Desperate woman with just 20p on meter goes without food so her cat doesn't starve

A desperate woman who was left with just 20p on her electric meter and no gas said she has been forced to go without eating so that her cat wouldn't starve.

Katy, 41, has been using the food bank at St Peter's Church in Bramley, Leeds, as she said she is facing a "difficult situation" amid the cost of living crisis. She says she would never allow her 11-year-old tabby cat to go without food, even if it means she doesn't have anything to eat.

The cat owner decided to share her story to urge others to reach out for help if they find themselves in a desperate situation. The Trussell Trust, which provides food banks across the country, has said 36,000 emergency food parcels were distributed in Leeds last year alone, with more than a third of these for children.

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Katy told Leeds Live: "Things have started to take a toll, shall we say. The rising costs of everything is dreadful. The food bank is a godsend, a blessing. I've got about 20p on my electric and I've got no gas. So, I've managed to get a fuel voucher.

"I've made sure my cat's alright. Every time I get paid, I always get her enough food and cat litter but it means sometimes I'm going without. So, without the food bank, I wouldn't have any food. My cat is going to be loving it when I go home. They've given me a couple sachets of cat food."

Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by seven per cent in the year to January 2024, according to the Consumer Prices Index. This is lower than peak prices in March last year, which saw the inflation rise to 19.2 per cent – the highest annual rate seen for 45 years. Currently, four in ten energy bill payers are struggling to afford payments, according to the Office for National Statistics. Its survey also revealed that 44 per cent of adults are cutting back on energy consumption because of the rising cost of living.

Katy desperately wants to work in the field she is passionate about, which is animal care, but says there are obstacles in her path. She has a diploma in animal care but she is missing GCSEs at grades A to C, so she can't apply for the most basic of animal-related jobs, even manual jobs such as cleaning litter, she said.

The woman, who also has experience working as a stable hand, always struggled with education to due to her dyslexia. Katy added that a lot of her neighbours in her estate also struggle with animals. She said: "It's a very difficult situation to be in as you're choosing between yourself or your animal."

In addition to the pet food and fuel voucher, Katy was startled to realise the food bank also offered feminine and masculine hygiene products. In heartfelt message to others struggling, Katy said: "If you need to. Do it. Don't let pride stand in your way. If you have to, you have to. At the end of the day, these places are here to help us. You need to get that message out there to help people. It's not about me, it's about helping everybody."

Between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network distributed more than 3.1 million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship. This is an increase of 94 per cent over the past five years. More than 1.1 million of these parcels were distributed for children.

Laura Chalmers, Area Manager for the Trussell Trust in Yorkshire, said: "Last year, Trussell Trust food banks in Leeds distributed close to 36,000 emergency food parcels, more than a third of these were for children. Food banks and their staff and volunteers across Leeds and Yorkshire work tirelessly to ensure that anyone who is referred to a food bank receives emergency food, support and advice.

"Our community of food banks are here to help anyone who is struggling to afford the essentials. If someone is in a position where they feel they need the support of a food bank, they should visit our website, get the details of their local food bank, and call them to discuss how they can help. No one should be afraid to seek support and everyone will be warmly welcomed."