Willows cat adoption centre

🐱🐱🐱A home for triplets Heathcliffe Hugo & Harriet. All three headed off to their new home TOGETHER. #WillowsHeathcliffe #WillowsHugo #WillowsHarriet

This ⌚️ time last week we were getting ready for our summer #WillowsDonateDay wondering how many 😍 familiar faces (and new ones) we might see. How many lovely conversations we might have about Willows rescue kitties 💔 past and ❤️present. How many 🍩 donuts might get eaten. How many 💬 potential adopters we might chat to. How many 🎁 boxes and bags of cat food might roll in. Well… here’s a 📹 video with flavour of what happened last Saturday. Impossible to name-check everyone but to 💚EVERYONE💚 who… either came in person with food and monetary donations, or who donated online, or who couldn’t make it on the day but still sent us some food, and to all our 💜VOLUNTEERS and 💖FOSTERERS who give up their precious time to look after all the kitties 365 days a year and/or promote, prepare and run donate days we say a HUGE THANK YOU. It’s ❤️ BECAUSE OF YOU… that we help hundreds of desperate, homeless or unwanted cats every year. It’s ❤️ BECAUSE OF YOU… we take away their fear, pain and suffering. The Willows rescue cats go forward confident, neutered, parasite-free, and well-nourished… ❤️ BECAUSE OF YOU. It’s ❤️ BECAUSE OF YOU… they have a future with a loving family who truly appreciate their worth. It’s ❤️ BECAUSE OF YOU… we keep going 365 days a year. And, one day we WILL get a bigger shelter … ❤️ BECAUSE OF YOU. This is only all possible… ❤️ BECAUSE OF YOU ❤️🐱❤️🐱❤️🐱❤️🐱❤️🐱❤️🐱❤️🐱❤️🐱❤️ Next Donate Day will be Saturday 14th December 12-4pm 🧑‍🎄🎄🎁 . In the meantime our online JustGiving donation page remains open for any ongoing kind donations. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/willows-cats-Brick-Fund-2023-24

🍩🍋 Today is WILLOWS DONATE DAY 🍋🍩 Pop-in between 12 (NOON) up to 4pm to kindly drop-off cat food and say hello to our rescue cats. Can’t make it? Donate a couple of pounds here… https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/willows-cats-Brick-Fund-2023-24 If you ARE coming in person, amongst others, you’ll get to see once-feral kittens #WillowsSooti #WillowsSweep & #WillowsSoo who are making good progress 2.5 weeks in. More handling to go before floor-work begins.

#WillowsLillyLittle ⭐️Awaiting adoption⭐️ Sassy, inquisitive and playful. I’m still quite small for my age (about 18 weeks) but too big to lie in the fruit bowl now, so snoozing on the back of the sofa is one place I relax. I’ve not plucked up the courage to settle on a knee yet so might not be a lap cat as such, but I do like to be next to my foster humans sometimes. Maybe in time you can temp me in exchange for treats. When I’m not in kitten-zoooomies mode, as you can see on my video I like to play nice with my trio of toys that my temporary foster family have kindly bought for me. My evening zoomies are fun to watch but I do settle down like a good girl in my nursery den at night for sleeeepzzzzz. Or some nights my foster humans even let me sleep in THEIR big comfy den. Be warned… I am an early riser! My foster lady says my morning cuddles are the best, full of purrs and nose bonks. Then… time to seize the day for more fun and games. With careful and patient introductions The Willows’ Way I might like to live with another young cat. I love the cat that lives here, but he is older and independant and doesn’t want to play with me. I love to sit on the window ledge and watch the birds. I see the cat here playing out but I’m not allowed out just yet. I’d like to explore the out side world once neutered, with a garden of my own or one of those Catios I hear humans sometimes build to keep their precious little furry treasures safe. I’m still a little uncertain of new people who visit here, or sudden moves or sudden loud noises so no small children please. Please give me time to settle in and gain my trust. I’m a lovely little girl once I get to know you. Paws sincerely Lilly-Little 🐾🐾 Private message your contact details to chat about adopting from Willows.

Yesterday we told you about our latest cases. Here’s the start of the journey for 3 of them… #WillowsSooti #WillowsSweep #WillowsSoo

Just look at LOVEABLE little #WillowsBAMBI 💖Awaiting Adoption💖 I’m the extra-special #WillowsBAMBI … you can’t tell from this photo but I’ve only got 3 legs after I had to have one of my back legs amputated last year. I get along fine now, with a few considerations like I must be an indoor cat for my safety. A nice safe catio would be my dream, but if not I can live a wonderful life indoors with my chosen human. I was nervous when I first arrived, so might be in my new home, but I’m winding round the kind volunteers feet now. I can be chatty to ask for affection. I love human attention you see. I nudge hands and use my paw to bring it to my face for chin tickles. I love to play with a feather stick and I still jump up for it (with my 3 legs). I am very polite… I say thank you when you feed me by giving you a head boop. I am sooooo much more healthy now than when I first arrived. I was once a scrawny, undernourished, unutered and exhausted mammycat. Now I have fur like velvet. I was left unutered and had at least two litters; how sad given my tiny size and getting around on 3 legs. But I’m neutered now thanks to Willows rescue so no more stress of unwanted pregnancies and giving birth. Willows wish that all owners do the responsible thing and neuter their pets to end all the unnecessary suffering. Shelters are all full to bursting with exhausted mammy cats and unwanted litters. I’m looking for an adult and quiet home, e.g. no small children now or ever. No challenging homes with other cats or dogs that will likely give chase from time to time. I won’t want to be chased around on my 3 legs… it puts extra strain on my heart. If you have a big heart and think you could offer me the right home, send a private message with your details so a Willows volunteer can give you a call. Thankyou for reading. Paws sincerely Bambi 🐾🐾

💖PEACHES💖 A pretty Brindle Mosaic Tortie kitten-cat around 18-20 weeks old. Rescued from a derelict shed at around 7 weeks old and so needed intensive foster care/socialisation but ready now for adoption. With patience and time she will build a strong bond particularly with a female as she has with her lady Fosterer. She has not bonded with the gentleman of the house. A more mature home as she needs a home where there won’t be any children now or ever in her lifetime because she would be too worried by noise and/or fast or unpredictable moves etc. she will always have some nervousness as she came to us as an un-socialised kitten at around 7 weeks. An uncomplicated home with no other pets to allow her to build the bond she needs to with her forever human. When she’s in playful mode she runs round like whirl wind; chasing her tail and playing with anything she finds, paper, pens and little glitter pom-pom balls. Once she’s run off all her kitten energy she loves to sit and sleep on her foster lady’s knee. She loves her food… one way to her heart. She likes watching the birds in the garden. She’ll need to be an indoor only cat because she’d be scared of loud noises etc, strangers and might run into danger to avoid them. A safe little catio would be the dream but she can live quite happily indoors. Kitten-cats Percy and Patrick each need similar mature, patient, child-free indoor-only (or safe catio) homes. If you think you can offer Peaches the right home, call JULIE 07595222307.

…. GOLDEN treasure 💛 CLARA💛 ☎️CALL Maria 07719605383 (afternoons are best) To chat about a golden treasure. ❗️At 71 years old Maria is a golden treasure herself so do not text, what’s app etc as your message WILL likely get missed. So please please please pick up the phone and CALL her.❗️ #WillowsCLARA I’m a sweet but shy girl looking for a SELFLESS HUMAN with a BIG HEART, and a QUIET LIFESTYLE. Someone with lots of love to give, and a peaceful home willing to take a chance on me. A true rescue. They will be rewarded tenfold with my trust and loyalty. I arrived in April after living rough for a year… although probably much more… part of a colony of around 9+ cats originally being fed by a lady who then passed away. Another kindly lady, lovely Mary, stepped in to help us all. Willows have been sending her food parcels to help us all. We were sheltering in a nearby derelict / empty house after that elderly home-owner passed. When I first arrived it was a tricky first few weeks for me. I’m gentle but a shy girl so I was t..t..t..terrified. Once I started to trust the kind volunteers, they soon found out I adore gentle strokes. I even roll over for tummy tickles. My purr is deep and your reward for treating me with kindness. I will always be very wary of noises and movement and will take a while to settle in, so I need a very patient understanding home with no children now or ever. I must be an indoor cat on account of my need to run from perceived dangers. But a safe secure catio would be good if at all possible now or in future. I’ve had my dental now… my last remaining teeth taken out for my comfort. So it’s softened dry food and wet sachets for me now. Paws sincerely Clara 🐾🐾 If you think you can offer a quite, mature understanding home with no children now or ever, and no other pets so things are easy and simple for me, and I can be the apple of your eye of course, then ☎️CALL MARIA 0771960538

❤️❤️❤️My Fosterer says I am a tiny treasure who deserves the best.❤️❤️❤️ Yoohoooo… I’m #WillowsBRAMBLE …. about 5 years old and a petite, shy but kind gentle boy. Despite my difficult start in life, I have blossomed with patience and care with the help of my volunteer Fosterer Susan. ❤️❤️❤️Slowly I have learned to trust and have progressed from hiding in my den, to jumping on my Fosterer’s lap for love.❤️❤️❤️ I adore being stroked and will tell my lady when I want more affection. I will make a super companion and need someone who will go at my pace and will show me understanding and I will flourish. I am looking for a quiet home, with a settled adult or two, where there will never be any children or other pets. Once settled I may want to go outdoors in a nice safe garden. ⭐️Find out more about BRAMBLE⭐️ If you think you might be able to offer Bramble the right home, and to chat more about his background and needs, please contact his Fosterer Susan directly on 0752 3047234.

Saturday 15th June…

Today our winners PAUL & LOUISA enjoyed their PURRRivate picnic with the pussycats. You may remember Paul’s name was drawn in May from all the people who donated online to the Brick Fund in Feb, March or April. On the menu were lots of meowvelous savoury & sweet treats, fresh from Lee’s the Bakers this morning. Watched over by 8 Willows rescue kitties who Paul & Louisa got to spend 1:1 time playing with and cuddling. We hope you both enjoyed your time at our cosy little shelter today. 🐱🍰🐾🐱🍰🐾🐱🍰🐾

TakeoverTuesday 🐈‍⬛❤️ #WillowsLillyLittle Sassy, inquisitive and playful. I’m about 9 weeks old now and almost ready for the big wide world. When I’m not in kitten-zoooomies mode, or hot-footing it up my scratch post, I can sometimes be found lounging in the fruit bowl or snoozing on the back of the sofa. I also settle down like a good girl in my nursery den at night for sleeeepz. I don’t mind being carried around in your dressing gown whilst I’m still small. But I’ve not plucked up the courage to settle on a knee yet but I do like to be next to my foster humans (once I’ve finished my playing). However, I’m still a little shy and uncertain of new people or sudden moves and noises so no small children please.

TakeoverTuesday 🐈‍⬛❤️ #WillowsLillyLittle … full of beanz in my temporary foster home this fine Tuesday morning. Awaiting my forever humans and home. I’m Sassy, inquisitive and playful. I’m about 9 weeks old now and almost ready for the big wide world. When I’m not in kitten-zoooomies mode, or hot-footing it up my scratch post, I can sometimes be found lounging in the fruit bowl or snoozing on the back of the sofa. I also settle down like a good girl in my nursery den at night for sleeeepz. I don’t mind being carried around in your dressing gown whilst I’m still small. But I’ve not plucked up the courage to sleep on a knee yet but I do like to be next to my foster humans (once I’ve finished my playing). However, I’m still a little shy and uncertain of new people or sudden moves and noises so no small children please.

⭐️BELLA Awaiting Adoption⭐️ I’m shy #WillowsBella. Shy but very affectionate and will love attention from my chosen human. I’m around 4 or 5 years old I think. I’m in foster care and enjoying my peaceful space and the patience and kindness of volunteer Aunty Susan. I’ve even met her adult children who came to visit and allowed them to stroke me (under the sofa at first). I will always be a bit wary of strangers, unexpected movement and noises… but… I will build a strong bond with my chosen human or two. No children now or ever in my lifetime; I will flourish best in a quiet ADULT only home. I love chin and cheek scritches and snuggling on my Fosterer lady’s knee or on the cushion next to her. I’d sit there all day if she’d let me. When she leaves the room I sometimes retreat to the safety of my igloo bed or behind the sofa… but not always now. I’ve got braver over the last few weeks. In fact when I hear my foster lady come home from work I get ready in my spot ready for tea to be served. I like to snuggle on the bed now too. My favourite toy is mousey on a string/stick. Minus the mouse! I just love the dangly stringy bit. I lived in my last home as a fully indoor cat, so looking for the same for my comfort and safety. Or a safe catio so I can enjoy the summer breeze safely. I have a bit of a weepy eye. I’ve seen the nice vet and we’re trying drops. It may be that I always have this. We’ll see how it goes. It’s getting better though and It doesn’t bother me. Willows have quite a few of us adult shy cats, who, for various reasons because of our backgrounds as youngsters or hones we got used to, we just couldn’t cope with young children so are awaiting nice mature quiet peaceful homes. Hoping there’s somone just right for me out there, who can give me the tranquil home and time and patience to live my best life. My foster lady said she’ll be very sad to see me go, but until then she’s helping m

Our 6 x three-week-olds and their mam headed off into foster care on Saturday with new volunteer and Vet Olivia. New Mammycat #WillowsPoppy wasn’t coping with shelter / life in general; she is likely very run-down after living/surviving outdoors for so long and stressed before giving birth on the very day she arrived at Willows. Her babies need ongoing monitoring after recent treatment for eye infections. Just one of our many ongoing rescue cases, and 7 of the 24 souls that arrived in the same week https://www.facebook.com/100064402913867/posts/803724248450998/?

🎉Happy 71st Birthday to Willows’ Founder Maria Harrison. She’s DEDICATED her LIFE to animal rescue. We have a DREAM of a BIGGER shelter… hopefully in Maria’s lifetime. Can you spare a few pounds for the #WillowsBrickFund. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/willows-cats-Brick-Fund-2023-24 Your kind donation will make a BIG difference to the lives of stray, neglected and unwanted cats for many many years to come. In the meantime… here’s a reminder of how it all started… look carefully at the first and last shot in the video and you’ll spot Smokey (aka Doreen) the rabbit… Maria’s first rescue case when she was just 7 and a 1/2 . Tales from The Willows By Maria Harrison CHAPTER 1 - Doreen, Hammy & Annie - 1960 I often wonder how many animals have spent a night, or two, or three under my roof. I suppose it must be in the many many thousands by now. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, hedgehogs, the odd fox, goat, lamb and once a seal. I think I was wired to care for animals at a very early age thanks to my Mother and Grandmother and their kindness to ALL creatures. My Grandmother Annie brought me up until I was about 8 and she taught me from a tiny child to feed the birds and little mice in the garden. She would make sure to not harm the worms when digging and she taught me to be still and quiet when busy bees and wasps were around, explaining that they all had families and didn’t want to hurt us. In those days, as they do now, people kept hamsters in small cages. One day, after much thought Grandmother allowed me to have one, but, only if it can have an adventure playground to live in. So together we made one with places to dig and tunnel, and with jam jar dens inside. She educated me about their natural behaviours and how they needed wood to keep their teeth healthy. I called him Hammy after the hamster in Tales Of The Riverbank; the black & white telly program with live action animals that I loved to watch.

⭐️NEW⭐️ Meet #LillyLittle… she’s in “Willows’ Finishing School for Kittens”. Teeny tiny little lady. Not quite ready for adoption just yet. She’s still learning how to be a good girl and a nice companion for some forever humans.

📣UPDATE #WillowsPEACHES is clearly feeling a lot more settled and playing for the first time now she’s safe in foster care with Julie. She is #1 of 3 kittens trapped at the weekend along with their unutered mam living in a derelict outbuilding. 4 souls saved from a desperate life on the streets. Her siblings are off to their own foster placements. They have to be split for the best socialsation progress. It’s why helping feral kittens is so intensive. 3 kittens found = 3 fosterers needed. 6 feral kittens = 6 fosterers. Peaches has a while to go in her journey before being ready to adopt, but she’s taking little steps forward by the day.

⭐️Awaiting adoption⭐️ #WillowsAngus & #WillowsAaron to be adopted together. Two shorthaired tabby and white sociable boys around 5 years young. They love greeting visitors… vying for their attention “stroke me… no meeeeee”. Super-friendly, affectionate and chilled so would be ok around a kind child. Access to a garden once settled is a must to be able to run and explore for these inquisitive young and energetic bonded brothers. ✍️To chat about adopting from Willows send a private message with your details and we can call you for a chat.