We bought down the breeders! A Very Proud Protected Paws Team After This Weekend’s Efforts!

This weekend, our incredible team at Protected Paws took part in one of our most intense rescues yet.

We busted a British Shorthair breeding mill and safely removed every single cat and kitten from the property.

Many of you have been following Faye, our neglected little British Shorthair with dwarfism. She came to us with two others one of whom was microchipped. When we alerted authorities, nothing was done. So, Sam and Kerry decided to take matters into their own hands and visit the address to investigate.

We suspected there were kittens involved because Leonara was still producing milk, and Faye had clear signs of having recently nursed. Sam and Kerry, being the determined animal advocates they are, couldn’t let it go. They spoke with neighbours, who confirmed: “There are lots of cats in there.”

So, they knocked on the door and waited. No answer. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Eventually, a woman answered. She explained it was her son’s flat but that she lived there too. She said she didn’t want the cats and that we could take all the adults clearly wanting to keep the kittens for money.

That wasn’t going to happen.

She started phoning her son, yelling in Arabic (which we couldn’t understand), and repeatedly said: “Take the cats, but don’t call the police.” Sam and Kerry knew they had a small window of time and the cats were terrified.

They had only planned to remove a few cats but were met with a tiny, filthy one-bedroom flat full of cats and kittens. Broken windows, filthy floors, one dirty litter tray, and no clean food or water. The cats were at real risk shards of glass everywhere, the smell unbearable.

They didn’t have enough carriers, so a message went out to the team: “Bring carriers now.” Everyone rushed to Fulham, and cats were safely caught one by one. Each cat was immediately taken out as soon as it was secured, knowing the son would soon arrive to reclaim his “money-makers.”

When he did arrive, things turned tense. Sam and Kerry had agreed beforehand that if things escalated, the cats came first even if it meant one of them might have to stay behind.

The son became aggressive, blocking the stairs and refusing to let them leave. Kerry, who is still recovering from brain surgery, couldn’t physically fight her way out but Sam went full Jack Russell mode and refused to back down.

Thankfully, the mother kept shouting, “No police, take the cats, no police!” likely because the flat was full of drug paraphernalia and possibly because she was in the country illegally. She even changed her story several times, saying first that she lived there, then that she didn’t only that she “fed the cats.”

Eventually, the son backed down, fuming as he watched his “money bags” being carried out to safety.

The Aftermath

Among the 15 cats rescued:

We had no idea what we were walking into, and the total cost of vet care is expected to start at around £4,000.

We are so grateful to everyone who showed up so quickly to help especially Sam and Kerry, who put their own safety at serious risk to save these animals.

The Mission Continues

These cats now have a long road to recovery, but their future is finally bright thanks to teamwork, courage, and compassion.

Protected Paws will never stop being the voice for the voiceless, no matter how unsafe or difficult that may be.