A DEDICATED Fenland branch of the animal charity Cats Protection will hold its annual Christmas fair next Saturday (December 11), where top prizes are up for grabs.

The Chatteris and St Ives branch’s event takes place at the Free Church Hall in St Ives from 10am-3pm.

Raffle tickets are available for 50p a ticket, or �2.50 a strip, with hampers, jewellery, a makeover, photography voucher and a 20-minute back massage some of the prizes available.

Children’s face painting, books, Cats Protection goodies and a tombola will also be on offer once doors open.

The branch covers a 400sq mile area including Chatteris and March and works tirelessly to rescue and re-home hundreds of cats and kittens. Every penny raised goes directly to help these animals.

Branch co-ordinator Carol Allan said: “The branch has been stretched to breaking point. Our income hasn’t covered our outgoings, but we have still had to pay for vet bills, re-homing, food and pen maintenance, as well as assisting the public.

“It is vitally important that we do well at this fair so that we can continue to help the cats in our care through the harsh winter months. The money we make at the fair needs to last until April 2011 when we begin fundraising again.”

Pens are bursting with animals ranging from 14 weeks to 16 years and there is a waiting list of more cats in need of help and care:

• Mother and daughter Jordan and Pearl are indoor cats who need to be homed together. They are four and three years old respectively.

• There also are three cats who are all called Lucy: two are middle-aged, whilst the youngest is only one year old.

• Peggy, a young tortoiseshell, was thin to the point collapse when she was handed to Cats Protection. At her emergency medical assessment, the vet gave her only a week to live.

However, with the branch’s expert care, Peggy has survived and is now thriving. She is steadily putting on weight, bursting with energy, and will soon be ready to go to a new home.

• Valentine has been with Cats Protection for 11 months. She previously lived on a farm with open spaces, but the search for a suitable home will continue for as long as it takes.