‘I can only afford one meal a week on benefits – I spend all my money feeding my six cats’

'I just have mint tea or liquids throughout the week'

Yasemn Kaptan has been skipping meals for a year to be able to keep her felines fed.

The stay-at-home carer receives a £69 allowance a week - £60 of which she spends on her pets.

Yasemn also receives a £400 monthly disability benefit due to her osteoporosis, which goes on rent and bills.

The 46-year-old says she drinks mint tea to stave off hunger and has lost five stone since cutting down her food intake.

Yasemn got her cats when she worked as a personal shopper and could comfortably look after herself, the cats, and pay her bills.

But she had to leave her job after being diagnosed with osteoporosis - leaving her with less money.

Yasemn, from Tottenham, north London, said: "I don't have any money to spare - but I can't let [the cats] go.

"They have grown up with us. I have had them since they were little babies.

"I paid a lot of money to have them, they are at the end of their life. it really isn't fair to let them go."

Yasemn also doesn't know how her partner, Erdinc Hassain, 46, who is living with multiple sclerosis, would cope without them.

So she is living on just one meal a week - which has sent her weight drop from 14 stone to nine.

Yasemn's one meal usually consists of BBQ vegetables like peppers, onions and salad.

Otherwise, she drinks mint tea for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"When I get my carer's allowance it goes on cat litter, cat food, biscuits and special milk, it takes up all my money. I can only just about pay my phone bill.

"My partner is worried about me but I have got used to it by now. I will be okay, things will get better.

"There is nothing I can do, I will not get rid of my cats. I have had them for 17 years, they are my little babies they keep me going."

Yasemn added: "I eat once a week. I just have mint tea or liquids throughout the week.

"If I eat it has to be something soft like yoghurt or vegetables. I cry every other day, I am trying to be happy with myself but I am down and tired.

"Some weeks I am not eating properly at all and I just have fluids to keep me going."

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