Celebrity ‘paws’ created for charity auction
Seventeen celebrities and artists, including model Twiggy and ex-England goalkeeper David Seaman, have each drawn around their hand to create unique "paper paws" for Cats Protection’s Celebrity Paws online auction.
The auction, now in its seventh year, raises much-needed funds for the charity which helps over 218,000 cats and kittens each year.
It will start on eBay on Thursday, November 21 and finish on Sunday, December 1.
Cats Protection has revealed that 2,000 fewer cats were adopted during 2012 than the previous year.
The charity is expecting further bad news as requests to adopt cats via its national helpline have slumped by around 40 per cent so far this year compared to the same period in 2012.
As a result of this, Cats Protection has launched a desperate appeal for people to adopt cats or make a donation.
Celebrity couple David Seaman and Dancing on Ice skater Frankie Poultney, adopted two cats - Smokey and Willow - from Cats Protection’s Newbury Adoption Centre. Frankie said: “David and I are pleased to be supporting Cats Protection by drawing ‘paper paws’ for the cause. We hope they raise plenty of funds and help many unwanted cats find loving homes.”
Zahir White, spokesperson for Cats Protection said: “We are very thankful for the paws from all of the celebrities and artists. We hope to get as much money as we can for each one as it will help at a time when it is harder than ever to find homes for unwanted cats.”
“From Frankie’s henna-like design to Twiggy’s abstract illustration featuring a blue eye and red lipstick, each design shows a great deal of ingenuity and craft and hopefully they’ll prove popular with bidders.”
To bid in the auction and to find out who else has donated their paw print to Cats Protection, please visit www.cats.org.uk/celebrity-paws.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
