Meowy Christmas - a cat's Christmas without owners

Do they know it's Christmas time?

Not every cat gets to snuggle up beside their owner's fireplace or knock the baubles off their tree.

But some kind-hearted people are doing their best to make the season special for cats who have to spend Christmas away from home.

That includes Christmas decorations, turkey dinners - and even a visit from Santa Paws.

Susie Phillips, from Shropshire Cat Rescue, said: "We like them to think it's a special time of year."

She is a volunteer and trustee for the charity, which provides shelter and care for abandoned and unwanted cats in the county.

It houses a number of moggies in wooden huts which it calls its "retirement village" and each one is decorated with lights on the outside and wall-hangings depicting Christmas scenes on the inside.

Santa Paws visits Shropshire Cat Rescue every Christmas Eve

The charity also invites people to donate presents to the cats and asks children to write letters to Santa Paws on their behalf.

Ms Phillips said some of the answers were "really sweet".

"One was saying that their cat would like a pink ping-pong ball and another was asking for all cats to have love," she said.

Susie Phillips said the cats seemed to enjoy the extra Christmas attention

Every Christmas Eve, a volunteer dresses up as Santa Paws and brings toys to all the cats that have been good.

Ms Phillips said: "It's really good fun.

"Last year the cats were just sneaking into the basket of goodies and nicking their own."

The event is streamed live on social media and has earned the little charity 250,000 followers and 2.8 million likes on its TikTok account.

Clare Herzig, who runs the social media accounts, said: "They all love seeing Santa Paws coming to give all the cats their little presents on Christmas Eve.

"It's lovely."

Then, on Christmas Day, the volunteers bring their cats turkey dinners.

Ms Phillips said: "It's really nice and Christmassy."

Christmas lights are strung around the pens at Castle Cats near Shifnal

Elsewhere in the county, the Castle Cats cattery near Shifnal cares for cats which have to be left behind while their owners travel abroad for Christmas - or go to visit family.

Charlotte Humphries and her mother Eileen have been running it for 23 years.

Charlotte said in most cases the stays were for three or four days but when owners go further afield, perhaps to visit family in Australia, it could be up to a month.

As a result Christmas is a busy time of year for them and she said: "I like to make a fuss of them."

Clare Herzig said there was a lot of online interest in their Christmas broadcasts

The "fuss" includes lights and decorations around the cat pens, turkey on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Christmas carols through loudspeakers and even bows tied to their collars.

Ms Humphries said the only thing she and her mother objected to was tinsel.

"I don't like tinsel - I'm not a tinsel person," she said.

Santa Paws talks to children to hear their Christmas cat wishes

But, importantly, do the cats enjoy their Christmas in exile?

Are they even aware what Christmas is?

Ms Humphries said she is certain "they'll know it's Christmas" and the time of year was always "a bit more special".

Ms Phillips also believed their cats appreciated some Christmas love.

Most of the felines will have come from homes where it is celebrated, so they are familiar with the traditions, whether that means playing with decorations or getting extra treats.

They also pick up on the way humans are behaving, she said.

"People just become happier and jollier. They seem to like it."