It’s Betty to the Rescue!
Published: June 12, 2006
A GOUROCK gran who has cared for thousands of strays during 23 years as ‘the cat woman’ has been named the town’s unsung hero of the year.
Betty Lafferty has given over her days, nights — and home — to abandoned and lost moggies since taking on Inverclyde Cat Rescue’s telephone line.
She has had just one weekend away from home, to go to a niece’s wedding in England, but even then she left husband John behind to care for the cats.
She said: “It’s a way of life. People need us and you have to be available. I do the best I can do and I love it.
“There are times I get tired, and wonder how long I can go on climbing fences and reaching window ledges, but I’ve no intention of giving it up.”
Betty, who says she loves all animals but has a passion for cats — “If I see a cat in the street I’ll bend down and clap it” — has always taken in strays.
But it was only when she heard about Cat Rescue and got involved that cats took over her life.
She said: “Previously, all the members of the group took it in turns to have the phone number for three months at a time, but that meant it was constantly changing and no one knew what number to call.
“I offered to take it on permanently. I get phone calls at all hours.
“I don’t relax at night until about midnight.
“Occasionally, I take the phone off for an hour to get the chance to read the Tele and get a sandwich, but you really have to be there.”
In the last week alone Betty has taken in three mothers and kittens.
The previous week she took in four family groups.
All are checked by a vet before being rehomed.
Betty said: “It is really nice when you can suit a cat to a home, when somebody falls in love with the cat.
Betty, who lives in Kirn Drive, works with the other five members of the group to rescue and care for strays, as well as feed numerous feral communities throughout Inverclyde.
The group also constantly fundraise through coffee mornings and car boot sales to raise money for cat food.
Betty said: “You don’t realise how much is involved!”
Betty, 66, would love to have more time to spend with her family, especially six-month old granddaughter Holly.
She says her children “all think I am crazy” — though two of the three have cats of their own!
• Betty will be presented with the Betty Maither Memorial Trophy for an individual unsung hero at Gourock Garden Party on Sunday 18 June.
Depute provost and Gourock councillor Jim Hunter, who donated the award, said: “Betty Lafferty’s name has come up every year since we started this award, but the number of nominations this year has been overwhelming.
“She gives a great service to the community and has been doing so for a long, long time.”
A second unsung hero award for a group, the Elspeth Liddell Award, will be presented to the Gourock Detachment Army Cadet Corps for their outstanding work in the community.
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