Orpington Cat Rescue

Home

About us

Cats for
homing

Lost and
Found

How to
help

Cat stories
Happy Endings
and Paddy's story

Permanent-
Sponsor
Cats

Future events

Our
Cattery

Permanent Cats

We have 10 PERMANENT CATS in our care at present. They have remained with us for many reasons but mostly due to long term ill health or semi feral to feral and sometimes just because they are plain black! The funds we raise not only have to feed and pay for vets bills for the cats we have for homing but also the 9 permanent cats. This puts on a huge strain with our food and vet's bills and as time goes on the younger ones become older and these encounter elderly conditions of medication and treatment.

It doesn’t take long for the bills to mount up even though we do our up most to keep costs down and receive large discounts from our vets, we all know that treatment is costly. So, here is our beautiful bunch of 9 felines who are cared for in homes to see out their days in luxury, warm cosy with plenty of food and love which is never in short supply. We never put a cat to sleep because of age or treatable illnesses it is purely their quality of life and any suffering that would determine the end the life of any cat in our care.

If you wish to make a donation towards their care as a one off or a regular donation this can be as little as a £1 a month to as much as you like. Every £1 makes all the difference. £1 a month that’s not even a cost of 1 cup of takeaway coffee. Can you make that difference and help relieve the pressure on our finances.

MAKE A DONATION
Donating is easy, you can set up a one off or regular payment to:

Bank Santander
Account number 41232675
Sort code 09-01-27

Or Send a Cheque to our PO Box

Orpington Cat Rescue
PO Box 696
Orpington
Kent
BR5 4XA

We have created a wish list through Amazon, where we have listed much needed items for the cats.
If you would like to donate any items please click on the Amazon button below.

Jackson

Jackson was a stray in North London, he had an eye injury, was un neutered and full of wounds from fighting. Sadly, his eye showed complete loss of sight and infection so an eye enucleation (eye removal) was needed. He also needed a big dental. This poor wee boy must have been so frustrated with pain in his eye and mouth and his testosterone to fight for survival of getting food and finding females. He was a temperamental lad aggressive and attacking us. He clearly needed a blood test to check if he had FIV and or FELV with his history life and presentation of scars. Sadly he came back positive to FIV. The good news is we would never PTS an FIV cat even with eye and dental problems and unfriendly. Jackson

They all deserve a chance regardless at Orpington Cat Rescue. So his procedures went ahead. Firstly, his eye had to be infection free with eye ointment administered twice daily not easy as he was temperamental when he came to us initially. He was neutered then a week later he had his eye enucleation. Once that all healed well then we pursued getting his Dental done. After a lot of socialising Jackson is now the perfect lad and majority of the time well behaved he just is not keen on being handled at the vets but his love of licky licks helps for sure to get him to respond.
We are looking for an indoor home due to his FIV and 1 eye. Or a secure garden or secure courtyard or catio if possible.
He is a lovely character now a chunky 6kgs and so handsome could you be that home he so deserves after his life on the streets.
Please contact 07799 264510
Thank you

Whitey

Whitey Was discovered in a barn in the middle of nowhere, He was about 12 weeks old and very hungry, no other cats/mum were found. After being trapped and taken to the vets for initial health check and taken under our wing. Although in time he became friendly with me, he cannot be found if strangers approach the house, he has remained feral with other people which is extremely difficult to find a home for cats like this. Gill x

Tiny

Tiny is a feral, born outside and was living in a coal bunker. When she came to us, she had two nine-month-old kittens and five five-week-old kittens and they were all so pretty. The older boys took some time to turn around, but luckily found a loving home where the owners were happy to work with them and eventually, they were friendly, loving boys. All the other kittens were homed very quickly, but sadly their mummy was not. Tiny stayed with me for three years in which time we tried to find her a home, but she was too timid so she stayed. Now Tiny is so much improved living indoors with me she has become my little friend, but still terrified of strangers. Gill x

Evie

Evie is a British British Shorthair, who came into my care about five years ago. She was used as a breeding cat, and was given away when the breeder had no more use for her. She had never been socialised, and, to this day remains very difficult to handle as she is so timid. She is fine with my other cats, but will only allow me to put my hand up to her nose. I would love to cuddle her, but she doesn’t let me. She's so pretty, and is a little sweetheart, although the vet didn't think so when she bit his wrist so badly that he had to attend A&E!! I think she will always be fearful of people, which is rather sad. Sue x

Pickle

Meet beautiful Pickle, she was given her name as she always seemed to get in a pickle!. Pickle loves a lap to snuggle into, purrs and dribbles to her hearts content. She loves to be fussed and really is a very special girl. Pickle still thinks she has four legs and runs and plays, she has no problem with stairs and even a six foot fence!.
Pickle was involved in an accident the injuries pointed & which we believe were caused by a animal trap. This was not the first time and sadly the second time her paw was so badly injured the only option was to have her front leg removed as she had no feeling and completely cold the nerves and infection had spread. Pickle has adjusted well but it took her awhile. She is still very agile and her owners had no alternative but to re-home her. They were concerned if this happened a third time and only having 3 legs she wouldn't be able to get herself home with only two mobile legs. And living in rural Gloucestershire most homes are surrounded by open spaces, fields, country lanes and of course traps. There garden was impossible to cat-proof. She is now in a safe foster home with a cat-proof fenced/walled garden or Catio where Pickle can still enjoy the outside but safe away from harm, with no escape route out of windows and doors at the front.
Fast forwarding Pickle is very much loved in her long-term foster home.
Sadly, she became unwell 6 years on now at 16 years old. It's was a very worrying time for us as Sweet Pickle a 3-legged Pickle really has been the most delightful resident and never caused any concerns, a very healthy cat apart from a dental last year but at age 15 not bad for an old girl. Sadly, her health deteriorated where she was off her food but was still bright in herself, with all the heat we thought this maybe reason as all the cats have been not so keen at feeding times. But after couple of days trying various foods, she then became sick and had diarrhoea. So off she went to the vets. After usual check-up for her symptom's bloods were taken as normally cats of this age just not wanting to eat can be a sign of something more serious not just a bug. The bloods came back fine except her b12 as i expected it was decided to book her for a scan and give her sub cut fluids to help her in the meantime until her scan, as now we were becoming concerned with her eating. We were giving her anti sickness and stimulant medication but sadly by next day Sunday there was no improvement she was then rushed to out of hours vets. Sadly this appointment started well and we thought Pickle was having a GA for her scan. But sadly that never happened when we got an updated call from the out of hours vets which we were surprised and disappointed. So we collected Pickle shortly after the call Sunday evening it was a long night with worry and first thing Monday morning she was booked for an urgent scan at our normal vets. Pickle was put on IV Fluids straight away for few hours to help her with the next step of full GA, scan and biopsies. She was diagnosed with low-grade (small-cell) GI lymphoma. This was always on the cards with her symptom's and we had been pre warned. She was discharged after her scan with a feeding tube, buster collar and feeding plan for the next 4/5 days and oral steroids whilst we awaited the medication on order of chemotherapy treatment of chlorambucil to be administered at home. She also started her course of b12 injections. Pickle was so good with the feeding tube and it was such a relief knowing she was getting the food, nutrition she needed. building her strength up so we could wean her back on solids. After 48 hours Pickle was wanting to eat solids so we removed the feeding tube on instructions of the vets. Pickle has continued to gain weight, eat normal and no more sickness and diarrhoea she continues on all her medication and her lifespan could be many months hopefully longer. Pickle was throughout her time being poorly her normal cuddly self and slept every night with us it was important we gave her all the normal love time and cuddles she wanted. Whilst separated from other cats so we could monitor all her needs from food and litter tray habits. Pickle is now back with mixing with the other resident kitties and enjoying the garden again. She will be continued to be monitored by the vets and rest assured her life will continue to be enriched, safe and loved. We are so blessed to have her in our lives and she really is such a wonderful cat.

Bubbs

OCT 2021
Meet beautiful chilled Bubbs. We will never know the full true story of his start in life no more than 7 to 8 weeks old. He has Contracted tendons (twisted legs) to both front legs and we have been told by a orthopaedic vet this deformity would have been from birth. In some cases where the deformity is in one area the legs can have splits applied and changed daily over a period of time and then have use of all the legs for walking but not able to bend. Sadly Bubbs has this deformity in several areas of each leg so this procedure cannot be used.
So now we need to go down other avenues of building his strength on his back legs. And assess him daily, already in a matter of a weeks he has gone from hardly walking to running around using one of his front legs like a monkey and using his back legs like a rabbit. He has gained weight and already blossoming.
Was he still in a litter but fighting to get to food, so not strong enough or was he taken from his mum to soon we will never know so all we can do is move forward with the best outcome possible.
He has now built up strength to jump on the sofa to.
This little fella is determined and with the TLC, veterinary treatment and advice we are confident he will thrive and will be able to lead a life here at Orpington cat Rescue with access to a secure garden, company of other cats and plenty of attention just like all the other cats here with special needs.

JAN 2022
Fast forwarding a few weeks now and Bubbs at 22 weeks old has now been neutered and continues to thrive and lead a normal life. He has yet to discover the garden but when the better weather is here in a couple of months he will have, just like all the other kitties, a safe cat proof fenced garden to explore and finding out about grass, trees, mud, bushes to hide and play in.
Enjoying the sunshine the fresh air and with the help of us use Swings, climbing frames and toys.

William

Sweet William a dear little cat, but very nervous, not feral though. We believe he was bought as a kitten, loved and made a fuss of, but not neutered, probably let out early and became lost having to fend for himself, this has made him very nervous indeed. Same old story, he was noticed eating fox's scraps in the middle of the night on several occasions, terribly thin and very nervous and as it was the beginning of November, we wanted to get him in before November 5th, which we did. He came into foster with us and we did our best to prepare him for a home life. He was neutered, chipped, vaccinated and checked over and eventually someone who had had a cat from us before, was interested in him and kindly offered him a home, but sadly after a month we had a phone call to say they were bringing him back, he was a bit of a handful and had bitten, so back he came into foster. He is happy where he is at the moment but we'll see how he gets on. Maybe he'll be suitable one day to go to a new home, we'll see, but for now he remains as a permanent foster cat in one of a foster care home but there's no rush, we just want the best for William.

Gérard

Gerard may look a round tubby boy now, but he was nothing like this when we first took him in. Apparently he had been calling at several houses in the same road each day, where kind neighbours had been giving him scraps and he was getting by, but one neighbour who used to feed the foxes, noticed him waiting in the bushes every night to get a feed and this became a regular thing and when it was raining hard one night and she saw him asleep on her wheely bin she realised he was a stray and something had to be done. After scanning him his owner was located, but he didn't seem worried about him at all, hadn't reported him missing and it had been weeks and to top it all didn't bother to collect him once he was informed, it was really obvious he didn't want poor Gerrard at all, so he became one of Orpington Cat Rescues foster cats. As time went on, we realised Gerrard wasn't a cuddly cat and could give quite a bite, didn't like being stroked much and was not a lap cat. Eventually he settled down and never ventures much from the garden, so he is settled and happy and his fosterer doesn't mind him with all his faults in fact she loves him.

Princess

Princess was a young cat when she came to us, no more than 2 years old in November 2023 she was born outside, with little human contact in her first stages of her life. Princess is a very nervous cat, semi feral and not easily handleable. Princess has had 3 litters that we know of. Princess needs a very calm environment, no other pets or children and lots of time and patience she deserves a chance and not automatically placed in an outdoor environment of a farm or stables, as we can stroke her and pick her up now after spending time with her she is not aggressive in anyway.
When she came in November 2023 with her last and final litter of 6 kittens all born outside progress has been made but Princess was proving difficult to rehome as a full adoption so we made the decision she would remain under Orpington Cat Rescue care but as a long-term foster in one of our long-term foster homes. Getting more space, one to one attention, no other cats or distractions, to continue her socialising. Of course, we knew she would go backwards temporarily in a new environment but long-term living in a cattery environment was not a long-term solution.
We know her steps will be slow but she now has a permanent safe home to call her own and queen of her own castle. No more kittens no more just surviving on the streets. A happy ending for this beautiful girl.

Meet Gorgeous Bear!
Bear

We received a call from the metropolitan police of a urgent case of a cat found living in a property being used for illicit activities in south London. They were closing the property up and Dear Bear needed help immediately. I got straight on the phone to arrange cat carrier and overnight stay for Bear until i could collect him. Considering his background Bear was extremely friendly, calm and affectionate in relatively good condition on checking him over. But within hours it was clear his extreme thirst was off the scale nothing like I had seen before in 26 years of rescuing not interested in food first just literally bowls of water drunk in minutes!. We had Bear fully blood tested and urine expressed which was so clear !. He was urinating in his bed, using two large litter trays, including peeing on incontinence pads constantly. He must of been feeling exhausted of peeing and drinking how long he had been like this we have no idea.
After his tests came back he was diagnosed with Central Diabetes insipidus (CDI) a rare endocrine disorder caused by a deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH/vasopressin). The brain (hypothalamus/pituitary gland) does not produce enough ADH due to congenital defect.
The kidneys fail to respond to ADH properly. Key symptoms extreme thirst and producing massive amounts of very dilute urine with low specific gravity. The treatment for this is desmopressin in the form of a nasal spray but administered twice daily in one eye or liquid form administered in his food. We trialled the first with incredible results. But for ease we transferred Bear to the latter liquid form in his food again incredible results. His thirst and frequency of urinating has decreased by 95%. We are so relieved for dear Bear.
Bear is approximately 8 to 9 years old.
He really is the most adorable boy and would make a lovely companion. Because of his condition he would need to be placed in an spacious indoor home, or a home with a catio or catproof fencing.
Bear can either be fully adopted by his new owners or long-term foster where he would remain at our vets for his treatment paid by Orpington Cat Rescue but live with his new long-term foster home.

Could you give Bear the stable home he so deserves.

He is such a gorgeous lad you won't be disappointed.
Please call 07799 264510
Thank you