09:00, 06 January 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
As the festive season draws to a close, a heart-warming story of compassion and teamwork is continuing to bring smiles well beyond Christmas Day.
Two of London’s best-known charities, Battersea Cats and Dogs Home and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), joined forces to rescue a stray cat and her three kittens who arrived unexpectedly just before Christmas.
The unusual rescue began when staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital discovered a heavily pregnant stray cat sheltering in a non-clinical storeroom, having sought refuge from the cold winter weather. Although the feline mother had clearly chosen the wrong kind of hospital for her needs, GOSH staff quickly stepped in to ensure she and her newborn kittens were kept safe.
Recognising the need for specialist animal care, the hospital’s facilities team contacted Battersea Cats and Dogs Home for help. Working closely together, staff from both organisations followed expert advice to keep the mum and her kittens warm, comfortable and secure until Battersea’s Rehoming and Welfare team could safely transport them to the charity’s London centre.
In a statement Sorrel Magenta, the Rehoming and Welfare Manager at Battersea's London Cattery, said: "When the kittens first arrived at Battersea, we were all surprised by how friendly and healthy they were, given they'd started life in a storeroom.
The facilities team at Great Ormond Street did a wonderful job of looking after them in the early days, taking on all our advice on how to keep the mum and babies secure until we were able to safely bring them into our centre.”
Once at Battersea, the feline family were thoroughly checked by vets and given a clean bill of health. Thanks to the quick actions of GOSH staff and the experience of Battersea’s animal welfare teams, what could have been a worrying start to life became a feel-good festive rescue story.
Adding an extra layer of joy, children staying on Panther, Lion and Leopard Ward at GOSH were invited to help name the kittens. Their suggestions resulted in the kittens being called Luna, Chocolate and Sky, while their mum was named Cassie by the hospital’s Children’s Acute Transport Service (CATS) team.
The naming project gave young patients a cheerful distraction during their hospital stay and created a lasting connection with the rescue.
As a new year begins, Cassie and her kittens are settling into foster care, where they are spending the remainder of the festive period together. They are thriving and enjoying a calmer start to life before beginning the search for permanent homes in the New Year.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. One of the UK’s best-known animal welfare charities, Battersea rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes cats and dogs in need. The charity also works to improve animal welfare standards through education, research and community outreach. Learn more here.
Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity). This charity raises vital funds to support Great Ormond Street Hospital, helping seriously ill children receive world-class care, funding life-saving research and improving the hospital environment for patients and families. Discover their work here.
World Animal Protection. An international charity working across more than 50 countries to protect animals from cruelty and suffering. It focuses on improving animal welfare standards, influencing global policy and supporting communities to treat animals humanely. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Life On Land, Partnerships For The Goals.
Photo credits: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
