From Behind the Camera to Forever Home

Dan Humphreys is used to capturing stories through his lens, but he didn’t expect to become part of one himself.

The filmmaker was working on a new advertising campaign at Cats Protection’s North West London Cat Centre when he found himself charmed by one of his subjects: a stray kitten named Bluebell.

The campaign, produced by Curious Productions alongside agency Come the Glorious Day, forms part of Cats Protection’s summer campaign celebrating the unique personalities behind rescue cats.

Meeting Bluebell

“When I arrived at the centre in Harrow, I was unloading camera kit and noticed three volunteers completely smitten with a particular cat,” said Dan. “At that stage I only caught a quick glimpse, but when I went in to film her properly, I completely understood why everyone had fallen for her. That cat was Bluebell.”

Seven-month-old Bluebell’s journey began on the streets of Edgware, where she was found distressed and alone, most likely lost or abandoned. After appeals failed to locate an owner and a vet check revealed she wasn’t microchipped, the grey-and-white kitten was taken into the care of Cats Protection.

Centre Manager Nicola Murray said: “As tiny as she was, nothing seemed to bother her. One of our volunteers named her Bluebell, inspired by her striking blue eyes.”

Those arresting looks, combined with her calm temperament, led to Bluebell being selected as the face of the charity’s summer campaign, helping to showcase the unique personalities and individual stories of cats in Cats Protection’s care.

A Campaign with Purpose

Bluebell’s starring role comes as Cats Protection continues its efforts to encourage more people to consider adoption.

According to the charity’s CATS (Cats And Their Stats) Report 2025, only 16% of cats acquired in the last 12 months were adopted from a rescue organisation. Through its Meet Our Cats campaign, the charity hopes to inspire people to discover the joy of being matched with their perfect feline companion.

Cats like Bluebell.

The Toughest Part of the Shoot

Dan knew the production would come with challenges. Filming inside a busy rescue centre meant working within everyday spaces never designed for a film crew, while ensuring a calm and gentle environment for the cats at all times.

As it turned out, however, the toughest challenge had nothing to do with the production itself.

“I knew that filming at a cat centre, resisting the temptation to come home with a cat was probably going to be the biggest challenge of the entire shoot,” he said.

“We’ve had our cat Mowgli for 14 years and, while our son often talks about how much he’d love another cat, it’s always been filed firmly under ‘maybe one day’. That was before I met Bluebell.”

“As well as being incredibly beautiful, she had this wonderfully affectionate, playful personality that instantly stood out. I sent a photo to my wife Amy and, from that point, I think we both knew the decision had already been made for us. Bluebell was coming home.”

A New Chapter for Bluebell

Following the shoot, Dan, Amy and their 10-year-old son Ted officially adopted Bluebell.

She has since swapped camera lights for a comfy sofa in Surrey, where she has settled in alongside the family’s much-loved cat, Mowgli.

“She has so much of that classic kitten energy and she’s incredibly affectionate; far more interested in physical contact than Mowgli ever was,” said Dan.

“She always wants to be close, whether that’s curling up beside you, climbing onto your lap or demanding attention the second you walk into the room. It genuinely feels like Bluebell was always supposed to be part of our family.”

Finding the Right Match

For Nicola, Bluebell’s story is a reminder of the special connections that can happen when people meet the right rescue cat.

“It was lovely to see Dan fall in love with our little superstar, Bluebell,” she said. “This heartwarming story shows that there’s a cat for everyone. We never know which cat will touch our hearts, but we’re here to help potential owners find their right match and make these cherished connections.”

Bluebell may have started out as the star of a campaign, but she ended up finding her forever home too.