A message from RSPCA Hull and East Riding Chief Executive Fred Owen:
On Monday 21st October, we welcomed some of the most passionate and dedicated people in animal welfare to our first Feral Cat Summit, hosted by RSPCA Hull & East Riding. The room was filled with energy, compassion, and a shared determination to make a real difference for the thousands of feral and community cats living across our region.
In attendance were representatives from Cats Protection Hull & Beverley, Jenny’s Cat House, 9 Lives Cat Rescue CIC, and Harley’s Angels (Hull) — alongside many incredible independent rescuers and community carers who quietly give so much of their time, energy, and love to cats in need.
What united everyone in the room was simple: a shared belief that we can achieve far more together than we can in isolation.
A Shared Purpose
The summit gave us an opportunity to talk openly about the challenges we all face — from managing feral colonies and accessing veterinary support, to tackling disease prevention, hoarding, and the growing demand for help in every corner of our communities.
It was also a chance to discuss why neutering alone isn’t the answer. Sustainable welfare means looking at the full picture:
- Safe capture, treatment, and release (CTR) of feral cats.
- Effective infection prevention and control.
- Testing, worming, flea treatment, and microchipping.
- Ongoing community education and monitoring.
When we combine compassion with coordination, we can truly improve welfare outcomes for cats — and reduce pressure on the small, overstretched charities and volunteers doing incredible work every day.
Understanding the RSPCA Hull & East Riding and the Role of the CEO
The summit also provided an invaluable opportunity to explain more about the RSPCA Hull & East Riding Branch, and my role as Chief Executive.
Many people don’t realise that local RSPCA branches are independent charities — separate from the national RSPCA — with their own governance, staff teams, and finances. Our branch relies entirely on the generosity of our local community to deliver hands-on animal welfare work across Hull and the East Riding.
As CEO, my role is to ensure the charity is well-led, well-managed, and sustainable.
That means:
- Setting a clear vision and strategic direction so the charity’s work remains focused and impactful.
- Ensuring good governance — that our trustees, staff, and volunteers work within clear ethical, legal, and financial frameworks.
- Managing risk and resilience, so we can respond confidently to unexpected challenges without compromising animal care.
- Providing strong leadership, ensuring our people feel valued, informed, and empowered to deliver their best work.
- Building partnerships and collaboration — locally and nationally — so we maximise every opportunity for animal welfare.
During the summit, I was also asked about why charities like ours hold financial reserves and appear to have “so much money.” It’s an important and fair question.
All registered charities are required to produce audited annual accounts, which include a robust reserves policy. Our reserves are not spare funds; they’re a vital safeguard to:
- Protect the charity in times of crisis or income loss.
- Fund emergency responses such as major vet bills or facility repairs.
- Invest strategically in future services, staff, and community outreach.
Having reserves is part of being a responsible, transparent, and sustainable charity — ensuring that we can continue to care for animals not just today, but for generations to come.
Next Steps: Building a City-Wide Partnership
Many of the organisations represented last night expressed their desire to partner alongside RSPCA Hull & East Riding, using our unique brand, facilities, and resources to build a city-wide approach to feral cat welfare.
In fact, as I write this article, the connections made last night are already developing into real collaborations — a collective of dedicated organisations joining forces with a shared purpose and mutual respect.
We know there is still a long way to go, but the passion, positivity, and professionalism in the room gave me enormous confidence in what we can achieve together.
We are now collating details for an inaugural partnership meeting, which will set the foundations for a new pathway of partnership and collaboration. This will allow each organisation to retain its unique identity, while working together to deliver a coordinated, compassionate, and effective service for the feral cats of Hull.
Together, we can turn compassion into action — and ensure that every cat, feral or friendly, gets the care, respect, and protection it deserves.
