Twenty Thousand Cats Helped As Sussex Charity Celebrates 20th Anniversary

A Sussex cat charity is celebrating 20 years of helping needy cats by opening its doors to anyone looking to rehome a cat.

Since its launch in 2004, the United Kingdom Cat Centre in Chelwood Gate has rehomed an incredible 20,000 cats and kittens to happy and settled lives. That amazing figure does not even take into account cats and their owners who have been supported with advice.

To champion the amazing work carried out by its dedicated team of staff and volunteers over two decades, the cat centre will be hosting a special open day on Sunday, 29 September.

Anyone interested in adopting a cat or learning more about the work they do at the centre can drop in between 12-2pm and visit cats in the two homing wings, no appointment necessary.

Centre manager Danielle Draper said:

“Our 20^th anniversary year is a time to not only look back on our successes but to look forward to how we can rehome even more cats and best support owners across Sussex.

“We have so many cats in need of new home. from the playful to the outdoor-loving sociable cat, and our staff will be on hand to discuss the ideal match for anyone looking to welcome a new cat into their family.”

Two of the older cats looking for new homes include 14-year-old Teddy Ruxpin, currently the centre’s longest resident, at nearly six months in care.

Teddy loves to curl up and go to sleep, preferably on a cosy lap in a quiet home where he is the only pet to enjoy his older years.

Lady Dorothy is another 14-year-old cat and an absolute sweetheart who loves a fuss. What she needs is somewhere peaceful to relax and take things easy.

The first of the 20,000 lucky cats to be rehomed was Harley. This black boy set off a chain of adoptions by the dedicated team at the cattery and clinic, formerly known as the National Cat Adoption Centre.

The honour of being the 20,000^th cat adopted went to Toby, another black male, who was successfully rehomed in August 2024.

As well as rehoming cats relinquished due to illness or changes in personal circumstance, the centre has seen 659 kittens born at the centre in the last 20 years

In July 2018, a female cat called Fiona had eight healthy kittens that went to new homes – the largest successfully homed litter at the centre. The centre had a very busy day in April 2014, when 11 kittens were born on the same day, with Cleo and Smokey the new mums.

But it was August 2012 that Danielle remembers best, when 24 kittens were born – the most in any month at the centre.

In this milestone year, the centre has seen a renaming from the National Cat Adoption Centre to coincide with a brand relaunch for Cats Protection, so visitors have seen not just a change in name but a bold new logo and identity for the charity.

This year has been a particularly busy and challenging one for everyone at the centre as the cost-of-living crisis has seen an increase in the number of cats being given up.

Danielle said:

“We hear stories of people who feel their only choice is to give up their cat due to personal issues.

"We don’t judge and if people are struggling, we hope that they contact us before doing anything rash like dumping them.

"Advice and reassurance can help and we’ll do all we can to support them until a space is available at our centre or with local fosterers.”

To cope with the increased workload, the United Kingdom Cat Centre is calling on fellow cat lovers to consider becoming volunteers for Cats Protection.

Anyone interested in finding out how to support the work of the United Kingdom Cat Centre, visit www.cats.org.uk/ncac

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity that helps an average of 184,000 cats and kittens a year through its nationwide network.

As well as finding new homes for unwanted and abandoned cats, the charity offers advice to support the welfare of all cats.