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.
MYTH BUSTER: “A female cat should have one litter before she’s spayed.”
In honour of World Spay Day, we want to tackle one of the most common and harmful myths we hear. There is absolutely no medical or behavioural benefit to allowing a cat to have a litter of kittens before being spayed. In fact, the opposite is true.
Spaying before a first litter significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumours, prevents life-threatening uterine infections such as pyometra, and eliminates the stress and risks associated with pregnancy and birth. Complications during labour are not uncommon, especially in very young or small cats.
We are currently caring for more than 750 rescue cats across our centres, and many of the kittens who come into our care are born because someone believed this outdated myth. Every unplanned litter adds to an already overwhelming number of cats needing homes.
Cats do not feel a “need” to experience motherhood. They do not lose out emotionally by being spayed. What they gain is protection, safety, and a longer, healthier life.
➡️As we head into World Spay Day, please share this post and help us spread the word. Neutering saves lives, prevents suffering, and is one of the single most effective ways to reduce the number of unwanted cats.
If your cat is not yet neutered, please contact our Lewisham Centre today to book an appointment. Early neutering from 4 months old is safe, routine, and one of the most important steps you can take for your cat’s health.
📞: 0208 691 2100
📩: lewisham@celiahammond.org
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"A year on from adoption, I want to thank you all for introducing us to, this absolute gent of a cat! Then Wallace and now our lovely Wally, we have never met a gentler, friendlier, goofier more positive spirit before, our family would not be the same without him and his constant lunacy, purrs and up-cuddles, thank you again for your amazing work! Xx"
Have you given a CHAT cat their storybook ending? Please send your photos via Messenger using the words “happy adoption” and your former rescue cat could be featured next.
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📢Exciting News … Today, 21 February 2026, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust. Reaching this huge milestone has only been achievable thanks to our amazing supporters who have funded our work over the years.
Despite our best efforts, we continue to experience the devastating effects of an increasing unneutered cat population, and every year need to find homes for around 1,900 unwanted and abandoned animals. To help cope with this problem, Celia has wanted to open a dedicated rescue and rehoming centre in Lewisham, for many years.
Thanks to two generous legacy gifts, we are now on our way to fulfilling Celia’s dream and have embarked on a project to build a dedicated, and much-needed, rescue and rehoming centre adjacent to our existing veterinary clinic in Lewisham, South East London. However, we still have a long way to go in funding this project which is set to cost a total of £1.5million.
We are now fundraising to pay for phase 2B, the construction of the main two-storey building which will cost £495,749, and we really need your support in funding this next stage of the project.
Please donate whatever you can afford and help make Celia's dream a reality🙏
📞 Call us on 01892 783 367, Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, to donate by credit/debit card
✉️ Send a cheque (made payable to CHAT) to Celia Hammond Animal Trust Head Office, High Street, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6AG
🌐Click on the link in the comments section below to donate securely online 👇
Thank you for being part of our 40-year journey and for helping us continue to care for animals who need us most! ... See MoreSee Less
TRAPPED IN THE CEILING: A Mother Cat and Her Kittens Rescued from a void above the ceiling in E14
We received desperate calls at two of our centres about a mother cat and her newborn kittens who had somehow become trapped for several days inside a void above the ceiling of a building in E14.
It is likely this mum cat had squeezed into the narrow, dark space that was virtually inaccessible by human hands to give birth to her kittens. The callers could hear faint crying but were unable to reach them.
This was an incredibly challenging rescue. James and Molly of our rescue team attended and were faced with a cramped, confined space that required patience, precision and calm determination. Working carefully inside the small ceiling void, they were able to safely retrieve the frightened mum and each of her kittens, one by one.
Now they are safe. But rescue is only the beginning.
Mum will need a full veterinary assessment, parasite treatment, food and time to decompress after the trauma she has endured. We've named her Olivia. The kittens will require regular health checks and, when old enough, vaccinations, microchipping and neutering. The family have been placed into the care of one of our trusted fosterers after a vet check and will be closely monitored over the next several weeks.
We currently have hundreds of kittens in our care. As always, we receive no government funding for this work. Every emergency call-out, every vet bill, every sachet of food is paid for by people like you.
If you can, please consider making a donation today to help cover the cost of this complex rescue and the ongoing care this little family now needs. Simply tap the link below or the button attached to this post.
Because without your support, rescues like this simply wouldn’t be possible.
📍https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/29855
Thank you for standing with us when cats have nowhere else to turn. 🐾 ... See MoreSee Less
Clay has been living stray for a long time and residents were becoming concerned that he was looking to be in poor condition. He is a friendly older male cat, approx 12 years old. We’re so pleased he is finally off the streets and settling into the warmth of our Lewisham Centre, where he is receiving the finest care from our staff and volunteers.
Our vets have neutered and microchipped him and treated him for fleas and worms and he is underway with his vaccinations.
Clay will be seeking a loving new home with a garden.
To enquire about Clay please email lewisham@celiahammond.org
ADOPTION PROCESS:
Because our cats are rescued we do like to meet potential adopters this can either be at your home (home visit) or via a video call e.g WhatsApp this is an informal visit to provide advice about caring for cats or kittens e.g health care, feeding, settling in and also an opportunity for us to feel reassured that you could provide a good home.
Following a successful home assessment we can make an appointment for you to come and meet our cats.
We are prioritising homes that are local to our centres. Lewisham Branch Homing catchment area: All SE London and BR (Bromley) postcodes. Also N.Kent (Welling, Bexley, Sidcup, Swanley, Dartford), Croydon and SW London (SW8, SW9, SW2, SW11, SW4, SW12, SW16) If you can offer a home to a ‘harder to rehome’ cat we will consider homes outside our usual rehoming areas.
Our Rescue Centre reception is also open every Saturday and Sunday afternoon between 1p.m and 5p.m for potential adopters to drop in to meet us for an initial chat about adopting one or more of our cats. Our address is 233-235, Lewisham Way SE4 1UY - please bring a donation of cat food to help us feed our rescue cats.
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Amity is a sweet yet sassy three-year-old neutered female with a big personality and plenty of charm.
She absolutely adores people and will happily climb into your lap, purring contentedly as she soaks up all the attention. Amity loves being involved in everything you do and will follow you from room to room to make sure she doesn’t miss a thing. If something doesn’t quite go her way, she will give a bap to let you know she’s not impressed!
Amity is looking for a home with a secure garden where she can explore. She would thrive in an adult-only household and needs to be the only pet, so she can enjoy being the centre of attention just as she deserves.
If you think you could offer this gorgeous girl the safe, loving home she deserves, please send an email to helloadoptions@celiahammond.org. Read more about Amity by tapping the link below.
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🎈Now in its 5th day, the St Valentine’s Virtual Balloon Race is in full swing, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who purchased balloons in aid of Celia Hammond Animal Trust to help feed the rescue cats in our care.
Currently, topping the race leaderboard in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position are three Celia Hammond Animal Trust balloons. But with the wind speed and wind direction regularly changing its still all to play for over the next two days.
Although it’s too late to buy balloons for this race, you can still help feed the rescue cats in our care by donating online at…
📍http://bit.ly/4tRDivY
Every £3 donated will feed one cat for a day and will help us continue our life-saving work 🙏
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We are incredibly grateful to Petlibro for their generous donation of automatic feeders and water fountains for the cats in our care.
With more than 750 rescue cats across our centres, practical support like this makes a real difference.
Thank you, Petlibro, for helping us keep meals on schedule and water flowing for the cats who need us most. 🙏🏼
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“This is Daisy. She's such a loving affectionate cat, she's been my life for 16 years.
I don't know too much about her history but I came to Celia Hammond looking for 1 kitten and ended up with the 2 sisters Maisie and Daisy. ❤️" -Sue
➡️Have you adopted from Celia Hammond Animal Trust? We are searching for happy adoption stories to share with others on our socials. Send your photos via Messenger using the words “happy adoption” to inspire future cat guardians with your CHAT cat update. 💛
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