Waiting lists for cats soar amid cost-of-living crisis, says Cats Protection
The charity said that an increasing demand on waiting lists is well above its historical average and looks likely to continue for the near future
UK cat welfare charity, Cats Protection, has revealed that its waiting lists have soared to a “historic high” as the number of cats waiting to enter its 34 Adoption Centres rose by 46% year-on-year in July 2022, up from 1,766 to 2,582 cats.
The charity’s volunteer-run branches report similar increases as owners are relinquishing their pets due to the cost-of-living crisis, and Cats Protection has issued an urgent plea for people to adopt felines.
Interest in rehoming cats is also on the wane, with each cat or kitten spending four days longer in the charity’s care compared to last summer.
Peter Shergold, head of Field Operations for Cats Protection, said: “This is the worst situation in organisational memory in terms of the pressure on our services to take in cats. A 46% increase in demand on our waiting lists is well above our historical average and looks likely to continue for the near future.
“The rise is directly linked to the cost-of-living crisis, such as not having the funds to afford the basics like cat food or cat litter or a much more serious consequence such as a loss of a job or having to move into rented accommodation where pets aren’t allowed.”
Advance findings from Cats Protection’s CATS Report, due for release this autumn, shows that 30% of cat owners are worried that they will not be able to pay bills or living costs owing to price increases. Meanwhile, 19% of non-cat owners said they would like to adopt a cat but can’t for financial reasons.
