An RSPCA rehoming centre in Worcestershire says it’s taken in more unwanted cats so far this year than at any other time since the shelter first opened seven years ago.
Almost 200 cats have already come through the doors of The Holdings Animal Centre in Kempsey in 2023, a rise of 32 percent compared to the same period last year.
The cost of living is thought to be why many people are choosing to rehome their pets, although the centre has also dealt with numerous incidents where cats have been deliberately abandoned or become injured or pregnant while trying to survive on the streets.
Nationally the RSPCA has over 200 cats on waiting lists in private boarding establishments and hospitals because there is no space to transfer them to accommodation at one of its own centres or branches.
Claire Wood from The Holdings, which is run by the RSPCA’s Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire Branch, said: “We’re seeing a record number of unwanted cats and the situation is showing no sign of slowing down. Together with our small team of fosterers we’ve currently got 48 cats and kittens in our care and we also have a long waiting list. We’re also getting calls on an almost daily basis from people who want to relinquish their pets, it’s heartbreaking.
“We’ve seen a slowdown this year in people wanting to adopt kittens, particularly pairs. The numbers we are seeing are exacerbated by people still not neutering their cats and it’s actually rare for us to have one come in that has already been neutered.
“A lot of the male cats in particular usually bear the scars and injuries of roaming and fighting with others. We realise the cost of neutering can be prohibitive for some people, particularly in the current financial climate, which is why we’re working with Cats Protection to offer a £10 neuter and chip scheme for people on low incomes.
“Some of the cats we take in we suspect may be lost pets, but if they aren’t microchipped it can be very difficult to reunite them with their owners. As of June 2024, it will be compulsory to have your cat chipped once they reach 20 weeks old, and we hope this will help with some of the cases we are seeing.”
Four-month-old Archie (above) is just one of many kittens who is being looked after at The Holdings. Found petrified and all alone in a car park in Birmingham earlier this month, he was – and remains – extremely wary of humans. Staff decided that what he needed was the company of other kittens, and he was readily accepted by a small group and has since been reserved for a new home with two of his new-found friends.
To help ease the pressure on space, the RSPCA is also transferring cats between its centres up and down the country. Last week a two-year-old cat – which The Holdings has named Ken – made the journey from the charity’s Birmingham Animal Centre, where he was initially taken after his owner’s poor health meant he could no longer be cared for.
The Worcestershire centre is appealing to anyone who is in a position to be able to adopt a cat to visit the centre’s website. A special appeal is being made for four of the longest staying residents who include:
Black long-haired Antionette (main feature image) who is 13-year-old, was sadly handed over for rehoming after her owner had to go into care. Considering her age, she is in good health and is described as being very affectionate, but on her own terms. She has previously lived with a small dog, although staff don’t think she would tolerate other cats. Black cats tend to take longer to re-home and Antoniette has been at the centre since May.
Five-year-old Alan (above) needs a quiet, calm and understanding new home after spending three years being fed as a stray in the Kidderminster area. It’s thought he moved out of his home as a very young cat after two dogs moved into the household. He was being fed by a kind member of the public who contacted The Holdings after becoming concerned for his welfare. He’s been cared for at the centre since May and is now enjoying regular meals and a warm bed for the first time in years. Extremely nervous and wary of human contact when he first arrived, he’s coming out of his shell thanks to the care and patience of staff and volunteers at the centre and is now ready to find a loving home to call his own.
Black and white Patch is another long-stay stray who came into the centre’s care from the Droitwich area in June. Believed to have been living on the streets for at least six months, the friendly and gentle-natured cat was suffering from a nasty injury to his right ear which had turned septic and sadly had to be removed. Patch is thought to be around three years old and is said to be a gentle and easy-going boy. He loves his food and is often found waiting for his next meal at the front of his pen. Such is Patch’s lovely nature, that he has also taken the centre’s kittens under his wing.
In the tough financial climate, the RSPCA is doing everything it can to keep pets in loving homes, and support owners. The charity has launched a Cost of Living Hub and a dedicated telephone helpline, while its pet food bank partnerships continue to go from strength to strength.
