Rehoming appeal as RSPCA rescues '60 cats a day'

  • Click below for Rebecca Haworth's report from the RSPCA in Northamptonshire

Jonas, 10, RSPCA Northamptonshire, is looking for a new home. Credit: RSPCA

More cats were rescued than any other animal last year, according to the RSPCA.

Inspectors rescued the equivalent of more than 60 cats per day, or 22,000 over the whole year.

This is more than any other animal and is four times the number of dogs (5,930).

The figures have been released by the charity as pat of Adoptober - the charity’s month-long rehoming drive.

Suzy, 17, RSPCA Northamptonshire, is looking for a new home. Credit: RSPCA

Cat welfare expert Alice Potter said: “Sadly we do know that cats are an extremely misunderstood pet and can often find themselves the victims of poor care.

“Our inspectorate is getting calls every day from worried members of the public reporting the cruelty of these animals - and the number of cats we are rescuing is equivalent to 60 per day which is far too high.

“Cats can become victims of air gun attacks as well as poisonings both accidental and deliberate, just like dogs they can also become victims of over breeding and over population."

Tibbles, 14, RSPCA Northamptonshire, is looking for a new home. Credit: RSPCA

Alice Potter added: “We know that the answer to a lot of the problems relating to cats in this country is raising the rates of neutering which in turn will lead to fewer unwanted animals coming into our centres and branches.

“We are calling for cat owners to neuter their cats at around 4 months old, rather than 6 months, which can greatly reduce the risk of them getting pregnant and owners being stuck with an unwanted litter.

“If you are thinking of taking on an animal we would always urge people to look into adopting a rescue pet, as our centres are full of loving cats of all shapes and sizes looking for forever homes.”