20 years of dedication

This year, our Cattery Team Leader, Mat, celebrated an incredible milestone - 20 years with RSPCA Derby. We sat down with him to reflect on his journey, the animals who’ve touched his heart, and the memories he’s made along the way.

Can you tell us a little about the roles you've done, and what being Cattery Team Leader involves day-to-day?

I started off as a trainee for two years before being employed full time as an Animal Care Assistant, then in 2014 I was asked if I would like to become a Team Leader, and I have been in this role ever since. I spend a lot of time going though perfect matches for the animals to find homes for them, helping on vet visits, getting out any medication that is needed for them, neutering runs to the vets, and going though paperwork to make sure all the animals have had heath checks, flea and worming, and observations, so we know what type of home they need. I check around the cattery making sure we have everything we need to look after the animals (and sneak in a few cuddles while I'm there). 

Over the past 20 years, what has been the most rewarding part of your job?

Helping animals in need. We see a lot of animals that either come into us in a bad state, or that have been abandoned, dumped or left on their own. Showing them that they can trust people again and getting them healthy enough to finally go to their new homes is the most rewarding part. 

Do you have a particular cat or moment that has stayed with you over the years?

The easy answer would be Amber as she was the first cat I adopted from here in 2005. I started fostering cats once Amber passed away, and those cats have always stayed with me. I have photos of them all in my foster room on the wall so I can remember them. I will always remember Bugle, Walker and McCoy, they were three case cats that we had in 2016. They were the friendliest, most playful cats, and once their case was sorted, we managed to find them all a home together, so they weren't split up! 

What’s the funniest or most unusual thing that’s ever happened at work?

I remember once a member of the public called about a duck that was in distress, so we asked them to call the national RSPCA to go out and check on it. The next day we got a call from the inspector who went out to it, asking why we had sent them to check on a wooden duck!

How does it feel to have been part of the team for 20 years, and what keeps you motivated after all this time?

It doesn't quite seem real, time seems to have flown by! I think the one thing that has kept me going is the team I have had around me. Even though people have come and gone, it has always felt like we are all close friends that go through all the good times and bad times together. I don't think I could have kept going in this job without them by my side.

Thank you, Mat, for 20 years of compassion, care, and dedication - from all of us at RSPCA Derby.