Cat-CHING Sheffield, a popular cat rescue charity, is experiencing its most challenging kitten season in five years, putting the organization at risk of closure.
Founded in 2019, Cat-CHING Sheffield has been instrumental in rescuing and rehoming hundreds of cats across the city. However, the charity has now been forced to halt the intake of new cases due to an overwhelming number of cats and kittens needing care. Currently, the organization has over 100 cats and kittens in the care of 34 foster families.
Lauren James-Thompson, the founder of Cat-CHING Sheffield, expressed the dire situation the charity faces. “If the volume of cats in need continues to remain or to rise, there is a massive risk to our existence,” she said. The charity has been “running at our absolute limit” for years and is now at a breaking point.
Lauren started the charity with the hope of solving Sheffield’s homeless cat issue within five years. However, she now realizes that the cat crisis in Sheffield is much bigger than her charity can handle alone. “A larger scale approach with significant financial backing is needed,” she stated.
The charity’s efforts include capturing and rehoming strays, and paying for them to be spayed, neutered, wormed, and treated for severe health problems. Recently, they faced over £2,500 in vet bills in one day for a c-section and an overnight stay for one kitten. Over the past year, Cat-CHING Sheffield has spent over £130,000 on vet bills and £30,000 on cat food.
Lauren described how kitten season seems to get worse each year, with more unneutered cats being abandoned. This not only leads to survival struggles for the cats but also results in rapid reproduction and the formation of new cat colonies. The charity is frequently called to rescue cats that have given birth in garden sheds, often discovering new colonies in the process.
Due to the overwhelming demand and financial strain, Cat-CHING Sheffield has had to make the “heartbreaking” decision to close its doors to new rescues temporarily. Lauren emphasized the impact on the small team of volunteers who run the charity alongside their full-time jobs. “We simply cannot afford the cost of caring for any more cats,” she said.
The charity is in urgent need of new foster families and financial support to continue its work. Lauren’s message underscores the critical situation: “At this stage, we are unsure how long it will take us to get back on our feet.”
Cat-CHING Sheffield’s potential closure would be a significant loss to the community and the countless cats they aim to rescue and rehome.
