About Us

Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary was founded by the late Miss Veronica Huthwaite in 1970. When she died in 1996, she left her property at Rhodes Minnis, near Canterbury, Kent, to the trustees, who have carried on her work with resident managers. There is now a staff of 6 at the Sanctuary.

The purpose of the charity is to take in and care for unwanted and homeless cats and kittens from Kent, London and sometimes further afield. Some are strays, others have been ill treated or abandoned, but most are brought to us by their owners because for one reason or another they are unable to look after their pets any more.

Cats are also brought to us from other animal charities, the Police, local authorities and private landlords. We work closely with Animal Aid And Advice, North London (Registered Charity 1036940) and we take cats from them whenever we can.

The aim is to re-home as many cats as possible of the cats which are brought to us. However, those which cannot be re-homed, because they are too timid, dirty, bad tempered, on permanent medication or just won't settle in a house, stay with us for the rest of their lives.

At any one time we have about 120 cats on the premises, of which about 50 are available for re-homing. Since 1970 we have found new homes for over 13,000 cats. In 2007 we took in 392 and re-homed 359 cats, 5 on the last day of the year. This year's totals will show a significant increase. The re-homing figure includes the kittens born in the Sanctuary during the year.

Many of the cats we take in are 10 or more years old and we are one of the few charities able and willing to take on these feline pensioners, who are so deserving, and so need the warmth and security of a new settled and loving home.