Hull Animal Welfare Trust (HAWT) is experiencing a significant increase in the number of cats and kittens in need of rehoming, with staff recently discovering 30 animals in a single home in Hull. Sue Sewell, a representative from HAWT, described the situation as unprecedented, stating it is the worst she has seen. She emphasized the importance of pet neutering in addressing this issue.
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To facilitate this, the charity has acquired a pet ambulance to reach areas with high concentrations of cats, offering neutering services at minimal cost. Currently, the shelter is caring for 24 kittens and 10 adult cats. Although HAWT managed to rehome several kittens last weekend, the overall problem continues to escalate.
Sewell noted that there are colonies of cats in various locations, and the organization frequently responds to homes housing multiple cats, often finding 15 to 30 animals at a single residence, which can lead to inbreeding issues. In the recent case with the 30 animals found, 15 were taken in by HAWT, with plans to accept the others as space allows.
Sewell acknowledged the generosity of the community but highlighted the pressing need for food due to the increasing number of animals in care. Research from Cats Protection indicates that the percentage of neutered cats decreased from 88% in 2020 to 82% last year, revealing that approximately 1.5 million cats in the UK remain unneutered, largely due to owners wanting them to breed or keeping them indoors.