Cat charity 'shocked' as cats let out in break-in

Judy Knowles said volunteers had arrived to help her search for the missing cats

Animal rescue staff have been left shocked by the “mindless action” of burglars who broke in and let out rescued cats, the charity’s owner says.

Judy Knowles, 71, runs Compassion for Cats in Oakhill, near Shepton Mallet in Somerset, which has been rehoming cats for three years.

She discovered on Monday the site had been broken into and doors were left open for rescued cats to escape, with eight still missing.

Ms Knowles said: "We are just all in total shock that someone could even do this."

This cats is one of the ones still missing after the charity was broken into

Ms Knowles said she had reported the break-in to Avon and Somerset Police, with officers encouraging anyone who knew anything to get in touch.

She described realising the site had been broken into at 05:45 BST when she arrived to feed the roughly 100 cats there.

She said: "I was just getting some food ready when one of the cats who is locked away safely in a pen walked into the room.

"My eyes could hardly believe it."

She then discovered that locks to several cat pens had been broken, with doors left open for cats to escape.

"All the doors were open and there were cats everywhere with the locks destroyed.

"It looks like some of the elderly cats had been disturbed, possibly chased around.

"A few of them are very distressed and eight cats are still missing. I really hope they come back.

"I really don't know why someone would do this as nothing was stolen."

Avon and Somerset Police said: "We have received a report of a non-dwelling burglary at a cat rescue centre in Oakhill.

"The incident was reported to police at approximately 6.30am today and is believed to have happened overnight.

"We understand entry was forced to the premises and a number of cats were reported this morning to be missing."

Ms Knowles said staff were now to install CCTV cameras at the site.