Musquodoboit Valley cat rescue full, turning animals away

A cat rescue organization in the MusquodoboitValleysays it's at full capacity and struggling to deal with a "monumental" number of animals who need care.

Sympathetic Ear founder ErinLynch says the group's network of foster homes has taken in 486 cats this year a sharp increase from the 86 animals it took in during2014.

"This has been a monumental year.We've seen a lot of sickness, abandonment," saidLynch.

Lynch says she has personally taken on 27 cats who requiremedical care before they can be moved out for adoption.

Sympathetic Eartakes in feral cats, unlike larger shelters. It isthose animals, Lynch says, that are taking up the most space in her home.

Veterinary budget

Earlier this year, Lynch's group rescued 76 cats from a single home in Truro and many of those animals have needed extensive medical care to deal with dental issues or feline panleukopenia,which can be fatal.

The rescue has had to euthanize 50 of their sickest cats this year.

"We've seen a lot of sickness withthis.I worry with the winter comingwhat'sgoing to happen with those cats, but at the same time, where am I going to put them?" said Lynch.

Two of the newest additions to Lynch's flock, black kittens named Tom and Jerry, have upper respiratory diseases.

All this adds up to a $16,000vet bill, which is three times what the group is used to seeing.The group has several fundraisersplanned to help shoulder the cost.Lynch estimates she's already raised and spent $60,000 this year alone on treating sick cats.

Cats keep coming

Sympathetic Ear partners with pet stores in the area to help cats get adopted once they are healthy, but they aren't being adopted fast enough to free up the space required to take on new cats.

Lynch says there are 50 people on a wait list who want to surrender cats. One of those people is Katie Lusk, who keeps a watchful eye on a feral cat in her Enfield, N.S.,neighbourhood.

Lusk does her best to look after the cat, who is about to have another litter of kittens. Luskhas nicknamed the cat "Ferry."

She leaves a crate under her deck and keeps an eye on whether the cat eats the food left out forher.

Spay and neuter

Lusk and Lynch have managed to secure a space for the cat to give birth, but they're worried they won't have the space to house her kittens.

"I just don't want her to have kittens around the park, I know winter is coming and we just need to help her out," Lusk said.

• Animal shelters struggle to keep up with huge number of unwanted cats

Catching Ferry would be a good get for the rescue asshe's delivered several litters that needed adopting and catching her would allow the group to get her fixed.

Sympathetic Ear is urging people to spay and neuter their cats and to keepfemale cats inside when they go into heat.