A RESCUE centre for cats and kittens has marked its first birthday while more and more moggies continue to come through the doors.

Poppy’s Place Animal Rescue was launched at the home of Simon and Claire Larkins in a bid to save felines from sad fates.

In the past year the centre, which is a registered charity, has taken in 162 cats and kittens.

It aims to rehome all those that come through its doors.

The vision for the centre in Copford was born in 2012, when Poppy the Collie-cross puppy was found under a bush and ended up in the pound with no visitors.

Mr and Mrs Larkins stepped in and decided to adopt her.

Sometime later, while the couple were preparing for Poppy’s arrival, the pound’s staff phoned the couple to say she was unwell and they couldn’t collect her.

After a few more days, the pound made the decision to have Poppy put to sleep.

Mr and Mrs Larkins’ hearts were broken and from that day, they vowed Poppy’s memory would live on and theywould never let anything like this happen to an animal they loved again.

And so, Poppy’s Place was born. They decided to help cats, rather than dogs, as they do not need walking twice a day and would be less noisy for their neighbours.

Mrs Larkins said: “I have worked with animals on and off for about the past 20 years and currently work in engineering, but also wanted to get back with the animals.

“I was helping out at other rescues and that made me determined to say, ‘we can do this’.

“Our standards are so high.

If it wasn’t going to be the best, we weren’t going to put our names to it.”

Mrs Larkins’ previous animal encounters have included being a falconer for a pest control company and working at zoos and wildlife centres.

The couple set about creating the rescue centre in their back garden in January, 2014.

Three double chalets were constructed to serve as the main cattery. They are fully lined and heated with sleeping compartments and roaming areas.

In September, they built a 23ft by 9ft enrichment area – a pen to be used for cat families to socialise in.

Five cats and kittens were the first through the centre’s doors in April, 2014.

These included two sisters who had been found locked in a carrier in a car park, a pregnant kitten which was a stray and a mum and daughter whose “hoarder” owner had fed them a diet of chocolate breakfast cereal.

All were rehomed in the Colchester area.

Mrs Larkins added: “It is so sad so many have needed help, it is overwhelming. We get ten phone calls and emails a day.”

People who wish to rehome a pet have to first complete an online application form before a volunteer carries out a check of their home to ensure the environment is suitable.

As with any charity, the centre relies on donations to help with running costs.

In the past year it cost around £12,000 to run Poppy’s – about £600 a month goes on vets’ bills alone. There is also the animals’ food, insurance and cleaning products.

Mrs Larkins added: “Within the next ten years our idea is to buy a farm or commercial facility where we can build a top of the range bespoke facility where we can take in all kinds of animals.”

! The location of the centre has not been published to avoid people abandoning pets there. However, to make contact and find out more about it, visit poppysplaceanimal rescue.co.uk