There is something profoundly captivating about standing a few metres from a lion.
It is not simply the sheer beauty of the animal, nor even the extraordinary power that seems to ripple through every movement. It is the unmistakable recognition that, despite millions of years of evolution and very different lives, the lion and the cat curled up asleep on the end of your bed belong to the same remarkable family. Watching one inevitably makes you think about the other.
That thought stayed with me throughout my visit to Big Cat Fest, hosted by The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, where Cats Protection was proud to be the headline charity partner.
Big Cat Fest has quickly established itself as one of the UK’s most engaging wildlife festivals. Bringing together conservationists, broadcasters, photographers, animal welfare organisations and thousands of visitors, it celebrates the wonder of the world’s wild cats while raising funds to support their conservation. There are talks, demonstrations, opportunities to meet experts, activities for children and, of course, the chance to see some truly magnificent animals at close quarters.
The Big Cat Sanctuary itself has an impressive history. For decades it has played an important role in the conservation and breeding of endangered big cats, working with partners across the world to help safeguard species whose futures are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, conflict and illegal wildlife trade. It is a place where conservation, education and public engagement come together, recognising that protecting wildlife depends upon helping people understand it.
That emphasis on education is precisely why the partnership with Cats Protection feels so natural.
At first glance, our organisations might appear to inhabit rather different worlds. We work with the cats who share our homes and communities; The Big Cat Sanctuary focuses on some of the rarest and most endangered cats on Earth. Yet, in truth, we are both trying to achieve something remarkably similar.
We want people to understand cats better.
When I joined Cam Whitnall on the main stage to welcome visitors to the festival, that was the central message I wanted to leave with the audience.
I explained that Cats Protection is a movement of people championing the welfare of cats. We lead society in a richer understanding of all cats while caring for those who need our help. Although many people know us through our rescue and rehoming work, we do far more than that. Every day we help owners better understand feline behaviour, promote responsible ownership, support neutering, campaign for improved welfare and work to improve the lives of millions of cats across the United Kingdom.
At the heart of everything we do sits a wonderfully simple purpose: to help people see the world through cats’ eyes.
That idea feels just as relevant when talking about a jaguar or a snow leopard as it does when talking about the moggy asleep on the sofa. The better we understand cats, the better decisions we make on their behalf.
One of the questions explored the similarities between wild and domestic cats. Looking across the audience, I asked how many people shared their homes with a cat. Unsurprisingly, a sea of hands went up.
Anyone who has watched their cat patiently stalk a toy, spring effortlessly onto the top of a cupboard, rub affectionately against their legs or settle in the highest spot in the room has witnessed behaviours that have their roots deep within the cat family. Our domestic companions may be considerably smaller than their wild cousins, but so much of what makes them cats is shared across the family.
We also spoke about the important differences.
Domestic cats have evolved alongside humans over thousands of years, and with that comes responsibility. We discussed why welfare must always come before appearance, why Cats Protection is campaigning against breeding cats with extreme physical characteristics that compromise their health, and why hybrid cats can present significant welfare challenges despite their obvious visual appeal.
Ultimately, every decision should begin with one simple question: what is best for the cat?
That principle runs throughout our strategy. We want every cat, not just those who come into our care, to enjoy the best possible life. Whether improving the welfare of sheltered cats, helping owned cats thrive, managing feral cat populations humanely or expanding our neutering programme to create a balanced cat population, our ambition is to reach far more of the millions of cats whose lives can still be improved.
Away from the stage, our Cats Protection stand occupied a prime position beside the main arena, and it was a delight to spend time with our two wonderful volunteers, Jayne Rogers and Pauline Beach, alongside my colleague Kristel Prestwich. Together, they spent the day welcoming visitors, answering questions, sharing advice and helping people understand more about cats and their welfare. They were magnificent ambassadors for the charity.
Kristel also decided that the Chief Executive should look the part.
She dared me to have my face painted and, of course, I took up the challenge. Before long, I was sitting in the chair while one of the team transformed me with a set of tiger markings that seemed to amuse visitors almost as much as it amused my colleagues.
Mark had accompanied me for the day and watched the whole process with interest, although he showed no inclination whatsoever to follow my example.
I was rather pleased with the result, although the journey back to the car later in the day, in a brief summer shower, proved that tiger stripes are somewhat less durable than the real thing. By the time we reached the car they were beginning to migrate gently down my face. It did not matter in the slightest. I left happy, slightly damp and immensely proud of our charity.
As I wandered around the festival after the stage session, meeting exhibitors and listening to speakers, I was struck by something rather encouraging. The distinction we sometimes draw between conservation and welfare seemed almost to disappear. Whether people devoted their lives to protecting jaguars in South America or helping abandoned domestic cats here in the UK, they shared a common belief that cats deserve our understanding, our respect and our protection.
That felt like a hopeful message.
Cats Protection was proud to stand alongside The Big Cat Sanctuary because together we are helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. One organisation focuses on wild cats, the other on domestic cats, but both recognise that education, compassion and understanding are the foundations upon which better futures are built.
Whether lion or tabby, every cat deserves the best possible life.
