## 2022 - 2023 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 

CAT CHAT, the Cat Rescue Resource Registered Charity no 1100649 Address: PO Box 358 Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6YP **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year 8.6.22 - 7.6.23** 

## **THE CHARITY’S OBJECTIVES ARE:** 

## **CAT CHAT 2022-2023 ANNUAL REVIEW** 

1. To promote the efficiency and effectiveness of charities whose 

- purposes are to promote animal welfare, by the provision of an internet website, IT support and facilities. 

2. To advance the education of the public in matters of animal welfare by the provision of a website and information service. 

## **Public Benefit Statement** 

Cat Chat is committed to assisting members of the public in all matters relating to cats, cat rescue and cat welfare, and the advancement of public education through our website information, helpdesk, social media pages, and via our qualified advisors.  The Charity’s Trustees confirm their due regard to the public benefit guidelines published by the Charity Commission. 

Specific services offered by Cat Chat for the benefit of the public are: 

1. A comprehensive area-by-area database of cat rescue and rehoming facilities in the UK and Ireland. 

2. Provision of a public database of cats needing homes, 

## **Introduction** 

As Cat Chat reaches its 23rd year as a cat rehoming charity, the need for its services has never been greater.  After the impact of Covid on pet owners and rehoming services, these same groups are being hit again.  2022-2023 saw a huge rise in the cost of living including pet food and vet bills. The creation of pet food banks and the increase in abandoned pet numbers, both underline these problems.  Many owners are facing the prospect of giving up their beloved pets; many shelters are overwhelmed as more pets are surrendered.  These are difficult times and Cat Chat is determined to do everything it can to alleviate the pressure on shelters and cat owners. 

## **2022-2023 Finances** 

The Trustees present this review of the financial year June 2022 - June 2023. We are pleased to report that, thanks to careful fiscal management, the charity’s finances remain stable, despite a drop in the number of new individual donors. 

Cat Chat is therefore all the more appreciative of the continuing support from our regular donors, lead by the Friends of Cat Chat, together with our loyal sponsors: 

- searchable by county / town / shelter. 

3. Advice and information pages e.g. health & behaviour, lost 

- & found, neutering, fostering, rehoming. Other cat-related articles are provided on our Blog. 

Burns Pet Nutrition, The Cat Butler, The Cat Gallery, CEVA Animal Health, Erin House, FindPetBoarding, Kitty Collars, Pets Reunited, Protectapet and Tippaws. 

4. Veterinary advice; our qualified volunteer veterinary advisor 

- assists the public via email with specific (non-urgent) advice. 

5. Helpdesk: our email help desk volunteers provide advice to the public on all other cat related issues. 

6. We maintain active social media pages, enabling the provision and exchange of advice and information on a wide range of cat related issues. 

Special thanks to The Cat Gallery in York who once again nominated Cat Chat as one of its ‘chosen charities’ and whose customers have been so generous in support of our work. 

Other sources of funding included the charity’s web shop; its first Crowdfunder prize draw, and donations made through Easyfundraising and other similar portals. 

7. A web-links directory covering pet help & services, pet 

- health & behaviour, pet care, plus an A - Z of rescue 

- organisations helping a wide variety of animals. 


## **Governance** 

Cat Chat is led by a Board of seven Trustees.  During the financial year 2022-23 eight meetings plus the AGM were held.  There have been no changes to the membership of the Board. 

## **Patrons** 

Cat Chat remains very grateful to Sir Roger and Lady Gale and to the Postgate Family representing Bagpuss, for their continuing generosity in standing as the charity’s Patrons. 

As always Cat Chat looks ahead. We never lose sight of our vision statement... 

_“ ”[To Help Cats Out of Shelters into Homes]_ 



**A selection of cats homed during  2022 / 2023** 


**Coyote from** 

**Precious Paws Cat Rescue, York** Beautiful calico Coyote was much loved, but her owner simply couldn’t afford to keep her. After being seen on Cat Chat, Coyote once again has a home where she is adored. 


**Ferguson from Bushy Tail Cat Aid, Watford** Ex-stray Ferguson was un-neutered, riddled with fleas and needed major dental work. He thrived in rescue and is now happily homed after being spotted on Cat Chat. 

## **Partnerships and Collaborations** 

Cat Chat is pleased to report the continuance of these important collaborations: 

Blush.net completed its third year partnering with Cat Chat and generously continued managing the charity’s Google Grants account.  Blush’s skills maximise the reach and effectiveness of Cat Chat’s ad campaigns. As an on-line charity, the importance of this assistance cannot be underestimated. 

Radio Caroline  Cat Chat has now been in partnership with this historic radio station for five years.  The station once again generously assisted with the creation of the charity’s radio ads, as well as donating additional air time. 

Cat Chat’s valued collaborations across the animal welfare community continued.  As the sector returned to normal operations post Covid, new challenges emerged.  Particularly notable was the increased number of public enquiries, including those referred to Cat Chat by the larger animal welfare organisations. 

Champions Cat Chat would like to acknowledge the following people who have championed the charity over recent years. Ian Anderson, Tom Cox, Vicky Halls, Susan Hampshire, Sir David Jason, Suzi Perry, and Dr Pete Wedderburn. 

## **Future Project** 

Both during and in the aftermath of Covid, demands for Cat Chat’s services from shelters and the public increased enormously. It became 

clear that our central Cats Needing Homes portal needed upgrading. 

Therefore, towards the end of the 20212022 financial year the Charity began planning this redevelopment.  A budget was allocated and over some months the Cat Chat Team met with several potential designers. It became clear that a better option would be to develop an entirely new website, to future-proof Cat Chat’s services.  Trustees subsequently agreed that additional funds should be allocated to the project, to enable this development. 

After further design discussions, in April 2023 Footsteps Design in Colchester was engaged to create the new Cat Chat web site.  As this financial year ends preliminary work has begun with the expectation of launching at the end of 2023.   Cat Chat _is_ its website and this new iteration will allow the charity to further improve its high level of service to shelters and the public, and future-proof its mission of helping even more cats out of shelters into homes. 

## **Thanks and Acknowledgements** 

Cat Chat would like to express grateful thanks to its Volunteers, Trustees and Patrons, all of whom generously donate their time and skills. Thanks also to Cannons Accountants and to Ms Z Tudor CIMA for financial services and advice. Special appreciation also to our two permanent staff members, Bonita Howard (Cat Homing Manager) and Angela James (Cat Homing Assistant) for their continuing loyalty and hard work over many years. 

## **2022-2023 STATISTICS** 

## **Shelters, Visitors, Followers** 


**Harry & Louis from All Animal Rescue, Southampton** Kittens Louis and Harry were found dumped in a box, sick and fighting for their lives. After fantastic care received in rescue they were seen on Cat Chat and are now happily homed. 

744,106 Monthly number of website pages viewed (average) 189,513 Monthly number of visitors to the website (average) 1,156  Shelters listed 

451 Active individual shelter’s homing pages 11,248 Facebook followers (at year end) 3,113 X (was Twitter) followers (at year end) 1,108 Instagram followers (at year end) 

## **Admin, Volunteers, Trustees, Patrons** 

2 part-time staff / 1 web developer 21 full volunteers (excl. trustees) 2 casual volunteers 7 Trustees 3 Patrons 



**A selection of cats homed during  2022 / 2023** 

## **Governance** 

Governing Document: Constitution dated 29 October 2003 


**Honey from Little Cottage Rescue, Luton** Pretty 11-year-old Honey came into rescue due to a change in her elderly owner’s situation. Initially shy, she found the quiet, adult home she needed thanks to being seen on Cat Chat. 


**Marley from Mitzi’s Kitty Corner, Totnes** Three-year-old Marley had already had two homes prior to coming into care. His appearance on Cat Chat’s ‘Overlooked Cats’ section landed him a wonderful new home, where he is truly adored. 


**Walter & Nocka from 8 Lives Cat Rescue, Sheffield** Taken in as strays from different towns, the pair became friends whilst in rescue. After appearing on Cat Chat, they found their forever home… together! 

## **Patrons:** 

Sir Roger Gale MP, Lady Suzy Gale, and the Postgate Family representing Bagpuss. 

## **Trustees:** 

Mrs M Ovens (Chairman)  (appointed 13.12.05) Ramsgate, Kent 

Mrs M Bull  (appointed 18.03.08) Ramsgate, Kent 

Mrs J Love-Hinsley FCCA (Treasurer) (appointed 13.12.05) Grove Ferry, Kent 

Mrs A James  (appointed 13.05.08) Whitstable Kent 

Miss M P Cotter (Co-Founder) (founded 08.06.00 / trustee from charity registration 12.11.03) Ramsgate, Kent 

Ms L Mahmood (Social Media Co-ordinator) (appointed 03.12.14) Staplehurst, Kent 

Mr S L Wise (Co-Founder) (founded 08.06.00 / trustee from charity registration 12.11.03) Ramsgate, Kent 

## **Accountant/Treasurer** 

**Independent Accounts Scrutineer** Ms Z Tudor CIMA 29 Canterbury Road East Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 0JX 

Mrs J Love-Hinsley FCCA Grove Ferry Inn, Grove Ferry Road, Upstreet Canterbury, Kent, CT3 4BP 

The Trustees declare this to be an accurate report of the activities of Cat Chat for the financial year ended 7 June 2023. 

SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE CHARITY’S TRUSTEES 

MRS. M. OVENS (CHAIR) 

DATE………………..... 

……………………………………………….. 

MRS J. LOVE-HINSLEY (TREASURER) 

DATE…………………. 

……………………………………………….. 

_“I would like to commend to you, my friends, this most feline website: www.catchat.org where they will help you to find a catfriend, if you are a person, or a personfriend, if you are a cat.”_ 

Bagpuss (Cat Chat Patron) 

Cat Chat, the Cat Rescue Resource Registered Charity no. 1100649 Website: www.catchat.org 



## **Cat Chat - Registered Charity No: 1100649 Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 7th June 2023** 

||**£**|**£**|
|---|---|---|
|**Income**|||
|Advertising/Sponsorship||2,125.00|
|Profit on Sale of Merchandise|977.58||
|Donations|23,163.08||
|Legacy Donations|74.38||
|Total Donations||23,237.46|
|Sundry Income||552.00|
|Bank Interest||261.86|
|**Total Income**||**27,153.90**|
|**Less Expenditure**|||
|Wages, National Insurance and Pension||19,663.39|
|Website and Charity Development||8,681.23|
|Telephone||412.34|
|Donations||1,189.14|
|Advertising & Sponsorship||1,425.00|
|Internet and Webserver||7,454.25|
|Postage, Printing & Stationery||1,642.27|
|Travel Expenses||70.75|
|Consultancy and Professional Fees||0.00|
|Equipment/Repairs and Maintenance||234.99|
|Software Fees||1,062.10|
|Insurance Costs||343.63|





|Paypal/Bank Charges||||356.27|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|General Expenses||||0.00|
|||||42,535.36|
|Depreciation of Equipment||||377.81|
|||||**42,913.17**|
|**Profit for the Year**||||**-15,759.27**|
|**Cat Chat Registered Charity No: 1100649**|||||
|**Balance Sheet as at 7th June 2023**|||||
|||£||£|
|Fixed Assets|||||
|Office Equipment|At Cost||4,424.70||
||||4,424.70||
|Less Depreciation to Date|||4,122.45||
||||4,122.45|302.25|
|Current Assets|||||
|Stock of Merchandise|||1,737.94||
|Balance at Bank|||124,987.95||
|Cash in Hand|||37.67||
|Sundry Debtors|||322.64||
||||127,086.20||
|Less Current Liabilities|||||
|Sundry Creditors|||748.11||
|||||126,338.09|
|||||**126,640.34**|
|Capital Account|||||
|Capital Account|||142,399.61||
|Profit for the year|||-15,759.27||
|||||**126,640.34**|





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