Celia Hammond - Just giving fundraiser - Autumn neutering

[Angelina]

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/celia-hammond-animal-trust-cat-crisis?utm_medium=CA&utm_source=CL

the charity are raising money to enable them to neuter cats. There are so many cats already needing homes and they are at breaking point and in crisis.

 

“We have launched this emergency appeal to raise £230,000 to enable us to neuter, microchip and provide necessary supportive treatment to approximately 3,600 female cats during October, November, and December 2025. The aim is to tackle the cat overpopulation crisis by preventing the unnecessary birth of potentially tens of thousands of kittens in 2026.

Cats are seasonal breeders who give birth to their kittens in Spring and Summer, so it is vitally important that this Autumn and Winter we neuter as many cats as possible before the next breeding season begins in early 2026. 

How you can help 

It costs us £45 to neuter a female cat using our own employed vets working at our London clinics (compared to local private vets which charge £150 - £250), and we are relying on animal lovers everywhere to support our emergency appeal to help tackle the cat overpopulation crisis. 

Whether it is £10, £20, £30 or more, please donate whatever you can afford as we really need your help now, more than ever before.

And if you live within a 30-mile radius of our Canning Town, Lewisham, or Brede centre and can provide a forever home for one or more of the cats and kittens in our care, please visit www.celiahammond.org/adopt-a-cat for details of the animals currently seeking homes”.

Please support them with anything you can. 

[beansprout]

Sorry have I read this correctly? 

Almost£250,000 to neuter3,500 moggies? 

Granted, when neutered a lot less off spring…

That sort of money could help elderly, schools - both for books and food for deprived children, carers, a coach for community use….

I am an animal lover but just seems excessive to me when we read in the press how hard some families are coping.

Is there not a pill that could be given which would have the same result and be cheaper?

What do our European neighbours do?

This has been going on for years - why not have launched an appeal when people were more  prosperous?

 

[Angelina]

That’s around £60 per cat. It costs much more privately and is entirely reasonable.

Since you’re keen on numbers perhaps think about one cat having three litters of five kittens every year, and those 15 kittens each having three litters of five every year from the first year.  It’s exponential and absolutely an emergency.

You can pick your own charity to support, I’m not diminishing other appeals or causes.

I imagine the need is related to people having less money and not being able to afford the fees privately. Perhaps in more prosperous times, more people could afford to neuter their cats. Let’s not wait for the good times to roll back round, let’s do it now, before it becomes an absolute crisis, and help as much as we are able to.

 

Edited September 30 by Angelina

[hellosailor]

I agree that it's important to neuter cats but as I've said on a previous thread a while ago, I only know one person who was allowed to adopt a cat through Celia Hammond. I know at least 15 who have been turned down for reasons including

They live on a road, not a busy road. Just a road. 
They won't commit to not letting the cat go outside for fresh air even in a secure garden. 
They have a job and don't commit to being at home all day every day. 
These aren't reasons given in special circumstances for a traumatised cat, they are just reasons that have ruled out both me and everyone I know from being seen as adequate adopters. 
I think it's incredibly upsetting that Celia Hammond  have 'so many cats needing homes and are at breaking point, in crisis' while still deciding on behalf of the cats that 9/10 times they would rather live in a cage than with someone who couldn't afford not to work or a can't afford a house that isn't on a road. The criteria essentially rule out anyone who isn't landed gentry. 
I know someone will reply saying 'well I was allowed to adopt' or 'my friend has a friend who was allowed to adopt' but I'm simply relaying my own experience and that of many many people I know. It really needs to be examined. 

 

 

 

[Angelina]

I’m not close enough to the charity to comment but they have said this;

“If you live within a 30-mile radius of our Canning Town, Lewisham, or Brede centre and can provide a forever home for one or more of the cats and kittens in our care, please visit www.celiahammond.org/adopt-a-cat for details of the animals currently seeking homes”.

It suggests they are wanting to find good homes.

[hellosailor]

It does suggest that which is why it's such a surprise that it's very rare that someone is deemed to have a good enough home. Perhaps if they didn't turn people down for reasons such as having a job, they would be in less crisis, just think it might be worth them thinking about. 

[IlonaM]

I've adopted two cats from Celia Hammond. They are a fantastic no-kill shelter with dedicated staff and volunteers and provide veterinary care at reduced cost for cats living in families who cannot afford private veterinary fees, thereby supporting families to keep their pets rather than give them up for adoption or abandon them. They deserve our support - not just for the current urgent fundraising campaign, but with day-to-day donations of money for ongoing expenses, as well as food, towels etc.

Neutering cats as a way to reduce unwanted litters is common practice throughout Europe and the US, including for feral colonies (trap, neuter, return programmes). 

If people adopted animals that are in urgent need of homes, whether cats, dogs or others, rather than buying them from breeders there wouldn't be such a crisis.

Edited September 30 by IlonaM

[redjam]

On 30/09/2025 at 17:50, hellosailor said:

I agree that it's important to neuter cats but as I've said on a previous thread a while ago, I only know one person who was allowed to adopt a cat through Celia Hammond. I know at least 15 who have been turned down for reasons including

They live on a road, not a busy road. Just a road. 
They won't commit to not letting the cat go outside for fresh air even in a secure garden. 
They have a job and don't commit to being at home all day every day. 
These aren't reasons given in special circumstances for a traumatised cat, they are just reasons that have ruled out both me and everyone I know from being seen as adequate adopters. 
I think it's incredibly upsetting that Celia Hammond  have 'so many cats needing homes and are at breaking point, in crisis' while still deciding on behalf of the cats that 9/10 times they would rather live in a cage than with someone who couldn't afford not to work or a can't afford a house that isn't on a road. The criteria essentially rule out anyone who isn't landed gentry. 
I know someone will reply saying 'well I was allowed to adopt' or 'my friend has a friend who was allowed to adopt' but I'm simply relaying my own experience and that of many many people I know. It really needs to be examined. 

 

 

 

Baffled by this. We've adopted our last three cats from Celia Hammond and all three have been outdoor cats (which we were upfront about). And when we got our first cat we were out working every day. And of course we live on a road, with through traffic - who doesn't, in London? Maybe we were just lucky but none of those things were deemed an issue when we applied for adoption - in fact we found Battersea much stricter when we tried to register with them first time round.

Not saying this wasn't your experience, hellosailor, but it certainly wasn't ours - so I wouldn't want this post to put other people off contacting Celia Hammond to ask about adoption. They are a brilliant little charity and I will be supporting this appeal as I have done other appeals of theirs in the past.

Edited October 1 by redjam
dited to say: I mistakenly wrote RSPCA when I meant Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - have amended

[hellosailor]

I'm relieved to hear that you've been able to adopt several cats through Celia Hammond Redjam and yes it's baffling that your experience is so different! I wonder if it depends which individual you are being vetted by, it doesn't sound like everyone is told the same criteria at all. I don't mean to put anyone off trying to adopt either, those cats and kittens all need a home! I might actually call them to clarify and post their advice here if I can get some. 

[Eats Dulwich]

We fostered a cat from Celia Hammond and I don't remember any criteria being mentioned at all although they did visit our house – presumably to check we had enough room to swing it!

Seriously though, it may be that there are different rules for fostering and adopting. We fostered on a temporary basis as we couldn't give a long-term commitment, but it ended up being permanent because nobody wanted to adopt our ageing moggy. 

 

[beansprout]

Years ago, I adopted a moggie from Battersea… thought it was 6:7 but was actually 10… great mog though… no checks at all as in home check.. spoke to me about cat ownership, had several before, paid my money and off we went.

I do get what they are trying to do totally and agree.. having said that, RSPCA think that is the one, Near cemetery in Norwood, until last year was offering free microchipping & s’thing else…

Realistically, really is a drop in the ocean as more cats in London and surrounds… was just totally surprised as to the amount and obv each area is different …. 

 

[shannn]

I adopted a cat from CH. They came to do a home inspection, determined that because I was end of terrace I'd have to have an ex stray streetwise cat as all other cats would be run over. So wouldn't let me have the cat I wanted and allocated me a big old bruiser. When he arrived he decided he didn't much like being outdoors anymore and his favourite things were eating and cuddling. He was the best cat after seven years sadly lost him in May this year to an illness. They have a great team of volunteers and dedicated staff but agree they could relax their rehoming policies. I know several people who adopted with them and had similar experiences.

[dresswaves]

On 30/09/2025 at 18:23, hellosailor said:

It does suggest that which is why it's such a surprise that it's very rare that someone is deemed to have a good enough home. Perhaps if they didn't turn people down for reasons such as having a job, they would be in less crisis, just think it might be worth them thinking about. 

I’m sorry you were not able to adopt a cat from CHAT but it is certainly not rare that someone is deemed to have a good enough home. I have been involved with CHAT for over 10 years and have seen hundreds & hundreds of cat adopted & fostered. Unfortunately as quickly as cats are found new homes more cats are abandoned or rescued by CHAT & more homes needed. 

[Happyme5]

I tried to adopt a cat from Celia Hammond years ago.  I didn't ask for a cute little kitten just any cat.  I wanted to do the right thing and give a loving home to a cat.  I was turned down - I lived near a road etc etc .  So I went out and brought a kitten who is now about 16 years old and very loved.  As long as good people find it impossible to adopt they will end up going out  to buy a cat.  This in turn encourages people to allow their pets to reproduce and adds to the never ending cycle of too many cats needing a good home!   I did wonder who would be deemed good enough to re-home a cat.  Reading the other comments has made me feel a bit better about being turned down.    And we all love our Kitty 🐈💞 🐈 💞🐈 💞

Edited 18 hours ago by Happyme5
Addition

[Angelina]

Thanks for sharing that, perhaps things have changed since 16 years ago. 

I hope no one is put off from trying to adopt a rescue, rather than buy from a breeder.

And I hope Celia Hammond get all the support they need. They still have a way to go to reach their target, but there has been a huge increase since I first posted on the forum - so, thank you to everyone who has contributed

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/celia-hammond-animal-trust-cat-crisis?utm_medium=CA&utm_source=CL