Funds desperately needed for 25 cats discovered living in one bedsit

Funds are needed for 25 black cats which were found living in a bedsit by staff here at the National Cat Adoption Centre.

We received a call from a relative of an elderly man who had to leave his Haywards Heath home due to ill health. We were asked to take in several cats but, after arriving at the property, we were surprised to discover a total of 25 packed into the small bedsit. Before the family entered the property, they believed he had 2 cats so were also shocked to find 25. The cats, thought to be aged from four weeks to six years old, were all unneutered and had been breeding uncontrollably.

 Our Adoption Centre Manager, Danielle Draper, said that although all were in good health, many were very nervous.

She said: “Finding homes for all these cats is going to be a huge challenge and we desperately need to hear from people who may be able to offer one a home.

None of the cats had been neutered and so, in just a few years, the number of cats in the home had grown enormously. The oldest cat is around six years old and the youngest are very small kittens.
Despite the cramped conditions they were living in, they are healthy cats, well-fed, with glossy coats and no signs of illness. But with so many cats it seems that they were not properly socialised so they are very nervous of people.

We are bracing ourselves for a challenge – black cats are hard to find homes for anyway, as people often prefer different colours. And a nervous black cat is an even harder prospect to find a new home for."

Danielle added: “We’d urge anyone in a similar situation to come forward and ask for help before the situation gets out of control.

Cats are prolific breeders – one unneutered female can give birth to around 18 kittens every year and be responsible for up to 20,000 descendants within five years. Cats Protection recommends all cats are neutered from around four months old, when they are able to become pregnant.

We are trying to raise funds to go towards the care of the cats whilst they are with us. Because they are all timid and black, sadly they are likely to be with us for a while before finding homes, so donations are crucial in funding their time at the centre. 

All money raised from this page will go to the National Cat Adoption Centre and towards the cats in our care.