Shelter overwhelmed by influx of stray cats

LOOKING for homes: Babe (with Rod Smith) and Misty (with Tracy Thompson)

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ANIMAL Rescue Oldham is "feline" pretty overwhelmed following a sudden influx of unwanted cats and kittens.

The Yorkshire Street-based charity is making a desperate plea for new owners to come forward and for donations of cat food and cat litter to help them cope.

Animal Rescue Oldham founder and chairman Rod Smith says the cat population in Oldham is getting out of hand.

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Rod told the Evening Chronicle: "It's become a very big problem.

"Oldham has a very high stray cat population and that's down to owners just not getting their pets neutered. It hasn't helped that the RSPCA in Oldham has stopped taking in cats and other sanctuaries are full at the moment.

"Every time we take on a cat it costs us £150 to get them checked out at the vets, wormed, neutered and micro-chipped.

"We ask for a donation of £60 from anyone who takes a cat from us so we're losing around £90 a time which is why we're asking people to help us out with food and cat litter."

If you can help out with donations or you want to re-home a cat or kitten either call into the charity shop at 122 Yorkshire Street - which is open seven days a week ­- or call 626 2230.

All homes are vetted prior to re-homing.