“It breaks my heart to think someone could dump a cat” – Salford woman shocked to find cat abandoned in backpack

A woman from Salford was horrified to discover a cat abandoned inside a backpack on Victoria Road in Pendlebury.

The woman, who did not want to be named, found the cat while litter picking for the group Salford Litter Heroes on her dinner hour on Friday December 2.

She said: “I was so shocked to have found her, you read about pets being abandoned but I never expected to find one myself.

“It breaks my heart to think someone could dump a cat without ensuring someone would take care of them.”

She felt obligated to help the feline as an owner of three cats, including one ex-stray.

“I appreciate times are difficult for people in the current cost-of-living crisis, but there are more responsible places to leave a cat if that is the only option you have available,” she added.

She contacted multiple charities and animal shelters but struggled to find anybody to take the cat in as most were at capacity.

She finally found a place at Independent Cat Rescue which collected the cat the same evening.

Ashlea Franks, 18, co-founder of the Independent Cat Rescue has since named the cat Peppermint.

Ashlea said: “Peppermint went in for her health check yesterday and she seems healthy, and we have now got rid of all the fleas which she was infested with.

“She is still nervous, but we have been slowly gaining her trust.”

The Independent Cat Rescue was set up by Ashlea and her mum in 2019. The charity has since helped to rehome over 200 cats after rescuing, rehabilitating and providing medical treatment to them.

Ashlea said: “We have been seeing a lot more abandonments and people surrendering their cats, it’s been quite bad over the last year.

“I think due to the cost-of-living crisis, people can’t afford to look after them anymore.”

Ashlea also said the charity is facing a decline in people willing to adopt and foster cats as they struggle to afford the vets bills and care which comes with owning an animal.

She said: “People find dumping them an easy alternative instead of obviously reaching out for help.”

Ashlea urged those who are struggling with pets to reach out to sanctuaries and rescues for help and support instead of abandonment.

She said: “It’s not a good thing to do and the cats are the ones who suffer in the long run, it’s not fair on them and domesticated cats can’t fend for themselves.

“It is upsetting, we have cats of our own and thinking about them in that situation is very unpleasant to think about.”