A prominent Keighley shop will be transformed by a charity dedicated to dealing with the growing number of abandoned cats in the area.

Haworth Cat Rescue hopes the money it raises with its charity shop on Cavendish Street, just a whisker away from the Airedale shopping centre, will help expand their cat sanctuary, currently struggling to cope with the growing numbers of abandoned animals.

The charity has been looking at the empty unit for several months, but only signed on the dotted line last week, renting it thanks to a legacy donated by an anonymous benefactor in their will.

The location of the unit, the former Fletcher’s stationery shop, was described as being ‘purrfect’ to attract attention to the charity.

Founder Sara Atkinson said the shop will open in early December, and now the group are looking for stock and volunteers.

The charity shop is opening shortly before the sanctuary re-brands early next year. They plan to change their name to better reflect the area they cover. Although named after the small village of Haworth, the charity covers a 500 square mile area.

On the new shop, currently being fitted out, Mrs Atkinson said: “It’s a cracking location. I’d say it’s one of the best shops we could get. We are a small charity and we don’t have the resources of some of the bigger charities, so we had to get a good location. People can see the shop as they are going into the town. We just can’t believe our luck, we’re absolutely thrilled.”

It couldn’t come at a better time for the charity, as the ongoing recession means the number of abandoned cats continues to rise as owners find their budgets stretched to breaking point. There seems to be no sign of this trend slowing – with two months to go of 2012 the charity has already dealt with the same number of cats it looked after in 2011, 540. It is looking to buy a site where it can build a larger sanctuary.

Mrs Atkinson also hopes the shop will increase the charity’s profile, adding: “The more people who know about us the more we will be able to help people.”

The group will hold an open day for the store on Saturday, November 17, when the charity looks to recruit volunteers, and the shop opens for business on 1st December.

To volunteer contact 01535 647184 or email mail@haworthcatrescue.org.uk.