THE current heatwave is killing cats at a Newent cat rescue centre, with nine dropping dead this week.

Eight kittens and an adult cat have died at the New Start Cat Rescue Centre in Malswick.

Susan Cowlishaw, who works at the centre, said: "We've just had the worst day ever – the first kitten was put to sleep by our vet. Two more were put on drips and did not make it. Four more babies survived but we found one this morning still, with its mum, who did not last the night. The heat is killing them."

Ninety per cent of the kittens at the home are born to stray undernourished cats, meaning they are weak and often born with parasites.

Autopsies are being carried out on the dead cats.

Another centre worker, Wendy Grinnel, said: "It's very chaotic at the moment, we've been in shutdown since the first kitten became ill on Tuesday evening."

For more on this story, read The Forester.