celia hammond animal trust
Animal Rescue Charity
Celia Hammond Animal Trust is a unique non destruction charity providing essential low cost veterinary services for sick and injured pets as well as a rescue and homing service for unwanted, abandoned and stray cats in London and the South East.
Please help us build a dedicated rescue and rehoming centre, and secure the future of our Lewisham hub for decades to come
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A NEW RESCUE AND REHOMING CENTRE IN LEWISHAM
In October 2023, we were granted planning permission to redevelop the Friendly Street warehouse and former shop at the rear of our Lewisham site into a new rescue and rehoming centre.
Phases 1 and 2A of the project have been funded by legacy gifts. Phase 1 of the building works has already been completed and phase 2A works are to commence shortly. We are now fundraising to pay for phase 2B, the construction of the main two-storey building, and we really need your support in funding the next stage of this project.
Please donate whatever you can afford and help us continue caring for animals who need us most.
Celia Hammond Animal Trust
OFFICIAL PAGE Celia Hammond Animal Trust, UK. We rescue rehabilitate and re-home abandoned animals.
This National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week, we’re shining a light on the work of animal rescue organisations and the difference they make to the lives of vulnerable animals.
At Celia Hammond Animal Trust, we see every day just how desperately cats need our help. We’re currently full to capacity, with limited space and resources, and sadly can’t take in every cat who needs us. But we do everything we can to help those who have nowhere else to turn.
Vinnie is one of the cats who reminds us exactly why our work matters.
Around 12 years old, Vinnie’s owner passed away and he was left to fend for himself on the streets. He began sleeping on a neighbour’s fence every night, relying on their kindness for food. He’d suffered numerous injuries from cat fights and was struggling with anaemia and digestive problems. When a nasty wound behind his ear kept reopening, his neighbour reached out to us for help.
By the time Vinnie arrived at our Lewisham branch, he was malnourished, with a dirty, stained coat. Despite his hard time, he’s incredibly affectionate, loves a cuddle and is always happy to soak up some attention.
Our vets have worked hard to get Vinnie back on his paws, treating his wounds, carrying out dental work and arranging his neutering and microchipping. We’ve also been feeding him a katkin.club steamed food diet, which has helped settle his digestive issues and get him feeling much better.
Vinnie has also tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), which affects his immune system and makes him more vulnerable to infections. Although there’s currently no cure, many FIV-positive cats go on to live long, happy lives.
Now, Vinnie deserves a chance to enjoy his golden years in a loving retirement home, where he can feel safe, cherished and cared for. He’s looking for an indoor home or one with safe, supervised garden access.
Behind every cat we help is a team of dedicated vets, animal carers and volunteers, alongside the generosity of our supporters. This week, we want to thank everyone who helps us give cats like Vinnie the care and second chance they deserve.
#rescuecat #catrescue #animalrescue ... See MoreSee Less
✨ Meet Mozikin and Arabelle, our November Cover Stars! ✨
With Movember here, Mozikin’s wonderfully distinguished moustache couldn’t be more fitting! But there’s so much more to this handsome boy and his lovely companion Arabelle.
They were rescued from a semi-feral colony of 30 cats living around a caravan in an industrial yard. They’ve been with us at Canning Town since March, slowly learning that people aren’t quite so frightening after all.
It’s been a long journey for them. While some of the other cats from their group have already found loving homes, Mozikin and Arabelle are still waiting for their turn.
They’re still a little nervous, but we’re beginning to see more of their personalities shine through. Arabelle loves a play and both are partial to a Dreamie! Those little moments of trust mean the world.
We’d love to find them a home together with someone who will give them the time and patience they need. They may not come running for cuddles straight away, but they deserve the chance to discover just how lovely having a home of their own can be.
A quiet home, the occasional Dreamie and someone who loves them for exactly who they are. Surely that’s not too much to ask?
Could you be their someone? ❤️ please email if so:
📧 helloadoptions@celiahammond.org ... See MoreSee Less
How to keep your cats safe this Halloween 👻
Halloween might be full of treats and spooky fun for us, but for our cats, all those strange costumes, unexpected visitors and decorations can be a little frightening.
With Halloween coming up this weekend, here are a few simple ways to help keep your feline friends safe and comfortable:
🏡 If your cat usually goes outside, encourage them home before dark and keep them in during Halloween evening. With doors opening for trick-or-treaters and people in unfamiliar costumes, there’s a greater risk of a frightened cat slipping outside.
🚪 Give your cat somewhere peaceful to retreat, away from the front door and any noise. Make sure they have access to fresh water, food, their litter tray and a cosy hiding place. Let them settle in their own time.
If you’re going out, leave the radio playing some soft, soothing music and a light on. This can help make things a little less unsettling for your cat.
🕸️ Beware of spooky decorations. Fake cobwebs can be particularly dangerous if swallowed, while dangling decorations, strings and fairy lights can tempt curious paws. Keep decorations out of reach and opt for battery-operated candles instead of naked flames.
🎃 Keep carved pumpkins away from curious cats, particularly if they’re lit or beginning to rot. Mouldy or spoiled pumpkin can make your cat unwell.
🍫 Keep trick-or-treat goodies out of reach. Chocolate is poisonous to cats and sweets and their wrappers can also cause problems if eaten or swallowed.
🐾 Make sure their microchip details are up to date, in case your cat does manage to escape.
Let cats be cats! As cute as a Halloween costume might look, many cats find being dressed up stressful. They’re much happier enjoying a cosy bed, a favourite toy and the freedom to hide whenever they need.
Please share with fellow cat owners to help keep our feline friends safe this Halloween!
#catsafety #halloweensafety #catwelfare #catrescue #rescuecat #kittenrescue #rescuekittens ... See MoreSee Less
Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes, they’re two strangers who simply couldn’t walk away.
At 2:30am on Monday morning, Celia was woken by the telephone ringing. On the other end were two men standing outside our Canning Town clinic, distressed after witnessing a man abandon a cat outside our doors.
Our CCTV captured what happened. A man got out of his car, took a carrier containing the cat and left it outside our closed clinic.
It’s heartbreaking to watch. It was cold and wet, and this cat was left alone outside a clinic that wouldn’t open for hours. Our doors open directly onto Barking Road, an incredibly busy and dangerous road. Had it escaped from its carrier, or had someone let it out, the consequences could have been devastating. It could have run straight into traffic, with nobody there to protect it.
Thankfully, these two men had witnessed what happened. Before the man could get in his car and drive away, you can hear them challenging him about why he was leaving his cat outside. You can see them looking at each other, unsure what to do next. But unlike the person who had abandoned it, they simply couldn’t leave it there until morning.
Instead, they called our clinic, and Celia came down to find out what was happening. Afterwards, she told us how truly lovely these two men had been. The cat is now safely with us.
To those two men, thank you for caring when somebody else didn’t. You could have carried on with your night, but instead you chose compassion and refused to turn a blind eye. We are so grateful you were there.
Sadly, we see animals left outside our doors all too often at Celia Hammond Animal Trust. We understand that people can find themselves in desperate circumstances and feel they have nowhere else to turn. Despite being at full capacity, we will always try to help and offer support where we can.
But regardless of the circumstances, leaving a cat outside a closed clinic at 2:30am, knowing there would be nobody there to care for it for hours, is heartless. Leaving it in a carrier in the cold, right beside such a busy and dangerous road, put it at unnecessary risk. This is not a safe or acceptable way to seek help for an animal.
If you’re struggling to care for an animal, please contact us or another rescue rather than leaving them outside and hoping somebody finds them in time. We would always rather you reach out to us than leave an animal in a situation where their life could be at risk.
We wish there were more people like these two men in the world.
#rescuecat #catrescue #animalrescue #rescuekittens #animalwelfare #rescuekitten #kittenrescue ... See MoreSee Less
🐾 Happy Adoption Thursday 🐾
“Hello! This is Nacho. We got him from the Canning Town branch back in March 2026. He had quite a rough past, was thin and had been shaved, but now he’s loving life. The friendliest cat I’ve ever known, loves playing with his toys and bouncing around the flat!” - Joe
Oh Nacho! 🥹It’s so lovely to see how far you’ve come and to know you’re now living your very best life! Thank you, Joe, for giving this lovely boy the happy ending he deserved. We hope you have many more years of fun together! 💕
➡️Have you adopted from Celia Hammond Animal Trust? We’d love to hear from you! Send your photos via DM using the words “HAPPY ADOPTION” to share your update.
#rescuecat #happyadoptionthursday #celiahammondanimaltrust #adoptdontshop #happyadoption #cat #foreverhome ... See MoreSee Less
🍽️ Gathering round the breakfast bowls at Greenacres! 🍽️
Our resident cats were treated to a special breakfast, thanks to a lovely supporter who donated some fancy food pouches. It’s safe to say they were very happy about it!
This is only 9 of the residents...did you know that Greenacres is home to around 120 resident cats?
Our resident cats are those who live permanently at the sanctuary, many having come from hoarding situations or other difficult backgrounds. Some have medical conditions or behavioural needs that make finding suitable homes more challenging. Others are elderly, feral or semi-feral, and may never feel comfortable living as a traditional pet.
Some have gradually learnt to trust the people around them, while others prefer to enjoy their own space.
At Greenacres, they have somewhere safe to call home, with the freedom to roam across more than 100 acres of Sussex countryside, wander in and out of the main house or settle into one of the cosy cabins and chalets around the grounds. They can live life on their own terms, receiving the care they need for as long as they need it. ❤️
With around 120 hungry mouths to feed, mealtimes are a big part of life at Greenacres!
Fancy treating our residents too? You can help keep their bowls full by choosing something from our Amazon Wishlist. Every donation helps us provide the food and essentials these cats rely on every day.
🛒 Shop our Amazon Wishlist: www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/7UATHW9XSN89?ref_=wl_fv_le
A big thank you to everyone who helps make life a little brighter for our Greenacres residents 🐾
#rescuecat #catrescue #animalrescue #rescuekittens #animalwelfare #rescuekitten #kittenrescue ... See MoreSee Less
Remember Cassandra and her six boys, Del Boy, Rodney, Uncle Albert, Boycie, Trigger and Mickey Pearce?
Cassandra was living as a stray when she gave birth to her six kittens in a garden in Peckham. Thankfully, the person living in the house kindly fed her and contacted us for help. We collected the little family, and they’ve been cared for in one of our wonderful foster homes since the kittens were around three weeks old.
Now, it’s time for their next chapter! 🏡
Cassandra has been spayed and her six boys had their health checks and first vaccinations earlier this week.
The kittens are still a little shy, so they’ll need extra handling and socialisation to help them grow in confidence. At the end of October, they’ll be looking for patient, adult-only homes where they can continue to come out of their shells. They won’t be suitable for homes with young children.
We’re looking for three homes:
🐱 One home for Cassandra and two of her kittens, so they can stay together.
🐾 One home for a pair of kittens.
🐾 One home for the other pair of kittens.
The boys will be rehomed in pairs, so they can grow up alongside a familiar face!
📍 Please note that we can only rehome within South East London. We’re looking for adult-only homes that understand the kittens will need a little extra time and patience as they gain confidence.
If you could offer the right home to Cassandra and two of her kittens, or one of the pairs of boys, please contact our Lewisham rehoming team at lewisham@celiahammond.org
#rescuecat #catrescue #animalrescue #rescuekittens #animalwelfare #rescuekitten #kittenrescue ... See MoreSee Less
A LITTLE UPDATE ON OUR FIVE TINY GREENACRES KITTENS 💚
What a difference a few days of love and care can make! These five little babies have come such a long way since they were found abandoned in a taped-up cardboard box earlier this week.
With huge thanks to Tara, one of our wonderful veterinary nurses, who stepped in to care for these tiny, vulnerable babies, they are now thriving. They’re back at our Greenacres Sanctuary while Tara and her family enjoy a very well-deserved break.
Here they are, all cosy in their little nest, nodding off with full tummies after their bottles. Thankfully, they’re blissfully unaware of the awful way they were discarded and the tragic fate they narrowly escaped.
This is just one of the many stories of hope and survival playing out week in, week out at CHAT. Every one of those stories is only made possible because of you, our wonderful supporters.
Thank you for helping us give these little ones the safe, happy future they deserve. 💕
#rescuecat #catrescue #animalrescue #rescuekittens #animalwelfare #rescuekitten #kittenrescue ... See MoreSee Less
FAIRY UPDATE 🧚♀️❤️
Look at our little October Cover Star now!
First of all, we want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has donated to Fairy’s fundraiser. Your donations helped cover the complete cost of her care and we’re so grateful to every amazing person that has rallied around this special girl.
Fairy has recovered so well from her leg amputation. She’s now neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, flea treated and wormed.
We introduced Fairy to a mum and her kittens, hoping she might enjoy their company. But Fairy had other ideas! She decided the ‘Footballer kittens’ next door were more her cup of tea and made herself at home in their pen instead.
The boys – Messi, Mbappe, Kane, Luka and Haaland – were rescued as stray kittens born on the streets. They’ve been shy around people, and our animal care team has worked so hard to help them learn to trust us.
Fairy seemed to have made up her mind about her new friends and now they’re often found cuddled up together, grooming one another and playing. She’s formed a particularly special bond with Luka and these two will be rehomed together!
It’s been so lovely watching Fairy recover and slowly grow in confidence. She’s partial to a good snooze, but don’t let that fool you – she loves a bit of playtime too!
Could you give Fairy and Luka their happily ever after together? 🐾
They’ll need a little patience and understanding as they adjust to life in a new home, with time to settle in at their own pace.
If you think you could offer these two a loving home, please email:
helloadoptions@celiahammond.org
#adoptme #adoptdontshop #catrescue #rescuecat #kittenrescue #rescuekitten #catcommunity #coverstarofthemonth ... See MoreSee Less