RSPCA braces for influx of kittens as charity urges owners to neuter cats

The RSPCA is urging owners to neuter their cats as the charity braces for an influx of felines this kitten season – and reveals it received more than 140,000 calls about cats in the last three years.

The charity sees a peak in cats coming into its care between May and September – when most kittens are born – but, as the nation also faces a cost of living crisis, the RSPCA fears that this will result in more cats being abandoned or relinquished than ever before.

In order to tackle the cat overpopulation crisis, the charity urges cat owners to speak to their vets about neutering as soon as possible and to keep any unneutered cats indoors with plenty to entertain them until they can be spayed. 

Sadly, unexpected litters of kittens often end up abandoned or given up and coming into rescue centres. There were more than 7,500 cats reported abandoned last year. The charity has also revealed it received 143,961 reports about cats to its cruelty line since 2021 and half of those were received during kitten season alone.

Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “Kitten season is typically the time of year when most kittens are born and as a charity we see an influx of cats coming into our care as a result. With the cost of living crisis putting an extra strain on people’s finances we’re concerned that we may see more cats than ever in need of help at a time when our centres are already full-to-bursting.

“We’d urge owners to please neuter your cats from four months old to prevent them from having unexpected and unwanted litters of kittens. We know kittens may look cute but the reality is that they require a lot of care, time, and money, which many people may struggle to provide and sadly means they are often abandoned or given up.”

The charity has issued important advice to members of the public this kitten season. 

• If your cat is unneutered please make a vet appointment for them to be neutered as soon as possible to reduce the number of unwanted kittens being born
• If you find an abandoned cat or kitten, please take them to a vet immediately
• If you suspect a cat or kitten has been abandoned in a property, please contact the RSPCA to report this on 0300 1234 999

Alice added: “We need as many people as possible to join us to build a better world for every kind of animal and this is why we’re urging the public to take some simple steps to help us deal with the influx of cats in need this kitten season. We can all do our bit to help create a world where every animal is treated with kindness and respect.”

Thelma and Louise are two nine-week-old female kittens who came into the care of the RSPCA Central London Branch this month after they were abandoned near Northolt Recreation Ground on 17 April. They were discovered in an alleyway inside a cardboard box without any food or water.

They were found with one other female kitten who was completely unable to use her hind legs and was incontinent. She was taken to the RSPCA Finsbury Park Hospital in London for urgent treatment but sadly, the little kitten deteriorated and vets felt the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep to end her suffering.

Thelma and Louise are doing well in RSPCA care, they are very sweet and friendly kittens who are getting some much-needed TLC before they will be ready to be rehomed. 

A pregnant mum cat and her three kittens from a previous litter came into the RSPCA’s care after they were abandoned in April in Grasmere Street, Manchester, inside a cardboard box. The mother cat, now named Roxanne, was wearing a collar so had clearly been owned but sadly she wasn’t microchipped and an owner couldn’t be found. The kittens, named Mr Moustache, Barbie and Cheddar,, are around 10-weeks old. Both mum and kittens are now in the care of the RSPCA Manchester and Salford branch where they are receiving much-needed love and care.