The Cat-Kind group is raising awareness of neutering this World Spay Day
Cat charities are urging owners to neuter their pets this World Spay Day (February 27) amidst a ‘cat crisis’ – with an unprecedented increase in felines coming into rescue shelters.
RSPCA centres are full-to-bursting with cats – and the charity is paying to keep hundreds in private boarding facilities because jam-packed centres are completely full. Some 260 cats were stuck in private boarding in January, and 168 in February, as they wait for available space.
This influx in rescue cats has exceeded the numbers the charity usually sees during even the busier summer months – known as ‘kitten season’ – and is unprecedented for this early in the year (37% increase in cats on waiting lists in January 2024 compared to July 2023).
In order to cope with the large number of cats coming into their care, the RSPCA is having to rely on private boarding facilities which come at a huge price. In January alone, the charity had to pay an eye watering £12,804 per week across England and Wales to keep cats fed, watered and housed in private boarding as a consequence of its full centres. This puts a strain on the charity’s resources and means cats wait longer before being rehomed.
Cats Protection is also seeing a rise in cats coming into its care, with 3,350 currently being cared for at its centres and branches (19 February 2024) – an increase of 5% from the same time last year. That’s following a particularly busy year in 2023 for the charity, when it saw a 47% year-on-year increase in the number of kittens born in its care. Similarly, Battersea also saw a 34% increase in kittens and young cats (under six months) coming into their centres last year.
The charities are now joining forces to urge the public to neuter their cats to help tackle the cat overpopulation crisis – and, for those looking to add a feline to their family, to adopt a rescue cat rather than buying and fuelling demand for more felines to be bred in the UK.
Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “It’s heartbreaking that we are seeing so many amazing cats flooding our centres and branches and having to go on waiting lists in private boarding.
“We usually don’t see anything close to these kinds of numbers until kitten season when most kittens are born so it’s concerning that we’re seeing these high numbers in January and February – and we’re now bracing for what the summer might bring.
“We have also seen a 30% drop in rehoming which has left us in a situation where we have cats coming in faster than we can find homes for them. As we strive to create a better world for every animal, we are urging the public to neuter their cats to avoid unplanned litters and reduce the thousands of cats who end up in the care of the RSPCA and other charities.”
Over the last 10 years, the RSPCA has neutered a whopping 46,000 cats, however, Cats Protection’s Cats and Their Stats Report 2023 and the PDSA PAW Report found that 1.4 million (13%) owned cats are still unneutered.
This is why Cat-Kind – an expert group of cat and veterinary organisations – have come together to encourage responsible pet owners to neuter their cats from four months old to ensure that they don’t have unexpected litters.
Sarah Elliott, Central Veterinary Officer for Cats Protection said: “Cats are prolific breeders, with one female capable of giving birth to up to 18 kittens a year. For the cat population to be controlled, the timing of neutering as well as the overall number of cats neutered is critical. Cats should be neutered at four months old, before they are able to become pregnant. Sadly, many female cats are unneutered by the time they reach a year old, meaning they could have already had at least one litter.
“We’d urge owners to help by ensuring their cat is neutered by four months of age. Some animal welfare charities like Cats Protection offer financial support towards the cost of this for owners on a low income.
“Not only does neutering help reduce the unwanted cat population, it also means cats lead healthier, happier lives. This is because neutered cats are less likely to roam far from home or get into fights with other cats, both of which can increase their risk of injury or picking up illnesses.”
Tackling the cat crisis – one cat at a time!
Lily, O’Grady and their kittens came into the care of the RSPCA Canterbury and District Branch after being rescued by an inspector – they were abandoned in filthy carriers in a woodland in 27°C (81°F) heat with no food or water. The two kittens were clearly their babies and had most likely been born as a result of a lack of neutering these two young cats. Following neutering, some extra meals to feed them all up and a clean bill of health – the whole family have since been rehomed.
Mother cat Zodiac and her kittens Ace, Hunter and Vogue, were rescued after they were abandoned in a dirty cat carrier at a bus stop in Guildford this month. They were in fairly good health but it is suspected that the kittens – who were 10-12 weeks old when abandoned with their mum – were an unexpected litter and the owner ‘dumped them like rubbish’. They were taken into the care of RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre where they’re receiving some much-needed TLC.
Constance and Evelyn were abandoned in an Aldi bag and left on the back of the truck. The two eight month old kittens were discovered by two men who noticed the bag was moving in the Hasland area in January. They were taken immediately to the RSPCA Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Branch’s animal centre in Spital Lane where they were checked over by staff and found to be in good health. They are now looking for a new home together.
Ian Futter, Chief Veterinary Officer at the Scottish SPCA, added: “Neutering your cat at four months old can have numerous benefits for your pet’s wellbeing, the broader animal community and for you as a responsible owner.
“Neutering also discourages male cats from scent marking and roaming, and makes it less likely they’ll get involved in fights. There’s absolutely no need for your cat to have a litter of kittens before getting her neutered – that’s a complete myth. Neutering your cat at four months old is good for your pet, good for your pocket, and good for animal welfare.”
For more information on neutering please visit: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/neutering
For more information on Cat-Kind visit: cat-kind.org.uk
To adopt a rescue cat, please visit: rspca.org.uk/findapet or cats.org.uk/adopt-a-cat
