Discovery of sick kittens inspired couple to set up Fylde Coast Cats charity

Kimberly Millard and Sally Pepper set up Fylde Coast Cats on Newhouse Road in Marton to help with the growing demand for rescue homes.

They were awarded charity status this summer and now hope to expand their cattery to support more cats in need.

Kim, 27, a teacher for boys with social, emotional and mental health needs, said: “The charity came about after fostering for another organisation but wanting to do more.

“So far this year we have homed over 200 cats, and neutered many more to bring down the number of kittens being born outdoors or in terrible conditions.”

Kim grew up in Blackpool and volunteered at Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary as a teenager before moving to Cambridge to study biological natural sciences, specialising in zoology.

She added: “I worked in London for a while. London life didn’t suit me though as it’s near impossible to have pets so I came home!

“Early on in our relationship, Sally and I found a litter of sick semi-feral kittens and took care of them.

“We took them to a cat welfare charity to find homes, but seeing how busy they were we felt compelled to do more.

“We adopted one of them, and began fostering for another rescue shortly after that.”

Kim and Sally, who is also 27 and works at Screwfix, are hoping for fund-raising support to expand Fylde Coast Cats.

Kim added: “We are a small charity and desperately need to expand.

“Sadly, due to Covid-19, the demand for rescue spaces for abandoned cats has rocketed and so the need for us to expand our facility and recruit more foster homes is urgent before the

cold weather arrives.

“Fylde Coast Cats opened its doors in January, initially to home the remainder of our foster cats from another rescue.

“But it was quickly apparent that there was a need for us to grow as our own independent rescue so we quickly got organised and achieved charity status at the end of July.

“Our cattery only has three pens; our proposed cattery would be twice the size so we are trying to raise funds so that we can help more cats in need.”

To support the charity, visit https://fyldecoastcats.co.uk/