Gatti Mammoni is situated just outside of Pisa. It has been led by Tiziana Scognamiglio for many years and is now managed by new President Erica Simi.
Erica Simi, new President at Gatti Mammoni, writes:
2022 was a year of new found stability after the pandemic. We have finally got back to focusing on our routine activities such as reopening our stalls for the sale of second-hand items and merchandise to finance our cattery’s activities, our charity fundraising dinner and the food collection around Christmas time. All of it took a lot of energy and resources as we are short on volunteers and they need to split their time between such fundraising activities and the daily care that must be provided to the cats.
Unfortunately, we continue to see an increase in requests from private pet owners to take their cats into our care. This is not technically an abandonment but it does weigh on the overall numbers of animals we look after. Most of the requests we receive come from relatives of elderly people who recently passed away; therefore, these cats lived a comfortable family life and they experience stress and anxiety once they end up in a cattery. So, our work in making them feel loved and looking for adoptive families is crucial.
It was also a year of change within the organisation, after twelve years at the helm of Gatti Mammoni, Tiziana Scognamiglio decided to resign, entrusting me with an important legacy. As you have not encountered my name before I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to AISPA and its supporters. I am Erica and for four years I have been a volunteer at the cattery. I have known Tiziana for a long time, as we were both always passionate about animal welfare and we started to volunteer for a dog shelter at a young age.
At present, our aims for the facility are to improve the outdoor space, sanitising the area and buying new top soil to minimise the risk of any transmissible disease spreading at the cattery, particularly when it rains. We are also wanting to improve drainage and to pave the path to allow the turf and the garden to regenerate. At the same time, we would also like to rebuild some of our sheds so that they can have access to a fenced garden space where we could keep quarantined or sick cats. These improvements are finally going to be possible thanks to the willingness of a new neighbour who has acquired the plot of land next to ours. He is in fact happy for us to use his Well but has also allowed us the right to use for free an additional strip of land next to the cattery, so that we can expand the garden. We have already found an architect, Silvia Papa, to coordinate all the building work and she has agreed to work pro bono to help our cats.
We envisage spending a total of 5,000 Euros to make such a big difference for the quality of life of our cats. We are grateful to AISPA for the support provided, as ever, this year as in the past, we will be able to turn our plans into reality thanks to your generosity.
