Cheltenham Animal Shelter

15/08/2025

☀️🐱 Think cats can handle the heat? Think again!

Despite the myth that cats are “heat-proof” thanks to their desert-dwelling ancestors, they are still vulnerable to heat-related issues. While felines may tolerate heat a bit better than dogs and humans, they can suffer from overheating and even heatstroke - especially as the mercury climbs.

Cats use clever strategies to cope - like seeking cool surfaces, slowing down their activity, and grooming frequently to cool off. But this doesn’t mean they’re immune, especially modern indoor kitties that often lack the adaptive edge of their wild forebears.

Check out our pet advice blog for simple ways to keep your kitty safe and cool this summer 👉 www.gawa.org.uk/pet-advice/

14/08/2025

Meet Max! Max is a three-year-old charmer on the lookout for an adults-only home where he can be the only pet. When he first arrived, he needed a few weeks to find his paws, but now that he’s gained confidence, he enjoys a fuss and absolutely loves his food.

In his forever home, Max will need safe access to the outdoors, as we believe he’d really benefit from the freedom to explore. He can sometimes become a little over-excited with too much attention, so short bursts of fuss and plenty of playtime are best for him.

Puzzle feeders are a big hit with Max – they keep him happy, engaged, and well-fed!

Carer’s quote:
"Max is an amazing little guy - full of fun and loves to eat! He loves a snuffle mat and a licki mat for his meals. He likes a fuss in little bursts."

14/08/2025

Pop along to support our friends at The Gloucester Old Spot for their ANNUAL DOG SHOW raising money for our pets in need!

We are DELIGHTED to announce all the information needed for our annual GLOUCESTER OLD SPOT DOG SHOW🐶 🏆

Join us for the best family day out in our calendar on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August 2025 at 2.30pm-5pm.

We will have:
🏆Prestigious judges
🤩LOTS & LOTS of family fun
🍖Delicious Smokehouse Menu
🎟️Charity Raffle with BRILLIANT prizes
🍰Cake, Sweetie & Goodies Stall


This year's categories are:
🐶Cutest puppy 4-12months
🐾Best condition
🐶Best pub trick
🐾Junior handler
🐶Dog the judge would most like to take home
🐾Waggiest tail
🐶Fancy dress
🐾Golden oldie 7+

If you wish to enter your pawfect pooch, please email us on [email protected] with the subject: DOG SHOW and we will send you an entry form!


📸Like last year, we will have a best selfie competition for those that cannot (or can!) attend, which will be running in the 24 hours up to the big event (free to enter) with entries closing on Saturday 16th August 2025.
For more information, please send us an email on [email protected]

13/08/2025

Sugar isn’t just his name – it’s his whole personality! This lovable seven-year-old Frenchie is all about cosy cuddles, affection, and filling your home with warmth (and the sound of snoring!).

Out and about, Sugar is in his element, strolling along and taking his time to sniff every fascinating scent. He’s a great little traveller in the car, making adventures together a breeze. Back at home, he enjoys relaxing in the garden – ideally from the comfort of a chair, and won’t say no to a splash about in some water if he can find it!

Sugar can be a bit reserved when first meeting someone, especially men, but give him a little space and he’ll soon be leaning in for fuss and a good back scratch. He’s fine being left for a while and would love a pet-free home with people aged 14 or over.

Sugar’s ideal life? A home where he’s the centre of attention, has plenty of walks to indulge his sniffing hobby, and a comfy sofa to curl up on with you for a TV marathon.

If you’re ready for a loyal sidekick with a sweet soul and bags of charm, Sugar is waiting to meet you - email 👉 [email protected] 👈 to apply or find out more.

12/08/2025

Meet Pablo (age 3) and Roddy (age 1)!

These cheerful boys are the best of friends, spending their days chatting, chirping, and keeping each other company. They have a strong bond and love nothing more than nibbling on millet and admiring themselves in the mirror from their favourite perch.

Budgies make wonderful pets for those who enjoy the company of lively, social birds. They are intelligent, curious, and often develop charming personalities. With regular interaction, they can become very tame, enjoy sitting with their owners, and may even learn to mimic sounds or words.

Full of charm and personality, Pablo and Roddy have a lot of love to give. They’re looking for a home where they can stay together in a spacious cage or aviary. Photos of their new accommodation will be requested as part of the application process.

11/08/2025

Say hello to 10-year-old Fig, a charming little Yorkshire Terrier with a heart full of love and plenty of cheeky charm to share.

Although he’s in his golden years, Fig is still full of waggy-tailed greetings and a joyful spirit that will brighten any home. He’s a gentle, sociable boy who quickly becomes a loyal friend.

This sweet little gent loves meeting new people and never turns down a bit of fuss. He’ll happily share your lap, your sofa, and your heart – he truly thrives on affection and companionship. Fig also enjoys being brushed, which he considers a proper pamper session, and he’s always up for settling close by to offer warmth and quiet company.

Fig does take playtime seriously and has a strong preference for keeping his beloved toys to himself. If you try to take one, he might let you know he’d rather you didn’t. For this reason, Fig would do best in a calm home with older teens (16+) who understand doggy body language and can give him space when he’s in “toy mode.”

He’d also prefer to be the only pet, as we’re unsure of his history with other animals and honestly, he seems to thoroughly enjoy being the star of the show! Fig is very people-focused and doesn’t enjoy being left alone, so he’s best suited to a home where someone can be around to keep him company during the day.

If you’ve got a Fig-shaped hole in your home and heart, this wonderful boy will be the perfect companion - email 👉 [email protected] 👈 to apply or find out more!

10/08/2025

It’s time for a Sunday success story and this week is all about Nimbus!

Nimbus was just 11 months old when he was brought to us as a stray in January. We don’t know how he came to be a stray, or what his situation was in his previous home, but aside from some initial nervousness around new people he was a lovely, friendly boy who seemed eager to please.

It wasn’t long before he caught the eye of new owners Amanda and Ant, who adopted him after five weeks in our care.

“When we went to see Nimbus at the Shelter, we were instantly won over by his sweet personality and adorable mismatched ears.

Nimbus has settled in so well and we couldn't imagine life without him now. He's been on his first holiday with us to Somerset and loved exploring the beach and woodland walks.

Since adopting him we've learned he is 56% border collie which explains the high energy! He is a fast learner and seems to love a challenge - as you can see from the photo, we've had fun trying out agility equipment with him!

We love him to bits and are so happy you gave us the opportunity to adopt him. Thank you. Amanda, Ant and Nimbus x”

What a fantastic outcome for this young dog and his new family – Nimbus really has landed on his paws!

Share your story with us at 👉 www.gawa.org.uk/success-stories 👈

09/08/2025

We had a fantastic time this week at No Child Left Behind’s at Pittville Park.

We spoke to lots of young people and their families about pet safety and enrichment, and made lots of fun toys for cats, dogs, and rabbits!

We would like to say a big thank you to No Child Left Behind for inviting us, as well as our lovely volunteer Jacquie and Charlotte and Zack from Howden Insurance for helping us run our stand for the day!

09/08/2025

Looking for a couple of quirky characters to fill your home with love, laughs and a touch of sass? Meet Levi, a fluffy little Pomeranian who knows he’s adorable, and Happy, a tiny Chihuahua with a wagging tail and a heart still learning to trust.

Levi is confident, cheeky, and lap-obsessed. He’ll snuggle for hours but has firm boundaries when it comes to handling. Happy is more reserved - tail always wagging, but easily startled by too much fuss. Once she feels safe, she quietly leans in for affection.

Levi loves squeaky toys, especially tiny balls he can chase like a whirlwind. Happy watches on, slightly baffled but happy to observe. She takes comfort in Levi’s boldness, so they must stay together.

They’re not shy about sharing their opinions on walks (Happy usually starts it!) but bravado quickly turns to tail wags. They’re looking for a calm, adult-only home with no other pets.

They don’t like being left alone and will make that very clear, so someone home most of the time would be perfect.

If you’ve got space in your heart (and on your lap) for double the personality and double the love, Levi and Happy are ready to make you smile.

Email 👉 [email protected] 👈 to apply or find out more. Visit 👉 www.gawa.org.uk 👈 to see all our pets waiting for homes.

08/08/2025

It’s and what better way to mark the occasion than to celebrate the joy cats and humans can bring to each other through mutually enjoyable interactions.

During school holidays young people, aged 5-16, are invited to the Shelter to learn about responsible pet ownership in a fun and relaxed environment. They will help with cleaning pens, make craft enrichment items for their own pets or a Shelter resident, and enjoy time with a Shelter pet learning about their body language and how to be respectful of their feelings when saying hello.

Not only are these sessions beneficial for the young people who attend, they are great for our Shelter pets too! They get extra time out of their pens, lots of enrichment/treats, and vital socialisation to help them on their journey to a forever home.

Recently, Rory was the star of the show when he enjoyed time in our catio during an Animal Days session. During this session, the young people had learned about how cats use their body language to communicate with us and safe areas to stroke cats. While interacting with Rory the young people put what they learned into practice by discussing Rory’s body language and how he was feeling while meeting them. As you can see, he really enjoyed having a fuss with 12-year-old Theo and the other young people (aged 12-16).

This overwhelmingly positive interaction means that we now feel that Rory would be happy living with children aged 12+ and have updated his requirements from an adult-only home. This is great news because Rory has been with us since January, so this opens up more possibilities for him, and could mean that the right family will come forward to adopt him soon!

Seven-year-old Rory is a charming and affectionate cat. He has a friendly and loving personality making him a wonderful companion. We think he would thrive in a calm, stress-free environment where he can truly feel secure. If you have a quiet home and are looking for a loyal and loving feline friend, Rory could be the perfect match for you!

Please email 👉 [email protected] 👈 for an application form or to find out more.

08/08/2025

Happy !

Adopt Rory - www.gawa.org.uk/adopt/rory

08/08/2025

We would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to DJ Katja and the wonderful team from The Vine Cheltenham for raising an amazing £1,250.00 at Vinestock 2025 to help our homeless pets!

Vinestock is an annual festival of local artists, held at The Vine in Cheltenham. It is free to attend but donations to their nominated charity are heavily encouraged and this year we were honoured to go along with our buckets and card machines!

We would also like to thank everyone who donated and the artists who performed - you have all made a real difference to the cats, dogs and small animals in our care 🙌