A charity has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to come forward to help domestic abuse survivors fleeing danger in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Cats Protection’s Paws Protect fostering service is launching in East Anglia after the charity noted a 53%* increase in the number of referrals from people in the region needing specialised support.
The free service provides safe haven for pet cats from homes experiencing domestic abuse.
Natalie Ratcliffe, Paws Protect Manager for East Anglia, said: “We have seen a sharp increase in referrals from people needing help in East Anglia so we know there is an immediate need for a specialist domestic abuse fostering service to help people in need.
“But we can’t do it alone. We can only provide this valuable service that is clearly needed with a team of volunteers on the ground. So we are appealing for fosterers to come forward now if we are to help those in most need.
The appeal has gone out for volunteer fosterers in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, to allow for the cats to be homed outside their usual location, beyond any zone of influence.
Expenses such as vet bills and food costs are covered by Cats Protection, so this is an opportunity to enjoy the company of a cat while providing essential support for someone in desperate need.
Many refuges do not accept pets, so owning a cat can be a barrier for people escaping domestic abuse. Abusive people also target the pets within the home, with cats often used as a tool to coerce and control their partner or, in tragic cases, killed by the perpetrator. Knowing a pet cat will be safe in temporary foster care and returned when the situation allows is one less worry for those planning to flee abuse.
This expansion of Paws Protect in the eastern counties has been supported by a three-year grant of £315k from the Pets at Home Foundation.
Natalie, said: “We have operated our specialist cat fostering service in London and the South East since 2017 and recently launched in Yorkshire and we are delighted to expand Paws Protect into this region. With this move into East Anglia, we will be able to provide support for more cat owners experiencing domestic abuse when they need it most.”
Cats Protection will continue to work in partnership with Dogs Trust, which already runs its Freedom Project across East Anglia. The two charities’ partnership in the South East has seen 1,930 pets fostered since 2004 through their specialist domestic abuse services.
Under the service, a cat will generally stay with a fosterer for five months until they can be safely reunited with their owners, but holiday cover can be organised to ensure foster carers are able to enjoy a well-deserved break.
Natalie said: “Fostering for Paws Protect is a rewarding experience, offering a survivor of abuse the freedom to flee with the knowledge their beloved cats are safe. 96% of our current volunteers said that fostering a cat through Paws Protect has had a positive impact on their wellbeing and mental health, which is a bonus to the valued help they are providing.”
All cats taken in by the Paws Protect service are treated sensitively, with total anonymity assured. A fosterer will not know who the owner is or where they live, and the cat will be cared for in an area away from its original address. Regular photos and updates will be provided to give the owners peace of mind.
Learn more about volunteering as a Paws Protect fosterer at https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/paws-protect or call 0300 012 0283.
