Spring is almost here and just like our furry friends, we’re looking forward to the return of longer days and warmer weather. It’s the purrfect excuse to have a get-together with friends and family, enjoy a slice of cake and chat about cats!
In fact, hundreds of cat-lovers across the country are getting set for Cats Protection’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea. Supporters of the charity are hosting their own bake sales, coffee mornings and tea parties throughout April to help raise vital funds for unwanted cats and kittens.
So if you’re feeling inspired to get brewing and baking, here are our top tips to make your own cat-themed gathering truly meowvellous:
Save the date
It’s a good idea to get your invites out early so your guests can put the date in their diaries. You could send out written invitations signed with a paw print, set up a Facebook event, or pop a reminder in your workmates’ calendars.
Bake it or fake it
Whether you’re a whizz in the kitchen or prefer to buy your bakes, it’s easy to 'catify' cakes with ready-made icing to draw on some whiskers, or you can use a cat-shaped cookie cutter to cut out your sandwiches.
Collect up your crockery
Tea cups, teapots and tiered cake stands will help show off your mouth-watering spread in all its glory. You could see what your local Cats Protection charity shop has in store and even donate it back again afterwards!
Get crafty
Let people know what your party is all about with some cat garland decorations, kitty paper plates or cat face balloons. If you’ve got some kids coming along, cut out some cat masks to decorate, or make your own ears and tail photo props.
Experiment with drinks
There are hundreds of different teas you can serve your guests, so why not give them a selection? You could add some sparkle to the occasion with a bit of pawsecco, or why not create your own ‘ginger tom’ spiced mocktails?
Provide entertainment
Keep your guests a-mew-sed with some fun games and fundraise at the same time! ‘Guess the weight of the cake’ is an old favourite, or if you’re holding your event outdoors, you could arrange a treasure hunt with chocolate mice.
To find out more about Pawsome Afternoon Tea, or to register to host your own event in aid of Cats Protection, please visit www.pawsometea.org
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and helps around 200,000 cats each year through a national network of 250 volunteer-run branches and 36 centres.
