op shop

Cat Protection Society Op Shop to close after 40+ years
June 2020

The Cat Protection Society of NSW Op Shop on Enmore Road has closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This decision was heartbreaking. The Op Shop has been central to Cat Protection’s fundraising and community presence for more than four decades,” Cat Protection CEO Kristina Vesk said. “It is a part of our soul.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic left us no choice. We need that space for our feline welfare staff and our retail products for cats. Our shelter at 103 Enmore Road is too small to support social distancing for all our operations.

“Our mission is to care for homeless cats and find loving responsible families for them. We will continue to do that and maintain COVID-safe operations by changing our processes and ensuring more space per person.

“Our shelter will be focused on adoptions (by appointment only) and 85 Enmore Road will become our retail store and welfare office.

“Cat Protection’s Op Shop volunteers, customers and donors have made a profound and positive impact on feline welfare in NSW, and Sydney in particular. Their contribution is highly valued and appreciated.

“The Op Shop has been an Enmore Road institution since the 1970s, a community hub advocating the virtues of re-use and recycle long before it was fashionable.

“It was immortalised in the fabulous song Peter Says (The Cat Protection Society Song) by John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special.

“Cat Protection’s Op Shop has been an outstanding part of our local community, an intrinsic part of our history, and a major contributor to improvements in cat welfare. It has won “Best of Sydney” awards multiple times. As Cat Protection President Kaye Isbister says, we hope this is just ‘au revoir’ and not ‘adieu’,” Ms Vesk said.

For more than 40 years the Cat Protection Society Op Shop raised funds for cat welfare programs. Thank you to all our donors, customers and volunteers for your life-saving efforts!

If you would like to donate items, please call the following not-for-profits or your local council:

The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
P: 9568 6280

Reverse Garbage NSW
P: 9569 3132

Salvos Tempe
P: 9519 1513