1 October 2007
United cats purr loud enough that the country can hear
Celebrity support as cat charities across the UK are united online
for the first time
25 October 2007, London: A new website that aims to find loving homes for thousands of abandoned cats and kittens has just launched. Cat lovers can now log on to www.felineonline.co.uk to see hundreds of cats looking for a new home from all across the UK.
Tragically, thousands of cats are abandoned every year. Cats Protection has over 6,500 cats and kittens in its care at any time and re-homes 55,500 cats every year whilst the RSPCA rescued nearly 30,000 unwanted cats last year - more than double the number of unwanted dogs.
Organisers expect over 2000 cats will be re-homed in the first year of the site going live.
One of the many heartbreaking cases currently relying on www.felineonline.co.uk is that of three pedigree Siamese cats in Northamptonshire looking for a home together after their original owner died of cancer. Nine year old Brecci and Baz and their friend Little Fella, eight, prove that three is certainly not a crowd when it comes to feline friends.
Worth over £1,000, this trio have been at the Northamptonshire Animals Needing Nurturing and Adoption Centre (NANNA) for months despite their endearing loyalty and striking looks.
Leading pet insurance provider Petplan and K9 Media Ltd, a pet publishing company, are behind the initiative which has united over 25 rescue shelters, charities and animal welfare groups from across the UK for the first time.
Margi Salih from Petplan said: “Whilst the general cat population is growing, sadly more are being abandoned and we’d urge all cat lovers who may be considering expanding their feline family to visit Feline Online.”
Support for www.felineonline.co.uk includes cat-loving celebrities such as Gail Porter and Anne Widdecombe.
“This site is the most fantastic site. It’s very important for someone to know exactly what they're getting into when owning a cat and they can then have many happy years together,” says Anne Widdecombe.
Ryan O’Meara, publisher of popular British dog publication, K9 Magazine, added: “Through Petplan’s support we’ve been able to launch Feline Online and make it a site that will not only raise awareness of the thousands of cats in the UK’s rescue homes, but also provide the perfect match-making service between people who long to share their homes with a cat that needs some well deserved TLC.”
-ends-
For press enquiries and case studies please contact:
Gyles Haverty
020 8580 8194
gyles.haverty@allianz.co.uk
Sophie Parker
020 8580 8140
sophie.parker@allianz.co.uk
Ian Barrett
ian.barrett@fwdmarketing.co.uk
020 7623 2368 / 07798 898277
Adrian Beeby
adrian.beeby@fwdmarketing.co.uk
020 7623 2368 / 07879 403564
Notes to editor
The charities currently using Feline Online to help re-home cats across the UK include:
- Aristocat Rescue
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
- Cat Action Trust (local branches: Shaw/Lancashire, Lanarkshire)
- Cats In Crisis
- Cats Protection (local branches: Ely, Dornoch + Cromary Firth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Crawley, Reigate + District, Camberley, Worcester)
- Farplace Animal Rescue (new)
- Freshfields Rescue
- Friends of Animals League
- Gables Farm Cats & Dogs Home
- Harworth Cat Rescue
- Katz Cottage
- Kingsdown Cat Sanctuary
- Lincoln Cat Rescue
- Maggies Pet Rescue
- Maryfield Sanctuary
- Margaret Green Foundation Trust Devon and Dorset
- Northamptonshire Animals Needing Nurturing + Adoption (NANNA)
- Rolvenden + Romney Marsh Cat Rescue
- Romney House Cat Rescue
- RSPCA (local branches: Macclesfield, Stapeley Grange, Gonsal Farm Animal Centre, Hillingdon, Bath - also known as Bath Cats & Dogs Home, Sunderland – also known as Feline Friends) Mid Sussex & Brighton – also known as RSPCA Brighton and East Grinstead (new) “Stubbington Ark” Animal Shelter (new)
- St Francis Persian Cat Rescue
- Suffolk Animal Care (new)
- Thames Valley Animal Welfare
- The Blue Cross
- The Destitute Animal Shelter (new)
- The Mayhew Animal Home
- The People’s Animal Rescue + Rehoming Team
Petplan is the largest provider of animal health insurance in the world. Established more than 30 years ago, it is part of Allianz Insurance, one of the largest general insurers in the UK.
For more information on Petplan call 0800 107 1843 or visit www.petplan.co.uk
