We're C4: the Capital's Cat Care Campaign
C4 scheme: Update for vet practices
C4 Scheme Timeline:
1999-2023: The C4 Scheme was maintained via the RSPCA Central London Branch with vouchers issued by them and payments made by the Branch from their funds.
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July 2023: The C4 Scheme passed admin over to Cats Protection, who began onboarding practices onto the new scheme and issuing new style vouchers. Practices were advised that old-style C4 vouchers were no longer valid. New vouchers held year-expiry dates on them and practices were required to submit them for payment no later than 40 days after the neutering operation had taken place.
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December 2023: All old-style vouchers withdrawn and cancelled, after communication to all practices by the C4 team and Cats Protection. All new-style vouchers dated 2023 expired on 31/12.
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Jan 2024: New C4 vouchers rolled out fully, to include provision for microchip, buster collar and go-home Meloxicam if ordered through the Cats Protection Covetrus ordering portal.
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April 2024: with most vouchers now in circulation, a pause was put in place on the issue of further pads.
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September 2024: C4 scheme boundary set to inside the M25. In order tonsure that as many cat owners can access the scheme as possible, vouchers no longer able to be used for feral cat colonies or cats in the care of or recently adopted out by, rescue groups or charities. The cost of neutering these rests with the rescue group involved.
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September 2024: To ensure provision for owners in need, a small number of vouchers were released for the remainder of 2024 to a limited number of practices in areas of high deprivation or at strategic locations.
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December 2024: All vouchers year-marked as 2024 expired on 31/12/24, with the final return submission date for vouchers for surgeries carried out in 2024 now closed, having being by 9th Feb 2025.
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​​​​​January 2025: 2025 vouchers for Q1 sent to the 28 highest volume C4 practices to start the scheme in 2025. All remaining practices contacted to participate in 2025.
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February 2025: A further 32 practices received vouchers
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31 March 2025: All practices with vouchers contacted to ask them to complete the stocktake webform, to enable us to plan for further voucher releases (reminder sent 13/4).
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WB 7th April 2025: An interim additional supply of vouchers was sent to practices running short as well as a small number of practices who were not issued pads at the start of 2025.
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​In early May we expect to provide another tranche of vouchers out to practices on the scheme which will cover the period May, June and July. This will be prioritised to practices which completed the stocktake of vouchers for us as requested on 31st March 2025.
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We will be in discussion with practices who are not yet part of the scheme but wish to come onboard, during the second half of April, with a view to getting your first vouchers out to you by early May.
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We'll be repeating the voucher stocktake on 30th May 2025 with this informing the provision of vouchers for the latter part of the year, and priority for continuing voucher supply will be to practices which have completed the form. The form takes around 5-10 minutes to complete and 5 short question fields.
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​​Cats Protection continues to manage payments for completed neuters so please send all invoices and vouchers to them at the address on the voucher/pad covers. ​Currently there is no backlog, and you should receive payment within the normal 30 days cycle. All details for how to manage the scheme and where to order Metacam, chips and Buster collars, are on the voucher pads and pad covers.
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Many thanks!​
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Practice information
Correct at 14 April 2025:
