More than 10,000 shelter cats have found a new home since the start of the pandemic thanks to a campaign set up by the UK’s leading feline welfare charity.

Called Hands-Free Homing, the scheme was launched in March by non-profit Cats Protection in a bid to ensure that cats could still be homed despite forthcoming lockdown restrictions.

As part of the initiative, those keen to adopt a furry quarantine companion can go on the charity’s website and browse the cats currently looking for homes. Each cat profile features photos and videos, and full descriptions are available to give potential owners as much information as possible.

The charity also used interactive video to match prospective owners with potential pets, before transporting the animals to the new owner’s doorstep if a match was found. Following the easing of lockdown measures, COVID-safe collection was also made possible at the charity’s centers using the same online matching process.

By November, the smart initiative had helped the charity home 10,859 cats since the start of the lockdown. Mike Elliott, Cats Protection’s director of field operations said the huge number of adoptions marked “an achievement worth celebrating.”

“This milestone is a testament to the teamwork, commitment, and dedication of our volunteers, staff, and fundraisers who pulled together for the sake of the cats,” he said.