A kind-hearted stranger walked into a charity shop and made a £20,000 donation by bank transfer.
The woman said it was in memory of her late mother.
Volunteers at the newly-opened Cats Protection charity shop in Didsbury were left stunned by the amazing act of generosity and have now said a public thanks to her.
It came on the shop's opening day last week.
"We are enormously grateful to this lady, and her family, for supporting us," said area retail manager Jane Dutton.
Staff and volunteers at the shop on Wilmslow Road were busy sorting through deliveries and preparing for their opening day when the woman walked in off the street out of the blue.
The charity said she knocked on the window and asked to come inside before the store officially opened for the first time.
Ms Dutton said: "A lady came to the front door and explained she would like to make a donation of £20,000, which she wanted to give in memory of her late mother.
"This money will go a long way to improving cat welfare and keeping cats safe before we can find them loving homes.
"The charity is always on the lookout for volunteers willing to give up their time to help run the store.
"It can be a great way to gain retail experience and also make new friends."
The woman gave her name to staff inside, but wanted to remain anonymous, the charity said.
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No further details have been revealed at her request.
The charity said the donor spoke to the area retail manager there and then and the transfer was made.
All the money has been verified.
The shop falls under the charity's 'cattitude boutique' brand, meaning it sells second-hand designer clothes and accessories.
The store is open Monday-Saturday between 9am and 5pm, and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
The new Didsbury store is part of the charity's national network of more than 250 volunteer-run branches.
There are 36 centres and 124 shops that together, help around 200,000 cats and kittens each year, the charity said.
