A CAT lover who set up a refuge at her own home is appealing for help as the centre faces a financial crisis.

Jackie Bower, who will have run the Black Cat Rescue Centre at North Duffield for ten years in May next year, said she was about to be made redundant and that, without help from the public, the centre was at risk of closure.

Jackie, 57, has a full house of cats, which consume 5,110 tins of food, 4,380 sachets of food and 416 sacks of cat litter per year.

The total annual cost is more than £7,000.

With vets bills of about £5,000 per year and rising electricity bills, Jackie said her Christmas food appeal was more important than ever.

“Black Cat relies heavily on the generosity of local cat lovers for food and help towards cat litter costs, veterinary bills and electricity costs,” Jackie said.

“I am more than happy to put the hours and heart into caring for the unfortunate cats that find themselves in care, and I accept that with that comes heartbreak at times, but I am unable to fund this entirely – even when I have a job.

“There can never be too much food as the cats have to eat 365 days a year.”

The centre relies on donations, but when it doesn’t get enough, it has to be funded by Jackie.

She works for Business Link Yorkshire, but will be made redundant in the new year.

Her husband suffers from a degenerative disease, which means he is unable to work.

Jackie said: “The cats look forward to their visit from Santa Paws each year and so if anyone would like to donate food, toys or scratching posts to keep the cats in care in the manner to which they would love to be accustomed, I and they would be very grateful.”

Anyone who can help should phone Jackie on 01757 289435.