A kitten called Miracle who was found in a bin in Durham just before Christmas is starting her new life with a loving family.
Miracle’s owners collected her on Saturday (1 February) and say that she is already showing her playful side and coming to them for a stroke.
Pauline Irwin, who lives near Stanley with her husband Phil and daughters Jessica and Grace, got in touch with the RSPCA after hearing Miracle’s story.
Pauline said: “We had a cat for nine years and she was such an important part of our family. We weren’t really looking for another one, but we saw her picture in the paper and fell in love. We just had to offer her a forever home, after all she had been through.” 
The RSPCA appealed for information after Miracle was discovered in an industrial bin in an alley off Providence Row on Friday 20 December.
Animal Collection Office Shane Lynn said: “It really was a Christmas miracle. A passer-by heard the 10-week old’s cried and called the RSPCA. I had to use a ladder to climb into the bin and get her out so there was no way she was going to be able to do so herself. The chances of her being found were slim to say the least.”
Shane took Miracle to the RSPCA Cat Rehoming Hub in Darlington where she was cared for by one of its volunteer cat fosterers – and renamed Luna. Set up by five local RSPCA branches, the Cat Hub rehomes cats rescued by RSPCA officers across the North East and on Saturday the now lucky Luna became the 500th cat to be rehomed by the Hub since it opened in April 2018.
RSPCA Cat Hub Rehoming Co-ordinator Sophie Moran-Barker said: “Pauline and her family were first to see Luna after Christmas and reserved her straight away. We are particularly pleased that Luna is the cat who takes us to the milestone of 500 cats rehomed, as she had such a terrible start in life.
“The Hub was established with the aim of rehoming 120 cats each year, so rehoming 500 cats in less than two years means that we are performing very well. Up to 30 cats and kittens are available for rehoming at the Hub at any one time. As soon as one cat leaves, another comes in, so we are always fundraising and grateful for any support.”
The first of its type in the country, the Hub was established by local RSPCA branches to deal with the growing problem of abandoned and neglected cats in the region and is funded by donations from the general public and by business sponsorship.
The five RSPCA branches that set up the Cat Hub are:
- RSPCA Sunderland, Hartlepool & South Tyneside branch
- RSPCA Darlington & District branch
- RSPCA North Teeside & District branch
- RSPCA Northallerton, Thirsk & Dales branch
- RSPCA Middlesbrough South Tees & District branch
Anyone who would like to support their great work can visit www.cathub.co.uk.
