Waiting Lists for Cats Soar as the Cost-of-Living Crisis Takes Hold

The UK’s main cat welfare charity has issued an pressing plea for folks to undertake felines after its ready lists soared to a historic excessive.

Cats Protection says the variety of cats ready to enter its 34 Adoption Centres rose by 46 per cent in July 2022 in comparison with July 2021 (2,582 cats versus 1,766 cats), with the charity’s volunteer-run branches reporting comparable will increase, as cash-strapped homeowners relinquish their pets as a result of cost-of-living disaster.

Interest in rehoming cats can also be on the wane – with every cat or kitten spending 4 days longer within the charity’s care in comparison with final summer time.

Peter Shergold, Head of Field Operations for Cats Protection, stated: “This is the worst state of affairs in organizational reminiscence when it comes to the strain on our providers to absorb cats. A 46 per cent enhance in demand on our ready lists is effectively above our historic common and appears more likely to proceed for the close to future.”

“The rise is instantly linked to the cost-of-living disaster, corresponding to not having the funds to afford the fundamentals like cat meals or cat litter or a way more critical consequence corresponding to a lack of a job or having to maneuver into rented lodging the place pets aren’t allowed.”

Advance findings from Cats Protection’s CATS Report, due for launch this autumn*, reveals that 30% of cat homeowners are nervous that they will be unable to pay payments or residing prices owing to cost will increase. Meanwhile, 19% of non-cat homeowners say they want to undertake a cat however can’t for monetary causes.

Cats that had been reluctantly given as much as the charity by money strapped homeowners embody a pair of six-year-old cats, Tinkerbell and Wendy who had been delivered to Cats Protection’s Warrington Adoption Centre throughout July.

Both had been well-cared for by their earlier proprietor however a change within the proprietor’s monetary state of affairs meant he needed to make the heartbreaking resolution to present them up. The charity is hoping to search out them a house collectively in a quiet family, or a house with older youngsters.

Cats Protection is urging folks to go to its web site at www.cats.org.uk/cost-of-living which comprises sensible recommendation on how one can maintain onto your pet, corresponding to acquiring entry to cat meals banks or exploring sensible methods to cut back vet payments. The charity may help homeowners on restricted incomes with the price of neutering their pet cat.

If you could have area to undertake a cat, then please go to www.cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat and enter your postcode into the search field.