A LEADING animal charity has announced its fundraising appeal for a new cat homing centre in Ferndown has topped the £1 million mark.

But as Christmas approaches, Cats Protection is appealing to cat lovers to help it raise the remaining £550,000 needed for the centre.

The new Ferndown Homing Centre is set to be a state of the art building that will hold cats that are ready for adoption cutting out lengthy waits for owners to take their pets home.

It will work alongside the charity’s volunteer run branches and add to the cat adoption work carried out by the charity in the south of England.

The new centre, which is set to open in the first quarter of 2010, will have 24 modern cat pens, viewing corridor and underfloor heating into the cat adoption area to allow cats and owners a warm comfortable environment to meet.

The centre will also house a veterinary treatment room and a socialisation room where owners can get to know the cat of their choice.

Jane Bond, Cats Protection Individual Giving Manager, said: “The Ferndown Homing Centre is an exciting project for Cats Protection.

“It will make a major difference to owners and cats alike as we hope it will help us to find loving homes for an additional 1,300 unwanted cats and kittens each year.

“Reaching the £1 million mark is a great achievement and we would like to thank everyone who has donated up to now.

“However to make the centre a reality we are in desperate need of the remaining funds.”

Cats Protection says that £25 would pay for materials to build an exercise area in a cat pen, £50 would help to construct a square metre of the centre’s roof and £150 would pay for 43 bricks needed for the socialisation room.

To make a donation or for information about the appeal call 01825 741279 or email ferndownappeal@cats.org.uk