THE OWNER of a rescue centre in Darwen is considering closing it down after 13 of her cats were stolen.

Maureen Savage, who runs Moggies Cat Rescue, Stansfield Street, said she was devastated when she discovered the animals had been taken by thieves.

The 62-year-old returned home on Sunday at 1.30am after babysitting to find the back gate had been broken and the cats removed from a run at the back of her house.

Ms Savage, who has been rescuing cats and looking after them for 18 years, said the incident had left her so upset she is considering whether to carry on res-cuing the animals.

And she is urging other pet owners to be vigilant if offered the pets which are distinctive pure bred Norwegian Forests or crossed bred, long-haired cats.

She said: “It’s the not knowing that’s troubling me the most.

“I don’t know how they are being treated, they are completely mollycoddled by me and it’s devastating me to think what’s happened to them.

“I haven’t been able to stop crying. It’s upset me so much that I don’t even know if I can carry on doing this any more but if I stop, there will be nobody to take in these cats. I re-homed more than 400 cats last year.”

She described the stolen cats as having a lion-style mane around their neck and fluffy tails.

They vary in colour from grey and white to ginger and tortoise shell.

Ms Savage added: “They are not all pedigree cats and they have not got the papers for the pedigrees so would be worthless in respect of a monetary value to whoever has taken them.

"I would ask the people who took them if they are going to set them free to let them go near to my house so they can find their way home.”

A police spokesperson said: “We have spoken to neighbours and are carrying out house to house inquiries in the area.

"The lady believes she has been targeted because some of the cats are pedigree.”

Police are carrying out house to house inquiries and are appealing for witnesses.

Anybody with information, call them on 01254 51212.