Can you help a homeless man feed 13 cats?
A homeless man said he is spending his meagre income to feed 13 feral cats.
Werner van Eeden lives in the veld near the Kleinfontein Lake, where he feels obliged to provide for 13 cats.
“I am a very big animal lover,” he said.
“… I am more of a dog person, but this is just an urgent thing right in my face every single day.
“To see them trying to catch pigeons and realising that they have to forage for themselves broke my heart; it just moved me to such an extent.”
Van Eeden first noticed the felines about a year ago.
The animal lover said he earns a small income as a car guard at a local church when there are funerals.
Although he is also in need of supplies, he said he feels a “heavy burden” to feed the animals.
“They simply cannot help themselves, what would that money bring me?” he asked.
Van Eeden approached local businesses in the area in which he lives to assist in his attempts to feed the cats, but was unsuccessful.
He said a local animal shelter did donate dry food to him, but he has not again received such a donation.
The homeless man is now appealing for milk once a week and for wet cat food.
“It breaks my heart that they have to feed on dry pellets on a non-stop basis,” he said.
“It’s not the way it should be.”
Van Eeden said the cats have given him solace and he hopes he will receive assistance to continue caring for them.
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