Every adoption starts a story. Most of them we never get to see: the naps in new favourite spots, the toys claimed, the families completed. But every so often, one comes back to us in the loveliest way possible.
This October, one of them is coming back wearing running shoes and cat ears.
First, meet Smudge
In November 2024, Katie and Harry came to visit us looking for a cat to join their family. They fell instantly for a gorgeous grey tabby called Smudge, and Smudge, it’s fair to say, sealed the deal himself. He greeted them with his signature little “flop”, and that was that. Completely smitten, they took him home, where he quickly became a very special part of the family.
Smudge got his happy ending. But Katie never forgot the cats who were still waiting.
“When we visited Sandbach Animal Rescue, we saw so many cats waiting to be adopted, through no fault of their own,” she says. “It breaks my heart to think about these little cats being given up for one reason or another, taken away from the place they knew as home, while they wait for their forever family.”
Now, the hard part
Katie started running in November 2025. Less than a year later, she’s taking on her first ever half marathon: the Manchester Half on Sunday 4 October, running 13.1 miles to raise money for the cats and kittens in our care.
Her fundraising will help us do what we do for every single cat who comes through our doors: full vet checks, vaccinations, neutering, treatment for any medical issues, food, warmth and love, all provided by volunteers, because nobody at Sandbach Animal Rescue is paid. With around 80 cats currently in our care, those costs add up quickly, and support like Katie’s makes a genuine difference.
And if you’re at the race, you won’t be able to miss her. She’ll be the one in charity colours and cat ears.
Cheer her on
Every donation, share and kind word helps Katie over the finish line, and helps a cat like Smudge find their person. If you’re able to support her, we’d be so grateful, and so would she.
Donate to Katie’s JustGiving page
Thank you, Katie. We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way. 🏃🏼♀️🐈⬛💜