Latest news with #kittens
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Authorities search for person who abandoned newborn kittens outside Eastpointe motel
Authorities say an individual abandoned five newborn kittens outside a motel on Wednesday in Eastpointe, Michigan. Eastpointe police's animal control division shared a surveillance video on social media showing a woman walking to a room on the second floor at the Eastland Motel on Gratiot Avenue. The video showed the woman putting down a blue box in front of the room door before walking away. In an update on Thursday, police said a rescue partner took in the kittens, but they are now searching for their mother and the individual who abandoned them. "If you have any information about the person responsible, please reach out. It's crucial to hold accountable those who neglect their responsibilities for these innocent lives," police said. "Let's come together as a community to spread the word and help find the person responsible to teach them this is not how animals are to be treated."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Pandemic boom in demand for puppies and kittens 'is over', says Pets at Home boss
The boss of Pets At Home has said that a pandemic boom in demand for puppies and kittens is over as the company warned weak demand is not expected to recover soon. Chief executive Lyssa McGowan pointed to 'normalising levels of new pet ownership' after a 'massive' Covid-driven increase faded. This 'feels like a real headwind' for the FTSE 250 business as puppy and kitten owners tend to 'spend a lot of money in retail in the first year,' McGowan added. The number of new cat and dog owners is not growing at such a rapid rate. 'We are lapping years of boom with – not quite bust – but much lower growth and stabilisation,' she said. Pets At Home reported revenues little changed at £1.48billion while profits rose 14 per cent to £121million, as it warned consumer confidence would continue to be 'subdued' this year. But McGowan said she was hopeful the group would be able to boost sales of products for ageing pets, such as salmon oil or supplements which help with aching joints. And a record number of owners signed up to its loyalty scheme, with members rising 5 per cent to 8.2million. Labour's Budget has also piled £18million in annual costs onto the business, contributing to an 11 per cent decline in its share price since the October statement. Higher costs include National Insurance Contributions and minimum wage increases, which McGowan described as 'significant and unexpected'. In response, the business is increasing its use of automation and artificial intelligence across its 450 stores and distribution hubs. McGowan would not be drawn on whether this would mean fewer jobs. And the chief executive warned that the looming threat of a cyber attack was now 'the new normal' after high-profile episodes involving retailers such as Marks and Spencer. 'Of course it concerns me, it would concern every retail chief executive in the UK and world right now,' she said. 'Clearly there has been a focus on this industry and we are extremely vigilant. I don't think it is going away.' Retail sales slumped 1.8 per cent to £1.3billion for the year to March 27. In contrast, its veterinary services division saw sales improve by 16.8 per cent to £175million. McGowan also admitted that the group faced 'ongoing uncertainty' from an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the veterinary sector.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Orphaned kittens saved by Royal Navy sailors
Five kittens heard crying for help under a shipping container in Bahrain have been saved by Royal Navy serving at the UK Naval Support Facility, which supports the Portsmouth-based HMS Lancaster, found the three-week-old kittens, which had not been weaned, after their mother shifts the sailors took turns to foster, hand-feed, and rear the little cats while searching for a new permanent home for Nathan Boal said: "It was impossible to ignore the desperate cries of five tiny kittens knowing they wouldn't survive one day on their own in the punishing heat." Temperatures in the Gulf kingdom have approached 40C (104F) in recent Boal said: "They were too young even to eat or drink by themselves."I witnessed the caring side of our sailors as well as incredible teamwork to save these helpless animals and I'm relieved that our efforts saved them." Petty Officer Kirsty Scott, who was one of the sailors who became a kitten carer, said: "We knew the mother, whom we fondly named Michelle."When we discovered her kittens, we were upset to find she had passed away and they were left to fend for themselves. "They would come running out crying from the shipping containers at the sight of personnel looking for food. There was no way we could leave them suffering."The Royal Navy said despite the team's best efforts, one of the litter died, though the rest "came through some difficult hours to thrive – receiving a clean bill of health from a local vet". A home has since been found for the survivors, though saying goodbye was "emotional – but sweetened by the satisfaction of knowing the litter would have a bright future". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Owners urged to neuter pets amid influx of abandoned kittens
An animal rescue centre is warning cat owners not to "get caught out this summer", as unneutered strays have caused an influx of kittens. Bosses at Bath Cats and Dogs Home say they are currently caring for almost 30 kittens and their mums, many of which are believed to be abandoned. The high cost of living has left many pet owners struggling to care for an unplanned litter of kittens, and a decline in adoption leaves them without a permanent home. As the weather warms up, cats are more likely to roam, interact, and find food – prompting the shelter to urge owners to neuter their pets to prevent unwanted litters. Cats can become pregnant as early as four months old and, if not neutered, may produce up to three litters a year – potentially resulting in hundreds of kittens over their lifetime. This contributes to the overpopulation of surrendered or abandoned cats in shelters and rescue organisations, which are already struggling to stay afloat. Bosses at the animal shelter said it costed about £1,700 to house a mum and a litter of kittens for a three-month stay. On one day in May, a total of 15 cats arrived at the rescue shelter. Chrissie Anderton rescued an abandoned cat and her six two-day-old kittens from a field in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, and cared for them for two weeks. "Having four pets already, sadly, the high cost of keeping seven more cats just wasn't possible in the long term," she said. "It was hard to say goodbye when I took them to the brilliant Bath Cats and Dogs Home, but I know they are in the safest place and will have a happy future." In 2024, the rescue centre performed 185 cat neutering operations in their vet suite, which potentially prevented 1,700 unwanted kittens out in the community. "It is really tough when abandoned pregnant cats or mums and their kittens are left to fend for themselves in the wild, with no food and at risk from predators," a spokesperson said. "Luckily, some of our current rescue cats were rescued by RSPCA inspectors or members of the public who brought them to us or via a local vet." The charity expects to see a record number of kittens being born on its site over the next few months and has launched an appeal, called Feline Summer, calling for donations to help care for them. The 2024 RSPCA Kindness Report revealed that 78% of pet owners say the cost of caring for their pets has increased over the past year. "Don't get caught out this summer," a rescue centre spokesperson warned. "Please ask your vet about getting your cat neutered as early as possible to avoid unwanted kittens. "If you do have a pregnant cat and can't cope with kittens please reach out to your local vet or animal rescue centres for help." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Sealed cardboard box of cats found dumped Charity faces huge rise in people giving up pets Alarming rise in abandoned pets sparks 'crisis point' Charity pairs homeless cats with elderly people Bath Cats And Dogs Home
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Urgent warning to cat owners amid influx of abandoned kittens
An animal rescue centre is warning cat owners not to "get caught out this summer", as unneutered strays have caused an influx of kittens. Bosses at Bath Cats and Dogs Home say they are currently caring for almost 30 kittens and their mums, many of which are believed to be high cost of living has left many pet owners struggling to care for an unplanned litter of kittens, and a decline in adoption leaves them without a permanent home. As the weather warms up, cats are more likely to roam, interact, and find food - prompting the shelter to urge owners to neuter their pets to prevent unwanted litters. Cats can become pregnant as early as four months old and, if not neutered, may produce up to three litters a year - potentially resulting in hundreds of kittens over their contributes to the overpopulation of surrendered or abandoned cats in shelters and rescue organisations, which are already struggling to stay afloat. Bosses at the animal shelter said it costed about £1,700 to house a mum and a litter of kittens for a three-month stay. On one day in May, a total of 15 cats arrived at the rescue shelter. In 2024, the rescue centre performed 185 cat neutering operations in their vet suite, which potentially prevented 1,700 unwanted kittens out in the community."It is really tough when abandoned pregnant cats or mums and their kittens are left to fend for themselves in the wild, with no food and at risk from predators," a spokesperson said."Luckily, some of our current rescue cats were rescued by RSPCA inspectors or members of the public who brought them to us or via a local vet." 'Please reach out' The 2024 RSPCA Kindness Report revealed that 78% of pet owners say the cost of caring for their pets has increased over the past year."Don't get caught out this summer," a rescue centre spokesperson warned. "Please ask your vet about getting your cat neutered as early as possible to avoid unwanted kittens. "If you do have a pregnant cat and can't cope with kittens please reach out to your local vet or animal rescue centres for help."
