Calder Valley and District Branch Cats Protection

Many people do not realise that all Cats Protection Branches are self-managed, self-financed and run entirely by unpaid volunteers, juggling home and family, careers and courses, trying to stretch 24 hours into 30.

People are our greatest resource and we urgently need more volunteers to enable us, in turn, to help more needy cats. Everybody has a skill to offer, so if you have a little time to spare then please consider joining us. Your contribution could mean the difference between life and death.

Are you efficient and organised? We are always in need of people who can take a turn at answering the phone, keep our records up to date, or undertake a spot of publicity work. Maybe you are in a position to donate a service, such as printing or photocopying, to help us spread the word.

If you enjoy driving and have a car or van, we would love to hear from you. Help with transport is needed at all times of the day, evening and at weekends. Injured and fostered cats need to be transported to vets, and emergency cases need to be picked up.

If live cargo is not for you, then could you do a bric-a-brac run? Vital funds are raised by the sale of secondhand goods, see our Ebay site, so any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

All Cats Protection Branches have to raise their own funds. They receive no statutory funding from any source. Donations of goods are always welcome, new or secondhand. Let us recycle your unwanted goods.

There are so many ways in which you can help. Volunteers are needed to man stalls and shake tins on flag day. Even if you can only spare an hour or two, every little helps.

Feral colonies need to be managed to prevent overpopulation and disease. Feral cats are trapped, neutered and returned to their sites. So if you fancy an ethical alternative to big game hunting, maybe this is the task for you.

Foster homes accommodate cats and kittens coming into Branch care. Cats are admitted for all sorts of reasons - stray, unwanted, pregnant, abused, injured or the victims of bereavement or divorce.

All are bewildered and in need of a safe haven where they can feel relaxed and secure. Foster carers are a real lifeline, offering love and care to vulnerable cats.

We are looking for people with either a spare room, or a secure garden with space to erect an outdoor pen. The Branch supplies all the necessary equipment, food, litter and veterinary support.

It is essential that cats owned by foster carers are fully vaccinated.