The association Djurskyddet in Karlshamn sees that the number of cats that are submitted is more than ever. There has been a drastic increase recently.

- We are up to 73 cats so far this year. Last year we had 50 for the whole year, says Elisabet Rosengren, emergency home manager.

- It's starting to be corona cats. Now it has been discovered that it was not so easy to have an animal when you are no longer working from home or when the holidays begin. For some reason, you abandon your cat and think that it has nine lives and manages itself, says Kerstin Linde, chairman of Djurskyddet Karlshamn.

Three new kittens

The association does not have its own cat home, but has various emergency homes that take care of the animals. Elisabet Rosengren is responsible for the emergency homes and currently has ten cats at home. The last three are completely new when SVT Nyheter Blekinge is visiting.

- I found them on the stairs this morning. I did not even know that the cat that got them was pregnant.

Economic problems

And there are double problems this year. Not only are there more homeless cats than ever before - the association also has financial problems.

The largest part of the Animal Welfare's income comes from various summer events, which can now not be carried out due to the current pandemic.

- We expected to receive approximately SEK 40,000-50,000 at these events this year, says Elisabet Rosengren.

The costs the associations have include care for the cats, as all animals must be vaccinated and neutered.

- It's awful to have to say no when people hear about abandoned cats. But what should we do? It's not fun at all to say no and you think about the cats all the time, says Kerstin Linde.