Kentish Express Ashford & District
Appeal to home cats as charity is ‘very, very full’
RSPCA team launch plea for owners as hundreds of pets arrive
Homes are needed for cats in Ashford as a charity reveals it is full to the brim with animals.
There are currently 62 cats and kittens in the RSPCA Ashford Garden Cattery, in Station Road.
The team there say they are inundated with felines for several reasons, including people giving them away due to expense or because they aren’t being neutered.
Animal care assistant Maggie Thomas said: “We are very, very full.
“We don’t have space for anything.
“Since January this year, we’ve had 220 come in.
“Over the same period last year we had 189, so it is up.
“Last month, we had 30 kittens and six adults brought in on one day. We’ve still got the kittens because they are not old enough to leave their mums. They are taking up room.”
One cause of the current cat crisis is that owners are not get- ting their pets neutered in time, which is pushing the kitten population up.
In addition, Ms Thomas said that the rising cost of pet supplies doesn’t help.
She adds: “Everything has gone up. We offer a low-cost neutering scheme for low income families. Neutering a cat doesn’t make a difference to their health.”
Since January, the cattery has rehomed 150 cats, but many remain unwanted.
Among those looking for a new home is tabby Hope, who is about two or three years old and “loves a fuss”, and young male cat Benjamin, who is recovering from a broken jaw.
The kittens will also need rehoming in about a month.
The cattery is open every day 11am to 3pm, except Wednesdays. Call 01233 646855.