Increase in Abandoned Cat Families at Rescue Centre
An animal rescue centre in Yorkshire has reported a rise in the number of cat families being abandoned, attributing the increase to rising costs and a lack of neutering among pet owners.
Yorkshire Cat Rescue stated that the number of cats it admits has grown annually since its establishment in 1992. Currently, the charity rescues between 700 and 1,000 cats each year.
In 2025, the Haworth-based organisation incurred veterinary expenses totaling £282,000 while rescuing 925 cats.
CEO Comments on Causes and Challenges
CEO Lynn Nicholls explained the circumstances leading to abandonment:
"People get into situations where cats breed, they then don't know what to do with them, they can't look after them all and when they move a lot of the time they do leave them behind."
She further highlighted the financial burden of responsible pet care:
"Even for a working family that is doing okay, to neuter, chip and vaccinate a cat you're looking at over £200. That's not something to be taken lightly."
Recent Rescue Operation in Bradford
Earlier this week, the rescue team responded to a call regarding an abandoned house in Bradford where a mother cat and her five kittens were found.
The landlord discovered the black, white, and ginger mother cat entering and exiting the property through a hole in the front door. Initially, he believed there was only one cat, but he later found a carrier containing a female and four male newborn kittens.
Additionally, an adult male cat was found on the premises, which rescuers believe to be the father.
The charity has named the mother cat Opel and her kittens Aston, Rover, Diesel, Bentley, and Kia. They are currently settling into a foster home.
Officials reported that the week-old kittens showed no health concerns and were gaining approximately 10 grams in weight daily.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on , and catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
