Cats in East face threat of homelessness amidst cost of living crisis
It's according to Cats Protection
It's feared some cat owners across Norfolk and Suffolk could be forced to abandon their pets - as the cost of living crisis hits home.
That's according to charity Cats Protection, which is stepping up urgent calls for fosterers in the East of England... after a national survey found two thirds of owners are worried about being able to feed their pets.
In the same survey, nearly a third of owners (29%) admitted they are struggling with the finances needed to support their cat, whilst one in eight owners (13%) said they have or would cut down on their cat’s food to make cost savings.
Similarly, two-thirds (65%) are worried that people will not be able to feed their cats this winter, the survey showed.
The findings come at a perilous time for Cats Protection, which helps around 166,000 cats and kittens each year. The charity has already seen the number of cats on its waiting lists grow by 20% compared to this time last year, with fewer people adopting cats.
In response to the crisis, the charity has launched its ‘Feels like home’ campaign which appeals for cat lovers to either become fosterers for the charity or support the charity with a donation. All funds raised will help provide temporary homes for cats this winter.
Peter Shergold, Cats Protection’s Head of Field Operations, said: “No one wants to have to give up a beloved pet, but the cost-of-living crisis is having a disastrous effect on cats and their owners.
“Many are facing extreme choices such as rationing food or giving up their much-loved cat entirely. This winter could see an unprecedented number of cats and kittens being given up to charities or worse still, abandoned in the cold and left to fend for themselves.
“We do what we can to help people hold onto their pets, but we urgently need an army of cat fosterers to help us ensure no cat is without a place that feels like home this winter.
“No special equipment is needed to be a volunteer fosterer except a spare room in your house or outdoor space to house a cat pen. Cats Protection will provide the cat pen and all the other support needed including cat food, litter, toys and so on."