Cheer up a bored cat

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home cares for 200 cats over the summer period. Apparently it’s a rubbish time of year to be a cat in the market for rehoming, as people don’t want to get new pets when their holidays are imminent. So the cats loll about in the home for the summer, getting bored.

This year, Battersea has decided to take affirmative action and is asking kindhearted souls to knit as many of these little mice as they can, for the cats to play with.

Lauren O’Farrell, of knitting club Stitch London, has created a mouse especially for the bored cats of Battersea. He is called Captain Cat Battler, and if you are of a knitting persuasion, you can download his pattern here. It looks fairly straightforward: I am a fudger of a knitter and still have to ask Frugal Grandma to cast on for me (sigh), but apart from that slight hiccup even I could manage one of these mice, I think.

Captain Cat Battler is the one on the left. I think the other ones are his hearties, made to the same pattern but without an eyepatch. Squeaker and catnip pouch optional.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home says:

Please send completed mice and toys to us at:

The Cattery, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
4 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4AA

Your support is much appreciated, both by the staff and by the lovely cats.