Happy Cats is desperate for funding to help poorly felines

Happy Cats, in Accrington, is run by Andy Richards, and rehabilitates and rehomes stray and injured cats all year round.

Mr Richards said that the rescue centre, which is only small, is finding that more cats are being abandoned, which presents increasing challenges for local cat rescues in a financial climate where fundraising is difficult.

He said: “We currently have two cats in emergency, life-saving care, which is costing thousands of pounds that we don't have and are desperately fundraising for.

“The first is Sprouts, a grey tabby who was hit by a van in Spring Gardens, Accrington.

“Unbelievably, the driver stopped, half got out, looked at Sprouts lying injured in the road, and then callously drove off. 

“Sprouts was taken in by Happy Cats and was found to have a badly broken pelvis and head injuries. “He's had a major operation to pin his pelvis and leg but is suffering from bladder paralysis and won't eat.

“He's got a catheter inserted to aid his urination and has had a feeding tube fitted. He remains very poorly in the care of Animal Trust in Bolton.”

Mr Richards said the estimate for Sprouts' surgery was £2,500, but the bill will now be much bigger as he's had to stay in longer than initially thought due to complications.

Happy Cats is also struggling to pay for surgery for Honey, a four-month-old kitten who was rescued with his two siblings from a food processing plant in Blackburn, where they'd been born stray.

Mr Richards added: “Honey fell ill on Sunday and is in intensive care at the Vets Now Manchester 24 hour Emergency Pet Hospital with pneumonia, low temperature, low heart rate and liver and kidney issues.

“We've been given an estimate of £4,000 for Honey's care.”

Sprouts (Image: Public)

Other cats taken in by the rescue include Tinsel, a black cat whose owner died, and no-one found the body for a week.

Mr Richards said: “Tinsel was in the flat with the body all that time. She's very nervous and traumatised by the terrible experience and will need a lot of rehabilitation.”

Another sad story is Midnight's – the 20-year-old cat had the terrible misfortune of his owner dying three years ago, and then being abandoned by the lodger.

“The lodger took over the tenancy but didn't want Midnight, so put him out and he's been living in the garden for three long years before Happy Cats discovered his plight and took him in,” Mr Richards said. “Midnight's fur was in terrible condition and had to be sedated to have all the knots and mats groomed out.”

Honey (Image: Public)

There was also some high drama surrounding a cat that has been named Diego, who was found trapped in a derelict building last weekend.

Mr Richards said they had to break a hole in the boarding to get Diego to safety.

He added: “We don't know how long he was trapped in the cold, dark building for but he's very thin and malnourished. 

“These are the kind of cats that Happy Cats take in, rehabilitate and rehome all year round and we're finding more and more cats being abandoned these days, presenting increasing challenges for local cat rescues in a financial climate where fundraising is ever-more difficult.

“We want to appeal for funding to help us to help these cats in their time of dire need.”

Anyone wishing to donate to Happy Cats can do so via PayPal using the address happycatshyndburn@aol.com

Bank details are: sort code 090129, account number 37500328 Santander, with the account in the name of Mr A. Richards.

Donations can also be dropped off at the fundraising shop at 8 Blackburn Road, Accrington.

Mr Richards added: “No amount is too small and we're extremely grateful for any help in funding the care for these unfortunate cats.

“We currently have 29 cats in our care who all need to be neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, flead and wormed before they can be homed.”