A mum-of-two has saved over 100 moggies – including a litter of tiny kittens left for dead in a laptop bag – by taking them in.
Natasha Sheppard dedicates her free time to giving strays and abandoned cats a second chance at life.
The 45-year-old takes in felines no matter how old they are or what condition they’re found in.
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And now she has rescued an entire litter that was found stuffed in a laptop bag by a bin.
She has also taken in three terrified cats that were dumped in a crate in a cemetery.
Kind-hearted Natasha, who works as a vet, cares for the animals herself and makes it her mission to find them new homes.
“I don’t care if they’re two days old or 20 years old,” she told Need To Know.
“Every cat deserves a chance.
“One of the oldest strays we’ve taken in was about 22 years old, and now he’s been adopted and will spend his final years in a loving home.”
Natasha, from New Alresford, near Winchester, Hampshire, added: “It’s an amazing feeling.
She works at Vets Now’s emergency clinic in Southampton.
“Southampton has a massive problem with stray cats, and many aren’t neutered or microchipped,” added.
“When owners can’t be traced, these poor cats are just left to suffer.”
Natasha started out fostering for The Cat Welfare Group and, after adopting two cats herself, realised she had a talent for rehoming unwanted felines.
She said: “At our emergency clinic, we get inundated with sick and injured strays, and they are often in a very sorry state.
“The charity is amazing at taking cats, whatever their condition, but all the staff here are great, and we provide emergency care to get them through.”
Now she’s so well known for her rescue work that people call her directly when stray cats are found.
She also uses social media to track down owners and won’t rest until every cat has a safe and loving home.
Natasha, who has worked at Vets Now for 13 years, said: “It’s become my mission.
“I won’t call it quits until I’ve done everything I can to help them.”
Vets Now in Southampton is one of more than 60 state-of-the-art emergency clinics and hospitals across the UK ready to deal with pet emergencies when their vet clinics are closed.
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