Karen's Cat Community - Animal Rescue and Sanctuary

25/10/2025

🌙 Bean's Journey: From Tiny to Mighty 🌙
Our very first kitten born at the sanctuary — Bean has grown from a tiny baby at his mum Lili-Wen’s side into a big, confident boy. 💕
He’s still as close to his mum as ever and shares a special bond with his adopted brother Barney.
Full of sass, love, and plenty of fluff — Bean is truly part of the heart of our sanctuary family. 🐾

25/10/2025

🌙 Meet Bean 🌙

Lili-Wen’s one and only kitten — though he’s not such a tiny Bean anymore! 😸
Like mother, like son, he’s full of sass and isn’t afraid to tell the other cats off when they annoy him. But with humans, he’s all love and cuddles. 💕

Bean has one very funny quirk… he loves being hoovered! 🧹 He’ll even follow us around the room waiting for his turn.

He could do with losing a little weight, but we think he’s perfect just the way he is — our gentle, mighty Bean, always keeping us smiling. 🐾

After a few homes fell through, we took it as a sign that he was meant to stay here — safe, happy, and always by his mum’s side. 💖

📸 Bean is June in our 2026 Karen’s Cat Community Calendar — our gentle, mighty Bean, who will always be part of our story.

24/10/2025

🌸 Lili-Wen’s Journey 🌸
From a tiny pregnant rescue in Bangor to proud mum of little Bean and adopted mother to our “Lost Boys,” Lili-Wen has come such a long way. 💕
Now she’s the queen of the Cat Room — small but mighty, full of sass, and living her best life with her son by her side. 🐾
Forever safe, forever loved. ❤️
📸 Featured as February in our 2026 Sanctuary Calendar.

24/10/2025

🌸 Meet Lili-Wen 🌸

Lili-Wen came to us from Bangor, North Wales, while she was pregnant. Several kind people helped to bring her to safety — a family friend even drove partway to meet us. She was one of our first pregnant rescues, though we’d already cared for many mums with tiny kittens before.

Tiny in size with the smallest paws you’ve ever seen, Lili-Wen was scanned and thought to be expecting three kittens — but when the time came, she gave birth to just one: our precious Bean. For a little while, we worried she might still have kittens hidden away, but it was soon confirmed that Bean was her only baby.

She was an incredible mother, gentle and patient, and later adopted several of our motherless kittens once they were past weaning — helping to teach them manners, confidence, and how to “cat properly.” This lively group became affectionately known as The Lost Boys — Bean, Barney, Tigger, Dexter, Boo, and Skelly.

As Bean grew up, Lili-Wen started to watch the world from the window and call to go outside. We allow supervised garden time, but she had absolutely no road sense — she’d run towards cars instead of away — so we knew she could only ever be safe in a secure, enclosed environment.

We tried to find her the perfect home, sometimes with her son Bean, sometimes with other cats she bonded with, but none of the matches ever felt right. As time passed, the enquiries slowed, and it became clear that her heart — and Bean’s — belonged here with us.

Now, Lili-Wen is one of our long-term sanctuary residents. She has ongoing dental issues and a chronic sore eye that leaves a red mark and needs bathing every day, so staying with us means she gets the extra care she needs. She’s the boss lady of the Cat Room, keeping all the boys in line with her loud crackly meow and bursts of zoomies when the mood takes her.

When she’s not keeping order, you’ll find her cuddled up on the sofa watching horror films (her favourite genre!) or curled up with Bean. She might be small, but she’s full of fire and personality — a true matriarch in miniature.
We’re so glad we trusted our instincts and kept her here where she feels safe and loved. This is her home, and this is where she belongs. ❤️

📸 Lili-Wen features as February in our 2026 Karen’s Cat Community Calendar — a beautiful reminder of the tiny cat with the biggest heart.

22/10/2025

🐾💛 Important Update from Karen’s Cat Community 💛🐾
We want to apologise for the recent silence — things have been busy behind the scenes.
For now, we remain closed for the foreseeable future and are not taking in new cats. Both Lauren and Karen have been working hard redecorating, securing and upgrading the sanctuary pens for winter, and catching up on important maintenance that we finally have time to do — ensuring our sanctuary cats have better areas for their care and comfort. These cats will be with us for the foreseeable future, and their wellbeing remains our top priority. 💕
Although we can’t take in any new cats at the moment, we’re still here to offer advice and guidance. Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing what to do if you find a stray cat and how to help safely while rescues across the UK are struggling for space.
If you have an emergency situation — such as an injured, elderly, or single kitten out in the cold — or if you’re struggling to hear back from other rescues, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll see how we can help or advise. 💌
We know it’s heartbreaking seeing so many cats in need. Please be patient with rescues as we all do our best to bring as many cats as possible into the warm as winter approaches. 🧣🐱
We’ll also start reintroducing our sanctuary cats here and sharing updates on how they’re all doing. Thank you for your kindness, patience, and continued support — it truly means the world to us and the cats still in our care. 💛🐾

21/10/2025

Until Laws Change, Animal Rescue Seems Pretty Pointless. How does this not warrant a prison sentence?

CONVICTED | Kasie Armstrong, 22, of Throckley, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 - beat a dog to death.

On October 2, 2024 the battered body of Jack Russell terrier Barney (pictured) was found at an address in Northbourne Street, Newcastle NE4, belonging to Kasie Armstrong's partner.

The court heard that Armstrong, whose shoes were covered in Barney's blood, pleaded with her partner not to contact the police, but he told her that he already had. The RSPCA were also alerted with Inspector Helen Bestwick attending the scene the day after Barney's traumatic death.

She could see bruising and swelling on Barney's body and blood around his mouth. Blood marks were also evident on the sofa, floor, and radiator near his bed in the hallway.

Post-mortem examination showed he had suffered extensive injuries including rib fractures and "a fracture of the cheek bone ... coinciding with the scratch mark seenf below the left eye.

"A liver laceration resulting in fatal internal bleeding was found to be the cause of death. The injuries noted are consistent with non-accidental injury.

"The dog had been subjected to blunt force trauma and or crush injuries resulting in broken bones and catastrophic internal bleeding.

"This could have been the result of a beating with or without an object kicking or stomping or a combination. The force required to cause this level of trauma would have been significant and repeated. This would have resulted in excruciating pain, significant fear and mental strain.

"It is my opinion, given the evidence on the dog’s body, that Barney suffered from immense trauma prior to death. This trauma was non-accidental and likely malicious."

During an interview with the RSPCA, Armstrong claimed the dog had bitten her, but when she was asked to show any injuries there were no wounds or scars visible.

After the case, Inspector Bestwick added: "This was an horrific attack on a defenceless dog in his own home and this kind of behaviour is never acceptable. It was a particularly harrowing case to deal with knowing how much Barney must have suffered during the beating that led to his death."

Sentencing | one year jail sentence, suspended for 18 months; 120 hours of unpaid work; 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days; six month mental health treatment requirement. 15-year animal ban.

https://ukanimalcrueltyfiles.org/throckley-newcastle-upon-tyne-kasie-armstrong

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-woman-given-15-year-32695539

13/10/2025

🌟 THEY’RE HERE! 🌟
Our 2026 Karen’s Cat Community Calendars have arrived — and they’re absolutely purrfect! 🐾💕

Each month features one of our beautiful sanctuary cats — the ones who needed a little extra love and care to find safety and peace with us. From cheeky faces to heartwarming stories, every page celebrates the cats who call our sanctuary home.

🩷 All profits go directly to the cats — helping us pay vet bills, heating, and sanctuary care through the winter.

📅 13-month calendar (Jan 2026–Jan 2027)
📦 UK shipping only – First Class from our local post office
💌 Ready to send now!

✨ Grab yours today and help us keep tails wagging and tummies full this winter.
➡️ https://karenscatcommunityshop.bigcartel.com/product/2026-calender

27/09/2025

25/09/2025

🎃 Cwtch Cath Halloween Giveaway 🎃
To celebrate spooky season, we’re giving away:
✨ 1 Deluxe Halloween Treat Bag (worth £45)
✨ 1 Handmade Pumpkin Cat Bed
🐾 How to Enter:
💖Follow on social media; Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok)
💖Like this post
💖Tag friends who loves cats 🐱
💖Share this post to your story (optional but appreciated!)
💖Email “Done” + your contact details to [email protected] to complete your entry
📅 Important Dates
Giveaway opens: Now!
Giveaway closes: 29th September, 6pm
Winner announced: 29th September 7pm (just before our second Halloween Treat Bag drop — 13 available!)
⚠️ Notes
- Open to UK entries only 🇬🇧
- Winner will be chosen at random and contacted directly via the details you provide in your email.
- No purchase necessary.
- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.

17/09/2025

Sorry for the recent quietness from us — we’ve both been feeling a little bogged down with everything. 💛 Posting will start to pick up again here as we get back to sharing updates, important information, and the cat care best practices we’ve learnt through years of experience in rescue. 🐾
This week Billy and Seren went for their yearly boosters on Monday 😺💉. Vaccinations are an important part of keeping cats safe and healthy — protecting against serious illnesses such as cat flu 🤧, feline enteritis 🦠, and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) 🐱. Keeping up to date with boosters helps protect not only your cat, but also the wider cat community 🌍🐾.
Stay tuned for more posts about the importance of preventative care and tips from our own journey with cats. 🐾💜

29/08/2025

✨ Rehoming cats with FIV/FeLV – yes, it can be done! ✨

Earlier this year we had Brutus in our care 💙. He was classed as a sanctuary cat, and we knew it might take a while to find him the right home. Thanks to the amazing Maddie, who first rescued him, and Newtown Powys Animal Welfare, who neutered him, Brutus was saved from a life on the streets where he was at constant risk – spreading FIV and catching illnesses his immune system couldn’t handle.

It took time, but now Brutus is living happily indoors with another FIV-positive cat 🐾. His new owners have worked wonders – he’s settled into his loving home, started to play, and even curls up on blankets, safe and content. From a tough life outdoors to a warm, cosy sofa – what a journey! 🛋️💤

📸 Below you can see Brutus when he was first on the streets, and now in his forever home – safe, loved, and thriving. Proof that these cats are so much more than their virus. They deserve love, family, and comfort just like any other cat. 💖

Now it’s Abigail’s turn. 💕
Abigail is still waiting for her forever home. She’s just as talkative as Brutus was, always asking for cuddles, and desperate for love and attention. She truly deserves her happy ending.

If you think you could give Abigail the loving indoor home she’s dreaming of, please get in touch: 📧 [email protected]

Let’s prove once again that FIV+ cats can live full, happy lives with the right family 🐾💫.

🐱❤️