Hunt for cat homes as rescue centre loses premises

A cat rescue centre is calling on people to help it rehome 25 cats and kittens before Christmas after it was told its lease would not be renewed.

Precious Paws Cat Rescue has not yet managed to find a suitable site to move to after it was told by landlord Affinity Water it needed to relocate.

Owner Jacqui Schafer told BBC London she and her team wanted to find every rescue cat a new family by the end of November and she was hoping for a "miracle".

Landlord Affinity Water said the lease had been taken "with no right to renewal" and expired on 22 December, but added that "given the timing around Christmas" it had given the rescue centre an extra month before it had to vacate the premises.

Ms Schafer says she has rescued about 450 cats in the five years since the centre was set up in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

She said: "I'm completely devastated - all of us and the volunteers.

"We were hoping we would be able to stay for longer."

Ms Schafer added when she had asked Affinity if the centre could remain on a smaller portion of the land she rents from them, she was told it was not possible so they were left with no choice but to leave.

She told BBC London many of the cats they have helped have been "abandoned" because their owners "can't afford to keep them, they can't afford vet bills, they can't afford food".

The centre has even found cats left on its doorstep or abandoned behind a fence at the site in the past, including two sets of cats left just before Christmas last year, she explained.

"Four of them [kittens], they were just left in a cardboard box and it was a rainy morning... so it was lucky that one of the staff was going out and found them," Ms Schafer said.

"The others, we've managed to pull through with lots of medication and they found their home only just recently, so that's nearly a year with us again."

Ms Schafer said anyone who was willing to "either foster or to adopt to give these cats who have had such a bad start in life their forever home" should visit the centre's website.

She also asked anyone who has information about potential new locations to contact them.

"Cats give you so much joy... they're companions for anybody who is on their own.

"It's all worth it. So much love, so much joy back - what more could you ask for?"

Affinity Water said in a statement: "Prior to the start of the lease in December 2019, it was clearly outlined that the agreement was contracted out, with a fixed term of five years ending on 22 December 2024, with no right to renewal.

"The tenant has enjoyed peaceful use of the premises throughout the lease period. However, we now require the premises for operational purposes in the wider public interest.

"To support the tenant during this transition, especially given the timing around Christmas, we have offered a tenancy at will extending until 22 January 2025, allowing additional time to find alternative premises and vacate."

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