PussyCat Lodge was established 20
years ago. Over the last 10 years it has been a focal
point for the group of volunteers who continue to rescue
and care for cats in the Dagenham, Redbridge and
Havering areas in Essex. PussyCat Lodge is
Jennie's home where several
outdoor pens (along with space in almost every room in
the house for kitten pens) cater for the many needy cats
passing through its doors. Outside is a specially built
feral house for the semi-wild cats who can't quite face
coming indoors. While the management of feral cats is
not the main priority, the plight of the ferals at
Dagenham Docks some years ago could not be ignored and a
feeding, trapping and neutering project was undertaken
to try and help them. See our feral
cats section for further details.
At PussyCat Lodge we never put any healthy cat to sleep
including feral cats. We will
drive far and wide to deliver feral cats to good homes
in reputable stables and, if a cat cannot be homed due
to long term illness, disability, unsociability or
advancing age, they become a sponsored cat and are left
to live out their final years with one of our fosterers,
usually at PussyCat Lodge. See Sponsor
cats for details
of how you can help.
We are always looking for volunteers to spend just a
couple of hours a week helping in any of the above
areas. Please contact us if
you are able to help. We also need fosterers to help out
during "busy periods".
When things just get too much
Jennie reminds herself
of a Christmas when a little feral cat from a pen roof,
too frightened to venture into the house previously, was
waiting for her on Christmas morning under the tree
playing with a fir cone, a sight as welcome as any
Christmas present. It's moments like that that make it
all worthwhile.