Cat charity celebrates a year in new site and over 500 cats helped

A cat centre in Clyst Honiton is marking the first anniversary of its move to state-of-the-art facilities which have allowed the team to help over 500 cats since opening.

Cats Protection Devon Cat Centre, located just off Sidmouth Road, moved into its new building on 15 November 2023 after more than two years of construction works. The new centre replaced outdated buildings which no longer met the charity’s minimum standards for either cat welfare or staff and volunteers. It was designed to provide and promote cat care excellence in the area as well as create an enjoyable experience for adopters and cat care teams alike.

Since the centre reopened, 471 cats have passed through the doors for rehoming and the team has helped neuter 45 feral or outdoor cats across Devon through community outreach work in addition to helping many more with their cat-focused information and advice.

One of the earliest cats to benefit from the build was Bubbles who had been in care at the charity’s temporary cattery site since June 2023. He had arrived with a skin condition on the back of his neck which had been proving difficult to resolve.

Deputy Manager Jackie Phipp explains: “Once we were given control of the site, we got started quickly moving items in, getting unpacked and learning everything about the new building. We moved the cats over from the cattery on 21 November and Bubbles was one of our priorities.

“We were struggling to get his neck wound to heal completely but were making good progress, however Bubbles had been with us for five months and we knew he was becoming frustrated. At the new site we have a large enrichment room which can be used for cats that require extra space. This was perfect for Bubbles as we knew he would still be with us for a few weeks while we finished up his treatment.

“Bubbles enjoyed the room with its large view of our internal garden. He especially loved it when we spent time with him in the room which was far easier in the new space. We were finally able to sort Bubbles’s skin condition and he was adopted just in time for the New Year.”

Currently enjoying the extra space of the enrichment room is six-year-old Xander, whose love of playtime makes him a perfect resident for the room. He loves batting balls around on the floor and chasing feather-sticks, especially lifelike ones which remind him of the joys of being outdoors.

A friendly cat, Xander enjoys attention on his own terms and likes some fuss, letting you know when he’s had enough. He is looking for a quiet, stress-free home with a garden for him to explore before coming home to sit beside you on the sofa.

Xander would be best suited to a quiet adult-only home without children or other pets. He is young enough to be playful and full of life and would therefore thrive with an owner who will enjoy sharing their life and providing entertainment for him.

The centre was mainly funded thanks to a bequest in the Will of former Cats Protection Chairman, Philip Wood, a donation from Petplan Charitable Trust, as well as legacies from Cats Protection Exeter and East Devon. Philip was present at the opening ceremony of the previous centre in 1988 and the new centre features an enrichment garden in his memory.

The centre and its garden were all designed with cats’ journeys through care in mind. The spaces are clearly defined to create privacy and easy infection control for the cats who need some extra care, while nature and a central water feature are visible to all cats and particularly provide additional stimulation for those waiting for homes.

Jackie adds: “The new centre has been an amazing space for our team of staff and volunteers to work in and our visitors love the site when they visit. The cats are happy now that they can’t see other cats and have lovely warm pens to spend their stay in. The centre rebuild is a huge improvement on our last building and was truly worth the wait.”

To find out more about Devon Cat Centre visit www.cats.org.uk/axhayes or follow their updates at www.facebook.com/CatsProtectionDevon