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We're C4: the Capital's Cat Care Campaign
C4 scheme: Update for vet practices
C4 Scheme Timeline:
Practice information
Correct at 23rd May 2026:
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.
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 Practices were advised that old-style C4 vouchers were no longer valid.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.
December 2023: All old-style vouchers withdrawn and cancelled, after communication to all practices by the C4 team and Cats Protection.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.
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.
April 2024: with most vouchers now in circulation, a pause was put in place on the issue of further pads.
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.
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.
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.
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.
February 2025: A further 32 practices received vouchers
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).
April 2025 onward - we continue to add new practices to the shceme and have distributed further tranches of vouchers in June, September and a final tranche in October.
** Vouchers with a 2025 expiry ceased being valid for use after 31st December 2025 (inclusive). The cut-off date for returning these passed on the 9th February. Any vouchers for surgeries performed in 2025 cannot now be returned as the financial year has closed.**
Cats Protection is continuing to handle the issue of new pads of vouchers, and the receipt of completed vouchers for payment. As of 18th June 2026, they will also handle all request for topping up across the year.
At present we continue to monitor the usage of vouchers issued to existing veterinary practices who are part of the scheme. You may be automatically sent additional pads if we can see you are running short and are neutering in line with our estimates.
We additionally release further pads in tranches across the year as more funds become available. Practices on the scheme already, are welcome to contact Cats Protection to see if they can be issued further pads.
We are currently not in a position to onboard further practices to the scheme but this remains under review and practices interested in joining the scheme should do so via the Cats Protection neutering contact email for veterinary practices -HERE please do so after the middle of July. THIS EMAIL IS FOR VETERINARY PRACTICES ONLY.
Please do not send any requests via the RSPCA Ops Manager (Ian's) email address.
Many thanks!
