Hi, my name is Nicole. I’m a full-time carer for foxes, hedgehogs (now hibernating), native Irish birds, stray cats, and our own two cats here in Cork, Ireland.

I never wanted to make a GoFundMe for this and I want to be clear: I don’t want a catio. I want my boys, especially 15-year-old Chibs to have freedom to run, nap in the grass, and greet our friendly foxes Mulder and Vivica. But what I want even less is for Mr Eddy to be killed by a car or to chase one of the strays (Dale Cooper, Henry Spencer, or Sailor Ripley) onto the road. This isn’t a luxury, it’s an urgent lifeline.

Two years ago, we moved to East Cork to keep our cats Bean and Chibs safe after constant of harassment from neighbours’ and their kids. Six months later, Bean was hit by a car outside and died. Heartbroken, we later adopted Pete to keep Chibs company, but despite fencing and gates we put in place, Pete too was killed on the road. I suffered from panic attacks for months after that, unable to leave the house, but found purpose caring for wild animals who came for food: foxes, hedgeogs, birds, and strays. That’s grown into a small sanctuary supported by kind followers online.

This year, a wild cat named Bushnell Mullins came to us. After months of tireless work with him, he finally trusted us enough to come indoors... then was hit by a car that same week. His death broke me. Soon after, three other strays began arriving daily, and I’ve been caring for them since.

Then, at the end of July, another cat appeared: Mr Eddy. After trying to find his owner, we had him neutered and had him assessed for a his compulsive overgrooming. He’s now on immunosuppressants and extremely vulnerable, but also reactive to other cats and determined to roam. Despite our fencing attempts, he slips out via the neighbours and chases our strays into the road. I spend hours watching cameras, standing at the roadside to make sure he gets back safely, terrified each time he vanishes.

A neighbour’s cat, Teo, was killed on this same road 2 weeks ago. I’ve been campaigning to have the speed limit reduced, but that will take time we don’t have.

Chibs can’t live indoors full-time, he’s 15, was wild for 10 years, skittish, and panics when confined. Mr Eddy also struggles with being indoors. Our small cottage simply isn’t suitable for two outdoor cats to be locked inside.

That’s why I’m asking for help to build a secure, custom catio, connected to our kitchen window and cat flap: large enough for Mr Eddy to be comfortable and safe. A company has offered to build it next week for €3,800, but it is beyond our reach after unexpected expenses.

This isn’t easy to ask. I wish I didn’t have to. But time is running out for Mr Eddy. Every day feels like a countdown, and I can’t lose him the way I’ve lost the others.

Please, if you can, help us build this safe space. You won’t just be saving Mr Eddy, you’ll be protecting the other animals who depend on me too.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for recognising that while they may not mean much to the world, they mean the world to me.