Hi! We’re Lexie & Terri and we need your help for us to buy a catio for our stray friend Tom, aka Beanjuice. (I’ll explain this name at the end…)

Tom is a long time stray for over 7 years. He’s been around the Thornwell area between gardens, hidden spaces and warehouses fending for himself.

Some of you reading may have fed him or helped him along his journey and were sure he thanks you!

One of these photos was taken whilst I was building his trust before I managed to take him to the vet after a year of trying. The vets neutered him and gave him eyedrops but no rescue could take him in.

Tom then disappeared for a while with few and far sightings. I saw on Facebook he was in an industrial site and for his safety, bought him back (only a 15 minute walk) to our gardens where he can be flead, fled, and sleep safely.

For those who don’t know, Tom’s eyelids and lashes roll inwards so he’s in discomfort 24/7. You can see this in the photo, and we are continuing the eye drops given by the vets. We have also found out he is FIV positive.

GCP will be taking him in as soon as he has space, but until then our aim is to keep him safe, secure and warm. We both have cats who are outdoors and when I can work from home I can keep an eye on them and make sure they are kept separate so they don’t fight. When we’re not home, Tom must be outside whatever the weather…

Now we know he’s FIV+ we’re trying to source a catio we can quickly install to keep him from roaming and to ensure he can finally go to a rescue and see his later years in peace and comfort. Given his history, if he’s left outside we worry he may disappear again as he’s done for the last several years.

Tom is the most loving cat now. He’s affectionate, vocal and loves attention and would make a beautiful companion! The cover photo is where we are now. When we’re home and can keep our cats separate, he comes in for some TLC and a long snooze.

We’re only fundraising for a catio, and GCP (Gwent Cats Protection) will treat him when they take him in.

We absolutely need to make you aware that we anticipate GCP to take him within a month - so the catio will not be up for long. We’re trying our best to help where possible and feel this option is in everyone’s best interest.

We have offered the catio to GCP if they would like it after and we’d love for Tom to still be able to experience some outdoors in his new forever home.

If we exceed funds, any remaining will go to GCP as a donation.

Now if you’re wondering why he’s aka as Beanjuice… when I (Lexie) first came across him, naturally I called for my partner to come and see him and his eyes. My partner said the discharge around his eyes looks like (baked) bean juice, and as were suckers for odd names and nicknames, it stuck. Does he respond to it? Yes. Do we still eat baked beans… yes, and sorry if you now won’t

Thank you for your time