Oldham cat charity gets grant after rare disease outbreak

Date published: 16 January 2019


An Oldham cats’ charity, which was devastated by an outbreak of a rare disease, has been able to transform the centre after receiving a grant of more than £43,700.

Oldham Cats Rescue in Middleton was crippled when there was an outbreak of panleukopenia – often nicknamed ‘feline distemper’ – which took the lives of seven kittens.

The disease does not spread to humans, but it is responsible for a decrease in white blood cells in cats – which then compromises their immune system.

It is also highly contagious and can kill a feline in less than 24 hours, meaning it can have a devastating effect.

The disease put immense pressure on the charity, because it meant that the kitten room needed to be fumigated and all the cages destroyed to protect the adult cats.

The charity, which rescues and rehomes felines all around our region, turned to crowdfunding for help.

The cost of emergency treatment and testing two litters put great strain on the centre.

In the time since, the  charity has also received a grant of over £43,700 from Support Adoption For Pets to help transform the accommodation at the centre.

The grant has enabled the charity to now be able to continue taking in cats, which had previously been put on hold so that they could repair and replace the facilities affected by the outbreak.

Davina Hanes, Assistant Manager at Oldham Cats Rescue, said: "We are so grateful for the grant that Support Adoption For Pets provided us with, without them it would not have been possible to update the cattery and this was something that we so desperately in need of.

"We are delighted to have started the year off with such a sizeable grant, and we look forward to ensuring that this money contributes to making this a successful year for the cats in our care."

Laura Messenger, Support Adoption For Pets Grant Funding Co-ordinator said: “Oldham Cat Rescue is the extremely worthy recipient of our £43,000 grant.

“We could see after visiting the rescue that new accommodation was something that the rescue was desperately in need of, particularly after the disease outbreak earlier this year, so we are delighted that this grant will help benefit the lives of so many cats that continue to come into the charity’s care throughout the year."