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.
When the weather is as hot as it is currently, opening a window or balcony door can feel like the simplest way to keep our homes cool.
But for cats, that little bit of fresh air can sometimes come with a devastating risk.
A bird flying past. An insect landing on the windowsill. Something moving below.
It only takes a second for a cat to lose their balance, push the window open further squeeze through that gap you thought they wouldn’t, become distracted and fall.
Despite what we might think, cats don’t understand the dangers of heights and don’t always land on their feet. Even a cat that has spent years happily sitting on a windowsill can suddenly be startled and fall.
This summer, the warning is particularly important. Fellow animal welfare charities have reported treating dozens of cats already this year for injuries caused by falls from height, with some cats suffering broken bones, internal trauma and other devastating injuries. Sadly, many falls can be fatal.
This is known as “high-rise syndrome” and it’s one of the reasons we take the safety of our cats so seriously when finding them new homes.
🏠 A misconception at Celia Hammond Animal Trust is that we do not rehome cats to be indoor-only. But that is not the case. In fact, because two of our centres are in London, we actually have a high demand for indoor cats.
For us, cats aren’t rehomed to homes above the second floor unless the property has been properly cat-proofed.
That means:
🔒 Windows must have secure restrictor locks so they cannot open far enough for a cat to squeeze through.
🌿 Balconies must be fully enclosed from floor to ceiling with robust, securely fitted cat-proof netting. Cats should be supervised when leaving balcony doors open.
👀 We visit the home to inspect the cat-proofing before rehoming. If improvements are needed, we’ll explain exactly what is required and return to check the work has been completed.
Keeping a cat safe doesn’t necessarily mean keeping them unhappy.
Some cats, including many elderly cats, cats with disabilities and particularly female cats, can be much better suited to an indoor-only lifestyle. But indoor life needs to be more than four walls.
Cats need space to climb, places to hide, scratching posts, play, stimulation and safe ways to watch the world outside. Cat trees, shelves, walkways and enrichment can all help keep indoor cats active and entertained.
There are also plenty of dangers beyond the window - roads, fights, disease, parasites and poisonous substances such as antifreeze and rat poison.
Ultimately, it’s about balance.
We want them to be happy, stimulated, loved and able to live their best lives, as well as being safe.
So while you’re opening windows and doors during the heatwave, take a moment to look at your home from your cat’s perspective.
Could they squeeze through that gap?
Could they reach that ledge?
Could they fall?
A few minutes spent cat-proofing your home could prevent harm occurring to your furry friend or them going missing . 🐾❤️
#celiahammondanimaltrust #highrisesyndrome ... See MoreSee Less
💙 Three little lives, now safe 💙
Three four-month-old kittens came into our Canning Town clinic Friday morning after being found abandoned in a bag in the Canning Town area the night before. They had been squeezed together into a brand-new bag that was far too small for them, particularly in the heat.
When they arrived, they were frightened and exhausted. One kitten was panting and couldn’t bring themselves to look up, keeping their head firmly tucked into the shoulder of their sibling for comfort. Even now, knowing they are safe, they are still shaking.
No kitten should ever be left to face the world like that.
Thankfully, they are safe with us now. The trio, two boys and one girl, have received their first vaccinations, flea treatment and worming and their neutering is scheduled. They can now begin to leave that frightening start behind them.
Now that these three are safe, they needed names of their own… 🪐 meet Earth, Mercury and Mars. 🪐But there is another little life we are worried about: their mum.
We would really like to know where these kittens came from, as there may be a mother cat nearby who still needs our help. She could already be pregnant again or may urgently need to be neutered.
If you recognise Earth, Mercury and Mars, or know anything about where they may have come from, please contact us. There will be no judgement. We simply want to find their mum, make sure she is safe and prevent more kittens from being born into uncertainty.
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🐱 Happy International Cat Day! 🐱
Today is all about celebrating the wonderful, weird, beautiful and completely individual cats that make our lives better simply by being in them. ❤️
But while we celebrate, let’s not forget the thousands of cats still waiting in rescue for someone to choose them.
If you’re thinking about adding a cat to your family, please think rescue first.
There are the cats who are chosen straight away, then there are the ones who are overlooked time and time again…
The black cats.
The black and white cats.
The older cats.
The nervous cats who need a little more time to trust you.
Pictured are just a few of those cats from our rescue centres in Lewisham 🧡, Canning Town 🩵 and Greenacres 💚. They might not always be the first to catch someone’s eye, but give them patience, understanding and love, you could discover the most incredible companion.
And our work doesn’t stop when International Cat Day is over.
One of the biggest things we can all do to help cats is neuter. Every year, unwanted litters are born into a world where there simply aren’t enough homes, leaving thousands of kittens and cats facing abandonment, life on the streets and an uncertain future. Neutering helps break that cycle before it begins.
If you’ve already given a rescue cat a home, we want to see them!
Share a photo of your rescue cat in the comments - especially if they came from Celia Hammond Animal Trust. Seeing the happy adoptions makes all the difficult days of rescue worthwhile and your stories might just inspire someone else to choose rescue too.
If adopting isn’t right for you, there are still so many ways you can help. Even something as simple as donating food or essential supplies from our Amazon Wish Lists helps us care for the cats waiting for their forever homes. Link in comment below 🧡
Today we celebrate cats. Tomorrow, we’ll still be here fighting for them and we’ll keep fighting for as long as they need us 🐱🐾
#InternationalCatDay #ChooseRescue #RescueCats #AdoptDontShop #RescueCat #CeliaHammondAnimalTrust #NeuterYourCat #RescueCatsNeedHomes ... See MoreSee Less
🐾 Happy Adoption Thursday 🐾
“We got biscuit in December 2017, after she spent 6 months in the Celia Hammond centre in Canning Town. She had been anonymously dropped off with a broken hip. Her extended stay was due to the time it took for her to heal up.
She was incredibly shy at first, to be expected. For about a year or two we thought she was just quiet but over time she found her voice. To keep her safe, my parents have built Biscuit her very own catio with a cat flap so she can have safe outside time. She also has supervised time in the wider garden with my mum. Speaking of whom, she is absolutely besotted with my mother and spends as much time as she can sleeping in her arms or on her lap.
We used to be besties as well but since I have moved out of the house and got a dog she has taken it quite personally and actively ignores me!” -
What a difficult start Biscuit had. We're so glad she found her way to us and then into such a loving home. She has truly landed on her paws!
➡️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
📦 Abandoned in a cardboard box 📦
On the 18th July, someone opened the doors to our Canning Town reception and placed a cardboard box inside, then walked straight back out without saying a word.
At first, we thought it was a donation, but looking back, we should have known better!
When our receptionist opened the box, staring back at her were two bewildered cats.
Sam and Neil, as they've now been named, must have been wondering what on earth was happening. Taken from everything familiar and placed inside a cardboard box, they were suddenly faced with a strange new environment, unfamiliar people and the sights and smells of a veterinary practice.
Estimated to be around two years old, these boys have no idea why they were left behind or why their world suddenly changed.
Nearly three weeks on and their personalities have started to emerge.
Sam is completely deaf but he doesn’t let that stop him! He’s playful, full of energy and still acts like a kitten.
Neil is partially sighted and a much quieter boy. The stress of everything he’s been through has left him feeling overwhelmed, so he often prefers the comfort of his bed. With time, patience and love, we’re sure his confidence will grow.
Although Sam and Neil arrived together, we are not certain that they are friends or related, as we have noticed signs of tension and their interactions suggest they don’t feel comfortable in each other’s company.
While we always do our very best to keep cats together when they arrive with us in pairs or family groups and on most occasions this is absolutely the right decision, we also have to carefully consider the individual needs and happiness of each cat.
After careful consideration, we genuinely feel that Sam and Neil would be happier and more settled if they were homed separately, allowing each of them to have the space, care and environment that best suits their own personality and needs.
Could you be the one to give one of these lovely boys the fresh start they deserve?
If you’re interested in adopting Sam or Neil, please get in touch with our team by email:
📧helloadoptions@celiahammond.org
Please share to help these deserving boys find the loving homes they’ve been waiting for. 🐾
#celiahammondanimaltrust #catadoption #catrescueuk #whitecats ... See MoreSee Less
Do you recognise this cat? 🐱
This lovely girl came into our care at the end of July after being handed in to our Lewisham clinic as a stray.
The people who brought her to the clinic left very quickly without providing any contact details, so we have no information about where she came from or how she came to be alone. Because of the circumstances, we are concerned that she may have been abandoned at the clinic, but we are keeping an open mind while we try to establish her history.
She is microchipped, but unfortunately the details haven’t been updated since her previous owner, who has told us that they rehomed her around a year ago. We’re checking every possibility to find out whether she is a missing cat or if she has been abandoned and needs our help.
From what we can tell, she has been well cared for, is well fed and she is a friendly girl with a sweet nature. 🐾
Does anyone recognise this cat? Do you know anything about her history or where she may have come from?
If you have any information, please get in touch with our Lewisham team at lewisham@celiahammond.org
Please share to help her story reach the right person.
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A wonderful afternoon was had yesterday at Canning Town’s special Volunteer Afternoon, celebrating the people behind the scenes! It is always a pleasure bringing together some of our incredible volunteers to thank them for the time, care, compassion and unwavering support they give to the cats in our care every single day.
Whether they’re caring for cats, supporting our clinics and rescue centres or giving their time in countless other ways, their dedication makes an enormous difference to the lives of so many cats and it was lovely to celebrate everything they do!
A special thank you to both Sarah Mazdon, our volunteer coordinator and Cindy, one of our fab Animal Care Assistants, for their help in planning the afternoon and to Kat for kindly bringing thoughtful gifts for our volunteers.
To every one of our volunteers – thank you for being such an important part of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💙🐾
#celiahammondanimaltrust
#volunteerappreciation
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✨ Introducing our new Cover Star of the Month! ✨
Before dedicating her life to rescuing cats, Celia Hammond was one of Britain’s best-known fashion models, gracing the covers of magazines such as Vogue throughout the 1960s.
Inspired by that history, we’re giving our Facebook cover photo a new purpose.
Each month, we’ll shine a spotlight on one very special cat looking for a forever home. Our Cover Star of the Month will take pride of place on our Facebook page, helping more people discover their story and helping them find the loving home they deserve.
Our very first Cover Star is Selma. 🧡
With her little bobtail, bright ginger coat and joyful personality, Selma is impossible not to fall in love with. Every day she reminds us that even after the hardest start in life, happiness can still be found.
Selma was rescued alongside 16 other cats after their owner fled a violent situation, leaving them trapped inside a property. Although food and water had been left behind, it soon ran out. Tragically, 3 of the cats had already died by the time help arrived. The surviving cats were discovered just in time. Living in heartbreaking conditions, they were severely underweight and desperately needed veterinary treatment, care and plenty of love.
Selma also arrived with deformities to her spine and tail. As her tail was paralysed and at risk of further injury, our vets made the decision to amputate it. Today, she is completely pain-free and, apart from her adorable little bobtail and slightly wonky walk, you would never know everything she has overcome.
Now living at our Greenacres Sanctuary, Selma embraces every single day with endless enthusiasm. She delights in everything life has to offer, from warm, fluffy beds and tasty dinners to gentle fuss from her favourite people. She has a wonderfully cheeky personality and can often be found curled up asleep in the most unexpected places or exploring the other cats’ chalets.
Above all, Selma loves to play. Her favourite toy is a little purple ball with a bell inside, which she proudly carries around in her mouth. She’ll often drop it down the steps just so she can chase after it again, looking as though she’s having the best time in the world.
Selma isn’t looking for a new home, but she is looking for sponsors. By sponsoring Selma, you’ll help provide the specialist care she and the other permanent residents at Greenacres need, ensuring they can continue to enjoy the safe, happy lives they so richly deserve.
You can sponsor Selma using the link in our bio or in the comments! 🐾 ... See MoreSee Less
We genuinely can’t believe Hazel and Iris are still waiting for their first adoption application. 🥹
Hazel came into our care as a stray with her three tiny kittens, who were just one week old. Thanks to the kindness of a member of the public and the dedication of one of our wonderful foster homes, this little family was given the safe start they deserved.
Two of Iris’ siblings have already found a loving home together, and now it’s Hazel and Iris’ turn. 🐾
This beautiful mum and daughter share a special bond, so we’re looking for a forever home where they can stay together. In return, they’ll bring double the purrs, double the companionship and double the love.
Hazel and Iris are looking for a home with a garden and would be happy in a family home or with older children.
Could you be the person who gives this gorgeous pair their happy ending?
📧 Email our homing team at lewisham@celiahammond.org
Alternatively, come and meet them at one of our Lewisham open days, held every Saturday and Sunday from 1–5pm.
If you can’t adopt, please share their story — you never know who might be looking for the perfect pair. 💙🐱
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