Cats in Bristol desperate for new homes

Homes in the Bristol area are desperately needed for hundreds of abandoned cats and kittens.

Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, in Wild Country Lane, Barrow Gurney, is full to overflowing with more than 100 unwanted and abandoned felines.

The Moggery in Bishopston is also overrun with animals.

Holly Hedge says it is an increasing problem and this year is the worst they have had in terms of the amount of unwanted animals.

Many have been dumped in boxes pregnant and others dumped in Portishead were almost dead when they were found.

The centre also has a waiting list of 60 cats and around 40 dogs, to go into the sanctuary once there is room.

Pauline Leeson, founder of Holly Hedge, said: "This year has been our worst year for abandoned animals.

"Many have come in to us needing veterinary treatment and lots of TLC to get them back on their feet again.

"Some have been just dumped, heavily pregnant, and given birth in the safety of the Sanctuary.

"Tiny little kittens just 10 days old were found in a box almost dead outside a closed vet in Portishead – with no sight of their mother.

"Luckily a sweet little cat who herself had been straying with her kittens took them on and brought them up as her own.

"We named them Gregory, Giselle and Gwen and only Gwen, a little ginger kitten, is left out of the three as the others have been homed.

"However, we still have 100 other cats and kittens and we are desperate for caring, responsible owners to come forward and adopt our rescues to make room for more desperate cases who are queuing up for shelter.

"The problem of so many unwanted animals is insurmountable, especially in the current economic climate where pets are the first to go when money gets tight.

"More and more people giving animals up because they can't afford to keep them and we do not put any animal down."

The cost of keeping the animals treated and fed is around £400,000 a year and at present the Sanctuary is running at a weekly loss of £5,000.

Mrs Leeson added: "Our vet bills have soared to £70,000 in the last year and we are struggling to meet the demands required of us.

"It also costs £400,000 to run sanctuary and we are running at deficit of £5,000 a week.

"It is an uphill struggle for us and we are struggling to maintain standards but we have to for the animals' sakes. We are struggling for space but we don't want to turn cats or kittens away. It's a sad situation and we don't know which way to turn and we desperately need help.

"If anyone can help to boost our funds in any way we would love to hear from them. "If anyone is interested in offering a loving home to one of our many cats or dogs please telephone Holly Hedge on 01275-474719. "

Chairwoman of the Moggery in Bishopston, Christine Bayka, said: "It is horrendous at the moment. We are bursting at the seams. On average, the calls I get are asking us to take 10 kittens and two mothers at a time."

Jill Roynon, of Bristol Dogs & Cats Home in St Philips, said: "We have not seen a particular increase in cats being dumped recently. We do have a waiting list for spaces that stretches into September but that is quite normal. It is kitten season, so there are always a lots of kittens around at this time of year that have been found straying or cannot be looked after by their owners."