Plans have been submitted to convert an industrial unit in Kendal into what could be the first RSPCA cattery in Cumbria. The proposal, submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council on Thursday, April 30, outlines the charity’s plan to house 16 cats at Unit 3C on Shap Road Industrial Estate.
According to the application, the RSPCA currently operates similar facilities in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Lancashire, but there are no such facilities in Cumbria. The nearest RSPCA cattery is located in Preston. The facility will provide care for both long-term cats awaiting court decisions and short-term cats waiting for rehoming.
The two-storey building, which includes open-plan space, a kitchen, offices, and WC cubicles, would be converted to accommodate the cats. The cattery is also expected to employ five people, including three full-time and two part-time staff members.
The layout of the cattery will see most of the short-term cat pens located downstairs, while the long-term stayers will be housed upstairs next to the office. If the application is approved, a vet room with two isolated pens, meeting the Association of Dogs & Cats Homes (ADCH) standards, will also be included.
This proposal marks an important step toward expanding animal care facilities in Cumbria, potentially offering much-needed support for local cats in need of shelter.
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