The Appin Cats Project has been actively rescuing, vetting, and homing cats and kittens in our community and beyond since 2018. Each year, we fundraise once - this is that time.

Currently, we have 29 adult cats in our direct care, with two others that are in long-term placements with fosters. Since 2022, our adoptions have crawled to a stop, yet we cannot say no to the most tragic of cases.

Many of the cats we have taken in were feral when they came, and now most of them are super-well-adjusted, loving companions. We accept all manner of cases when we are not at capacity (or over), without regard to injuries, sicknesses, dietary requirements, or personalities - we do not discriminate; every life is worth saving.

Along with the massive food and litter bills ($500-+/month), continuing keeping our crew healthy at the vet involves regular health check-ups, treating injuries, LOTS of dental work, and maintaining special diets and treatments, medicines, as well as parasite control. This is just for those we have in rescue - we participate in rescues with other groups, with transportation costs, extra foods and medicines, and more.

We do not regularly solicit for funds, as our hands are full doing the work - but once a year, we ask caring people who appreciate what we do if they can help out. We do get unsolicited donations and we are very grateful.

Our cats are not the prettiest, and they are not kittens; they have been through a lot in their lives, a lot of it terrible, all of it at the hands of human beings. We resign ourselves to the fact that many of our rescues will remain for us for the duration, and we are okay with that. It is costly, however, without the support of an agency, or a sponsorship that provides regular compensation. With no adoptions (no matter how little the fees are compared to how much their care costs), we have no income and as a result, pay all bills ourselves.

Our goal is a lofty one: raise enough money to pay for six months of food and litter. We have committed to caring, and that just does not have a price tag. Love, like life, is certainly precious, and we are honoured to be able to do the work we do.

We continue our work, offering help without strings, without charge, and we would like to do so for as long as we are able. To those of you who donate frequently (that's you, Kristin M, and many others), we are grateful for your support.

Let the future change minds and hearts and finally make the societal changes necessary to make this tragedy that happens in every town, city, space a thing of the past. The suffering has to end. We hate seeing animals pay for the mistakes of human beings.

Much love from Stephen and Alexandra,

The Appin Cats Project