10 years ago I was a single mum with two autistic sons, very passionate about animals and their welfare. I started helping a small cat rescue on Facebook and after a year I was asked if I would take over running the rescue. It was hard work and heartbreaking at times but I loved it. I live in a very small flat but sometimes would have 20 kittens running around, with pregnant cats and cats rescued from cardboard boxes in fields left to die my boys and I didn’t care because we were helping save little lives. We had a few volunteers who did fostering and we did home checks for rehoming, all done like the rspca. The RSPCA came to my home and checked we were aboveboard and we were given a thumbs up. After a while around the time money was getting tight for people we stopped getting as much support and volunteers got fewer and fewer. It ended up me just doing what I could with what I had in my home, which as a single mum with children that had special needs was not much, so the rescue went on pause. I had gone from my 3 cats to 9 cats as some were not rehomed or had disabilities or were returned. I have had to sacrifice a lot to care for these extra cats as you can imagine an extra 6 cats is extremely expensive and it’s all out of my own money and home. Now as times get harder money wise, cats get older and are having health issues I’m really really struggling. One cat is diabetic, one has digestive issues, one has sadly died at only 9 years old and two are sick right now and need to have more tests done which I can’t afford. Some have pet insurance but the amount it costs is ridiculous. The diabetic cats insurance is now £102 a month, I can’t afford that. All rescues are always full and The financial burden of an already sick cat is too much for most people to take on, so therefore these Cats will be my responsibility for the rest of their lives. Which don't get me wrong I took on the responsibility of the rescue and as a massive supporter of animal rights I will continue to love and care for these cats to the absolute best of my ability. They are our part of our family and I will always do right by them. They have a great life and want for nothing. I just have the guilt of not having enough money to afford massive vet bills and so I feel I've got to the point where I once again need to ask for help I've tried my absolute best. I've got into debt on credit cards to pay for food some expensive food for specialist diets for vet bills for insulin for needles for medication for stomach issues. I'm struggling really struggling any help would be amazing thank you.
If you would like to see the rescue, it is still on Facebook. It is kitty cats rescue Southport kitty cats both with a K.