Owners of Aberdeen's only cat cafe say their business faces closure unless they can raise £9000 to cover increased business rate bills.

The Cat in the Window, which enables customers to spend time with their resident felines, have started a crowdfunding campaign to cover rates totalling £9087.

Employing five members of staff, the cafe on Netherkirkgate faces shutting down altogether if it cannot meet the city council's demands.

A post on the company's Facebook page hit out at the local authority, saying: "It's a scary time for our city, with independent businesses closing down at a startling rate meanwhile the streets make room for yet more chain companies and new developments snuffing us all out.

"As is the current trend with businesses like ours in Aberdeen, the new rate increase puts our little company under so much strain; it basically puts us out of business.

"Without compromising the welfare of our cats we have no other means of raising these funds; we also refuse to increase our prices further, which would make spending time at the cafe with our kitties unaffordable to many of our loyal customers."

Should the cafe surpass its target then any additional cash will go to a local cat and dog home in the city while customers have been assured a suitable home for the cats has been identified should the cafe fold.