Helena Abrahams was a successful model until her life was turned upside down leaving her penniless – but now she’s shared how she turned her love for cats into a profitable business
A former model has found strength in her love for cats after her life was unexpectedly turned upside down.
Helena Abrahams, 54 from Greater Manchester hit “rock bottom” after a failed spinal cord operation left her paralysed, penniless, and unable to care for her eight beloved felines.
But Helena’s deep love for her pets gave her the strength to carry on, and today, she owns a successful “cat-sitting” business.
Helena said: “After failed surgery, I spent three years paralysed, and unable to work. At the time, I was so poorly, and I was told I would never walk again.
“This was a big change for me – I had been a model since I was 15 and went from having it all to living off Pringles so I could afford to feed my cats.
“To make matters worse, as I kept going in and out of hospital, I had to put my cats in a cattery, which distressed them greatly.
“After seeing them so shaken, I remember saying to my brother that when I walk again, I am going to set up a cat-sitting business and will franchise it someday.
“And that is exactly what I have done.”
After undergoing 10 additional operations and rehabilitation to walk again, Helena set up her first branch of Couture Cat Sitting Services in her hometown, Bury, in 2016.
And over the past nine years, Couture has expanded exponentially. It now boasts 28 franchises, thousands of clients across the UK, and an impressive annual turnover of £500,000.
But Helena says this is “only the beginning for her company,” and wishes to expand to Wales and Northern Ireland.
“We are all over the United Kingdom, from Kilmarnock to Essex,” she said.
“But we are looking to expand, and hire.”
“I hear frightening horror stories people who are not DBS checked and do not have insurance taking care of cats, but only go and check on the cats when they can be bothered. We want to combat this.
“Couture’s cat-sitting service is bespoke, as our workers go into the home if you’re on holiday or ill, make sure the cat is fed, clean their litter and play with the cat.
“We even send videos and pictures so owners know they are looked after.
“We are all passionate about their care. We eat, sleep and breathe cats. That’s what makes Couture stand out.
“Every single person who works for Couture loves cats – and I make sure of this.”
Self-proclaimed cat lover Helena credits her success to her beloved moggies, who she says still give her the “motivation to get out of bed every morning.”
“I literally had nothing left,” she added. “I found my passion, set my business up, and now it has just been valued at over half a million pounds.
“Couture is now going from strength to strength, as we are seeking to expand into dog-sitting and have even expanded into merch – which the public can shop online.
“I hope everyone will see my story as an example of why to never give up. Life can change for the better.”
Alongside Couture Cat Sitting, Helena has also thrown herself into charitable enterprises.
To support Helena, or become at ‘cat-sitter,’ Couture Cat Services can be found on Facebook.
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