Purr-fect Partnership: London Charities Rescue Kittens in Time for Christmas
By Animals Correspondent
Animal Welfare Charity, Battersea, and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), rallied together to rescue a stray cat and her three kittens in time for Christmas.
Now, some of the children at GOSH have been given the important task of choosing the purr-fect names for the feline family of four.
Battersea received an unusual call when a stray cat and her three kittens were found onsite at GOSH, in a non-clinical area.
Seeking shelter from the bleak winter weather, the pregnant cat had made herself at home in one of the hospital’s storerooms.
The savvy mum-to-be had clearly sought out medical expertise for her unborn litter, but despite her resourcefulness, she'd chosen a hospital specialising in the wrong species.
When a GOSH Facilities Manager discovered the family, they immediately turned to Battersea for help. Working closely with the Battersea's Rehoming and Welfare team, they ensured the mum and her newborn kittens were kept comfortable and secure until they could be safely transported back to Battersea's London centre.
On arrival at Battersea, the mum and kittens were fully checked over and given a clean bill of health by the charity’s vets.
Thanks to the quick thinking of GOSH staff and the dedication of Battersea's experts, what could have been a difficult start to life has turned into a Christmas miracle for this little family.
Sorrel Magenta, Rehoming and Welfare Manager at Battersea's London Cattery, said:
"When the kittens first arrived at Battersea, we were all surprised by how friendly and healthy they were, given they'd started life in a storeroom. The facilities team at Great Ormond Street did a wonderful job of looking after them in the early days, taking on all our advice on how to keep the mum and babies secure until we were able to safely bring them into our centre.”
In a heartwarming collaboration, children on Panther, Lion and Leopard Ward at GOSH were invited to suggest names for all members of the family.
After much deliberation and plenty of enthusiasm, the kittens were named Luna, Chocolate, and Sky, while the mum was named Cassie, appropriately by GOSH’s very own CATS team (Children’s Acute Transport Service).
Jason Dawson, Executive Director of Space and Place at Great Ormond Street Hospital said:
“Kittens being born at Great Ormond Street Hospital is not something that typically happens here! We’re proud of the Space and Place team for keeping the kittens safe and getting them to the right place to ensure they are properly cared for and can go to a loving home.
“It's wonderful that some of our patients, and our CATS team, can be the ones to name them. It gives the kittens a nice link with where they were born.”
Sorrel Magenta said:
"We've been able to update everybody at GOSH on the kittens' wonderful progress and will continue to share pictures and updates as the weeks go on. The children's excitement about naming them has been lovely to hear. We couldn't have asked for better partners on this kitten rescue mission."
Cassie and her kittens are spending the Christmas period together in foster care, undoubtedly bringing some extra festive joy to their foster family’s holidays before looking for new homes in the New Year.
