About Street Cats Rescue
Who We Are
Street Cats Rescue is located in Conil, at the Costa de la Luz. Since 2008, we, a small group of cat lovers, are working incessantly to improve the live of the local cat population in Conil and the surrounding area. Over the years our group has grown, with more and more local volunteers joining our efforts, and since 2018 we are officially registered in Andalucia (registration number: 11-1-13367) and Conil (registration number: 161) as an NGO.
Our work is almost exclusively funded by private donations and the work of our fundraising team. Especially the crazy cat ladies from Strayz have been a huge help sincs 2021 and our regular fundraising events. Without all this we would not be able to continue and grow our efforts in helping these little furries in need.
What We Do
TNR (Trap - Neuter - Return)
This is the main focus of our work with the aim to reduce the numbers of unwanted kittens being born on the street.
- Trapping, neutering and releasing stray cats in Conil and surroundings.
- Lending traps and providing training on how to use them – subject to availability – to anyone who needs assistance with cat colonies in their local area.
- Providing access to reduced vet services at AgroConil in El Colorado for the castration of street cats.
- Educating the public about the importance of sterilization and encouraging them to get actitvely involved in TNR.
Cat Colonies
We look after several cat colonies in Conil and support others in the area who do the same.
- Controlling the population in our colonies: all cats are castrated and any newcomers are trapped and taken to the vet for castration.
- Providing food and water on a daily basis, and medical treatment when needed.
- Arranging surgery and treatment of injured street cats.
- Helping those who look after cat colonies with access to reduced vet bills, loaned traps, food donations and advice.
Our Adoption Program will Cease as of 2022
Until December 2021 we also ran an Adoption Program: rescuing abandonded kittens and finding a home for them. Unfortunately, as of January 2022 we are unable to continue this side of our work.
We will ensure, that the kittens and cats that are still in our care find a loving furever home, but we will no longer take in any additional kittens or cats.
The adoption work was initially started by our founder and president, Jackie Palmer, in 2008 with small home-made enclosures. In 2013 she built a small shelter in her garden, our Casa Tom, with an extension added in 2020. Casa Tom has been the happy home for many kittens rescued from the street, and as of February 2022 we still have quite a few waiting to be adopted.
A personal message from Jackie about the end of our adoption program and the closure of our shelter Casa Tom
After more than 10 years dedicating my time to the rescue of the street cats in Conil, I am now at a point in my life, where I need to step back from some of my responsibilities. As much as I enjoy this work and continue to see the never ending need to rescue abandoned kittens, my health does not allow me to continue with the running of our shelter, Casa Tom. For this reason I heavy-heartedly have decided to stop taking in kittens as of 2022 and I will no longer run the adoption program.
Don’t worry, Street Cats Rescue will continue to exist, and I will remain part of it. Our focus will looking after our cat colonies and supporting others to look after colonies in their neighbourhood and an increased effort on TNR – trapping, neutering and returning street cats.
I am thanking all the volunteers who have supported me over the past years, and a special thank you goes to the fundraising team, that is busily working to make sure we can pay for our work.
Adoption Program (2008- 2021)
In the past the Adoption Program involved:
- Taking in abandoned kittens found in the street and raising them (often including bottle feeding),
- Preparing them for adoptions: vaccinations, Test FIV & FeLV, chip, passport and castration.
- Supporting local foster homes who take in abandoned kittens (providing equipment, food and access to medical care)
- Re-homing these abandoned kittens and cats – locally or internationally.
- Cooperating with local and Northern European animal protection services for international adoptions.
Our Mission
- Improving the life of the stray kittens and cats population in Conil and surrounding area.
- Retaining our ‘no-kill’ policy unless under the advice of vets.
- Encouraging volunteers from the wider area to help looking after our cat colonies or get involved in TNR.
- Educating the community about animal welfare and the benefits of neutering.
- Re-homing abandoned kittens to safe and appropriate homes.
- Cooperating with local and Northern European cat protection services and contacts to promote the adoption of cats & kittens.
In Conil and Surrounding Areas
Our ‘Foster for Adoption’ Program
Where do the kittens come from?
Every year Street Cats Rescue is contacted by locals and tourists in Conil alike, who have found an abandoned kitten on the street or have been feeding a mother cat with their litter of kittens, and for various reasons can no longer look after them. Each story is different and often heart breaking, with 5 day old kittens rescued from rubbish bins.
In the past we used to take these little furries into our care in our shelter Casa Tom, feed them, look after them and make sure they can grow up into healthy cats. Unfortunately in recent years this has become too demanding and has taken its toll on our small and limited number of volunteers. For this reason our new approach since 2022 is to encourage and support locals to become foster homes for these little creatures.
Being a Foster Home
If you decide to become a foster home, we will provide all that is needed to look after our kittens, like litter trays, beds, blankets and toys. Furthermore we will cover all expenses for food, litter and – if necessary – medical care. The appointments for the necessary vaccinations and neutering are made in coordination with you.
If you’re interested in either short or even long term foster care for one or several of our kittens, please contact us.
How long would I need to be a Foster Home?
How long the kittens will stay in a foster home depends on various factors, many of which are out of our control. If everything goes well, i.e. a kitten does not get sick or has any infections they should be ready for adoption as of the age of 4-5 months. By that time they will have had their vaccinations, be tested for FIV & FeLV, chipped and castrated.
However, if they can move out of the foster home at that moment in time also depends on if/when:
- we have found a new home or – in some cases a foster home in Germany.
- there is a Flugpate or a transport that can take the kitten to their new home (for international adoptions).
Are the kittens vaccinated and neutered?
All our kittens and cats are neutered, have two Trivalente vaccinations against the most common diseases [Feline panleukopenia (FPV or FPLV), Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FHV, aka herpes virus), Feline calicivirus (FCV)], as well as the obligatory rabies vaccinations.
Furthermore they are tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and the test results are recorded in the passport.
How much does it cost to prepare a kitten for adoption?
Getting a kitten ready for adoption costs a minimum of 130€ for a male and 150€ for a female cat. This amount covers the vaccinations mentioned above plus the castration. What is not included is the food, litter and additional medical bills which almost always exist, as many kittens are found with some health problems like conjunctivitis, cold or parasites.
We cooperate with AgroConil, a veterinary clinic in El Colorado, who offer us a discounted rate for all medical treatments and care.
Do I need to pay anything if I adopt a kitten?
To cover some of our expenses, we ask for a contribution for each adopted kitten or cat.
For local adoptions this contribution is 50€ – 100€ depending on financial ability. We can also offer payment in installments. For international adoptions the amount is 180€ which takes into account the additional transport costs.
Do I need to sign a contract when I adopt a kitten?
To make sure our kittens will have a good home we also do a home check before we agree to the adoptions. Furthermore we have a contract that we sign with the new owner to ensure they are aware how to appropriately care for a kitten.
For adoptions to Germany please check out Street Cats – Adoptions
Some of our Kittens
… who found a loving furever home…
BLINKY (f) | tabby | 08/04/19
Mango (f) | white ginger | 17/07/19
If you are interested in adopting a kitten, please send us an email and tell us what you are looking for (e.g. age, sex, colour) and what the new home for the kitten would look like (other cats in the house, access to outdoors, etc.).
Getting Involved
Volunteer
Our work depends on the generous support of volunteers and we are always in need of more. The tasks are varied and there is something for everyone. Have a look for yourself.
Trapping
Often we are contacted by locals or tourists who know about or are feeding some cats in their neighbourhood and are concerned about the number of kittens and new cats appearing each year.
Many of these little felines are already too used to living on the street and cannot be homed. Nevertheless, we can help these little fellows having a better life by trapping and neutering them.
Neutering not only keeps the numbers of cats in a colony down giving them better chances to find food and shelter. It also keeps them healthier and prevents fighting.
As we are often too busy just looking after the kittens in our care, we would be very grateful for any help with trapping cats and kittens and taking them to the vet for neutering.
Street Cats Rescue provides the necessary training, traps, food and arranges the appointments at the vet.
Cat Colony Helper
Street Cats Rescue is looking after three cat colonies: one at the Paseo Maritimo in Conil, one in the Pinares de Roche and one at the Club Paraíso in El Colorado. Feeding the cats and kittens at these colonies every day is quite a task.
Even helping just once a week with one of our colonies would make a huge difference.
All you need to do is refill the feeders and water bowls, and just check that everything is ok. It only takes a little while.
Think you’re up for it? Then get in touch with us.
Being a Foster Home
We always need medium to long term foster homes as part of our ‘Foster for Adoption‘ Program.
Vet Visits
With neutering, vaccination and the medical care for our cats and kittens being a major part of what we do, we have to visit the vet a lot. Some visits are fairly straight forward and quick, for example the vaccinations and final check ups before a journey.
If you have a car, a drivers licence and some spare time, we’d love a hand in picking up and dropping off kittens and cats who need to go to the vet.
Street Cats Rescue colaborates with AgroConil in El Colorado. Almost all of our vet appointments are at that clinic.
We can arrange appointments that suit your schedule and there is no ongoing commitment. Even the occasional visit or pick up after surgery is helping us out a lot.
Fundraising
Street Cats Rescue relies on donations and the wonderful generosity of other cat lovers to keep going.
If you have any experience in fundraising or can simply provide an extra set of hands in this area we’d be hugely appreciative – even being a great baker and making some cakes for our regular markets would help us a lot.
Administration
Like any organisation, we too have to keep an eye on our books. If you can help us out with anything administration-related, we’d love your expertise.
No time to volunteer?
Other Ways to Help
Donate
Like any other NGO, our work depends to a large degree on the generosity of people like you.
Be it by one-off donations or regular (e.g. monthly) donations, every little contribution is greatly appreciated and goes a long way in helping to care for our little feline friends.
Donations can be made via
- Paypal using your credit card or bank account.
During the Paypal check out process you can enter the amount you would like to give and choose to make your donation a recurring donation or a one-off payment - Bank Transfer:
Asoc. Street Cats Rescue, Banka March,
IBAN: ES97 0061 0253 1800 4274 0210.
Feed a Street Cat
Every day we feed around 120-150 street cats. Volunteers visit our colonies, make sure all cats are ok, refill the feeding bowls, provide fresh water and replace the bedding in their shelters.
With just 4€ a month you can help to feed one of these gorgeous creatures in need.
Be a ‘Flugpate’
For our international adoptions, we are always looking for ‘Flugpaten’. This is a German term and describes a person who takes a pet on their flight – either in the cabin or in the hold (i.e. an animal travel companion).
If you are living or holidaying in Conil or surroundings and have a flight booked to Germany, the Netherlands or another Northern European country, you can help us by taking one of our adopted kittens or adult cats with you on your trip.
Street Cats Rescue will make the booking for the cat and pay for the additional transport costs. The only thing you need to do is check in with the cat.
When you arrive at your home airport the new owner, a representative of another NGO or a foster carer will be waiting for you and take the cat off you.
Our Fundraising Events
Regular Events
MARKETS
usually every 1st Saturday of the month
10:00 – 13:00 | outside AgroConil in El Colorado
Next Market, Saturday:
07/05/2022
04/06/2022
02/07/2022
06/08/2022
27/08/2022
01/10/2022
05/11/2022
03/12/2022
QUIZ NIGHT
usually every 1st Thursday of the month
20:00-23:00 | Bubble Burguer, San Andres | 5€
Next Quiz Night, Thursday:
05/05/2022
02/06/2022
07/07/2022
04/08/2022
01/09/2022
06/10/2022
03/11/2022
01/12/2022
In addition to these regular events, we also have the occasional special fundraiser, like our annual Christmas Fair.
For updates on our upcoming events (date, time, venue), sign up to our Newletter or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
