How Our Story Began
Our story began in 2023 when we stepped in to help a resident in a nearby village who had been caring for a very large number of cats at her home. A change in circumstances meant the cats would soon be left without her care, and what had started a few years earlier with half a dozen stray cats had quickly grown into a large breeding colony, making it impossible for her to take the cats with her.
While a few of the cats had been neutered, the majority were not. There were pregnant cats, kittens, adult males and females, young and old, all at various stages of socialisation — all relying on this lady for food and shelter.
Creating a Safe Future
We came up with a plan. With pregnant cats and kittens as the immediate priority, we set about collecting the most vulnerable cats and finding them rescue spaces. This allowed us to focus on trapping, neutering, and providing essential veterinary care to the 30+ adult and adolescent cats that remained.
Returning these cats to their original home after neutering was not possible, and with no available rescue spaces, we established The Douglas Sanctuary for Cats to provide this beautiful colony with a safe and permanent sanctuary.
Life at Douglas Cat Sanctuary
What we have created is a tranquil rural sanctuary where cats have the space, peace, and time to rehabilitate, heal, or simply enjoy a life free from harm — regardless of their temperament or health challenges.
Since our inception, we have taken in and given sanctuary to cats from many walks of life: from local rural locations and street strays, to cats from other rescue charities, including many former street cats from London. Today, we are home to over 70 sanctuary cats.
Sometimes cats simply need other cats to help them heal.
Our Approach to Care
Our sanctuary cats are not housed in solitary pens. Instead, they live together in small friendly groups in an environment full of enrichment, plenty of creature comforts and space because we know it is a myth that cats are loners.
Whilst it may be true some cats prefer a solitary life; that’s not the case with the cats at The Douglas. Here we foster an environment that is a tonic for our shy or traumatised cats because put simply cats heal through the companionship of other cats. Living together in small groups gives them the confidence they really need and helps them on their journey to trusting humans again.
Cats gain confidence in the companionship of other cats and living together helps them learn to trust again.
Sanctuary Cats & Rehoming
Most of the cats at the sanctuary are domesticated and can eventually be re-homed. These cats enjoy the comforts of indoor life, companionship, and the enrichment of toys, routines, and human interaction.
We also care for feral and semi-feral cats who will stay with us for life, living in large enclosures that reflect the rural environments they are familiar with. They remain in their bonded groups, living as they always have — together — but now with a level of safety, security, and enrichment they have never known.
Some cats will stay with us for life, while others are simply waiting for the right home.
Our Belief
We believe every adoptable cat deserves their own loving family and that the right home for them is out there somewhere. So, our aim is to re-home every one of our domestic sanctuary cats and with our detailed knowledge of each cat’s temperament and personality we work carefully to find homes where they will truly thrive.
Many of our cats are ready now and waiting patiently for their human family, and you can find their details on our Adoption Page. For those that need more time, we continue to work gently and patiently to build confidence, giving them the peace and space they need for as long as it takes.
Every cat deserves a loving family — and the time they need to get there.
Ready to meet the cats or support the sanctuary?
