Author Archives: catstynesideac

By: Karen Hobbs “What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.” – Aristotle   Hi, my name is Karen. I have been a volunteer with Cats protection since August 2018. As I work full time for Newcastle City Council, I volunteer as often as my roster allows me, which isContinue reading “My Volunteering Journey”

When I first became a volunteer, I was so anxious! Little did I know I would be joining a real family… in addition to expanding my own furry clan along the way!

In addition to getting over my anxiety, volunteering has allowed me to gain a greater knowledge of cats, learn about their welfare needs and how to read their behaviours. All of this extra knowledge has helped me to be able to understand my own beautiful cats so much more! 

We had no intention of rehoming a cat so soon, but Willow was the last of her litter and had been alone for a little while. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon when I saw her staring at me from her pen as I was walking away, something told me that I couldn’t just leave her there.

Every cat is a member of the family, but Luna really is my little miracle fur baby and I think she’s finally grown out of being such a cluts! Luna’s now running around with my other cat, Prince, and still does stupid things sometimes but she’s like my little witches cat; she sits on my shoulder all of the time – hence the name Luna!!

I have been a volunteer at the Cats Protection Tyneside Adoption Centre for over 1 year now; my role is a Cat Desensitisation Volunteer. This means that it’s my job to spend time with the more nervous ones who aren’t as comfortable around people. I love spending time with the shy cats and helping to make them more comfortable and confident!

Cats, just like people, age. Adopting an older cat you already have a good idea of their temperament – their quirks, likes and dislikes, and they’ve got so much to bring to a home.

My journey started back in 2015 when I got my first job working for Cats Protection as a Cat Care Assistant at Ferndown Homing Centre in Dorset…

It was due to Marvin’s special circumstances and chronic illness that I simply had to bring him home. It turns out that my previous reservations were unfounded & things are going pretty well between my fur babies…

This is my take on an old Norse legend of the Rainbow bridge. The legend tells of a place, a vast green meadow beside the Rainbow Road, where a beloved pet goes when it dies. All of its ailments and injuries are healed, it never again wants for anything. It plays with the other animals that were also loved in life. Until one day, their owner takes their walk along the Rainbow Road. They meet again and love again as they did in life, then together, they walk across the Rainbow Bridge and pass in to Heaven.