Almost 7,000 cats, and over 23,000 cat
“parents” and cat-lovers, joined a month-long celebration of all cats via the “Agria
CatWalk” competition.
The Agria CatWalk was created to highlight
the significant issues faced by the UK’s cats and cat rescues and support them
with awareness and donations. Far fewer cats than dogs in the UK are protected
with insurance, which is often a key factor for them ending up in rescue –
their owners cannot afford their vets’ bills.
The specialist pet insurer’s work with
hundreds of animal rescues gives them a unique insight into the problems they
face. A survey of their rehoming partners revealed that 80 percent of cats in
rescue had not been adopted due to their age, appearance, or disability.
Designed to highlight the “magnificence of
every cat”, the event showcased how special all cats are – from their unique
looks and personalities to their unusual pastimes, with the photo-sharing “Agria CatWalk” Facebook competition.
Helped by high-profile judges, International
Cat Care, ProtectaPet, Your Cat Magazine, and Katzenworld, cat lovers took part
to win a share of £2,500 for their nominated rescue every week in May. Agria
Pet Insurance also donated to animal rescues with every cat policy sold during
the month.
“This fact triggered the campaign’s theme
of celebrating every cat. Their quirks and diversity make them the companions
we love so much, so we wanted to highlight this, and encourage potential owners
to consider all cats, not just the stereotypical ‘perfect’ ones,” explains
Tom Vaughan, Head of Marketing at Agria Pet Insurance.
One of the winning rescues, Assisi Animal
Sanctuary, received a £1,000 donation. They said, “This past year has been
so challenging, and has, without a doubt, been the most financially punishing
year Assisi has ever seen, so we are incredibly grateful to receive this
nomination and prize.”
Amotherby Cat and Kitten Rescue commented, “We
are absolutely thrilled to receive this and so grateful to Agria and our
super-supporters – it will make such a difference to our rescue.”
A third of cat rescues surveyed said they
were already full, with two-thirds reporting a significant increase in cats
surrendered to them over the past year. The majority reported an increase of
between 25 percent and 50 percent above what is usual, with more than 70 percent of rescues
worried about the number of cats due to arrive in their care as lockdown continues
to ease.
The survey also found that, sadly, a quarter
of cats in UK rescues have been there for at least six months.
Agria Pet Insurance has also just launched
their new Cat Rescue Directory – a place for potential adopters to find a cat
rescue local to them and help more cats find their forever homes.
