A WHITCHURCH pet rescue organisation has been forced to close its doors temporarily due to rising costs.

Cat Assistant Team Whitchurch (CATW) has been dealing with more and more abandoned cats and felines which need treatment in recent months.

Some of the cats have owners who do not want them anymore or who cannot afford them.

But although the organisation is completely funded by donations, Jodie Meredith from CATW said funding is drying up.

"The cost-of-living crisis is having a knock-on effect on the rescue because our funding is so low," she explained.

"All of our funding is people donating, we do not get any other funding. Obviously, when people cannot afford to donate, our fundraising goes down.

"This week alone, we have spent £3,700 and we are now literally at zero."

Like many organisations, CATW has to deal with rising overheads.

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She said: "The biggest overhead is probably sick cats which are coming in sick and pregnant, that have been dumped out and about.

"They are coming in and they are either heavily pregnant and they are sick, or coming in with litters of kittens and they are sick."

The cost of energy is a major also concern and Jodie said energy prices will affect CATW.

She added: "And with the energy prices, they are going to hit us massively as well.

"We have to give heat to the pens, cat food prices have gone up. It is just crazy and we are really worried looking at the next sixth months ahead.

"We have foster carers and we provide the food, cat equipment and veterinary treatment. We have pens that are set up as well and they obviously need electricity to run them. So the heating, the lighting, their food, water, it all adds up."

Jodie paid tribute to supporters who have helped the group carry out its work.

She added: "They have been absolutely amazing and we could not have done what we have so far without them."

There are three drop off points in Whitchurch for people who want to donate cat food.

Jodie said: "If anyone is shopping and can put some cat food in for us, we have three drop off points in Whitchurch.

"They are Tesco, Colour Supplies and Gallery Flowers."

You can follow CATW via https://www.facebook.com/groups/313886236601408.