RSPCA branches throughout the region are being inundated with homeless cats.
Rescue centres in the east of the region are calling on cat owners to be responsible and get their animals neutered. The advice comes as many shelters close their doors to the rising number of unwanted kittens.
The RSPCA says it is facing a cat crisis, with centres in the region full to capacity. It is so bad that some branches cannot take any more and others have as many as 100 waiting for new homes.
RSPCA branches and animal centres across the East of the Calendar region are reporting unprecedented numbers of felines in their care. Volunteers and branch staff say the pressure is putting them at breaking point and are calling on the public to help by giving the cats a new home.
The cat crisis is believed to be down to a number of factors RSPCA volunteers say:
— Owners can no longer afford to keep them and are giving them up
— Their cat falls ill and owners cannot afford the vet bills
— Many cats are falling pregnant and having large number of kittens, because their owner failed to neuter them.