Celia charity plea to help feline friends

A leading animal welfare charity has issued an urgent call for help as record numbers of cats are being abandoned.

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The Celia Hammond Animal Trust says it is being pushed to the brink by unprecedented levels of demand, reporting daily requests from owners seeking to give up their pets.

The charity also deals with calls for help managing feral colonies in East and South East London, East Sussex and Kent.

The charity, which has a no-kill policy unless an animal is beyond veterinary help, says its three centres in London and East Sussex are now full, housing almost 1,000 cats and kittens - around 42% more than usual.

Caring for so many animals while they await rehoming is placing a financial strain on the organisation, and the Trust warns the cost of food, treatment and shelter is undermining its wider rescue work, threatening the future of its low-cost veterinary services for the public.