How You Can Help Us

Cats’ Aid is run by a very small group of volunteers who
give up their free time to help cats and kittens in need.  Our
workload is increasing every year and we struggle to keep
up with the demands on our time and our resources.  Can
YOU help us?  Even if you don’t feel you have the time or
commitment to give, you would be surprised at how a little
help can go a long way.  This leaflet gives a guide to the
following ways in which you or your friends may be able to
help us.

*  Adopt a Cat
*  Foster a Cat
*  Sponsor a Cat
*  Become a Member
*  Make a Donation
*  Join the Helpline team
*  Volunteer to help with trapping
*  Support our Fundraisers
*  Hold your own fundraising event
*  Spread the Word!

Adopt a Cat:

Could you give a permanent home to a cat?
Cats' Aid is about providing loving homes for cats.
How do we do that? We put photos and details of cats
on our web pages and ask if you could give one (or more)
a home. If you don’t have access to the internet, then ring
our helpline, leave your name and telephone no. on the
answerphone and someone will return your call and discuss
at length the different cats we have available. We will listen
to any concerns you may have and advise and reassure. The
cat’s welfare is our main priority but we also like to ensure,
as far as possible, that potential new owners are matched up
with the right cat for them and their circumstances. Cats make
wonderful companions and can really make a house a home!

Foster a Cat:

Could you give a temporary home to a cat?
Have you thought about getting a companion cat but feel
your present lifestyle just doesn’t suit a long term
commitment? Or maybe you’re not sure how you and
a cat would get on? Or do you already have a cat but
feel that one more in your home on a temporary basis
would not be a problem? Then perhaps you would think
of becoming a Cats’ Aid Fosterer… 
What does this entail?
Cats’ Aid does not have a shelter or sanctuary, so the cats
we rescue are taken into the homes of our foster volunteers
until a permanent home can be found.  We are very desperate
for more foster homes because the more places we have
available, the more cats and kittens we can take in and help.
Because of the shortage of foster homes we often have to
resort to boarding rescued cats in kennels in vets’ surgeries,
the cost of which really adds up and is causing us a lot of
concern.

-  A loving foster home works wonders for cats and kittens
who have experienced abandonment and hard times and
it prepares them for their new home.

-  All animals are health checked and Cats’ Aid takes
responsibility for all medical expenses.

-  Advice and backup is always on hand.

Sponsor a Cat:

Would you like to contribute to the care and wellbeing
of a particular cat, even though you cannot provide a
home for one?

Cats’ Aid have a number of cats that cannot, for one
reason or another, be re-homed. They may need ongoing
medical attention, or have behavioural problems or just
be too old or too timid. These cats become permanently
fostered cats and stay in the homes of a few of our core
group volunteers.  It puts a large financial burden on Cats'
Aid to provide medical help and food for these special cats,
whose number is increasing each year. This money could
be put to better use if we can get sponsorship for each cat.
Sponsorship involves dedicating a sum of money each
month to a cat in order to offset expenses. In return we will
send you a photo and some information about the cat you
have sponsored.  There are many cat lovers out there, but
not everyone can give a cat a home so this is the next best
thing!  Some people sponsor a cat as a gift for a friend or
relative, which is a lovely thoughtful idea.

Become a Member:

If you share our aims and would like to support us in our
work, then consider becoming a Member of Cats’ Aid.
Our suggested minimum donation to become a member is €12.
(Pensioners/unwaged/junior supporters €6.)  We will send you
our Newsletter which we publish 3 or 4 times a year and also
advise you of any fundraising events.  Download a copy of our
Membership Form from our website or pick up a form at any
of our fundraising events or ring the helpline and we will post
one out to you. 

Make a Donation:

If you do not wish to become a member but would still like
to support Cats’ Aid, we would be delighted to receive your
donation to help us continue our work.  Please send your
donation to the address at the end of this page, and don’t forget
to include your name and address if you would like a receipt.
Please don’t send cash in the post.

Join the Helpline Team:

Are you good at dealing with people on the phone?
A lot of our work is done through our telephone helpline.
Training and support will be given.  Just a few hours a week
can be really helpful to our core group co-ordinators.  If you
would like to find out more, please ring our helpline, leave
your name and telephone number on the answerphone, and
also briefly explain that you wish to find out more about
volunteering to join the Helpline team, and someone will
phone you back to discuss. Or alternatively send us an email
with your name, telephone number etc.

Volunteer to help with trapping:

Special purpose-built traps are used to catch cats who may
need our attention but are too afraid or unused to human
contact to be simply picked up. We also monitor feral colonies
and trap, neuter/spay and return (TNR) cats to sustainable
colonies. This helps reduce the overpopulation of stray cats
and promote better health and quality of life for the neutered
male and spayed female. Our problem a lot of the time is lack
of manpower in getting the traps to the areas needed. We would
love to have more volunteers in all parts of Dublin and surrounding
counties to help us with this vital work.

Support our Fundraisers:

It is a constant struggle to raise funds.  In spite of the support
of many veterinary practices, our bills for treatment & boarding
are very high.  Therefore we need all the support we can get for
our fundraisers.  We are always delighted to see people at our Sales…
we hold them twice a year, at Christmastime and in early Summer.
Come along, and tell your friends and family to come too!  Are you
able to donate items we can sell, or bake a cake for the cake stall.
These Sales are an opportunity to meet us and pick up a bargain at
the same time!  We hold other fundraisers too from time to time,
details will be in your newsletter or on the website.  Every 18 months
or so we hold a photographic competition which is always popular.
There is our Grand Raffle held every two years, and occasionally we
hold supermarket collections.  Each year we make an appeal for
women to take part in the Ladies Mini Marathon in aid of Cats’ Aid.
All support for any of our fundraisers is very welcome.

Hold Your Own Fundraising Event:

Why not hold a coffee morning or a table quiz night in aid of
Cats’ Aid…  Such events are great fun and any amount you raise,
big or small, will be greatly appreciated and go directly to helping
cats and kittens in need.  Have you any other ideas for a fundraiser?
How about asking all your friends and family around for a BBQ
in Summer and charge a fun admission fee for Cats’ Aid! Younger
members could organise sponsored swims, skipathons or sale of works.
If you are thinking of holding a fundraiser in aid of Cats’ Aid, please
contact us and we can provide literature for display or Cats’ Aid
merchandising for sale if you wish.  We are happy to help and
support in any way that we can, if required.

Spread the Word!

Tell your family and friends about us and maybe they can help in
some way too.  Do you know someone who is looking to give a cat
a home, or might be interested in fostering, or becoming a member…
give them our contact details!

Finally, thank you for reading this, and taking an interest in Cats’ Aid.

Cats’ Aid
P.O. Box 2874
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4

Helpline No.  (01) 668 3529
Email:  catsaid@gmail.com
Website:  www.catsaid.org