Forest of Dean Cats Protection volunteers are used to calls from the public asking them to find new homes for cats who are no longer wanted. However, when a call came in asking them to take in three 18 year old females and, moreover, find a new home for them, they found the challenge rather more daunting.

Sadly, the cats’ elderly owner, Elaine Hale of Cinderford, had died. She had owned Trixie, Tinker and Tiger since they were kittens and they are devoted to each other. The family were afraid that the shock of separation would bring about illness and even death if they were to lose the security of each other’s company, having already lost their home and their familiar human.

Never a group to give up lightly, CP advertised the cats throughout the south west area hoping that colleagues in adjacent areas might be able to help. However, it was a family within the Forest area that turned up trumps and these three old ladies are now safely residing with a delightful family in the Whitecroft area where, apparently, they have made themselves completely at home and organised their new family into rearranging the furniture to suit their requirements.

Cats Protection was delighted to hear from Brian Hale, Mrs Hale’s son, after the cats had moved on to their new home. He told them: “Never in my wildest dreams did I, or my son and daughter, think it would be possible to find a home where all three cats could live out the rest of their lives together. Once again, please accept our very grateful thanks.”