10th February 2025
Charity volunteers are urgently appealing to cat lovers with large safe gardens to rehome pairs of cats from a colony of 15 that face eviction from their territory in South London.
The cats live on a triangle of waste ground in New Cross Gate, bordered by Besson Street, New Cross Road and Briant Street, but they will be displaced as the land in SE14 is earmarked for development.
Kathy Vanner, who co-fronts the volunteer team at Cats Protection Blackheath & Deptford, said: “These 15 cats are ‘inbetweeners’, they are neither feral nor domestic, and they are at serious risk if we cannot find new homes for them soon.”
“They visit the garden of a kindly woman who feeds them and some even venture indoors when it gets chilly,’ Kathy said. “But the garden isn’t suitable for them to live in and their home territory is surrounded on all sides by busy main roads, so if they disperse to seek alternative homes and food sources when that land is cleared, they are at high risk of being run over.
“They are going to lose not only their food source but their safe haven from the surrounding roads that pose a significant danger to their safety."
The national cat welfare charity is appealing for people with large gardens or businesses with outdoor spaces where the cats can live safely in pairs. Potential guardians will need to provide daily food and water for the cats, while Cats Protection will supply a temporary relocation pen and a more permanent shelter if required.
Inbetweener cats thrive in outdoor environments with access to shelter and regular feeding. Many are even comfortable living alongside people and will form a bond of trust with their feeders but will shy away from being touched.
Elle Hatam, Cats Protection Regional Behaviour Officer, said: “These cats need to be rehomed in a large safe outdoor space where they will be fed and provided with shelter. They are not feral but aren’t socialised enough to be indoor lap cats who want to interact with humans.
“Given time and space, they might choose to come indoors or interact with people but this will be on their own terms and in their time. However, there shouldn’t be any expectation for them to do this.”
Charity volunteers are urgently appealing to cat lovers with large safe gardens to rehome pairs of cats from a colony of 15 that face eviction from their territory in South London.
The cats live on a triangle of waste ground in New Cross Gate, bordered by Besson Street, New Cross Road and Briant Street, but they will be displaced as the land in SE14 is earmarked for development.
Kathy Vanner, who co-fronts the volunteer team at Cats Protection Blackheath & Deptford, said: “These 15 cats are ‘inbetweeners’, they are neither feral nor domestic, and they are at serious risk if we cannot find new homes for them soon.”
“They visit the garden of a kindly woman who feeds them and some even venture indoors when it gets chilly,’ Kathy said. “But the garden isn’t suitable for them to live in and their home territory is surrounded on all sides by busy main roads, so if they disperse to seek alternative homes and food sources when that land is cleared, they are at high risk of being run over.
“They are going to lose not only their food source but their safe haven from the surrounding roads that pose a significant danger to their safety."
The national cat welfare charity is appealing for people with large gardens or businesses with outdoor spaces where the cats can live safely in pairs. Potential guardians will need to provide daily food and water for the cats, while Cats Protection will supply a temporary relocation pen and a more permanent shelter if required.
Inbetweener cats thrive in outdoor environments with access to shelter and regular feeding. Many are even comfortable living alongside people and will form a bond of trust with their feeders but will shy away from being touched.
Elle Hatam, Cats Protection Regional Behaviour Officer, said: “These cats need to be rehomed in a large safe outdoor space where they will be fed and provided with shelter. They are not feral but aren’t socialised enough to be indoor lap cats who want to interact with humans.
“Given time and space, they might choose to come indoors or interact with people but this will be on their own terms and in their time. However, there shouldn’t be any expectation for them to do this.”
Cats Protection Blackheath has already carried out a Trap, Neuter and Return programme for the colony of 15 cats aged between ten months and five years old. But now the team is appealing for permanent homes for each of the cats.
Neutering not only limits the number of unwanted litters, it vastly improves their quality of life and, along with the vaccinations they have also received, it reduces a number of health risks.
If you have a large garden or open space and a loving heart, please consider offering a home to these cats who face an uncertain future.
Elle said: “This type of cat would thrive in a setting such as a spacious garden, where they have access to food and shelter. Allowing them the choice and space to interact with their caregivers should they wish. These cats are not the usual lap cats but, on their own terms, they can make great companions.”
To ask about caring for these inbetweener cats visit https://www.cats.org.uk/blackheath or email enquiries@blackheath.cats.org.uk.
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For more information, please contact Cats Protection’s Media Office on media.office@cats.org.uk or by calling 01825 741 911.