couple who were feeding them in their garden, they had been feeding them since they were a few months old, it was good of them and their heart was in the right place but we really wish they’d handed them in sooner. The longer cats have to fend for themselves the more timid and wary of humans they become, this is what has happened to these two, they are terrified, you can see by the look on Harry’s face that he fears the worse.

Hazel and Harry do not have much of a future at the moment, they distrust everyone and hate being handled, they need either someone who is prepared to give them a chance and work on them, however be warned, they may always be timid, or someone that wants outdoor cats to mouse. If they were to go to a farm or small holding as mousers they would still need feeding, worming and shelter, it is a myth that cats can fend for themselves, they can’t, they soon become weak and sick and die prematurely, we don’t want this for any of our cats and we care about the semi-feral and feral cats as much as the friendly ones.

If you think you may be able to offer Hazel and Harry a chance then email bjcats@googlemail.com to discuss this further.

Tel: 07881 430387 (Burton Joyce Cat Welfare) or 01773 784586 (Kirkby’s Co-ordinator) or Email: bjcats@googlemail.com and the message will be passed on but please state the cat’s name and that it is a Kirkby cat

Humbug is a 4 year old black male, Twiglet a 3 year old brindle tortie female and Bobbie a 5 year old black female, they are all neutered and microchipped.

Humbug, Bobbie and Twiglet started life as family pets, they all came from the same household and were handed in together due to relationship problems.

Being handed into a rescue was traumatising for cats that had spent their lives in the same house with the same people, one minute everything was ticking along nicely and the next bang, their world had fallen down around their paws. For the first few weeks we could not get near any of them but slowly they have adapted to the situation they have found themselves in and are becoming more sociable. They have been with us since November but we haven’t added them until now as there seemed little point.

Bobbie is the most adventurous of the three; a lovely big black female who sits quietly in her bed but when stroked enjoys every minute of it. Bobby is very much a loaner, whether by choice or because the other two are not fond of her we can’t work out but she would happily move on and leave Twiglet and Humbug behind.

Humbug is another all black, he doesn’t volunteer to come and meet you, you have to work to gain his attention but when approached he enjoys the fuss; he just doesn’t give himself away easily. Humbug seems to spend most of his time with Twiglet but again we think they could be separated, Humbug is more homable than Twiglet as she is very timid and we don’t want her to hold him back.

Twiglet is the youngest of the three and she is also the most upset, she just can’t come to terms with what has happened and hides away, she will let you stroke her but even then she huddles in the corner hoping you will go away and leave her alone. Twiglet is lovely looking and we are sure that she will come out her shell and learn to trust again if given the chance by the right person. However we have to be practical and Twiglet may well hold the other two back so we have decided that we will split them.

These three lovely cats are victims of circumstance and deserve a chance to start over, if anyone out there has it in their heart to give any of them a chance we want to hear from you.

Tel: 07881 430387 (Burton Joyce Cat Welfare) or 01773 784586 (Kirkby’s Co-ordinator) or Email: bjcats@googlemail.com and the message will be passed on but please state the cat’s name and that it is a Kirkby cat

Annie is a 1 year old brindle tortie, she is neutered and microchipped.

Annie is a typical tortie, feisty and full of it, you know Annie’s there because she marches up to you and tells you. Annie was handed in as she’d been hanging around outside a school following children home, how she got there we don’t know, she may have been dumped or lost her way but nobody came forward to claim her and we have now had her some weeks.

Poor Annie was thin and starving, when she came in she brought up some plastic that she’d eaten, she had obviously been scavenging for scraps for quite a while. Annie has settled at Kirkby reasonably well but she runs up to everyone that approaches her as if to say “are you going to take me home, please take me home, take me away from here!. That sums Annie up, she has a lot of love to give and is desperate to find someone to give it to, to get out of Kirkby and to settle down to a nice life.

Annie is hoping that the next person who reads this will decide to give her a chance; is that you!

Tel: 07881 430387 (Burton Joyce Cat Welfare) or 01773 784586 (Kirkby’s Co-ordinator) or Email: bjcats@googlemail.com and the message will be passed on but please state the cat’s name and that it is a Kirkby cat

Molly is a 1 year old, tortie and white female, she is neutered and microchipped.

Molly turned up in a garden with three kittens, the kittens were quite wild and it was naturally assumed that Molly was feral and she was handed into us. Immediately it was obvious Molly didn’t have a feral bone in her body, although frightened she put up with being picked up, wormed, fleaed and microchipped without a hiss or a spit, never once did Molly show her claws or teeth.

That was two weeks ago and Molly has since been neutered, settled down and come to terms with life in the pen.

Molly is a lovely, sweet natured little cat, she has obviously started out as somebody’s pet, was probably adopted as a kitten, not neutered and abandoned when it was realised she was pregnant, or it maybe that her owners tired of her and left her behind when they moved on. We’ll never know exactly what happened to Molly and how she came to be in a garden with three kittens but one thing is certain, there won’t be anymore kittens, and Molly’s life can only get better.

Molly is now looking for a chance to start her life over, to make up for lost time and start living the life of a pampered pet. If you have it in your heart to give a chance to a lovely little cat who has been a victim of today’s throwaway society then give us a call.

A donation of at least £45 will be required to adopt Molly as we have to cover our costs to continue to take cats in.

Tel: 07881 430387 (Burton Joyce Cat Welfare) or 01773 784586 (Kirkby’s Co-ordinator) or Email: bjcats@googlemail.com and the message will be passed on but please state the cat’s name and that it is a Kirkby cat

Harry is a black and white 18 month old male, Lily a 2 year old brindle tortie female, they are neutered and microchipped.

Harry and Lily came in with Harry’s brother Fritz, bottom picture; Fritz is on the far right, Fritz was lucky and found a home straight away, we didn’t really want to split them but the chance of homing three cats together is slim so we had to be realistic. Harry and Lily are now for adoption either together or separately, we would like them to go together if at all possible.

Harry, Fritz and Lily ended up at Kirkby as their owners were evicted and couldn’t take pets where they were rehoused, something that is happening more and more and the reason a lot of cats come to us.

Harry and Lily have been house cats all their lives, they have never known anything different and are not overly impressed with the pen, when you are used to sleeping on the sofa and bed it’s a comedown to have a basket on a wooden shelf. Lily has taken things better than Harry has, Harry just huddles in his basket and glares at anyone that approaches him blaming everyone for his current predicament.

Harry and Lily are desperate to move on so if you are in a position to offer two fed up, confused little cats a chance to start again come and meet Harry and Lily.

Tel: 07881 430387 (Burton Joyce Cat Welfare) or 01773 784586 (Kirkby’s Co-ordinator) or Email: bjcats@googlemail.com and the message will be passed on but please state the cat’s name and that it is a Kirkby cat .

Blanche is a white and black, neutered and microchipped female, she is around 2 years old, Beau is her last kitten, although he is now a beautiful 8 month old cat and as his names suggests very pretty.

Blanche was found back in August of last year abandoned in a garden with her new born family of five, Beau’s siblings found homes straight away but for some reason Beau ended up being left and then Blanche seemed so attached to him that we didn’t want to separate them. Maybe in hindsight it was a mistake to keep mum and son together as they would have probably homed quickly on their own but to watch Blanche with Beau tugged at the heart strings and commonsense was overruled by compassion.

The result of this is that Blanche and Beau have led a sheltered life living upstairs at Kirkby and whereas they are happy it is not ideal, Beau is not the bravest of cats and he needs to experience more of life.

Whereas all our cats are important to us these two are really special as they have been with us so long and lived indoors, they are available to an approved home that is prepared to give them time to settle in and adjust. Moving Blanche and Beau is going to be a shock to them as all Beau has known has been upstairs at Kirkby, Blanche will settle more quickly as she has obviously been somebody’s pet at sometime.

Blanche and Beau are looking for an understanding home that will help them settle in and grow in confidence.

These two are not available for homing separately.

Tel: 07881 430387 (Burton Joyce Cat Welfare) or 01773 784586 (Kirkby’s Co-ordinator) or Email: bjcats@googlemail.com and the message will be passed on but please state the cat’s name and that it is a Kirkby cat

Spikey is a handsome black and white cat, shy and gentle by nature.

He has sadly found himself all alone in the world, having recently lost his loving owner.  Spikey has lived a quiet life with his owner and so we believe he would suit an adult, caring family who could offer him lots of love, reassurance and eventually safe outdoor access to a nice garden, as he really enjoyed going outside. All he really needs is comfort and support whilst he grows to realise that he’ll be secure and loved for the rest of his life.  Can you please offer Spikey a special new home?

Understandably, Spikey is rather shell-shocked at present and he’s very happy to have lots of strokes and fuss if you go into in the bedroom he has hidden in. He prefers to just nip into the lounge in the evenings and sit quietly.  After only just over a week in foster care,  we think he’s doing very well and being ever so brave.  We know he will settle in a new home, with kindness, patience and time and become a loved member of your family.  He has the most handsome face but you can see the bereavment  he has suffered in his eyes. He doesn’t understand why his life has turned upside down and we would prefer to find him a home as soon as possible to minimise the stress of further changes.

He has been neutered and is around 7-8 years old.

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If you are interested in gentle Spikey, you are welcome to meet him, please contact AARU by telephoning 0115 9205172 (please leave a message if no reply, and we will get back to you as soon as possible) or e-mailing admin@aaru.org.uk.