Animal centre rescues wild cats from closed trust

Wildside Exotic Rescue has taken on eight mountain lions, two lynxes and a bobcat

An animal rescue centre has welcomed 11 wild cats whose previous owner was convicted of animal welfare charges.

Wildside Exotic Rescue has taken on eight mountain lions, two lynxes and a bobcat, following the closure of The Cat Survival Trust.

Lindsay McKenna, owner of the Herefordshire centre, said despite the animals settling in well she was concerned there were still animals at the trust without a home.

"I know I should be positive but I am spending a lot more time being sad and frustrated because we are having to rescue so many more animals," she said.

Terrence Moore, director of the trust in Codicote, Hertfordshire, was found guilty in May of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

He was court-ordered to rehome the animals ahead of a ban from keeping them.

Ms McKenna originally planned to take in four cats but rescued 11 - including an elderly lion called KitKat.

However, she said the cost of building their enclosures and the daily meat bill was "very, very expensive".

She also warned there will still cats that needed a home.

"It's just sad, they are going to be put to sleep if they're not rehomed."

Ms McKenna's centre is home to 189 wild animals which had mostly been kept as domestic pets prior to their rescue.

"We should be rescuing cats, dogs and rabbits, not monkeys and lions," she said. "[People] should not have them in domestic settings where their needs cannot be met.

"It's not cool to have a wild animal as a pet, it's really cruel."

Ms McKenna's is already thinking about how she will continue her legacy of looking after exotic animals

Ms McKenna said she had started to make a plan for how she could look after animals for years to come.

"I am trying to think now about my legacy and who will take over the centre in the future. I am planting seeds so the animals can continue to live on after my death."