Cat's protection 'domestic abuse' campaign...

[BlessedKali]

This came up on my Facebook feed and I'm feeling a bit pissed off about it. Cat's protection must think they've come up with an emotive campaign to get people donating, but I think to compare animal cruelty to domestic abuse is pretty Insulting to the women survivors.

It feels like by using the term for cats, it undermines the gravity of the situation for women. It's hard enough for most people to understand how impactful domestic abuse can be, without now making out cats go through it too.

I'm thoroughly annoyed, I think I'll send an email tomorrow....

what do you think?

Wrong about what exactly? What a way to spend your Sunday, trying to pop little punches at women on mumsnet.

I'm not wrong about it being badly worded, in my opinion it isas corroborated by the other half of this thread who also think it is badly worded. You might have a different opinion on this, fantastic, we can have different opinions.

Yes I do realise.

Not sure why you included it in your list of things animals don't suffer if you realise they are sexually abused then?

It doesnt seem ambiguous or poorly worded to me.

Indeed

But I’m not sure this is exactly what is being said here.

As PP have said, often pets are a reason why people stay in terrible situations. Because they are a lifeline to them and they don’t want to leave them behind, especially with someone with a history of abuse. Often temporary accommodation doesn’t allow pets, further limiting their options. There is also evidence that in situations of domestic abuse, this abuse can also be directed at animals in the house. They are used as a pawn in a campaign of psychological and physical terror on their victims. Victims may themselves feel guilty that this is happening due to victim blaming by the perpetrator.

No-one is saying they are equal to the human victims but their relevance in the situation should not be underplayed. Hopefully this gives more options if someone needs an urgent “out” and has concerns regarding their beloved pet.

I agree the wording isn't the clearest but it's a great project. Maybe something about 'Could you foster a DV escaper's cat to ensure they are safe too?' Would have been better.

I'll have a look and see if it might be suited to people who already have cats.

Yes, I suppose I meant in coercive way, threats of sexual violence etc

As a digital advertising specialist who specializes in Search and Display Ads, I think this campaign is rather brilliant, honestly. It’s got us talking about it.

I don't understand the problem with this advert. Surely abuse is abuse and suffering is suffering whether human or animal?

@BlessedKali

Yes of course that's just how I spent my Sunday. 🙄

You just sound like you're full of poor excuses and I fail to believe you work in advertising.

okay, enough chatter.

How would YOU word the ad then?

This is true, although I think if the advert was clearer - i.e about adopting cats of domestically abused women, so those women can get to safety, it might be more effective.

I personally, are more inclined to help now I know why the campaign is.

Ultimately there is a certain demographic of people who are always motivated to help cats - they will regardless of the reason, but there is an extra market to tap into, those who might not be motivated for cats alone, but would so to help an abused women. So making this clear would probably get more results.

Yes I do work in marketing.

Oh look you're doing it again. Guess what, I am an actual human being, not just a BOT who is here for you to have an argument with.
I am a woman, have been in a domestic abuse situation, have compassion for animals AND work in marketing. Now unless you have something interesting or constructive to say, I'd suggest there are better ways to spend your Sunday

Someone gave a good example a few pages ago...

something along the lines of

''Help support a woman flee domestic abuse by fostering her cat''

I would absolutely sign up.

When me and my children moved into refuge accommodation, we weren’t allowed to take our cats with us, it was absolutely heartbreaking and caused no end of stress.. thankfully a pet fostering charity took them in and I am so incredibly grateful because once we got a new tenancy of our own our girls were able to come home. It would have been an additional layer of trauma to have to give up our beloved family pets for good on top of everything else.
I know OP has clarified that she misunderstood (and props for that because it’s not easy!) but if anyone is interested in pet fostering, it’s honestly an amazing thing to do for families.

Cats' Protection need to grab the attention of people who would be open to adopting a cat, therefore a cat-centred campaign makes sense.

A picture of a human DV victim would grab attention from a range of people, but it would be no use for the purposes of this particular campaign to grab the attention of people who would not be open to adopting a cat.

I’ve name changed for this, I volunteer at CP and am directly involved in the temporary care of pets housed with us when their owners flee domestic violence. We are desperate for Fosterers who can take the pets temporarily until their owners can have them back in a safe place as it can be months sometimes. The cats come from all over the country and are renamed on admission, we can’t take pictures of them. Some of them clearly have some horrible tales to tell, and need lots of careful re socialisation. Many are underweight, unvaccinated and un neutered but are often deeply loved which is why they end up with us temporarily.

So the cat IS escaping domestic abuse along with their poor owners.

Glad you got there in the end OP.

Yes I don't think a picture of a human would be appropriate. It would be a picture of the cat as that is what is being 'sold' but a statement clarifying you are helping a woman AND a cat. x

yes thanks, altho I would say someone reading the ad shouldn't 'need to get there' but the ad should instantly convey the message. The likelihood is, if myself and numerous other women on this thread didn't understand, there will be countless others who also don't. It might be worth feeding this information back, If you are in a position to do so. It might positively impact your campaign x

Wishing you luck with this campaign. My cat came from CPL and had been abused - it has been very rewarding for my husband and me to gain his trust, and he is now a loving, happy, and very talkative boy - though even four years on, he cannot tolerate strange men and will hide away if we have a tradesman in, for example.

Do the majority of the pets return to their owners? Seeing as so many private tenancies don't allow pets?
Or maybe they do, as DV puts people at the top of social housing lists.
This is probably of little use but I wouldn't mind being a temporary fosterer. We have one lovely older cat who came to us from a horrible background and is now doing quite well.
The only things putting me off are who'd look after them when we're away + the possibility of cats being unable to return. Poor cats.
The cat charity I currently support cats don't tend to stay in foster care longer than 6 months and if they do there's a separate long-term foster fund.

Here’s a bit more on it for those interested who want to help, know more or may need help.

https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/paws-protect

@PAfsapfujasfp yes, cats do often go back to their owners. As a volunteer on site I don’t see the full story, but I do hear when they’ve gone back home. Sometimes all that was needed was time for the fleeing family (and let’s remember it’s often a mother and children fleeing the abuse) to be rehoused in a safe place or their families to be able to step in and help them to safety.

Sadly some pets are given up when their owners flee as they don’t think they would be able to offer a home moving forwards. Those cats are given a full MOT, a new name and put for rehoming in a completely different area to where they came from and matched with the right cat servants to offer them a lovely forever home.

“Open your home and heart to an animal escaping domestic abuse”

is much stronger messaging if you are trying to get people to adopt /foster an animal than

”help a woman escape DV by fostering her cat”

as a cat lover AND someone who believes DV is flat out wrong, the first messaging is much more likely to move me to action because it is solely about the cat.

I might read ”help a woman escape DV by fostering her cat” and think, oh that’s sad, but I probably wouldn’t try to adopt the pet.

Now, tug at my heart by implying that the pet is experiencing abuse at home and I am moved to action.

also, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are running variations in messaging for this ads.

Bloody hell, this has taken a turn.

OP posed a question on Sunday, by Monday graciously realised she had made a mistake. But continues to question the quality of the communication, because it should be impossible to make a mistake about an ad, if people don't understand it then that's on the creative team.

That is literally all. And a week later, people are still berating her?

I assumed the thread was done (I posted on it right at the start) and am that people are so determined to pick a fight about a simple question.