Peterborough Cat Rescue in desperate need of volunteers as abandoned animal numbers and vet bills rise

Peterborough Cat Rescue is experiencing one of its worst years ever for cats being given up to its care.

That is the warning of one of the charity’s volunteers, who has insisted that volunteers can be on the phone all day dealing with calls.

Peterborough Cat Rescue was founded 10 years ago by Daphne Wilson and is run entirely by 20 volunteers that foster the cats and kittens in their own homes.

At the moment, there are over 100 cats in the charity’s care, which has led to vet bills each month regularly being in the region of £10,000.

Fundraisers, who have to work exceptionally hard to raise that figure and more each month also have to cover food and litter bills.

Lewis Trickey, who spent over 15 years as an RSCPA Field Inspector in Peterborough and is now a volunteer, with his wife Jane, for the charity said: “This has been one of the worst years ever for the sheer numbers, it is difficult when the larger national organisations refer their calls for help to us .

"We have no one we can refer on to, the buck stops with us.

"I am just one fosterer ,I currently have seven kittens, a week ago it was 12. Myself and my wife Jane have had over 70 abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens in 12 months .

“What we need desperately are more fosterers .This can take time not just looking after them but taking for vet visits when they are needed.

"It is time consuming, I’m retired but a lot of our fosterers also work and yet still manage to offer a safe haven for the cats and kittens."

The charity regularly posts pictures and information on its Facebook page and website regarding cats that are in need of a home.

With the numbers of abandoned animals growing, the charity has expressed concern about the number of cats ending up in their care that have not been neutered, thrown out into the street and left to fend for themselves. The charity has insisted that there no logical reason not to neuter cats.

Lewis added: “I’ve never known it like this, I’ve seen Daphne- who started the charity- be on the phone all day taking calls.

"The volunteers here really show the best of cat owners but we are desperately need more. The ones we do have already work incredibly hard and the charity wouldn’t exist without that.

"Even along with looking after the cats and kittens, they do so much to help with the fundraising to keep us going.

"A home environment is much better than a cattery especially for those adults that have been ill-treated in some way. Those will very often spend days hiding under furniture until their fosterers teach them to trust again.

"It is very satisfying to have a cat that comes in so terrified that it will bite, scratch and be so withdrawn even talking to them they will growl and hiss at you.

"Within a few weeks that same cat loves cuddles and is ready for a new life in a loving home.”