WEST FIFE Cats Protection urgently needs help, whether in the shape of loving homes for their latest lodgers, new volunteers, donations to their shop or funding.

A small bunch of dedicated volunteers are devoted to helping cats and kittens which, through no fault of their own, find themselves out on the streets.

If necessary they will be nursed back to health by one of the team of foster parents before being neutered, inoculated and microchipped.

Then they are looked after until a suitable new home is found for them.

However, this may take some time and while cat- lovers nearly always look for a cute kitten as a new family member, that means older cats may be in for a long wait.

The branch’s homing officer Anita Guy said this time of year is always busy and this year is no exception, with around 30 cats in at present.

“We are pretty full. We also board with the vets and a space will always be found for a cat—we won’t turn one away,” she said.

Nor will they ever put a cat to sleep unless it is on the recommendation of a vet if nothing more can be done to save it.

“That is only done if they have absolutely no quality of life at all,” she stressed.

In addition, if a middle-aged cat is rehomed with a condition which may need longer-term treatment, the group is there to help the new owner financially.

The volunteers always make sure that cats who need to be together— perhaps having lived all their lives together—will be rehomed together too.

“We will not split them up, even if there is a home for one of them.

“We have always got other cats looking for a home which can go singly,” she said.

Of course, this all takes money and the volunteers have to rely on fund-raising by themselves as they only receive a very limited amount every year from the Cats Protection headquarters.

With hundreds of cats needing homes every year, even in the small west Fife area vets’ fees—despite a generous discount from a local veterinary practice— run into thousands.

Then there is food, heating, upkeep of pens and transport costs to meet— costs often borne by the volunteers themselves.

While the charity can attend summer galas and fetes to help fund-raise, Anita pointed out that it is much more difficult to come up with money-spinners throughout the winter.

And so the generosity of the local public helps, either through donations of money or handing unwanted goods and bric-a-brac into their Rosyth shop to be resold.

“We rely very heavily on donations. Cats Protection do not provide us with a lot of money over the year,” Anita said.

Not only do the volunteers work well together but the group also works with other animal welfare organisations to ensure animals do not fall through the net and are rehomed successfully.

“It is hard work but it is rewarding,” Anita said. “We do it for the cats—we want what’s best for them.”

And the small group would desperately like to hear from potential new volunteers who can help in many ways, whether it be acting as a foster mum or doing home visits.

“We need someone who is going to stick with us, true cat lovers.

“There is a lot of work in fostering and they need to be dedicated. For example, we have the same standards as catteries,” Anita added.

For anyone interested in offering a cat a home, the volunteers will meet with the potential new owners and then try to marry up a suitable choice.

Right now one resident is Cleo, a big black and white girl with her own personality who has been with the group for six months.

“She needs a good home and for her it would perhaps be best with someone older, with time to spend with her,” Anita said.

“But I wouldn’t home her in a house where there were children.”

If anyone would like to find out more about the group, volunteer, make a donation or find out more about the cats currently in its care, they should call 01383 412191.