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.
Well, Sunday was rather lovely at Greenacres!
After a summer of sunshine, we had our fingers crossed for more of the same for our free, ticketed Open Day. We had the odd shower, but the weather pretty much behaved itself, so we can’t complain! And with the event a sell-out, it was brilliant to have so many people through the doors.
There was lots of chatting, cat cuddling, cake and a serious amount of strawberries eaten! And, naturally, the cats got involved too.
Two of our residents, pictured, Arthur and Howard, rescued from a horrendous situation in Tunbridge Wells, have come such a long way and are now very much part of our resident cat family. They decided our nearly new stall was the perfect place to set themselves up and supervise proceedings!
We work incredibly hard every day rescuing cats and caring for them, so it was really lovely to share a little of what we do and show people some of the cats behind the scenes.
We also shared two things we would absolutely love to make happen and we've shared both project videos here.
Dream Project 1 is another Cat Cabin. In the video, you’ll see the beautiful Cat Cabin we were recently able to build thanks to a very special legacy from a wonderful lady called Helen. The power of a legacy is bigger than you think, and Helen’s legacy is one beautiful example.
Dream Project 2 is our Pigeon Palace heat and cool system (the name is explained in the video!), and we’re delighted to have already received two very kind donations towards it. We’re halfway there! Which is AMAZING!
The video explains a little more about why this particular project is so important to us. It is a little sad, as the heatwave was simply too much for some of our elderly cats and, despite every possible effort from our wonderful vets and our team, we sadly lost some of them.
Just as with older people, prolonged high temperatures can put significant additional strain on elderly animals, particularly those already living with heart disease and other chronic health conditions. We never want anyone to think we simply let a cat suffer in the heat. We did everything we could for them, but it showed us that we need to do even more to protect our older and more vulnerable cats when temperatures become so extreme.
That’s why these Dream Projects matter so much to us.
And then …. watch this space, because we’re working on something rather exciting: a pop-up ethical cat café. Real rescue cats, in a real rescue centre environment, with the freedom to roam and meet visitors on their terms! 🐱
It’s still being worked on, but we think it could be something really special.
And if you love what we do at Greenacres, please keep spreading the word about our absolutely fab charity. Tell your friends, share our posts and help more people discover the cats and the work that goes on here.
Greenacres is the rescue, sanctuary and one of three homing centres of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust, and we’re incredibly proud of what we do for cats who need us.
If you’d like to help us make our Greenacres Dream Projects a reality, click link in first comment below or contact us to find out more 🐾💚
#cat #kitten #bekindtoanimals
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✨ Say hello to Alex, our September Cover Star of the Month! ✨
Before she devoted her life to rescuing cats, Celia Hammond was one of Britain’s best-known fashion models, gracing magazine covers such as Vogue throughout the 1960s. We thought it was only fitting to use our own Facebook cover to give a very special cat their moment in the spotlight.
And Alex is very deserving of his. 💙
This lovely boy is around 10 years old and arrived at our Lewisham clinic as an older stray, with an abscess on his shoulder and in need of some care. Since then, he has had his infected wound treated by our vets, neutered, microchipped and had the dental work he so badly needed, including eight teeth removed!
Life as a stray had clearly made Alex wary of people at first. But little by little, he has let us in. He is now a friendly boy who enjoys a fuss and a good head scratch. Seeing him relax and trust again has been such a joy 🥰
Alex is ready to find the calm, caring adult home he has been waiting for, with a garden to explore and people who will give him the time and affection he deserves.
Could you be the person who gives our cover star Alex his happy ending? 🏠 ✨
To enquire about Alex, please email lewisham@celiahammond.org, or click the link in our bio to head over to his adoption page where you can fill out an application form! ... See MoreSee Less
🐱 40 FACTS FOR 40 YEARS - PART 3 🐱
By this point in our story, Celia had already spent years fighting for animals and challenging the way things were done. Her amazing work became the main focus in her life and she decided to give up modelling to commit to her cause.
Her pioneering work with feral cats was starting to change attitudes, showing that there was a kinder, more humane way to manage feral cat populations through neutering instead of killing. ❤️
In 1982, her work was finally recognised with an RSPCA Award for her dedication to animal welfare.
But Celia was far from finished…
In 1986, she founded the Celia Hammond Animal Trust with the aim to make essential veterinary care available to more people. 🐾
🎬 In Part 3, we look at the pioneering work that helped change the lives of so many cats and how it all led to the beginning of CHAT.
And this is where our next chapter begins…
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🐈⬛ Tommy has been keeping us very busy and completely wrapped around his little paw!
When Tommy came into our Canning Town Clinic last month, he had a nasty wound on his neck from a burst abscess that needed treatment and careful management. It wasn’t going to heal overnight, so our team have been cleaning and managing the wound, giving him treatment and keeping a close eye on his progress. Alongside his treatment, he has also now been chipped, vaccinated and neutered.
It’s time consuming work, but it’s exactly why we’re here, to make sure cats like Tommy get the care they need when they’re injured, unwell or vulnerable. And it’s our supporters that always makes that care possible.
Tommy had been living as a stray, but a kind member of the public had been feeding him and looking out for him. When he needed more help, he came to us.
Even though it took a week and a half for us to catch him and bring him into our care, he’s been a very willing patient - although we suspect the cuddles have helped!
Fenna, one of our vet nurses, has been caring for Tommy throughout his treatment, but she’s also become one of his favourite people. He knows her when she comes to see him and loves nothing more than a cuddle. So much so that he starts mouth dribbling. 😂💙
While we’re looking forward to seeing Tommy back on his paws soon, there’s a never ending stream of cats needing our help.
Across all three of our centres, there are cats needing care every single day. Some need emergency veterinary treatment, others need ongoing nursing care, medication or somewhere safe to recover. We wish we could do more for every single one of them, but the reality is that funds, staff and veterinary resources are limited.
So, because it’s payday week and it’s a Bank Holiday weekend, we’re setting ourselves a BIG challenge…
‼️CAN WE RAISE £5,000 TO NEUTER 111 CATS? ‼️
Neutering helps prevent suffering, injury, unwanted litters and homelessness. It means fewer cats ending up injured, abandoned or struggling to survive like Tommy and it means we can help more cats before they reach crisis point.
Whatever you can comfortably give, it all counts. If you can’t donate, please SHARE! You could be the person who gets this appeal in front of someone who can help us reach that £5,000.
Donation link in first comment below. 💙
£5,000. One Bank Holiday weekend. One big mission. 🐾
#bankholidayweekend #payday #HelpUsHelpCats #EveryCatDeservesAChance ... See MoreSee Less
🐾Happy Adoption Thursday 🐾
“This is Mellow - I fostered her from CT in 2022 and then ended up adopting her...a lot of her fur was missing due to over grooming and now she is my boss and rules the roost. She's adorable!!
She stands staring at her bowl every time I go into the kitchen, looking at me, pleadingly, pretending she is starving to death - and of course I give her a bit of food. When I'm working she comes and pesters me with her head until I relent and give her a bit of food. She stares out of the window watching birds, lies on my neck at night and loves being brushed. She sits on anyone's knee who visits me and is extremely confident and friendly to anyone she meets in my house (she's an indoor cat).” - Carolyn
From over-grooming and missing fur to confidently ruling the roost, it’s clear she’s found exactly where she belongs. We absolutely love hearing about her little routines – especially her convincing “I’m starving” act in the kitchen! It sounds like she’s wrapped everyone around her paw. 🐈⬛
➡️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. 🐾 💙
#celiahammondanimaltrust #rescuecat #happyadoptionthursday #foreverhome ... See MoreSee Less
You might remember brave little Mia… ❤️
When Mia came to us, she had been hit by a car and was in such a terrible state. She had been through unimaginable trauma: her jaw was broken, both of her eyes were badly injured and she needed urgent surgery to remove one of them. It was heartbreaking to see her like that, but even then, she had the sweetest nature and such a strong little spirit.
So many of you donated and shared her story, helping us raise the funds needed for her treatment, recovery and around-the-clock care. Because of you all, Mia got the chance to heal.
And now we have the loveliest update to share… Mia has been rehomed! 🥹
Her new family say she is the perfect addition to their home. She has claimed their bed as her own and likes to sleep above their heads on the pillows. She follows them around, brings them her little toy mice and has a very special favourite blanket. Mia has transformed into a really cuddly and affectionate little cat 💕
Her lovely new owners told us: “We adopted Mia just less than a month ago, and she is the perfect addition to our family. She is so brave and curious, she has mapped out the flat and knows exactly where she is. She’s got a favourite blanket and loves a cuddle on the sofa. She has become so comfortable and affectionate with us and we love her so so much. We are so lucky to have her in our lives and I want to thank CHAT for all that they do.”
We are just so happy for this beautiful girl. From being scared, injured and alone to being safe, cuddled and completely adored - this is the life Mia always deserved. Mia’s case was a challenging but incredibly rewarding one, but it is why we are here and why so many people rely on us for help.
Thank you for being part of her story. We could not have done this without you. 🐾
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A few more free tickets have just been released for our Greenacres Sanctuary Open Day this Sunday! 🌿
Spaces remaining:
🐱 1pm- 2 tickets
🐱 2 pm - 1 tickets
🐱 3:30pm - 2 tickets
Come and spend an afternoon with us at Greenacres! Meet some of the lovely cats in our care - including our younger residents in the Kitten Corner - and take a guided look around the sanctuary they call home.
You’ll be able to chat to our friendly Greenacres’ team, hear more about the cats we rescue and rehome every day, browse our bric-a-brac stalls for some pawfect gifts and enjoy some tea and coffee with a homemade slice of cake. 🍰
There will also be a very special presentation celebrating 40 years of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
The Sanctuary will be CLOSED to the general public so booking is essential - please be quick and secure your ticket! We can’t wait to welcome you on Sunday 🐾
P.S. If you’re able to, we’d be incredibly grateful if you could bring along a tin or two of cat food as a gift for our rescued cats! Food donations are always greatly appreciated and help us care for the many cats and kittens who rely on us every day. ... See MoreSee Less
POV: You’re 5 weeks old, your foster mum mentions an all-nighter… and you take it VERY seriously. 😂
Little rescue kitten Tsunami 🧡 came into our charity with her five siblings and is being lovingly hand-reared by one of our amazing kitten fosterers.
Tsunami has cerebellar hypoplasia, which causes tremors and makes her walking very wobbly. Last night, she suddenly collapsed and had to be rushed to the vets. After fluids and a tiny amount of pain relief (she’s only 5 weeks old 🥺), she came home for some intensive care from her foster mum.
And now? SHE’S BACK ON HER FEET! 🥹🧡 Still cautious, but sitting up and walking without collapsing.
Tsunami’s take on her big night out:
“I’m feeling quite a bit better today 🧡 I can sit up again and walk without collapsing, thanks to the lovely vet and my foster mum.
I did keep her up ALL night though… I thought I heard her mention something about an Ibiza festival, so obviously I thought we were doing an all-nighter. 🎶
Turns out she meant kitten care all nighter! . Still, I think I brought the festival vibes. 🐾”
Meanwhile, her foster mum formally requested a lie-in. No chance there! 😂🧡 #ibizavibes #kittens #kittenrescue #bekinditsfree ... See MoreSee Less
📎 Debbie the office cat is retiring… 📎
It’s only been a couple of weeks since Debbie joined us up in the Canning Town office, but she’s already made herself very comfortable.
Debbie came into our care some months back after a member of the public handed her into Vets4Pets Romford. She was reportedly a stray, in a bad state and had infected injuries to the bottoms of her paws. Unfortunately, we don’t know the reasons behind how her paws came to be so terribly injured.
Now she’s neutered, vaccinated and healed, she’s been residing on our rehoming floor. But recently she’s been moved upstairs to the office for a little TLC, some socialising and the chance to stretch her legs.
Our office is home to the rehoming team, volunteer coordinator and social media officer and Debbie’s been very busy overseeing operations from the comfort of her favourite spot.
After a couple of weeks in the job… she’s decided she’s ready for retirement. 😂
We’re not entirely sure she’s put in enough years to qualify for a pension, but Debbie is 11, so we’ll let her make the rules.
Now, Debbie is looking for her retirement home. ❤️
She’s looking for a calm, loving, indoor-only home where she can be the only cat. She enjoys a little afternoon snooze, attention, affection, being brushed and - like any good boss - will let you know when she’s ready for some quiet time.
Debbie has arthritis, which is managed with daily medication in her food and a monthly injection and she is doing well with her treatment. These injections can be easily administered at one of our clinics.
Every cat we’ve had come into the office has gone on to find their purrfect family fairly quickly, so we’re hoping our lucky streak hasn’t run out with Debbie. 🤞
Could you be the person to give our newest (and shortest-serving) boss the furever home she deserves?
If you are interested in adopting Debbie, please email:
📧 adoptionscanningtown@celiahammond.org
#celiahammondanimaltrust #canningtown #goldenoldies #debbie #catadoption ... See MoreSee Less