The Sheffield Cats Shelter, a beloved local institution caring for felines in need for over 127 years, is at maximum capacity.
Overflowing with cats, the local shelter is struggling to keep pace with the increasing number of animals arriving at their doors, while adoptions have slowed.
This year has seen a significant increase in the number of cats needing the shelter’s help.
‘Kitten season’ has extended well beyond its usual timeframe this year, and the cost-of-living crisis has led to a heart breaking rise in abandoned cats.
Rebecca Hollingworth, cat welfare manager of the Sheffield Cats Shelter, said: “We have seen rehoming requests skyrocket this year from people who cannot keep their animals, and from people who have found a stray cat.
“This is due to issues like the cost of living crisis, tenancy disputes and abandonment.”
The cat welfare manager noted that the demand for their services has never been higher but the shelter cannot accommodate more felines.
Hollingworth said: “Adoption applications have been less and less this year too, likely also due to people thinking about the cost of living and deciding not to get a pet, which is sensible, it just means that there aren’t as many homes as cats needing them.”
The shelter is currently caring for 45 cats, including 33 kittens, mothers, and Trevor, a cat with a severe upper respiratory infection.
She said: “This puts strain on our very small team, but we push along for these wonderful little animals that deserve the best care and to find their ideal home.
“We also do this work on funds raised by ourselves, we do not receive any government funding.”
Rescues are not a place for any animals to be on a long term basis, but with the reduction in adopter applications, longer stays for some of the cats has been hard to avoid.
Hollingworth said: “We have faced challenges rehoming some cats as quickly as we’d like.
“In all rescue settings, it is the goal to help cats as quickly as possible while ensuring they have the best care and their welfare is paramount.”
The cat rescue was converted from an old Victorian house and only has 11 rooms for the amount of cats in their care.
They are looking for more updated premises for enough space to accommodate the cats and kittens but with their lack of funds, it makes it hard for them.
The shelter is actively seeking donations to support its operations and provide care for the cats in their care.