Bradford cat rescues on cost of living crisis and soaring vet bills

From the cost-of-living crisis and cat flu to a lack of neutering and neglect, volunteers are feeling “worn out”.

Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary’s founder said 2022 has been the worst year in the centre’s 17-year history.

The rescue’s spending on veterinary bills have now hit the £75,000 mark.

Just miles away is Pink Paws Cat Rescue, facing a veterinary care bill of an estimated £40,000-50,000.

Meanwhile the city’s cat crisis is continuing to deepen amid a “storm” of issues.

Laura Westcough who co-runs Pink Paws Cat Rescue, said: “Because of everybody getting pets in Covid, they’re all breeding now. They’re just letting them go out and not neutering them.

Pink Paws Cat Rescue's Laura Westcough with rescue kitten Wally (Image: Newsquest)

“We’re now faced with an outbreak of parvo [feline parvovirus, a virus that can cause severe disease in cats, particularly kittens, and lead to fatalities].

“We’ve had quite a few that needed quite intensive nursing. We’ve had a couple who had to have eyes removed.

“The third thing is the cost-of-living. People are struggling to feed themselves and heat their homes. Cats are being surrendered.

“Here we are picking up the financial and emotional pieces time and time again, when really it didn’t need to happen.

“It has been a storm.

“We’re very tired, under pressure constantly and we’re worn out. We just feel like, what more is going to come our way?

“The problem now has gone way beyond us. We have all these rescues, people working relentlessly, and we still have a massive problem. It’s gone beyond our control.”

Katie Lloyd, founder of Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary, said her rescue currently receives between 15 and 20 calls a day about unwanted or abandoned cats.

Pink Paws Cat Rescue shared these images of cats which came to the rescue in need (Image: UGC)

Katie said: “We provide frontline critical care to the most sick, injured and abused cats in our community.

“We have had many horrific admissions of cats and kittens that received non-accidental injuries, wilful abuse and neglect and our resources have since been saturated.

“We totally understand the devastating effects of the increased cost of living and the pressures that this puts on pet owners, especially when they become ill. There’s lots of hidden costs to owning a pet.

“What we cannot ever understand is the abhorrent cruelty and wilful neglect that seems to be inflicted on so many pets this year.

“Unfortunately, just like everyone else, Bradford Cat Watch Rescue and Sanctuary has been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis.

“I’m sure every rescue is struggling and question how are they going to survive the next 12 months?”

Read more like this: 

• Kitten tied up with chain round its neck suffered 'horrific' injuries
• The dark world of kitten breeding in Bradford filling 'greedy pockets'

How you can help

Cats Protection runs a chip and snip campaign in the BD1 to BD15 postcode areas, excluding BD13.

Under the campaign, you can get your pet cat neutered for just £5 and microchipped for an additional £5.

Keighley Cat Care also runs a similar scheme.

Meanwhile Laura said: “If anyone is struggling to afford it but wants to neuter their cat, please contact us direct Pink Paws Cat Rescue.

“People need to step up to their responsibilities and neuter their cats. They choose to get a pet, now choose to do the right thing by it and neuter it.”

Meanwhile Ally Cats is appealing for new volunteers who can keep the operation running smoothly through cleaning.

There are volunteering opportunities available between Thursday and Sunday.

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