Cat shelters are crying out for help as a heartbreaking number of cats are surrendered, sick, and in desperate need of care.

A devastating combination of abandoned cats and a lack of homes for these kittens, fueled by the cost of living crisis, has had catastrophic results for the shelter.

A few days ago a young cat called Trevor was rescued after being abandoned with several infections and difficulty breathing.

Rebecca Hollingworth, cat welfare manager, said: “We weren’t expecting him, but we just couldn’t turn him away in his condition. He was barely able to open his eyes and was full of parasites.”

“In all honesty little Trevor might not make it.

“We will not allow him to suffer, but we will take it one step at a time.”

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Trevor passed away the next day.

It’s not just sick cats that reside in the shelter. Rocket, a nine week old kitten, was brought into the shelter after being found abandoned in a box in a garden.

Due to overcrowding at the shelter, Rocket is forced to live in the charity manager’s office as there are no spots left for him.

The shelter has seen an unusual surge in kitten arrivals, persisting even into the colder months. 

“Kitten season” is usually confined to the warmer months of April to September, but recently, there has been a notable increase in kitten births extending beyond the usual seasonal pattern.

Sarah Smith, charity manager, said: “We’re urgently seeking short-term foster carers for kittens like Rocket. They need a safe space until they’re old enough for neutering at around 11 or 12 weeks.”

The influx of cats and kittens has put a strain on the shelter’s funds. With vet bills amounting from £5,000 to £6,000, along with ongoing costs for shelter overheads, cat food, and litter, they are struggling to keep up.

If you would like to support kittens like Rocket and Trevor, you can visit the shelter’s website here.

For more community stories, click here.