The challenge

On 21 June, take on a fundraising challenge dawn to dusk (or whatever you can manage!) to support our longest-stay feline friends. 

This summer solstice, we are asking you to bounce, cycle, run, read, walk (or whatever your passion!) in a dawn to dusk fundraising challenge and help support long-stay cats who have spent far too long waiting for a home. 

As a thank you, anyone who raises over £100 will receive an exclusive Cats Protection ‘longest day’ sleep eye mask!

The cats

Some cats spend months waiting to be adopted. The reasons vary but older cats, shy cats, or cats that need a little extra help often take longer to find homes, even though they deserve just as much love. Your fundraising can help provide them with food, care and treatment while they wait for a second chance at happiness. 

The average stay for a cat in care is 40 days. 

But that’s the average.  Some cats spend hundreds of days in our care, not knowing when their second chance will come. The average long stay cat is in care for 126 days, three times as long as normal. 

In 2024 nearly 900 cats were in care for over 90 days, at a combined total of over 100,000 days.  It costs an estimated £2,500,000 per year to look after our long stay cats, with 20,000 alone on food. 

What you can do

It’s up to you what you do for your longest day challenge, whether it’s a dawn to dusk running relay between friends, a tag team of 24 hours of bouncing on a trampoline, or maybe as a group of friends you’re game for a massive knitathon?! Collect sponsorship for this massive challenge, while at the same time raising awareness about the longest stay cats in our care and all the support they need.