Sutton animal charity inundated with unwanted pets

1:20pm Monday 25th June 2012 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

Kittens left with Sutton animal charity Kittens left with Sutton animal charity

An animal charity has been inundated with kittens and is urgently appealing to kind-hearted people to adopt them.

Animal Lifeline in Sutton has seen a huge influx of unwanted animals in the last six to eight weeks.

Christine Redwood, 55, has run the centre for 25 years and said: "We are inundated with cats and kittens. I’ve never known it so bad.

“I have two to three phonecalls a day.

“This year we’ve had so many kittens you can’t even give them away.

“I’ve got a waiting list as long as my arm.”

The charity currently houses 15 cats and has also seen an increase in the amount of rabbits and guinea pigs coming in.

Ms Redwood said people ring in saying they are allergic to their pets or are moving house however she thinks it might be due to people “tightening up their purses.”

Ms Redwood runs the charity out of her home and is desperate to find good homes for the boroughs furry residents.

She warned that a cat is for life and advised people who get a cat to get it neutered.

Home checks are carried out on each person who wants to adopt a cat, they cannot live in a flat and must have a garden.

To adopt an animal for a small donation call 0208 274 0034, email info@animal-lifeline.co.uk or visit animal-lifeline.co.uk.

Comments(8)

Krissi says...
5:12pm Mon 25 Jun 12

I had two cats when I lived in a flat- and they were happy flea and worm free kitties, and here I've had a houserabbit- mainly because we have foxes at the back of our garden- as long as they are loved and treated well surely it doesn't matter I wouldn't want any cat of mine to go out- we live near a main road and we also have a lot of traffic most mornings and evenings actually through this road as well so I would be afraid of them getting hurt

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Crease2000 says...
5:48pm Mon 25 Jun 12

I agree, Krissi. My cat died a couple of summers back at the grand age of 22. I adopted her from a rescue home when she was 5 years old and was told that she should never be let outdoors. I live in a flat as well and my cat was quite happy to sit at the wondow in the sunshine. This charity is shooting itself in the foot by not taking certain cats needs into consideration. My plan is to take a look at the rescue centre in Beddington with a view to offering a home to a mature cat whose elderly owner may have passed away, for example.

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missfeline says...
6:18pm Mon 25 Jun 12

Crease2000, Definitely go to Riverside to adopt a cat.They always have indoor cats and a number of older bereaved ones. I have 2 indoor cats as I live on a very busy road, my flat is huge and they have plenty of space to run and play and are very content. But I had to get pedigree cats (before I knew about Riverside in Beddington) because other charities did not like the fact that I worked and that I didn't have a garden. I would much rather have offered a loving home to a pair of older cats. Check out their website, they have photos and little storys about the cats up for adoption. Good luck !

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Michael Pantlin says...
7:32pm Mon 25 Jun 12

I attended Riverside Open Day recently. Beautiful cats and dogs waiting patiently for good homes. Lovely staff there I chatted with and good conditions and care for the animals very apparent. They deserve support. For keepers who find it safe for their cats to pop into the garden I'd suggest a cat flap is a wonderful piece of kit. Kitty doesn't have to wait for someone to open the door and your rest is not interrupted by a miaow for you to be doorperson.
As for other cats using it, often your cat will defend their entrance as they can be territorial.

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Michael Pantlin says...
7:33pm Mon 25 Jun 12

Show me someone who likes cats and has a well cared for pet and I'll show you a kind and pleasant person.

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Crease2000 says...
9:24pm Mon 25 Jun 12

Thanks missfeline. I follow them on facebook and see their posts. I'm also very interested to take a look because in some specific cases they state that certain cats need to be kept indoors. The problem with me is that I'd want to take ALL of them home. lol. Plus I haven't got a car to collect one, but I've got an old school friend that lives closeby to the Riverside who might help me out there :o) I wouldn't get a kitten because they're new to life and should explore outside. A more mature cat might be used to being indoors and we'd be perfect for each other.

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emelem says...
11:43am Tue 26 Jun 12

i ran into an old co-worker yesterday who bragged about his cat "couple" having 7 kittens. when i worked with him i begged him to get the cats neutered/ spayed but he wouldn't listen. now what will happen to those 7 kittens he sold and supposedly used the profits from to NOW spay and neuter his own cats. yeah, right. it was his own male ego that he imposed on the male cat that kept him from neutering. will the kittens be neutered and spayed? probably not. selfish & idiotic git! and to think the world is full of these morons. we're all doomed....

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Michael Pantlin says...
11:33am Thu 28 Jun 12

emelem wrote:
i ran into an old co-worker yesterday who bragged about his cat "couple" having 7 kittens. when i worked with him i begged him to get the cats neutered/ spayed but he wouldn't listen. now what will happen to those 7 kittens he sold and supposedly used the profits from to NOW spay and neuter his own cats. yeah, right. it was his own male ego that he imposed on the male cat that kept him from neutering. will the kittens be neutered and spayed? probably not. selfish & idiotic git! and to think the world is full of these morons. we're all doomed....
I agree emelem. Politicians could do much more for animal welfare eg legislation to ban breeding while cats await homes in shelters. Compulsory animal keeper licensing system, the responsible keeper (you can't "own" a cat) could be microchipped with matching code the same time as their pet for example.

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