Cat lovers Karen Smy and daughter Lauren Sheldrick began Karen’s Cat Community in 2017, initially by serving to locals and offering recommendation. They then progressed onto trapping, neutering, releasing and rehoming kittens within the space.
Karen says the household has at all times had a number of cats. But now, the animal-loving duo are sharing their Nantmel bungalow with greater than 70 cats, taking up each room in the home.
Karen says rehoming the rescued felines is now feeling futile, with their payments sky-rocketing. Earlier this 12 months they even opened a cat café, and estimate they’re spending greater than £100 a day on meals and litter, whereas veterinary prices are within the hundreds.
“Over the past two years we have grown to an overwhelming size and 2023 has been the hardest year yet,” mentioned Karen, who mentioned the continual arrival of cats in 2023 has hampered their plans to change into a registered charity.
“We have over 70 cats in our care and at the moment are struggling, together with all different rescues, after Covid and the cost-of-living disaster.
“People both can not afford to neuter their cat, aren’t conscious of the neutering schemes bigger charities present or aren’t educated on how shortly cats can reproduce.
“Since opening in 2017 now we have efficiently helped 230 cats; this 12 months alone now we have helped 70 cats and kittens.
“We separate them one of the best we will to keep away from overcrowding however this 12 months has pushed us to our restrict, and they’re in each room of the home, so now we have needed to begin to say no.
“However, this does not stop people from ringing or contacting us at least twice a day about owner surrenders and abandoned kittens.”
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On common, Karen says they spend round £108.78 a day doing what they love.
“To feed 76 cats 3 times a day on Whiskas (the cheapest food we use) costs £82.50,” she mentioned.
“We use round 12 baggage of litter a day which roughly works out to be £26.28, utilizing Tesco litter.
“However, this does not factor in specialist food. Some of our cats require a specialist diet, this food can be incredibly pricey. The kittens are also on a higher quality food, so they have the best start to life.”
The caring pair nonetheless must castrate 20 male cats, at roughly £45 per process (which might quantity to £900) and 18 females, at £78 (£1,404).
“We also double vaccinate all of our cats and kittens which is £62.40 per cat (£4,742.40 in total). We are still looking at paying out £3,712.80 minimum in veterinary bills to cover this.”
Karen and Lauren are additionally attempting to lift money for Jess, a ginger cat who had a bit of her cranium lodged in her nasal cavity. They have been quoted £2,000 for a biopsy and £4,000 for the surgical procedure she may have.
Karen’s Cat Community presently have 34 kittens and 10 grownup cats who’re searching for their eternally properties – Karen says this has tripled since final 12 months after they solely had 13 kittens to rehome.
“We have very little interest in our cats and kittens at the moment,” she says. “This means we are struggling to cover costs, as adoption fees usually help us with this.”
Anyone taken with adopting a cat from Karen and Lauren can e mail them at [email protected] to start out the method.
They ask individuals to finish an adoption type to allow them to be greatest matched with a cat. A home verify is then carried out and the potential homeowners are invited to satisfy the cats (each of those processes may be carried out on-line).
Once every thing is confirmed there’s an adoption charge (£125 per kitten, £150 per cat) to pay to be able to get your favorite feline.
Finally, a rehoming day is organized, the place Karen and Lauren convey the cat to you. They not too long ago made the 264-mile journey, 5-hour to Newcastle to finish a rehoming.
To discover out extra, or to contact Karen or Lauren, go to Karen’s Cat Community – Animal Rescue and Sanctuary on Facebook. Alternatively, go to the web site at linktr.ee/KarensCatCommunity.
You can try their TikTookay web page and meet the cats at https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFVCbMry/.
You also can discover out extra about Jess’ story at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/KKC-funds-for-jess.
