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Cat crisis in Leeds as hundreds of pets abandoned
A cat looking for a new home after being found abandoned at a house in Yeadon, Leeds.
Cat rescue centres are being stretched to the limit after hundreds of felines are dumped on the streets of Leeds every month.
At least six cat charities in the city have closed their doors in the last two years - leaving the remaining shelters reeling under the strain.
One local centre had to turn away at least 270 cats and kittens last month because it was so full.
Graham Holt from Wharfe Valley Cats Protection told the YEP: “This has been by far the worst two years of welfare work we have seen over the last 15 years.
“We are just swamped with calls, it is as simple as that.
“We are suffering from rural and urban problems in Leeds because there are now more feral colonies in the city.
“There are thousands of cats on the streets and a substantial amount of them are breeding.”
Alexia Smethurst, 40, from Yeadon, was shocked to find 22 kittens and a pregnant adult cat dumped on her doorstep last month.
It is the third time in nine months that kittens have been dumped by their owners on her secluded street.
Three of the kittens have died and Alexia had to rely on Haworth Cat Rescue to rehome them because charities in Leeds couldn’t cope.
She claims she was even told by a national charity that the kittens would be put down if she brought them in.
She said: “There is no excuse for people to allow cats to breed like this.
“People need to take responsibility for their animals and they need to be inoculated or neutered.
“It is just not fair that people feel they can dump animals and expect others to pick up the pieces.”
Corinne Moore from Haworth Cat Rescue said the centre has a six month waiting list and added: “There is certainly a problem in Leeds.
“This year we have already taken in 365 cats, of which 207 of those were kittens. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
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