Adopt an Animal with Cats Trust Adoption & Protection.

If you have been thinking of getting a cat, then look to adopt an animal. Think Adoption First. Meet Cats Trust Adoption & Protection., who are partnered with our store in Carlow. Find out below how you can offer a forever home to one of the cats in their care.

Who are they?

Cats Trust Adoption & Protection, previously Aughrim Cat Rescue, are an all-volunteer group of animal lovers. They are dedicated to give every cat a chance to live a safe, healthy and happy life.

In 2010 Catriona Leahy set up the previously titled Aughrim cat rescue with concern for the serious overpopulation of feral cats in County Wicklow to specialise in TNR (the Trap-Neuter-Return of feral cats) which independently already had many years of experience. Cats Trust Adoption & Protection now have built up a great number of dedicated volunteers who do TNR in Co Wicklow and surrounding areas. The rescue also foster, socialise & rehome feral, stray and domestic cats when needed. On average they neuter from around 300 to 600 cats per year.

Together with a handful of other helpers, Catriona & Kathy trap these cats at the request of concerned members of the public, as well as finding feral cat colonies themselves. These cats are then taken in to be neutered, tamed and socialised by the members of the rescue group until they are ready to be adopted into their forever homes.

Their aim is that all rescued cats will be adopted where possible.

These cats go on to live happy lives with their new families and make excellent pets.

What To Consider Before Adopting a Cat

Cats Trust Adoption & Protection help homeless cats in Wicklow and surrounding areas and dedicated to give every cat a chance to live a safe, healthy and happy life. They help young kittens, adult cats, senior cats, and even feral cats. There are a number of things to consider before deciding to adopt a cat, such as…

• The cost: Regular food and litter, as well as a litter box, scratching post, food bowls, veterinary visits and unexpected illnesses or injuries.
• Owning the cat vs. being owned by the cat: Unlike dogs, cats like to do things in their own way and own time. For instance, you can train a cat to beg for a treat but if the cat doesn’t feel like doing the trick at that moment, it won’t. It’s better to think of it as adding a new member to your family.
• Maintenance: You’ll need to make sure the cat has plenty of water, food daily, and a clean litter box, as well as keeping up with the health exams. Although most cats do not demand tons of attention, they will still want your affection on a regular basis.
• Age of children: If you have small children you may want to wait to get a cat until your children are older. However, if you will be supervising every encounter between small child and cat you’ll probably be all right.
• Other pets in the house: If you already have existing pets in the house you’ll need to consider whether they will get along with a cat. Obvious problems would be birds and small rodents.
• Potential allergies: Does anyone in your household have pet allergies?

What is Trap Neuter Return?

Trap-Neuter-Return is the answer to Ireland’s feral cat crisis, and is the most effective and most humane solution in an area overpopulated by feral cats. The cats are humanely trapped and brought to a vet, where they are examined. Sick cats are treated. Cats that are too ill to make a full recovery are humanely euthanised. The vet then neuters, worms and flea treats the remaining healthy cats. By nicking the tip off the left ear they are marked for identification before they return to their colony.

Quality of life improves dramatically for the cats. The colony now consists of healthy animals and no more kittens are born. In most neighborhoods people are then happy to look after those cats, providing them with food and shelter. Tamable cats and young kittens are socialized in a foster home until a permanent home can be found, where they can live a happy life as pets. Some feral cats can be re-homed as garden and farm cats.

How Can I Contact Cats Trust?

Adopt a Cat: Contact the shelter as below to ask about cats needing homes.
Tel: 0871 218 671 / 0871 757 395
Email: [email protected]
Website: catstrust.ie