Canning Town Cat Charity Struggles with Surge in Abandoned Pets Amid Vets Shortage and Cost-of-Living Crisis
A cat charity in London, the Celia Hammond Animal Trust, has expressed its deep concern over a surge in the number of cats being abandoned at their shelters. The trust cites a shortage of veterinarians due to Brexit as a major contributing factor, making it increasingly challenging for people to have their pets neutered. Additionally, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is exacerbating the issue.
According to the charity, they are now finding themselves overwhelmed with cats being left in their care, resulting in more feline residents arriving than can be rehomed on a weekly basis.
Both the British Veterinary Association and the government have been urged to provide commentary on the situation.
One such case is Chips, a black and white cat discovered in a plastic bag by the trust’s team, now residing at the Canning Town sanctuary. The charity’s veterinarian revealed the dire condition Chips was in, stating, “He was literally sitting in his own urine. The color – you couldn’t tell at that point what color this cat is; he was so dirty. Later, we figured out it’s not just dirt.” Upon closer examination, it was determined that Chips was covered in oil, and despite extensive treatment, his fur remains stained brown.
The Canning Town branch of the trust has established a specialized maternity section in a separate area to provide care for female cats and their young kittens until they can be rehomed.
Celia Hammond, the founder of the trust, expressed her dismay, noting that in its 28-year history, they had “never had a problem recruiting vets” until now. She established the trust in 1986 and introduced two low-cost neutering clinics in the 1990s to help manage the feral cat population. Hammond explained, “Before, when we started, it was out of control because people couldn’t afford to get their animals neutered. We sorted that, and within two or three years, we made a huge difference in south London.”
However, the current situation is different. Hammond attributes the recruitment challenges to Brexit and COVID-19, stating, “Brexit and Covid together basically did it because people haven’t been able to get their animals neutered, so the population of cats, having been fairly under control, we could cope – now it’s out of control.”
She also pointed out that the cost-of-living crisis is playing a significant role, with people bringing their cats to the charity, saying, “I can’t afford to feed them anymore.”
This troubling trend aligns with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s earlier reports in May, indicating an increase in animals arriving at their facilities but a decrease in families willing to adopt due to rising costs.
Meanwhile, Cats Protection has offered advice for cat owners on how to manage pet expenses amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
