Harrogate’s newly-established cat rescue is being crippled by vet fees as it takes in an unprecedented number of animals.
Celia Dakin, who set up the Harrogate Cat Rescue in April this year, says many come with hidden problems.
She has seen a big spike recently in abandoned adult cats in particular. Just last week the rescue took in 12 cats from Bradford.
Some of the cats have problems with their bladder or their stomachs and many need to be neutered. All of those treatments come at a cost.
On average at the moment Celia is spending around £1,000 on those bills. The rescue will struggle financially without more support.
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Celia told the Stray Ferret that she has never seen demand like it in all her years rescuing cats:
“It is insane, absolutely insane. Just now I have taken a call about another two cats that need to be rescued from a road in Darley.
“There are a lot of adult cats coming in at the moment. I cannot keep up with it all, I think it is just awful.”
Harrogate Cat Rescue owner, with one of her own cats Geoff.
While it is hard for Celia to know the reasons for the spike in rescue cats, many of the reasons she comes across are a direct or indirect result of coronavirus.
One woman gave up her cat after being made redundant following months on furlough. Many more come from relationship breakdowns, with coronavirus causing tensions.
The Harrogate Cat Rescue will always try to make room for the new cats but has asked people to donate to its fundraising page here.
