A CAT park in Paphos will hold a Christmas Fayre in November to raise much-needed funds to cover outstanding vet’s fees.
Event organiser and volunteer, Linda Bulmer, said that around €4,000 is outstanding and that proceeds from the Tala Monastery Cat Park ‘Christmas Fayre’ to be held on Saturday, November 19, would go some way to covering most of it.
“Our vet is great and knows that the fees will be covered by our two main fund raising events which are held annually, of which this is one. This is the third Christmas Fayre we have organised.”
Bulmer said she is hoping that proceeds reach a target of at least 3,000 euros.
The park, which is a non-profit concern and operated by volunteers, is home to more than 700 cats and kittens. The facility recently had to close its doors to any newcomers as space has run out.
“Even though we are closed to any new cats or kittens at the moment, people are still leaving boxes of kittens at the gates or in the car park. This has to stop,” she said. “We just don’t have the room and can’t take any more.”
In recent months, staff, who are all volunteers, have faced verbal abuse and threatening behaviour from some members of the public who were determined to leave cats and kittens and said they would kill them if the park didn’t accept them.
“I was one of the people involved in an upsetting incident recently,” said Bulmer. “Some people have to understand that there isn’t the space at the moment.”
The park has managed to rehome 489 felines over the last five years and operates an ongoing spaying and neutering programme.
“The fayre is a great way for people to come and see what we do, the cat park will be open for people to look around and they can see where every penny has gone. The public will also be able to offer homes to the cats and kittens on the day, often they come and fall in love with a cat, which is great.”
The event will be held at the Tala Monastery café car park, which is a short distance away from the sanctuary. Refreshments will be served all day and a cake stand will be selling homemade cakes.
A small grotto will offer children the opportunity to meet Father Christmas and Elsa, a popluar character from hit Disney movie ‘Frozen’, and there will also be a tombola and raffle with numerous prizes.
The grotto will be adorned with hand-decorated Christmas trees which range in height from 4 ft to 5 ft 10, and will also be for sale, said Bulmer.
“People can come and chose which one they like and leave with it all decorated and ready to go, they even have the star on the top,” she said.
More than forty stalls will be selling an array of items and there will be face painting for kids.
Entertainment will be provided by DJ, Jason Collins, from Rock FM, who will also compere a fashion show where volunteers will model clothes for the Cat Parks’ charity shop. All items, will be for sale at 7 euros or under, said Bulmer.
A kitten corner will allow visitors to handle the kittens and information about the animals will also be given.
“This has been a very difficult year for us and terrible for the numbers of people dumping kittens. Every penny from events we organise goes to the cats and we need to raise as much as we can to help us to get through the winter.”
Tala Monastery Cats Christmas Fayre: Saturday November 19, 10.30am–3pm at Ayios Neophytos Monastery Café, Tala, Paphos. Linda Bulmer – 99 841 142 Website – www.talamonasterycats.com
