insideKENT Magazine Issue 53 - August 2016 | Page 43
A NEW COMPANION
Rhodes Minnis
Cat Sanctuary
Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary, a registered charity, was
founded by the late Veronica Huthwaite in 1970.
It occupies two adjacent sites covering nearly two acres
in the remote and beautiful North Downs countryside
between Lyminge and Stone Street.
IF YOU LOVE CATS, YOU’LL ENJOY VISITING
RHODES MINNIS CAT SANCTUARY
The largest cat sanctuary for unwanted cats in Kent with a
variety of cats looking for a caring new home – perhaps with you.
Opening hours 10am-1pm & 2-4pm, 7 days a week
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
Registered charity 262245 – Founded 1970
The charity takes in nearly 300
cats every year, most of whom
from people who have to give
them up because of changes in
their own lives, often the three Ds:
Debt, Divorce or Death. The aim
is to find new homes for as many
cats as possible, and those which
cannot be re-homed because of
their temperament or ailments
remain at the sanctuary until vets
advise they have no reasonable
quality of life left. The sanctuary
takes in and re-homes cats of any
age, and no healthy cat is ever
put to sleep. The permanent
population is around 200, of which
up to half are potentially
home-able.
The charity is funded by donations
and legacies from supporters and
by the associated boarding
cattery, where many of its
customers have adopted cats
from Rhodes Minnis Cat
Sanctuary. The charity has a
thriving shop staffed mainly by
volunteers – The Cat Basket in
Cheriton Place, Folkestone, and
runs open days, quiz nights and
sponsored walks. Gift food boxes
at Sainsbury's, Morrison's, The
Co-op and Pets at Homes stores
in the area make a welcome and
varied contribution to the food bill.
SEATHWAITE BOARDING CATTERY
Individual heated chalets for your cats while you’re away,
just £7 per day.
Get in touch
Green Lane, Rhodes Minnis, Nr Canterbury, Kent CT4 6XU
01303 862243 / [email protected] / www.rhodesminnis.co.uk
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Tracy and Claire Jell are the
resident managers, with three full
time staff: Adam Streater, Elise
Twigg-Molcey and Debbie Young.
The sanctuary costs £200,000 per
year to run, sustained entirely by
its supporters and staff.
Visitors are welcome each day
between 10am-1pm and 2pm4pm, no appointment necessary.
Newly appointed cats are in
reception pens where they are
seen by the sanctuary vets,
Burnham House, Dover. Many
new arrivals need to be treated
for fleas, worms, dental problems
and other ailments before they can
be re-homed. If a cat is not rehomed fairly soon, it joins the
colony in the main sanctuary
where visitors can make friends
with the cats who are just l
onging for that new home,
perhaps with you?
Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary
Seathwaite Cattery, Green Lane
Rhodes Minnis, Near Canterbury
CT4 6XU
01303 862243
www.rhodesminnis.co.uk