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22
May 2024
Harrogate Cat Rescue unable to take in any more pets
Harrogate Cat Rescue has said it is unable to take in any more cats or kittens.
The Harrogate charity shelter cats and cares for them until they can find their forever homes.
It said in a statement today it had received a record number of animals this year and due to slow adoption rates did not have the capacity to take in any more.
The organisation is not a traditional cat rescue with an animal shelter where it can host cats; it relies on foster carers for cats until they are adopted.
Technically it does not have a maximum capacity but the charity currently has more than 80 kittens in its care, not including older cats. and needs more volunteers to help shelter cats until they can be adopted.
Volunteer Lisa Francis told the Stray Ferret the cost of living crisis and education about the care cats needed were the biggest factors limiting the adoption process. She said:
Many people buy young kittens without doing any research first and they the animals later end up in care. The charity currently has cats in foster care ranging from young kittens, older kittens (6 months+) to cats over 1 year all ready to be adopted.
The charity educates people on the advantages of adopting an older cat or kitten. Including that older cats do not need so much attention and are less demanding, they don’t have to be closely monitored with young children, they can be homed alone and they generally already know house rules.
Ms Francis added that pressure on the charity would be reduced if people considered adopting older cats. She also said cat owners can help the situation by neutering their pets.
She said:
The charity urged anyone considering getting a pet to speak to them prior to buying a cat.
Ms Francis said:
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