AN animal charity in Tenbury is celebrating a birthday.

It is just over one year ago that the Cats Protection opened in Teme Street in the town.

Cats Protection claims to be the UK’s largest feline welfare charity.

In the last 90 years, it has rehomed over 1.5 million cats and kittens and championed the rights of cats.

The story of the charity goes back nearly 100 years.

During the 1920s, cats were not generally seen as the companion animals of today – instead of much-loved pets, they were considered as nothing more than pests. Concern was expressed at the ignorance of many people regarding the needs of the domestic cat.

In an attempt to raise the status of cats, a group of like-minded people gathered together at Caxton Hill in London. They formed the Cats Protection League.